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diff --git a/49046-0.txt b/49046-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d09a86e --- /dev/null +++ b/49046-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2246 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 49046 *** + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. II.--NO. 96. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, August 30, 1881. Copyright, 1881, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 +per Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE OLD GUN. + + + 'Mid the smoke and the heat of battle, + Where men fought for wrong or right, + 'Mid the clash and the roar and the rattle, + Where fiercest raged the fight, + Stood the old gun, + Hurling his bolts of thunder + Into the ranks of those + Who dared to brave his anger, + Who dared to be his foes, + Dared face the gun. + + 'Mid the daisies and clover growing + On that long-ago battle plain, + Kissed by the soft winds, blowing + Over the graves of the slain, + Lies the old gun. + Around him frolic the children, + Noisy with innocent glee, + But silent and still he lies there, + Who helped make a nation free, + Asleep in the sun. + + + + +COMPENSATION. + +BY GEORGE COOPER. + + + For every leaf of green, + A golden leaf; + For every fading flower, + A ripened sheaf. + For every parching beam, + A drop of rain; + For every sunny day, + The stars again. + + For every warring wave, + A pretty shell; + For every sound of woe, + A joyous bell. + For every passing care, + A mother's kiss: + And what could better be, + Dear child, than this? + + + + +AN ANCIENT TRAVELLER. + +BY ELLA RODMAN CHURCH. + + +The oldest book of travels in Asia that has been preserved was written +by Marco Polo, an Italian, who was born nearly two hundred and fifty +years before his famous countryman Christopher Columbus discovered +America. + +The father and uncle of Marco, who were merchants in Venice, had already +been to China, then called Cathay, and spent some years at the court of +the Emperor Khubla Khan, who became their warm friend. On their return +to Venice they had many wonderful stories to tell of the mysterious +country they had explored, and the strange sights and adventures they +had met with; and two years afterward they started again on their +travels, with letters and presents for the Chinese monarch from Pope +Gregory X. Marco, then a young man of twenty, went with them on this +journey. + +They travelled over land and water and desert, and had many hardships +and dangers to encounter; but finally they reached the city of Cambalu +(which was discovered in the seventeenth century to be Pekin), after a +journey of _four years_! When the Khan heard that they were coming, he +sent people to meet them a month and a half before they arrived, and +directed that they should be received with every possible honor. + +At last they reached the royal city, and were conducted at once to the +Khan, before whom they prostrated themselves, after the fashion of the +country; then they were invited to a magnificent banquet. The throne, +which stood on a platform at the head of the long table, sparkled and +glittered with precious gems; and on this was seated the monarch of +Cathay, sparkling and glittering likewise in his festal robes, with his +four wives around him, and a long string of attendants for each of the +ladies. + +Everybody who was considered to be in good society in Cambalu was +present at this feast of welcome to the returned travellers; and jewels, +and plumes, and gold, and precious stones, and brilliant colors, and +beautiful faces were mingled together in bewildering confusion. After +the company had left the table, jugglers and acrobats and musicians were +brought in to entertain them; and very likely the tired strangers were +glad enough when it was all over, and they could retire in peace to the +splendid palace that had been arranged with every imaginable luxury, and +hosts of servants to wait upon them and do their bidding. + +The next day they presented the generous monarch with the Pope's letter, +and a small bottle filled with the oil used for the silver lamps in the +chapel of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. The Khan saw, from the +reverent manner of the travellers, that this oil must possess rare +virtues, and he received it with much gratitude. He was an intelligent +man, and he asked many questions about their journey, and about matters +and things in Europe, the Polos having become well acquainted with the +Mongol language during their former stay, so that they could talk +without an interpreter. His Royal Highness was particularly pleased with +Marco, and said that he would give him an important position at once in +his household. + +The young man immediately began to study the language, laws, and customs +of this strange country, that he might be able to perform the duties of +his office, and the Khan soon had such confidence in him that he sent +him on affairs of importance all over the empire. + +It was in this way that Marco Polo learned so much about Cathay, and the +book of travels which he wrote was read for a long time with the +greatest interest. Now it is looked upon as an ancient relic; and the +pictures are particularly funny. In one of them is a representation of +the Khan in a portable room carried on the backs of four elephants, +which are shaped very much like pigs, and have gorgeous rosettes on +their backs, supposed to be intended for saddles. A crowd of people gaze +with awe upon their sovereign as he is borne triumphantly along in this +very novel manner, the front side of the room being open, so that all +can see him. + +Another picture, which is intended for an elephant hunt, represents the +elephants shorter than the horses on which the hunters ride and shoot at +them with bows and arrows--as though elephants would mind _that_!--while +the trees seem to be growing on the elephants' backs. + +Khubla Khan was at war with the sovereigns of the provinces south of his +kingdom, and his friends the Polos were of great use to him by showing +him how to make and use the European machines, called catapults, for +hurling immense stones against the walls and towers of besieged cities. +These were highly thought of before the invention of artillery. + +The monarch was very much delighted, and as soon as the machines were +ready he sent the learned Venetians to head a fresh attack upon the +important city of Sa-yan-fu. The banner of Khubla Khan was soon waving +above the crushed walls, and the Polos were liberally rewarded with +wealth and honors. Marco, who was the Khan's especial favorite, was made +a noble of the empire, with a more magnificent palace and a larger +retinue than ever. + +After spending seventeen years of this exciting life, the Polos longed +to see their native city again; but the monarch, who was now an old man, +would not consent to part with them. Fortunately, however, for the +homesick visitors, the Khan's granddaughter was to marry the King of +Persia, and started on her journey to that country; but after travelling +for eight months, the Princess and her attendants found that many of the +provinces through which they had to pass were at war, and they turned +back to Cambalu. + +The Polos, seizing this opportunity of escape, promised to convey the +bridal party safely by sea; and the Khan agreed to let them go, on +condition of their returning to him again after a short visit home. +Among the monarch's parting gifts were caskets of magnificent rubies and +other precious gems. + +It was eighteen months before they reached Ormuz, and during that time +two or three of the envoys and six hundred of the Princess's attendants +had died. The Persian bridegroom was dead also, and so was the monarch +of Cathay, Khubla Khan. + +The Polos now were freed from their promise to return; and after staying +nine months in Persia--for they liked to explore every place at which +they stopped--they started on their long journey to Venice. They arrived +there in safety, after an absence of twenty-four years; and at first no +one would believe that these outlandish-looking travellers were the real +Polos. But they soon proved their identity, and became known far and +wide as the most wonderful travellers of the time. + +Marco was a prisoner in Genoa for four years, after a battle with the +Genoese, and he amused himself during this dreary period by writing an +account of his travels and his life at the court of the Khan. + + + + +FROG-CATCHING. + +BY A. W. ROBERTS. + + +When a man dwelling in the Drowned Lands of Canonoque, Canada, is +capable of accumulating a small fortune by catching frogs for the New +York market, surely some of our young people who are now spending their +vacations near the shores of our lakes, rivers, and ponds ought also to +make considerable pocket-money, if not as large a fortune as that of Pat +Bowman, of the Drowned Lands, who follows up the frogs from early spring +until late in the fall. + +It is not only the pocket-money that is to be picked up, but while on +the frog-hunts many lessons are to be learned in aquatic natural +history. Then there is the fun of the thing. It's fun to get sunburned, +and have a brand-new skin at the end of a week to attend church in. It's +fun to step into a bumble-bees' nest, and have the bees chase you until +you are only too glad to take refuge in the water, where they can't find +you out. And it's fun to break through a musk-rat or turtle run, and to +have your companions pull you out covered with black peat; then come the +washing out of your clothes, and hanging them in the sun to dry; and +while they are drying, then the sand-flies and mosquitoes come swarming +about you in clouds, until in sheer desperation you conclude to do as +the cows do--stand in the water and splash. And after you have stood in +the water a few minutes, you find the horse-leeches and boat-flies have +discovered you have legs, and are having a feast on them. By this time +your clothing is dry. All this sort of experience was fun to me when I +was a boy, and I often sigh for those happy days to return. + +At the age of thirteen I became a frog-catcher. I discovered there was a +demand in Fulton and Washington markets for frogs' legs, and that the +price paid for them, as they ran, large and small (not very, very +small), was one dollar and a half per hundred. But here was the trouble: +how could I manage to keep the frogs alive and healthy until I had one +hundred of them ready for market? At last I hit upon a plan, which was +no less than to construct a pond in our then very large garden, and +plant it with pond-lilies, sweet-flag, and cat-tails; in fact, to make +it as picturesque as possible. To have the pond hold water, the bottom +and sides were lined with clay to the depth of half a foot. To fill the +pond we made a series of wooden gutters that connected with the garden +pump. Every night we pumped and pumped, until we thought the old pump +would surely go dry. + +In our house lived a blind sea-captain; he was a bright, kind-hearted, +good-natured old gentleman. He could navigate all over our large garden +without tramping down the smallest radish, and as for thinning out +carrots and beets, he could do it beautifully; he knew every weed by +touch and smell. He was just as good as good could be, and all we boys +thought the world of him, and he thought we were the best boys ever +born. Now the captain liked everything in nature that had a voice, such +as