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diff --git a/old/50798-0.txt b/old/50798-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6a0d998..0000000 --- a/old/50798-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2993 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, -December 24, 1898, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, December 24, 1898 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