birds, crickets, locusts, katydids, and tree-toads, with which we +kept the garden well supplied, so that at night there was nearly a full +orchestra of nature's musicians. On bass, basso, and basso-profundo we +were short, but knew full well that as soon as the intended inhabitants +for the pond were secured, those voices of the night would be +forthcoming. + +The first frogs we captured were taken with a scap-net toward evening, +when they drew near the shore to feed, and to secure them we tied them +by their hind-legs to a string. One evening we discovered a frog by his +voice, which was that of a pure basso-profundo, and in strength that of +three bull-calves in one. His home was in a small ditch of water, which, +the minute approached, he would plunge into, and was lost to sight. By +the great splash he made we knew that he must be a monster of a +bull-frog. Night after night we tried to capture him, but failed. At +last we determined to devote one entire Saturday to his capture. + +There was one particular spot on the side of the ditch where he always +sat when taking a sun-bath, but the minute he caught sight of us, in he +would plunge, and disappear for an hour's time. At first we imagined he +dived down into the deep mud bottom, and remained there until he thought +all was quiet, or that we were gone away. + +[Illustration: DIGGING OUT THE BIG FROG.] + +At last, by mere accident, we discovered his secret hiding-place to be a +musk-rat hole, the entrance of which connected directly with the water +of the ditch, so that all he had to do was to make a strong and long +dive for the musk-rat hole, and he was safe every time. The only way +left was to secure the entrance to the hole with a net, and then to go +after him with spades and shovels and dig him out; which we did, and +wasn't he a beauty? He weighed over a pound, and must have been seven or +eight years old. After being in the pond a week, one bright moonlight +night he condescended to join in with the other musicians. + +We greatly increased the power of our orchestra by adding twenty-five +common toads, which in the breeding season frequent the water, and are +very noisy, and also one hundred of the shrill-piping Hylodes, or +tree-toads, and two screech-owls, which were kept in separate cages at +different parts of the garden, so that all night long they were calling +to one another. + +At the end of every two weeks one of the four members of the "Great Long +Island Frog Company" took to market from two hundred to two hundred and +fifty live frogs, for which was received a dollar and a half per +hundred. In course of time sufficient capital was accumulated to +purchase four hundred breeding gold-fish with which to stock the pond, +so that on the second year we were marketing live frogs and gold-fish. +All this happened many years ago, but the traffic in bull-frogs and +bull-frogs' legs has been growing steadily, until it has attained +wonderful proportions, as the following statements will show: + +It is estimated by good judges that no less than fifteen hundred-weight +of frogs' legs are sent to the New York market every year. New York +State, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, and the Canadas are the +principal sources of supply. There is one dealer who has agents catching +and purchasing frogs in all the above-named places. + +Frog-catching begins early in the spring, and lasts until late in the +fall. The frogs are caught without bait, all the tackle used being a rod +or pole cut in the woods, to which is fastened a short and stout line. +On the end of the line is fastened a broad stout hook. When a frog is +discovered, the "froggist" drops the hook under the jaw of the frog, and +with a quick jerk Mr. Frog flies up into the air, and is taken from off +the hook, and placed in a bag. The frogs think the hook is alive, and +snatch at it eagerly. Sometimes a frog, when the hook tickles his nose +or passes over one of his ears, will lose his temper, and make a +terrible lunge at it. I have seen old frogs lose their tempers entirely, +so that the minute they caught sight of the end of the pole they would +jump clear out of the water, and bite at it fiercely. A frog will never +bite at anything when under water, as he is afraid to open his large +mouth from fear of drowning. A frog kept entirely in the water, with +nothing to rest on, will in course of time drown. When the hook is +ornamented with a piece of red flannel, the frogs will jump for it +several feet. Frogs bite best on warm, sunny days. When fishing for +frogs at night, a reflector or bull's-eye is fastened at the bow of the +boat. The bright light seems to daze the frogs to an extent that admits +of their easy capture. + +The frogs, when caught, are placed in cages made of laths or slats; the +cages are about five feet long by four feet wide, and one foot in +height. These cages are placed half in the water and half on land; the +bottoms of the cages having a slight inclination, to allow the frogs to +leave the water when so disposed. After being caged for a few days, they +will begin to take food. Their favorite food is young frogs, small live +fish, insects, mice, and angle-worms. All of these must have life and +motion, or the frogs will not eat them. Many attempts have been made to +breed frogs artificially, but so far all have failed. The principal +trouble seems to be the difficulty of obtaining natural food in +sufficient quantities to prevent the old frogs from devouring their +young, which they will do on all occasions. Again, the young frog, from +the tadpole stage up to the perfect frog, is surrounded by enemies night +and day--aquatic birds, turtles, lizards, snakes, leeches, insects, +fish, water-rats, and, worst of all, his own relations. A female frog at +five years of age will produce over a thousand eggs every year. Out of +the thousand eggs not more than twenty-five ever attain over two years' +growth, so constant is the warfare of their enemies. + +[Illustration] + +There are two ways of preparing the frogs' legs for market. One is known +as the Canadian style (see figure), which consists of leaving part of +the back of the frog attached to the legs; this is done to make weight. +The other is the Philadelphia style, wherein the legs are cut off close +to the end of the back, or spine, after the legs have been skinned. In +the figure the dotted line A A shows the Philadelphia style, which +always brings the highest price. The legs are packed in half-barrels +between layers of crushed ice, and will average from fifty to +seventy-five pounds to the half-barrel. The prices paid for frogs' legs +vary from twenty to sixty cents per pound, which is governed by the +season of the year, the demand, and the supply. At the leading +hotels--Delmonico's, for instance--seventy-five cents is the regular +price per plate for cooked frogs' legs all the year round. + +The method of cooking the legs is as follows. After the legs have been +thoroughly washed, they are dried in a towel; they are then dipped in +beaten eggs, and rolled in powdered cracker, after which they are fried +in very hot lard or butter until slightly brown, and are served up with +fine herbs and mushrooms stewed in butter. + +Now it seems to me, as I said before, that the boys have a chance to +make considerable pocket-money on frogs' legs. If I was still a boy, I +would enter into an agreement with two or three of the largest and +best-paying hotels to supply them with legs, fresh caught (remember, +that's a big advantage you would have over the New York market), at just +a few cents per pound below the prevailing market prices during the +season. There is no reason, when you are out frogging, why you should +not capture a few trout also. + + + + +[Illustration: THE BOOT-BLACK'S SHOWER-BATH.] + + + + +[Begun in No. 92 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, August 2.] + +TIM AND TIP; + +OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY AND A DOG. + +BY JAMES OTIS, + +AUTHOR OF "TOBY TYLER," ETC. + +CHAPTER V. + +LIFE ON BOARD THE "PRIDE OF THE WAVE." + + +When Tim first went on board the steamer which was to be his home, he +thought, from the beautiful things he saw around, that he should live in +a luxurious manner; but when he was shown the place in which he was to +sleep, he learned that the fine things were for the passengers only, and +that even comfort had been sacrificed in the quarters belonging to the +crew. + +He was given a berth in the forecastle, which was anything rather than a +pleasant or even a sweet-smelling place, and had it not been that he had +the satisfaction of having Tip with him when he went to bed, he would +have cried even harder and longer than he did. + +Captain Pratt had not made his appearance on the steamer that day; but +the steward had told him that his duties as Captain's boy would begin +next morning at breakfast, when he would be expected to wait upon the +Captain at the table. The last thing Tim thought of that night was how +he should acquit himself in what he felt would be a trying position, and +the first thing which came into his mind when he awoke on the following +morning was whether he should succeed in pleasing his employer or not. + +After kissing Tip over and over again, and with many requests to him to +be a good dog and not make a noise, Tim tied his pet in his narrow +quarters, and then made his own toilet. He really made a good appearance +when he presented himself to Mr. Rankin, the steward, that morning. His +cheeks were rosy from a vigorous application of cold water and a brisk +rubbing, and if he could rely upon his personal appearance for pleasing +Captain Pratt, there seemed every chance that he would succeed. + +During the time he had been at work the day before, Mr. Rankin took +every opportunity to instruct him in his new duties, and that morning +the steward gave him another lesson. + +It was barely finished when Captain Pratt came into the cabin, and one +look at him made Tim so nervous that he forgot nearly everything he had +been told to remember. + +The Captain's eyes were red, his hands trembled, while he had every +symptom of a man who had been drinking hard the day before, and was not +perfectly sober then. + +Tim had never had any experience with drinking men; but he did not need +any explanation as to the causes of the Captain's appearance, and he +involuntarily ducked his head when his employer passed him. + +"Now, then, what are you skulking there for, you young rascal?" shouted +Captain Pratt, as he fell rather than seated himself in his chair. + +"I ain't skulkin', sir," replied Tim, meekly. + +"Don't you answer me back," cried the Captain, in a rage, seizing the +milk pitcher as if he intended to throw it at the boy. "If you talk back +to me, I'll show you what a rope's end means." + +Tim actually trembled with fear, and kept a bright lookout, so that he +might be ready to dodge in case the pitcher should be thrown, but did +not venture to say a word. + +"Now bring me my breakfast, and let's see if you amount to anything, or +if I only picked up a bit of waste timber when I got you." + +"What will you have, sir?" asked Tim, timidly, as he moved toward the +Captain's chair. + +A blow on the side of his head that sent him reeling half way across the +cabin served as a reply, and it was followed by a volley of oaths that +frightened him.' + +"What do you mean by asking me what I'll have before you tell me what is +ready? Next time you try to wait upon a gentleman, tell him what there +is. Bring me some soda-water first." + +This was an order that had not been provided for in the lessons given by +Mr. Rankin, and Tim stood perfectly still, in frightened ignorance. + +"Come, step lively, or I'll get up and show you how," roared the +Captain, his face flushing to a deeper red, as his rage rose to the +point of cruelty. + +"Please, sir, I don't know where it is;" and Tim's voice sounded very +timid and piteous. + +"Don't know where it is, and been on board since yesterday! What do you +suppose I hired you for? Take that, and that." + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN PRATT ORDERS HIS BREAKFAST.] + +Suiting the action to the words, the cheerful-tempered man threw first a +knife and then a fork at the shrinking boy, and was about to follow them +with a plate, when Mr. Rankin put into Tim's hand the desired liquid. + +Tim would rather have gone almost anywhere else than close to his +employer just then; but the glass was in his hand, the Captain was +waiting for it with a glare in his eye that boded no good if he delayed, +and he placed it on the table. + +"Now what kind of a breakfast have you got?" shouted Captain Pratt, as +he swallowed the liquid quickly. + +It was a surprise to himself that he could remember anything just then, +but he did manage to repeat the names of the different dishes, and to +take the Captain's order. + +Although he ran as swiftly as possible from the table to the kitchen, +and was served there with all haste, he did not succeed in pleasing the +angry man. + +"I want you to remember," said that worthy, with a scowl, "that I ain't +in the habit of waiting for my meals. Another time, when you are so +long, I shall give you a lesson you won't forget." + +Tim was placing the dishes of food on the table when the Captain spoke, +and he was so startled by the angry words, when he thought he deserved +pleasant ones, that he dropped a plate of potatoes. + +He sprang instantly to pick them up, but Captain Pratt was out of his +chair before he could reach them, and with all his strength he kicked +Tim again and again. Then, without taking any heed of the prostrate boy, +who might have been seriously injured, he seated himself at the table in +perfect unconcern. + +Mr. Rankin helped Tim on his feet, and finding that no bones were +broken--which was remarkable, considering the force with which the blows +had been given--advised him to go on deck, promising that he would serve +the Captain. + +"But I propose that the boy shall stay here," roared the Captain. "Do +you think I'm going to let him sneak off every time I try to teach him +anything?" + +Tim struggled manfully to keep back the tears that would come in his +eyes as he stood behind the Captain's chair, but they got the best of +him, as did also the little quick sobs. + +The Captain appeared to grow more cheerful as he ate, and although he +called upon Tim for several articles, he managed to get along without +striking any more blows, contenting himself by abusing the poor boy with +his tongue. + +It was a great relief to Tim when that meal was ended, and Mr. Rankin +told him he could eat his own breakfast before clearing away the dishes. + +Tim had not the slightest desire for food then, but he did want some for +Tip. Hastily gathering up the bones from Captain Pratt's plate, he ran +with them to the bow, where Tip was straining and tugging at his rope as +if he knew his master was having a hard time, and he wanted to be where +he could help him. + +Tim placed the bones in front of Tip, and then kneeling down, he put his +arms around the dog's neck as he poured out his woes in his ear, while +Tip tried in every way to get at the tempting feast before him. + +"I'm the miserablest boy in the world, Tip, an' I don't know what's +goin' to become of us. You don't know what a bad, ugly man Captain Pratt +is, an' I don't believe I can stay here another day. But you think a +good deal of me, don't you, Tip? an' you'd help me if you could, +wouldn't you?" + +The dog had more sympathy with the bones just then than he had with his +almost heart-broken master, and Tim, who dared not stay away too long +from the cabin, was obliged to let him partake of the feast at last. + +When Tim returned from feeding the dog, Mr. Rankin said all he could to +prevent him from becoming discouraged on the first day of service; but +he concluded with these words: "I can't advise you to stay here any +longer than you can help, for you ain't stout enough to bear what you'll +have to take from the Captain. It'll be hard work to get off, for he +always looks sharp after new boys, so they sha'n't run away; but when we +get back here again, you'd better make up your mind to show your heels." + +These words frightened Tim almost as much as what the Captain had said +to him, for he had never thought but that he could leave whenever he +wanted to. Now he felt doubly wretched, for he realized that he was as +much a captive as he had ever been when he lived with Captain Babbige, +whose blows were not nearly as severe as this new master's. + +The _Pride of the Wave_ made but two trips a week, and each one occupied +about two days and a half. This second day after Tim had come on board +was the time of her sailing, and everything was in such a state of +confusion that no one had any time to notice the sad little boy, who ran +forward to pet his dog whenever his work would permit of such loving +act. + +Among his duties was that of answering the Captain's bell, and once, +when he returned from a visit to Tip, Mr. Rankin told him, with evident +fear, that it had been nearly five minutes since he was summoned to the +wheel-house. + +While the steward was speaking, the bell rang again with an angry peal +that told that the party at the other end was in anything but a pleasant +mood. It did not take Tim many seconds to run to the wheel-house, and +when he arrived there, breathless and in fear, Captain Pratt met him at +the door. + +"So the lesson I gave you this morning wasn't enough, eh?" cried the +angry man, as he seized Tim by the collar and actually lifted him from +his feet. "I'll teach you to attend to business, and not try to come any +odds over me." + +Captain Pratt had a stout piece of rope in one hand, and as he held Tim +by the other, nearly choking him, he showered heavy blows upon the poor +boy's back and legs, until his arm ached. + +"Now see if you will remember that!" he cried, as he released his hold +on Tim's collar, and the poor child rolled upon the deck almost +helpless. + +Tim had fallen because the hold on his neck had been so suddenly +released, rather than on account of the beating; and when he struggled +to his feet, smarting from the blows, the Captain said to him, "Now +bring me a pitcher of ice-water, and see that you're back in five +minutes, or you'll get the same dose over again." + +Tim limped away, his back and legs feeling as though they were on fire, +and each inch of skin ached and smarted as it never had done from the +worst whipping Captain Babbige or Aunt Betsey had favored him with. He +entered the cabin with eyes swollen from unshed tears, and sobs choking +his breath, but with such a sense of injury in his heart that he made no +other sign of suffering. + +Mr. Rankin was too familiar with Captain Pratt's method of dealing with +boys to be obliged to ask Tim any questions; but he said, as the boy got +the water, "Try to keep a stiff upper lip, lad, and you'll come out all +right." + +Tim could not trust himself to speak, for he knew he should cry if he +did; and he carried the water to the wheel-house, going directly from +there to Tip. + +The dog leaped up on him when his master came where he was, as if he +wanted a frolic; but Tim said, as he threw himself on the deck beside +him: "Don't, Tip--don't play now; I feel more like dyin'. You think it's +awful hard to stay here; but it's twice as hard on me, 'cause the +Captain whips me every chance he gets." + +Tip knew from his master's actions that something was wrong, and he +licked the face that was drawn with deep lines of pain so lovingly that +Tim's tears came in spite of his will. + +He was lying by Tip's side, moaning and crying, when old black Mose, the +cook, was attracted to the spot by his sounds of suffering. + +"Wha-wha-wha's de matter, honey? Wha' yer takin' on so powerful 'bout?" + +Tim paid no attention to the question, repeated several times, nor did +he appear to feel the huge black hand laid so tenderly on his head. + +"Wha's de matter, honey? Has Cap'en Pratt been eddercatin' of yer?" +Then, without waiting for a reply, he continued: "Now don' take on so, +honey. Come inter de kitchen wid ole Mose, an' let him soothe ye up a +little. Come, honey, come wid me, an' bring de dorg wid yer." + +While he spoke the old colored man was untying the rope which fastened +Tip, for he knew the boy would follow wherever the dog was led. And in +that he was right, for when Tip went toward the little box Mose called a +kitchen, he followed almost unconsciously. + +Once inside the place where the old negro was chief, Mose took his +jacket off, and bathed the ugly-looking black and blue marks which had +been left by the rope, talking to the boy in his peculiar dialect as he +did so, soothing the wounds on his heart as he treated those on his +body. + +"Now don' feel bad, honey; it's only a way Cap'en Pratt has got, an' you +must git used to it, shuah. Don' let him fret yer, but keep right on +about yer work jest as ef yer didn't notice him like." + +Mose bathed the wounds, gave Tip such a feast as he had not had for many +a day, and when it was done, Tim said to him: "You're awful good, you +are; but I'm afraid the Captain will make you sorry for it. He don't +seem to like me, an' he may get mad 'cause you've helped me." + +"Bress yer, chile, what you s'pose ole Mose keers fur him ef he does git +mad? The Cap'en kin rave an' rave, but dis niggar don' mind him more'n +ef he was de souf wind, what carn't do nobody any harm." + +"But--" Tim began to say, earnestly. + +"Never mind 'bout any buts, honey. Yer fixed all right now, an' you go +down in de cabin an' go ter work like a man; ole Mose'll keep keer ob de +dorg." + +Tim knew he had already been away from his post of duty too long, and +leaving Tip in the negro's kindly care, he went into the cabin, feeling +almost well in mind, although very sore in body. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: NOT UP IN HIS PART.--DRAWN BY SOL EYTINGE, JUN.] + + + + +PHIL'S BURGLAR. + +BY FRANK H. CONVERSE. + + +I am Phil Morris, fourteen years old, and the youngest clerk in Covert +Savings-Bank. The cashier is my uncle Jack, and he began at the bottom, +where I am, when _he_ was a boy. He says that a boy had better grow up +with a country bank than go West and grow up with the country. He thinks +there's more money in it. + +"If there's anything in you," he said one day, "you'll work your way up +to be bank president some time." And I guess it's better to be president +of a country bank than to be President of the United States. Anyway, you +wouldn't have to be shot before folks began to find out that you were +doing your level best to keep things straight. Uncle Jack says and does +such queer things sometimes that people say he's odd. They tell about +his being so wrapped up in our bank that he never had time to hunt up a +wife. I notice, though, that when father and mother died, and left me a +wee little baby, Uncle Jack found time to bring me up, and give me a +good education to boot. Oh, he's as good as gold or government bonds, +Uncle Jack is. + +We live in rooms over the bank, where old Mrs. Halstead keeps house for +us. Underneath, we do the business. There's heaps of money in our two +big vaults. + +Last summer--and, mind you, this was while _I_ was away on vacation--two +men broke into the building. They came up stairs, and into Uncle Jack's +room. One had a bull's-eye lantern that he flashed in Uncle Jack's face +as he sat up in bed, and the other pointed a big pistol right at his +head. + +"Tell us where the vault keys are, or I'll shoot you," he said. + +"Oh, Uncle Jack," I broke in, when he was telling me about it, "what +_did_ you do?" + +"What would you have done?" he asked, in his odd way. + +"I know what I _wouldn't_ have done," I answered him, straightening up a +bit--"I wouldn't have given 'em the keys." + +"Ah!" Uncle Jack says, kind of half doubtful, and then went on: "Well, I +told them to shoot away. And they knew as well as I did that shooting +wouldn't bring them the keys. So when they found they couldn't frighten +me, the scoundrels tied me, and went off in a rage, with my watch and +pocket-book." + +That was last summer. One night along in the fall Uncle Jack started off +down town. "It's Lodge night, and I may not be back until late," he +said. "You won't mind staying alone--a great boy like you." And of +course I said "No." + +But somehow, after Mrs. Halstead went to bed, I found I _did_ mind it. I +don't know what made me feel so fidgety. Perhaps it was reading about a +bank robbery in Bolton, which is the next town to Covert. It was thought +to be the work of Slippery Jim, a notorious burglar. And while I was +thinking about it, I dozed off in Uncle Jack's easy-chair. + +"Ow-w-w!" I sung out all at once. And if you'd woke up of a sudden to +see a rough-looking man, with a slouch hat pulled over his eyes, +standing right in front of you, you'd have done the same. "What--what do +you want here?" I sort of gasped; and I tried to speak so he wouldn't +hear my teeth knock together. + +"The vault keys--where are they?" he answers, short and gruff. And then +he kind of motioned with his hand--I suppose to show the revolver he was +holding. + +I was pretty badly scared; but all the same, I didn't mean he should +have those vault keys, if he shot the top of my head off. + +"Come, hurry up," he said, with a sort of grin. And I noticed then that +he had red whiskers, and some of his upper front teeth were gone, so +that he didn't speak his words plain. + +"I should know you anywhere," I thought. "Strategy, Phil Morris," I said +to myself, bracing up inside; for a story I'd read about how a lady +caught a live burglar came across me like a flash. "Please don't shoot, +sir," I began to say, with all sorts of demi-semi-quavers in my +voice--"please don't; indeed I'll show you where they're kept." So +making believe to shake all over, I took the lamp, and led the way into +Uncle Jack's bedroom. "The k-k-k-eys are in th-there, sir," I told him. + +You should have seen how my fingers trembled when I pointed to the +little store-room that opened out of the chamber. The keys were there, +true enough, but I'd like to see any one except Uncle Jack or I find +them. I suppose you have heard of such things as secret panels. + +The store-room floor is lower than the chamber floor. Many a time, when +I haven't been thinking, I've stepped down with a jar that almost sent +my backbone up through the top of my head. + +"In there, eh?" said my bold burglar, quite cheerful like, and pushed by +me to the open door. + +I set the lamp down, and my heart began to beat so that I was almost +afraid he could hear it. "Now or never," I whispered. + +It was all done quicker than you could say "knife." I put my head down +like a billy-goat, and ran for the small of his back. "Butted" isn't a +nice word, but that's just how I sent him flying headlong into the +closet. I heard him go down with a crash that shook Mrs. Halstead's +biggest jar of raspberry jam off the shelf. + +I didn't stop to take breath until I'd locked the door and barricaded it +with Uncle Jack's big mahogany bureau--just as the lady did in the +story. Then I breathed--and listened. What I heard made my eyes stick +out a bit. First I almost felt like crying. Then I laughed until I did +cry. I suppose the excitement made me hystericky. It wasn't ten minutes +before I roused up Mr. Simms the constable, and Jared Peters, who lives +next door. Mr. Simms brought along an old pepperbox revolver and a pair +of handcuffs. Jared Peters had his double-barrel gun, but in his flurry +he forgot to load it. + +Up stairs we hurried. The two men pulled away the bureau, and Mr. Simms, +who was in the army, stationed us in our places. + +"Look a-here, you feller," Mr. Simms called out, "the strong arm of the +law is a-coverin' of you with deadly weepons. Surrender without +resistance.--Phil, yank open the door." + +I flung open the door. Jared Peters covered the prisoner with his gun. +He was covered with something else too--Mrs. Halstead's raspberry jam, +that he'd been wallowing round in. He didn't look proud, though, for all +he was so stuck up. + +Before he could open his mouth Mr. Simms had him handcuffed and dragged +out into the chamber. + +"There," he said, with a long breath, "I guess _you_ won't burgle no +more right away." + +"For goodness' sake, Simms--Peters--don't you know me--Mr. John Morris, +cashier of the savings bank." That was what the prisoner said just as +soon as he could speak. + +Well, I didn't wait any longer. I just bolted for my own room, where I +could lie down on the floor. And there I lay laughing until I was purple +clear round to my shoulder-blades. Then I went to bed. + +"Philip," said Uncle Jack, solemnly, while we were at breakfast next +morning, "I should beg your pardon for trying to test your courage in +the--the consummately idiotic way I took to do it last night, but"--and +he looked pretty sheepish--"I--I think I got the worst of it." + +"I think you did, sir," I answered him, choking a bit. + +"The disguise was a good one, though," he went on, with a sort of feeble +chuckle, "and leaving my false teeth out, changed my voice +completely--eh, Phil?" + +"Yes, sir--until you hollered out in the closet that it was all a joke, +and wanted me to let you out," I answered him, as I got up and edged +toward the door. + +"Why didn't you let me out then?" roared Uncle Jack, who is rather +quick-tempered. + +I hope I wasn't impudent. Truly, I didn't intend to be. "Because, Uncle +Jack," I said, as I turned the door knob, "I have heard you say more +than once that he who can not take a joke should not make one." And as I +dodged through the door I heard Uncle Jack groan. + + + + +[Illustration: NOT TALL ENOUGH.] + + + + +GOOD-NIGHT. + +BY W. T. PETERS. + + + Good-night, happy stars, + With your yellow eyes; + Good-night, lady moon, + In the evening skies; + Good-night, dusky world + And the boundless deep; + I am tired out; + It is time to sleep-- + Time, time to sleep. + Good-night! Good-night! + + Good-night, weary boy; + It has been decreed + That some mysteries + Only a child can read; + But the sweet child-heart + May you always keep, + And the stars will be yours, + And the boundless deep-- + The boundless, boundless deep. + Good-night! Good-night! + + + + +SEEING THE BIG WORLD. + +BY F. E. FRYATT. + + +Andrew, the florist, set out one fine day for a trip to the wood that +lay a mile beyond his greenhouses. + +He was a grand old man, who loved all the beautiful things God has +scattered over this earth, from the tiny grass blade pushing up through +the brown mould, to the mighty oak spreading its branches like a giant +in the forest. As he entered the wood he marked how the sunshine, +flickering down through the trees, made patches of gold on the green +turf, and turned the pebbles in the brook into pearls. Time had not +dimmed old Andrew's eye nor dulled his ear, nor had he lived his sixty +years without learning to understand the soft voices of nature. As he +strolled thoughtfully along he became aware of a gentle murmuring sound +proceeding from groups of flowers that seemed to nod and smile when he +drew near them. Throwing himself at full length on the turf, he +listened; at first he could make nothing out of all the sweet babble +poured into his ear, until Jack-in-the-pulpit became spokesman for the +occasion. + +In a pretty speech Jack told how they had heard of a grand flower show +that was soon to come off in the great city, and confessed to the +annoyance he and his companions felt at always being neglected on such +interesting occasions, closing his long address by praying that the wild +flowers might be treated with as much respect as the Pelargoniums, the +Gladioluses, and all their other fashionable cousins. + +Andrew heard Jack's remarks with a smile that was more sad than merry, +marvelling how these innocent creatures, shut up in the heart of the +wood, could have heard anything of the show. + +"I have it," said he: "some gadding bee, or perhaps a gossiping sparrow, +fresh from town, has carried the matter. Well, well, they must learn how +profitable is content, and how foolish silly ambitions." + +"My pretty dears," sighed the old man, leaning on his spade, and +regarding the blossoms, "you will 'never be sorry but once, and that +will be always.' As well might a fish try to live on land as you in the +stifling city." + +So saying, Andrew thrust his spade deep into the rich soil, disengaging +the delicate roots that bound the flowers to their sylvan home. + +When he had deposited as many Trilliums, Lilliums, Violets, and Anemones +in his basket as he desired, the good old man proceeded to a boggy spot +in the woods, and brought away with him Lady-slippers, Orchids, +Pitcher-plants, Irises, Sundews, and Sweet-cicely, who wished to see the +big world too. + +Andrew now turned to go home, but, dear me! his work was but half done, +for a butterfly, fluttering seaward, carried the news to the +pine-barrens, and straightway Pyxidanthera, the beauty, cried out--and +the soft sound of her crying came pitifully: "Don't leave me all alone +in the pine-barrens; it is too lonely; I too would see the great world +at the flower show." + +"It is strange that you've never been lonesome before," thought Andrew, +stooping down where the wee pink beauty sat on her mossy throne, and +lifting her gently into his basket. Nor did his labors end here; for a +troop of Daisies in a field near by heard the tidings, and almost burst +their green jackets in impatience to be going; nor could he resist the +pleadings of a band of young Buttercups, so he kindly added these to the +delicate passengers in the wicker car, and hastened on. But once more +his fine ear caught the sound of complaining. + +Looking toward his right hand, he discovered a group of ancient +Dandelions bowing their gray heads to him, and listening, heard them +sighing: "Once we had tresses like the sun. Why come so late, so late?" + +"Too late! too late!" chimed another voice. + +"Ay, ay, too late," replied the old man, trudging on toward his +greenhouse, for he had much to do to prepare his rustic beauties for +their trip to the city. + +"Oh dear," said a young Violet a week after, when they were all +flourishing in the greenhouse, "why am I always to be in the shade, and +that great Japonica towering above me?" + +"And I too," murmured a Wind-flower, flushing faintly. + +"Who cares for any of them?" chirruped a Daisy. "Here or there matters +not to me." + +"_You_ are near the sun, madam," argued an Orchid. + +"Be quiet, all of you," roared Jack-in-the-pulpit. "Who'll care for +Japonicas and such common folk when _we_ go to town?" + +There was common-sense in that, so the wild flowers settled down in +silence. + +The day before the show there was a fine uproar in the greenhouses. The +wild flowers babbled and laughed and danced on their stems for joy. No +one knew it but Andrew, and he said nothing. + +Such a snipping and binding and showering was kept up all day that when +evening came they were glad to fall asleep in their packing boxes, nor +did they waken until daybreak, when the men moved them into a large +covered van on wheels. + +By-and-by they heard a great trampling of hoofs, and a clatter. The +horses were being harnessed to the van. Presently, with a jerk, they +were off to the wonderful city--the big world they had never seen. + +Now began their troubles in true earnest. The ground quaked and trembled +beneath them; it was pitchy dark. Would the sun never shine again? Could +no one speak a word of encouragement or consolation? + +On, and on, and on they kept going, until at last, as nothing fearful +happened, they ventured a little conversation. + +"What a dash I shall cut at the show!" exclaimed a Turk's Lily. + +"And I, in white and pink ribbons!" cried the pine-barren's beauty. + +"Be quiet, little vanity," muttered a muffled voice in the corner. "Who +will look at you when I am by?" + +Andrew knew the great scarlet Amaryllis had spoken, and he said to +himself, "We'll see, my fair lady." + +The beauty cowered in silence, but a Violet whispered, "Shame!" + +When the flowers reached the hall, with its long baize-covered tables, +they forgot their troubles, and were greatly pleased. Men were running +to and fro, boxes were being opened, and flowers all muffled from top to +toe were coming in by the dozens. Here stood a regiment of Azaleas in +white hoods and muffs, like a young ladies' boarding-school ready for a +winter walk. There stood a company of Lilies with their night-caps on, +and yonder a tall object swathed in tissue-paper. "Who can she be?--some +grand personage truly," whispered a Daisy. + +At that moment came a young man with sharp scissors. He cut off her +cloak, and there stood lovely Miss Clereodendron, in white and scarlet +from head to foot. "How exquisite!" cried all the flowers together. + +But soon they found other wonders. On a table near at hand lay the +daintiest sprays of flowering Peach, Almond, and Cherry, bunches of tiny +Jonquils, creamy Magnolias, flaming Pirus, and May-apple. + +As soon as all the flowers were comfortably settled in their stands and +vases, they began to look around, and recognized their neighbors. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Jack-in-the-pulpit; "who expected to see _you_ here?" + +"Why not, as well as you, Sir Impudence?" retorted May-apple, sharply. + +But by-and-by the visitors came pouring in by the dozens. Beautiful +ladies swept by in silks and diamonds and laces; gallant gentlemen came +too, with eye-glasses perched on their noses. They did not even look at +the wild flowers. + +The wild flowers grew troubled, and commenced to murmur; but Jack +whispered, "Bide your time." + +"_I_ don't envy them," said an Orchid, looking complacently down at her +own yellow slippers. + +"Nor I," laughed a Daisy, smoothing her satin petticoat. + +"If they didn't hold their heads so high, they would see us," murmured a +Violet. + +But the crowd passed on, drawn by the brilliant beauties of the Cacti, +the flames of the Amaryllis Lilies, the purple of the great Pansies. + +"They will never come near us," sighed the Violet. + +"I faint--I faint!" murmured the Pitcher-plant, dropping her urn. + +"Oho! oho! now we shall have a change," cried Jack, as the clock struck +three. And sure enough the bright-eyed school-children came trooping in, +and caught sight of them. + +"Oh, my darling little Violets, where did you come from? And oh, you +sweet, sweet Daisies!" cried one yellow-haired lassie. + +"And these Buttercups!" screamed another. + +"And droll old Jack; who would have thought to see _him_ in town?" +chimed a third. + +"Tit for tat, Master Jack," whispered May-apple, tartly. + +The moment the children recognized the beauties of the wild flowers, +every one else did. Old gentlemen with high-bred noses came and peered +at them through big spectacles. Young ladies talked of their families, +and--oh, horrors!--said they would like to dissect them. Old ladies +smiled on them pleasantly, and one, a grandmother, actually shed tears, +and said, "I haven't seen their like in fifty years." + +But now it began to grow tiresome, this big world they had come to see; +the sunlight streamed through the great windows, the tiny blossoms grew +faint in the sultry air. When would the hum of speech grow silent, the +clouds come brooding above them, and the soft rain-drops patter down? + +The flowers grew fainter and fainter. A grand old man is now speaking at +the end of the hall; but they can not listen. + +"Oh, for a breeze from the pine-barrens!" sighed the beauty. + +"Give me to drink the dew of the meadow," moaned the Daisy. + +"I die for the woodland shadows," murmured the Violet. + +"And I for the sound of cool waters," wept the Lily. + + + + +[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 94, August 16.] + +PENELOPE. + +BY MRS. JOHN LILLIE. + +CHAPTER III. + + +"Why, aunt," exclaimed Penelope, "what do you mean? Surely you can't +have seen this screen of Lion's?" + +"But I _have_, dearest," Miss Harleford said, dreamily. "I have seen +this long ago--before you were born. Oh, Penny dear, it all comes back +to me. This screen, I am _sure_, is one your own papa gave to Nora +Phillips, an American girl who visited us at Baynham. Oh yes, love, I am +sure of it, for we had such a discussion about it; and don't you suppose +I would know my dear brother's painting? I was looking over his shoulder +half the time he was putting in those letters--'Penelope.' Dear, you +were named Penelope, I believe, for her sake. Your mother was very fond +of the name, and when it was suggested, your father remembered pretty +Nora. Well! well!" + +"But _she_ was not Penelope," said the girl, wonderingly. "Oh, aunt, +what does it all mean?" + +"But we always _called_ her Penelope in fun, because she was such an +indefatigable little worker. Oh, what a darling she was, and how we all +loved her!" + +"But what became of her?" + +"Well, my dear, you see, after she and her father went back to America, +we rather lost sight of her--she and my mother had a little +misunderstanding. It is all a long time ago, and your grandmamma and my +dear brother are both dead. Nora may be gone as well, but I seem to see +her now just as she stood, laughing gayly, with this screen in her hand. +Oh, where can she be? Where did Lion find it? I feel as if I _must_ +know." + +Penelope felt as if she would dearly like to solve the mystery of her +cousin Lionel's present. She went back to the breakfast table very +grave, and so preoccupied in manner that she had to explain herself at +once; and then all the young people were fired by the story. What did it +mean? Penny grew absolutely mournful trying to understand it, but it was +finally resolved to write to Lionel, who, in a few weeks at least, would +let them have the history of the screen, so far as he knew it. This was +all that could be done at present. + +Penelope and her aunt were only visitors at the Deanery. Their own home +was ten miles distant from Nunsford. There Penny was mistress of a +beautiful old home known as The Manor. Miss Harleford had been for years +as a mother to the girl, and although her uncle, the Dean of Nunsford, +was her legal guardian, she knew no heavier rule than the gentle old +lady's. If there could be needed a complete contrast to poor Nora Mayne, +it might have been in the petted heiress of Harleford Manor. Every one +tried his best to make her life happy, and I think only her natural +loveliness of disposition saved Penelope from being completely spoiled. + +The letter to Lionel Harleford, Penelope's second cousin, who had just +gone to India, was dispatched at once, and for days Aunt Letty talked +over old times with her brother and nieces. The Dean only half +remembered the beautiful, bright American girl who had visited his +mother's house, now Penelope's, twenty years before; but Miss Harleford +recalled so many scenes to his memory that he was soon as eager about +Lion's letter as the most romantic member of the family could desire. +Many conjectures were put forth, many ideas suggested; but who could +guess that not half a mile away the once light-hearted Nora Phillips lay +poor and dying! + +Meanwhile things continued to sink lower and lower with Nora and her +mother, the worst feature of their case being the fact that kind-hearted +Mrs. Bruce could no longer keep them; her son James had suddenly +appeared, and declared himself horrified to find his mother keeping +lodgers who could not pay their rent; and so, with many tears, poor Mrs. +Bruce had broken this news to Mrs. Mayne. + +"Of course we must go," said poor Nora, looking at the tender-hearted +landlady with a white face and set lips. "Oh, Mrs. Bruce, I know it +isn't your fault, and if the day comes when I can earn anything, you +shall be paid." + +Mrs. Bruce wept bitterly the day that saw Mrs. Mayne, still weak and +ill, leave the house with Nora, whose brave heart was tried to its +uttermost. Where were they to go? Nora could not be sure enough to tell +even Mrs. Bruce. She had sold the last of their wardrobe that morning, +and as Mrs. Bruce refused to take a penny from them, they started forth +with money enough to pay somewhere for a week's lodging. + +"I will try to let you know where we are, Mrs. Bruce, as soon as +possible," said Nora, turning back with a weary smile as they were +leaving. + +Mrs. Bruce wiped her eyes, and vented her feelings upon James, her tall, +vulgarly dressed son, who was gazing with great satisfaction upon the +lodgers' departure. + +"You good-for-nothing creature!" exclaimed his mother, angrily +indignant. + +Mr. James Bruce smiled sarcastically. He did not share any of his +mother's compassion for forlorn lodgers. + +"Never you mind, mother," he said. "You'll thank me one of these days." + +Days passed with no tidings from the Maynes. Mrs. Bruce could not forget +her lodgers, and Nora's face, as she had seen it last, haunted her +painfully. Where were they? Had the mother died? Was Nora ill? Were they +starving? These and many other conjectures tormented the poor woman as +the days lengthened into weeks, and no sign was made by mother or +daughter. Many times Mrs. Bruce's tears fell over her wools when she was +alone in the shop, and recalled the December evening Nora had served +there, uniting so much sweet good-humor with her refined, lady-like +ways, which had from the first captivated the heart of the simple-minded +country-woman. Mrs. Bruce had a small assistant now in the person of a +niece, and this young woman was never tired of hearing about Miss Mayne. +She was listening to one of her aunt's stories as they sat over the fire +in the shop one February day, when she suddenly exclaimed: + +"Law, aunt, there's Miss Penelope Harleford in the Deanery +carriage--coming in here, too!" and there, sure enough, was bright Miss +Penny, in a long fur cloak, and a pretty felt hat shading her sweet +young face. "A picter," as Mrs. Bruce said, "worth taking down." Young +Miss Harleford came hurrying in, looking very eager and interested. + +"I've come to inquire for some one who sold a screen here, Mrs. Bruce," +said the young lady, cheerfully. "My cousin, Mr. Lionel Harleford, +bought it here in December--a young lady sold it to him." + +"Land, miss!" cried Mrs. Bruce, "so she did, my poor pretty! I wish I +knew where she was now--she and her mother." + +Penelope looked dismayed. + +"And you _don't_ know!" she exclaimed. + +"I wish I did," repeated Mrs. Bruce. "Mary Jane and I was just talking +of her. Gone, poor lamb, she and her mother, and I know nothing of +them." + +And Mrs. Bruce proceeded to detail the history of Nora and her mother, +so far as she knew it. The sad, simple story left no doubt upon +Penelope's mind as to who they were. + +"Nora Phillips," she said to herself. "Yes, she was Mrs. Mayne, I feel +sure, and so near us!" + +She confided a few facts only to Mrs. Bruce, and then sorrowfully drove +back to the Deanery, where she and Aunt Letty held a long confab in the +twilight. What could be done? Aunt Letty cried, and Penelope shook her +head sadly, but she declared that she would not give up the search +suggested in so strange a manner that it seemed her duty to continue it. +Could Penelope and her aunt have seen Nora at that moment, I fear they +would have gone to rest with a bitterer heart-ache. + +Afternoon service was over the next day at the abbey church, yet +Penelope lingered with little Joe, loitering down the path, where the +snow still lay white on the ground, talking to the little boy about the +service, which that day had peculiarly impressed her. She was thinking +of Nora Mayne, recalling Mrs. Bruce's description of the sweet young +girl whose life was so heavily burdened. + +"And I," thought Penny, with a shamefaced color--"I have _everything_, +and yet how cross and selfish I am!" + +"Penelope! Penelope!" cried out little Joe, pulling at her hand; "see +those sparrows--do they mind the snow?" + +And at this moment Penny heard what she thought the echo of her name. + +"Penelope," said a strange voice; there was a faint, despairing ring in +it. + +Penelope stood still, turning her head quickly in the direction of the +unfamiliar voice. Standing in the side path was a girl's figure; the +hands were tremblingly clasped together, the face, thin and pale, +eagerly watching her. + +[Illustration: "PENELOPE--IS IT PENELOPE?"--DRAWN BY E. A. ABBEY.] + +"Penelope--is it Penelope?" said the tired voice again. "Oh, was it for +you he bought the screen?" + +And in a moment more Nora Mayne felt her hands fast imprisoned in young +Miss Harleford's. There were tears running down the English girl's +cheeks. + +"Oh, Nora," she said, joyfully, "I am so thankful to have found you!" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING. + +MAMMA. "If you continue to be so naughty, I'll have to buy a whip to +punish you with." + +MIMI. "But when I'm good, you'll let me play with it, won't you, mamma?" + +[_A fact._]] + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + + SCHLOSS KIS-TABOR, POST: ROHITSCH, STYRIA, AUSTRIA. + + My brother and I are so glad to get YOUNG PEOPLE again! We both + like it so very much! I will tell you something about this part of + Croatia. It is called "Zagoria," which means "beyond the + mountains." Our peasants live principally on maize, made into bread + and a sort of porridge. They are a good-natured and gay-tempered + people, and always singing. Our most important products are wine, + "slivovitz" (plum-brandy), and dried plums. Not far from us, on a + lofty hill, stood a Celtic Temple of the Sun. Later, the Romans + conquered the Celts, and we have some ancient Roman coins and + broken bronze objects dug up in the vineyards. Looking out from our + windows one sees innumerable churches, chapels, castles, + picturesque ruins, and far-away snow-covered Alps. It is very + beautiful. We have a pet donkey, and a pretty little carriage to + drive in. I am collecting coins, fossils, and minerals. + + Last week a Bosniak came into our court-yard leading a bear caught + in Slavonia. He waltzed, saluted, kissed his master, and then held + up the tambourine for money. We sent him some wine and bread, which + he devoured greedily. + + LUCY KAVANAGH. + + * * * * * + + CAMP CARLING, WYOMING TERRITORY. + + My two little boys, aged four and six years, want me to tell you + that they were very much interested in Mr. Frey's article about + Indian relics. They tried this summer with their mamma to dig up a + grave on a hill near the South Platte River. But being in a ledge + of rock, the mamma and little boys were not strong enough to get + down more than two feet, and had to give it up. Mamma tried to hire + a man to dig for her, but the men were all afraid of small-pox. It + was said that thirty years ago more than a thousand Indians had + died of small-pox, and had been buried in that vicinity. A ranchman + on a neighboring hill, however, had opened one, and we obtained + some clam shells, a red clay pipe, a thin piece of bark with some + blue writing on it, and a round leather amulet worked with beads. A + few weeks later, Sidney and Willie drove with their papa and mamma + through North Park, Colorado, into Middle Park, and on a hill near + the range which separates the two parks they found about a hundred + graves which had never been molested. They wanted very much to open + them, but had no shovel, and could not spend the time to stop. I + wonder how many more of the Young People have tried to open graves. + + MRS. MARY E. B. + + * * * * * + + BURLINGTON, IOWA. + + I am nine years old. Papa has taken YOUNG PEOPLE for me ever since + it was published. I like the stories very much, and would like to + see the little girls who write such nice letters. I have one sister + and two brothers. I wish the little readers of YOUNG PEOPLE could + see my cat Polly. She can knock on the door, walk on her hind-feet, + and beg for food like a dog, and will come to us when we whistle, + and do lots of cunning tricks. + + My brother Arthur has a dog whose name is Brownie, and he can + laugh. He looks so funny. We have two pigs, and a horse. Mamma one + day found a coal-black kitty in the street, and brought him home. + He is now a big cat, and very pretty. Mamma calls him Frank. + + When I write again I will tell you about my doll family. + + LOUISE L. + + * * * * * + + JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. + + I have a little Scotch terrier named Nellie, and she loves me + dearly. Every time I enter the house she kisses me, and will stand + on her hind-legs, sit up, beg, and do lots of tricks. I am seven + years old. + + HARRY L. + + * * * * * + + BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. + + I think the stories of "Toby Tyler," "The Moral Pirates," and "The + Cruise of the 'Ghost'" are very nice, and I hope the story of "Tim + and Tip" will be equal to any of the three. Another boy will write + on the rest of this sheet. + + EDDIE G. + + I have a velocipede, and so has Eddie G. He and I are great + friends, and we have nice times together. We have some pigeons at + our house, but we intend to give them away. We have given away all + our chickens. We had three canaries, but one flew away, and my + mother is afraid the cat got it. + + A. T. + + * * * * * + + WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. + + Seeing the article in No. 93 on "How the Baby Elephant Eats + Pea-Nuts," I thought I would write and tell you of a nut-cracker + which I discovered in the same show that contained the "baby." My + father and I were watching a number of the larger elephants hunting + for pea-nuts thrown in the straw, when I saw one of them who, if he + found a nut, would take it up with his trunk, and rub it against + his leg until the shell was cracked, after which he proceeded to + eat the kernel. I am glad C. H. Williamson has accepted the + presidency of the Natural History Society. I for one am entirely in + favor of admitting girls. + + C. M. H. + +Your interest in the article about the baby elephant, and your own +observation of the way the baby's big brother managed his pea-nuts, +prove that you will be a good member of the society. Some of our boys +and girls are, we fear, waiting to be very dignified before they send +any letters with regard to what they have seen. Some wish to send a long +report. The better way is to write about interesting things, one at a +time, just as they are noticed. + + * * * * * + + BENTLEY'S, MARYLAND. + + I often think about Toby Tyler. If he had only staid with the + circus, he would not have lost dear Mr. Stubbs. I am anxious to + know how the boys who went on "The Cruise of the 'Ghost'" got along + with their canoe cruise, or if they ever had one. + + MCB. + + * * * * * + + SANDWICH ISLANDS. + + We have observed so many nice little girls writing to you that we + have been thinking for some time that we would send you a letter. + We are Hawaiians, as our mother is a native of the island, though + our father is a white man. We live close to the mountains, and have + quite a number of birds around our place. Land-shells are as + numerous on the mountains as sea-shells are down on the beach. Some + time hereafter we may probably visit New York, and then we shall + not forget to go and see the editor of YOUNG PEOPLE, and thank him + very much for making such a nice paper for children. It has been a + great comfort to us, and amused us many a lonely hour. We are a + large family, consisting of father, mother, four sisters, six + brothers, one nephew, and one niece. _Aloha_ (love to you). + + LYDY, ELIZA, and HANNAH. + +Our love to you, little friends. We will be glad to see you in New York +some day. + + * * * * * + + ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. + + I am thirteen years old. I came to New York from England, May 23, + 1880, on the steam-ship _City of Chester_ (Inman Line). We made a + short trip of nine days and eight hours. I like this country very + much, but sometimes wish myself back in the old home. I began to + take your paper about two months ago. I think "The Cruise of the + 'Ghost'" was a very instructive and interesting story, and I hope + "Tim and Tip" will be more so. I like the Post-office Box very + much, especially the puzzle column. I have made an effort to write + an enigma myself, and have sent it with this letter. + + HUGH P. W. + + * * * * * + + FREEPORT, ILLINOIS. + + We were very much gratified to see dear Mary's name among those who + had sent answers to the tangles. The letter she wrote you in July + was her last writing. She was taken sick the following Monday with + malignant diphtheria, and before another Sabbath closed, her + trusting heart was asleep in Jesus. His name was the last upon her + lips. I wish that all who die could exercise her calm, + unquestioning faith in Christ. The Thursday before she died, she + looked eagerly in the puzzle department for her name. I explained + again that it could not possibly be in for a week yet at least. "I + wonder if they will publish my enigma, mamma? If I get well, I'll + send that diamond I made up yesterday." On Wednesday she felt so + well, and all day amused herself drawing birds and trees, and made + a diamond and some-beheadings. She thought so much of YOUNG PEOPLE! + She was a poor scribe, but her thoughts were very quaint, and + expressed in the language of culture. She rarely made a grammatical + error, and all things fine seemed natural to her. As we all grow + interested in the little folks whose names fill your departments, I + thought I would send you this notice that the dear bird who + brightened our home for so brief a time, and who promised our + hearts such lofty pleasure through her active mind and bright + imaginings, will never on this earth sing for you again. + + MRS. E. C. BURCHARD. + +From time to time in our great circle of readers, dear children, some +drop from the ranks. Little Mary will never be forgotten in her earthly +home, and those who loved her here will hope to meet her again where +there is no death. We are glad she found so much pleasure in YOUNG +PEOPLE. + + * * * * * + + NEW YORK. + + I am only five years old, and my mamma is going to write this + letter for me. I think "Toby Tyler" was a "booful" story; but I did + cry when Mr. Stubbs got "shotted." And I want you, please, to ask + Mr. Otis not to kill Tim's poor little doggie. Tim's the boy in the + new story. I have got three little new kittens, and I am going to + name them Toby and Tim and Tip. + + AMY E. V. + + The kitties are Blossie's "chillun." + + * * * * * + + MONTE SANO, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. + + I would like to tell you what a nice time I am having on our lovely + mountain, four miles from Huntsville, where I am spending the + summer. I make beautiful sand houses, and my mamma ornaments them + with fairy feet, which she makes with her hands. They look like a + baby's tiny foot. I have a dear little baby brother, whose name is + Tyler. For fun we call him Toby Tyler. I am going to send an + offering to the "Young People's Cot," for I think it will be very + nice to have one which the readers of the paper may claim. I enjoy + my paper very much, as I am now beginning to be able to read it + myself. + + EDWIN L. W. + + * * * * * + + NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I am ten years old, and have never been to school, but study at + home. We have a cat that was born with three legs. His name is + Trip. The first time Trip ever saw Rover, our dog, he ran right up + to him, and ever since he always runs up to Rover when frightened. + Once we had a Maltese cat who was very fond of Rover, and Rover was + fond of Tom. Once mamma and papa were looking out of the window, + and they saw Tom with his tail full of burrs, and Rover pulling + them out. He got them nearly all out, when he came to one that + stuck so hard that when he tried to pull it out it lifted Tom right + up in the air. Tom was rather surprised, but concluded that it was + all right, while Rover did not know what to do. At last he put his + paw on Tom's tail, so that he should not be lifted up, and pulled + out the burrs. Papa did have a live porcupine, but it died. I like + the YOUNG PEOPLE very much indeed. I think that "Toby Tyler" was + splendid. + + M. N. W. + + * * * * * + + PORTLAND, MAINE. + + I am sure I shall like "Tim and Tip" as much as I did "Toby Tyler" + for it begins so well. I wrote a composition on Toby, and I know a + boy who has a monkey that is the very picture of Mr. Stubbs. I am + almost ten years old. + + EDDIE L. M. + + * * * * * + + PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. + + My father has coal-works, and the engineer is teaching me how to + run his locomotive. It is about the best one in the United States, + and it is named for me. + + LOUIS B. H. + + * * * * * + + BLACKFOOT, ONEIDA COUNTY, IDAHO. + + I thought I would write a letter, as I have seen no letters from + this part of the country. My brothers Willie and James and I sent + 50 cents each to get your nice paper. I am the oldest, so I wrote + for it, and had it come in Willie's name, because he thought it + would be so nice to have it addressed to him. We have no schools + here, and we study at home. + + FRED J. + + * * * * * + + OWENSBOROUGH, KENTUCKY. + + I am almost ten years old, and I live in Kentucky, on the Ohio + River, and first and last have lots of fun. I have the cutest dog. + His name is Dodger. He is only a puppy, but can shake hands and + carry sticks like anything. Our whole family mourned Mr. Stubbs's + sad death. I have some queer stones and pebbles that I found in our + Kentucky caves and creeks and on the hill-sides, that I will + exchange for things from other States. + + MALCOLM H. MCINTYRE. + + * * * * * + + INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. + + Some fifty days ago I sent to a boy in Mankato, Minnesota, 250 + postmarks, he agreeing to send Indian relics in exchange. I have + asked him to send them three times, but he will not answer. If he + is out of relics, he ought to return the postmarks or send some + word. + + FLETCHER M. NOE. + +Perfect honor and honesty should be observed by exchangers. We hear +complaints like this with regret, and hope the delinquent boy will +explain the matter. Several correspondents are in trouble because those +who have written to them have carelessly omitted to give their proper +names and addresses, or have written illegibly. + +We have spoken of this frequently, but we call attention to it now +because it has been almost impossible for us to read some of the +exchanges lately sent to the Post-office Box. Please write plainly, and +with ink; pencil marks are rubbed off in the mail. Again we say, in +answer to several inquiries, that there is no charge for exchanges. We +do not accept those which offer or ask for money, however, because they +come under the head of advertisements, and refer to buying and selling. + + * * * * * + + FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA. + + My home is on a farm two miles from Falls City, four miles from the + line of Kansas, and eight from the Missouri River. I have three + brothers and two sisters at home. We read the first chapter of "Tim + and Tip" to-day, and we do not blame Tim for running away. We think + it will be a very good story. + + Like many of the young people who write for the Post-office Box, we + had a pet. It was a young mare named Nelly, and she was so gentle + that any of us could ride her; but last week, when she was in the + pasture, she lay down to roll near a rattlesnake, and it bit her so + that she died in three days. She swelled very much, and suffered + terribly, and we all felt like crying when she died. Papa has + buried her in the orchard. She left a little colt only six weeks + old, and we have given it to another mare, who now has two colts to + care for. There used to be a great many rattlesnakes here, but they + are getting scarcer every year. I wish some good saint would drive + all the snakes out of Nebraska, as St. Patrick is said to have + banished them from Ireland. + + MAMIE H. H. + + * * * * * + +The following exchanges are offered by correspondents: + + Foreign stamps, for same. Write to describe exchange. + + E. E. BROWN, Comstock's Bridge, Conn. + + * * * * * + + Three varieties of Chinese coins, for not less than twenty rare + U. S. or foreign postage stamps; or a genuine Japanese silver coin, + very rare, for a _Collectors' Directory_; or a rare silver coin of + Bogota, issued in 1853, for an international stamp album. + + J. W. MILNES, P. O. Lock Box 19, + Bloomfield, Sonoma Co., Cal. + + * * * * * + + Pieces of abylona from the Pacific Ocean or Chinese coins, for rare + U. S. or foreign postage stamps. + + CHARLES S. MILNES, Lock Box 9, + Bloomfield, Sonoma Co., Cal. + + * * * * * + + Two hundred and twenty-five postmarks, of which all are different, + and 135 are Michigan, for 150 foreign stamps, all different. Rare, + revenue, and common stamps, for bills, minerals, coins, relics, and + ores, stamps from Guatemala, Transvaal, Uruguay, and Ionian Isles; + three Cuban, two Mexican, or two Danish West Indian stamps, for a 7 + or 90 cent War Department stamp or a Chinese stamp; five rare + stamps, for a good arrow-head. Please write before sending stamps. + Also the numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE between 52 and 71, for five + foreign stamps; and numbers 74 and 76, for 33. + + TEDDY SMITH, + 641 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Mich. + + * * * * * + + _Louis Sinclair_, by Laurence Lancewood, crystallized flint that + will cut glass or wood, bark from Missouri, a sprout of persimmon, + a sprout of peony-flag, and of flowering-almond, for a pair of + gold-fish; also some of the above, for a bouquet of + everlasting-flowers. Write before exchanging. + + FRANK BRYAN, Papinsville, Bates Co., Mo. + + * * * * * + + A great basketful of pretty flints, fine white marble, granite, + potter's clay, and twenty carnelians, a few chalcedony, and in + another month a large supply of thirty kinds of flower seeds, for + ores, minerals, or anything suitable for a museum. Write address + plainly on each package, even if only a postal be sent. + + ANNA and L. FAVRE, + Ontario, Story Co., Iowa. + + * * * * * + + A large number of duplicate album cards to exchange with + collectors. + + E. S. R., + 7 Joslyn Park, Rochester, N. Y. + + * * * * * + + Soil from Louisiana, for flower seeds. + + FRANK W. SHOTWELL, + 192 Harmony St., New Orleans, La. + + * * * * * + + A genuine Indian bow and two arrows, which were made by the + Chippewa Indians, who live north of here, for the largest + assortment of minerals or curiosities offered me. Correspondents + will please write soon. + + HORACE MITCHELL, Duluth, Minn. + + * * * * * + + Six foreign stamps, all different, for one of the following U. S. + stamps: 2, 3, 7, 10, 12 cent Department of State; 7, 10, 15 cent + Navy; 2 or 6 cent Executive; 2, 10, 12, 15 cent Justice; 7 or 90 + cent War; or forty stamps for the $5, $10, $20 Department of State. + + H. B. F., P. O. Drawer 184, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. + + * * * * * + + _Youth's Companion_ for 1880 and part of 1881 (unbound), for + Vol. I. of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. Send postal before sending YOUNG + PEOPLE. An old Mexican and a Venezuela stamp, for a U. S. half-cent + of any date. Some silk-worm eggs, on card-board, from Japan, for + half-cent or odd silver coins. A lot of Kansas and Western + postmarks, for department stamps. + + "A READER OF YOUNG PEOPLE," + P. O. Box 1341, Moline, Ill. + + * * * * * + + Fifteen postmarks, for ten foreign stamps (no duplicates) or two + foreign coins of any date; a piece of soapstone from Kate's + Mountain, Wisconsin, for minerals, curiosities, stamps, coins, or + stones. + + RALPH J. WOOD, Coldwater, Mich. + + * * * * * + + One picture card, for one foreign stamp or three postmarks; a stone + from New York, for one from any other State or Territory. + + FLORENCE POPE, + P. O. Box 60, Scottsville, Monroe Co., N. Y. + + * * * * * + + Germany, France, Japan, Hong-Kong, and other rare stamps, for rare + stamps and curiosities of all kinds. + + ROBERT FERGUSON, + 890 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, L. I. + + * * * * * + + A Dexter scroll-saw in good order, for a self-inking + printing-press, chase not less than 2 by 4 inches, and in good + working order. Please write before sending press, and describe it. + + W. H. S., care James A. Guest, + Burlington, Iowa. + + * * * * * + + A piece of petrified sea-bird, for Indian relics, Indian + arrow-heads, moss, plants, sea-shells, minerals, ores, pressed + ferns and flowers, stone and soil from any other State, coins, + woods, star-fish, papers, fossils, or Florida sea-beans; ten + foreign stamps, for soil and stone from any other State. + + WHITMORE STEELE, care of Captain H. S. Steele, + Babylon, L. I. + + * * * * * + + A 3-cent adhesive of 1851 and '61, a 3-cent envelope of 1853, or a + 6-cent envelope of 1870, for rare foreign stamps. + + GEORGIE C. WEISSERT, + 193 Twelfth Street, Milwaukee, Wis. + + * * * * * + + My entire museum (which contains 250 specimens), for a good + repeating rifle or a good bicycle. Write a postal to Professor + W. S. Ryland for information. + + LAMAS H. PORTER, + Russellville, Logan Co., Ky. + + * * * * * + + Stones from Ohio and Lake Erie, for the same from any other State, + lake, or river. Marble from Vermont, New York, Kentucky, or Italy, + for the same from any other State or country. + + LYON CAUGHEY, Seville, Medina Co., Ohio. + + * * * * * + + Florida moss and minerals, for things suitable for a museum; South + American and Florida shells, for minerals and curiosities. + + GEORGE SCHULZE, + Box 42, Okawville, Washington Co., Ill. + + * * * * * + + Three pieces of English money, dated 1722, 1747, and 1806, and a + silver coin of East India, dated 1841, for Indian relics. Write, + stating the relics you offer in exchange. + + W. G. FLANAGAN, + Johnstown, Cambria Co., Penn. + + * * * * * + + German, French, English, and Italian stamps, for stamps from Asia + or South America. + + W. J. MURRAY, P. O. Box 91, Annapolis, Md. + + * * * * * + + A pair of fine young bantams, for a collection of butterflies, + minerals, or Indian relics. + + SYDNEY BROWN, + 23 West Jersey St., Elizabeth, N. J. + + * * * * * + + Foreign coins and stamps from India and Denmark, for 24 and 90 cent + of any issue, and 30-cent of any issue except present one. + + N. C. TWINING, JUN., Batavia, Kane Co., Ill. + + * * * * * + + Stones from Pennsylvania, for stones from any other part of the + world. + + NATTIE PRATT, + Glen Mills, Delaware Co., Penn. + + * * * * * + + A shell, a stone from Indiana, petrified wood, a petrified wasps' + nest, and other curiosities, for curiosities. + + ALBERT BREWER, + Danville, Hendricks Co., Ind. + + * * * * * + + Chinese bark from California, and a hedge that George Washington + planted at Mount Vernon, for Indian relics. + + CLARENCE BREWER, + P. O. Box 222, Danville, Ind. + + * * * * * + + I have a fine collection of silk cocoons, and would like to + exchange some for foreign stamps from any country except France, + Germany, or Italy. + + ALBERTO DAL MOLIN, care Giuseppe dal Molin, + Verona, Italy. + + * * * * * + + Twenty stamps, for an Indian arrow-head or any foreign coin except + Canadian; forty stamps, for a U. S. half-cent. No duplicate stamps + given. + + JOANNA MAY WYLIE, + Prairie Centre, Lasalle Co., Ill. + + * * * * * + + Ten War Department stamps, for ten from Jamaica. + + CHARLES WILLIAMSON, + 88 East Third St., Cincinnati, Ohio. + + * * * * * + + Two books, both nearly new--_Lucy Woodville's Temptation_ and + _Reuben Inch_--to any one who will send me the back numbers of _St. + Nicholas_ for 1881 and the successive numbers as soon as they shall + have been read. Please write before exchanging. + + JESSIE LEE RENO, Marengo, Iowa. + + * * * * * + + Fifteen foreign stamps and ten postmarks, for three alligator's + teeth. + + H. S. WHITTEMORE, + Box 79, Needham, Mass. + + * * * * * + + A stone from Massachusetts and one from New Hampshire, for + curiosities. + + FANNIE METCALF, + 61 Vernon St., Lowell, Mass. + + * * * * * + +[_For other exchanges, see third page of cover._] + + * * * * * + +At the request of a correspondent we publish this sensible extract from +an exchange, in the hope that our young people will follow its excellent +advice: + +THE FACE. + +It is a mistake to believe that a good complexion depends upon the use +of such and such cosmetics. It really depends upon digestion, which +itself depends upon our mode of life. Persons who rise early and go to +bed regularly at ten, who take plenty of air and exercise, eat with +moderation at regular hours, having their meals at intervals long enough +for the digestion of one to be thoroughly accomplished before they begin +the next--these persons are sure to digest well, and in consequence have +clear, healthy complexions, which will require no other cosmetics but +plenty of soft water and good toilet soap. The hygiene of the eyes is +very simple. For them, as well as for the complexion, good digestion is +equally necessary; more so, for no cosmetic could remove the yellow +tinge which biliousness imparts to them, and if some mysterious pencils +can supply the insufficient shadow of rare eyelashes, good health alone +can give them that brightness which is their principal beauty. Never +read in bed or in a reclining attitude; it provokes a tension of the +optic nerve very fatiguing to the eyesight. Bathe your eyes daily in +salt water; not salt enough, though, to cause a smarting sensation. +Nothing is more strengthening; and we have known several persons who, +after using this simple tonic for a few weeks, had put aside the +spectacles they had used for years, and did not resume them, continuing, +of course, the oft-repeated daily use of salt water. Never force your +eyesight to read or work in insufficient or too glaring light. Reading +with the sun upon one's book is mortally injurious to the eyes. + + * * * * * + +E. L. Douglas, Whitby, Ontario, Canada, wishes the address of the person +who sent him a box containing coral, and marked K. M. S. + + * * * * * + +J. H. C.--By Chinese stamps are meant Hong-Kong stamps issued by the +British government. + + * * * * * + +C. E. C. Diffenderfer withdraws from the exchange list. + + * * * * * + +WROTON M. KENNEY.--There is no better book for the reading of an +intelligent lad who wants to know how his country is governed than +_Politics for Young Americans_, by Charles Nordhoff, published by Harper +& Brothers. The price is 75 cents. + + * * * * * + +JENNIE AND JULIA.--It is difficult to assign you subjects for +compositions when we do not know your grade of advancement. If you wish +to excel, read good books, choose easy topics, about which you know +something, and write as though you were telling a story to a child or +talking to your friends. + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Parton," Theresa +Morro, C. Burr, Alfred R. Meeker, "North Star," "_Unknown_," Flora A., +"Dandy," "Lodestar," Annie Gail, Wroton M. Kenney, G. Volckhausen, +"Venus," Abel Foster, "Jersey City," William Wolff, Jessie Newton, J. H. +Jenny. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +PYRAMID. + +Across.--1. A letter. 2. Jurisprudence. 3. Surfeited. 4. That which +fades from view. + +Down.--1. A letter. 2. A prefix. 3. A resinous substance. 4. Tardy. 5. +To harry. 6. A prefix. 7. A letter. + + AEROLITE. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +NUMERICAL ENIGMA.--(_To North Star_). + + My 2, 3, 5, 6 is a cobbler's tool. + My 1, 7, 8, 9 is a past participle. + My 6, 9, 4 is a boy's nickname. + My whole is an English statesman. + + LODESTAR. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +GEOGRAPHICAL WORD SQUARE. + +A noted city in Arabia. A gulf east of Africa. A river in Russia. A +country in Asia. + + WROTON M. KENNEY. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +ENIGMA. + + In apple, not in cherry. + In joyful, not in merry. + In riddle, not in guess. + In mixture, not in mess. + In pleasure, not in pain. + In miller, not in grain. + In Harper's, not in YOUNG PEOPLE. + In church, but not in steeple. + In garden, not in bower. + My whole's a sweet and modest flower. + + M. L. EDGERLEY. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 93. + +No. 1. + +Arm-chair. + +No, 2. + + B + F I D + F A C E S + B I C Y C L E + D E C A Y + S L Y + E + +No. 3. + +Freight-car. + +No. 4. + +Vanderbilt. + +No. 5. + + W Y O M I N G + S A O N E + I N N + T + T A R + S I N A I + Y U C A T A N + + * * * * * + +A personation, on page 656.--Tooth. + + + + +[Illustration: BLACKBERRIES.] + + + + +A (RIVER IN IDAHO) STORY. + +BY C. E. M. + + +One fine day a friend of mine named--(two towns in Maine) suggested to +me that we should take advantage of the--(mountain in Alaska) by going +to drive. + +We trotted slowly past the--(town in Kentucky), where an exciting game +of--(town in Wisconsin) was going on, and after passing through +the--(town in Vermont) of the town, were soon enjoying the refreshing +coolness of the woods. + +Suddenly the horse gave a--(point on the coast of England), and (city in +West Virginia) in the narrow road, bordered by high--(strait in British +America), the carriage overturned, and we were both thrown out. + +Fortunately this did not prove a serious--(cape in Australia), for we +were but slightly bruised, and the horse made no attempt to run. + +On looking about to discover a--(bay in Ireland) to our steed's fright, +strange enough in such an unfrequented (lake in Canada) spot, I suddenly +perceived in the middle of the road a large--(sea of Europe) (river in +Idaho), with (sea of Asia) spots. + +While--(town in Maine) was trying to right the buggy, I cautiously +advanced, and seizing a--(city in Arkansas), hurled it with all my force +at the (river in Idaho). + +My aim did not prove--(bay in Africa), and the animal's head was smashed +to--(river in Australia). + +"(City in Arizona), (city in North Carolina)!" cried my friend. +"Hereafter, in any such--(bay in Australia), I shall rely on you +to--(river in Austria) me." + +The coast being now once more--(cape in Ireland), we finished our drive +in--(river in British America), without further excitement than that +caused by a--(cape in Newfoundland) with a team which tried to pass us. + +I for one was heartily glad to come in sight of the--(city in Germany) +of our little town; and after a joyful--(island in the Indian Ocean) +with my family, was quite ready to say--(cape in Greenland) to--(town in +Maine), notwithstanding his--(cape in Washington Territory) on the +subject of my bravery. + + + + +THE PEA-NUT. + + +The pea-nut is the fruit of a plant common in warm countries. It is +sometimes called the ground-pea and ground or earth nut, and in the +Southern States the goober or goober-nut. Still another name for it is +pindal or pindar, and in Western Africa it is called mandubi. The plant +is a trailing vine, with small yellow flowers. After the flowers fall, +the flower stem grows longer, bends downward, and the pod on the end +forces itself into the ground, where it ripens. + +Pea-nuts are raised in immense quantities on the west coast of Africa, +in South America, and in the Southern United States. The vines are dug +with pronged hoes or forks, dried for a few days, and then stacked for +two weeks to cure. The pods are picked by hand from the vines, cleaned +in a fanning mill, and sometimes bleached with sulphur, and packed in +bags for market. Pea-nuts are sometimes eaten raw, but usually roasted +or baked. In Africa and South America they form one of the chief +articles of food. Large quantities of them are made into an oil much +like olive-oil, and which is used in the same way. It is also used in +the manufacture of soap. A bushel of pea-nuts, when pressed cold, will +make a gallon of oil. If heat is used, more oil is made, but it is not +so good. In Spain, pea-nuts are ground and mixed with chocolate. Pea-nut +vines make good food for cattle. + +The pea-nut gets its name from the shape of its pod, which is like that +of the pea.--_Young Folks' Cyclopædia_. + + + + +[Illustration: MR. PIG. "Humph! now I can take a little rest."] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, August 30, 1881, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 49046 *** |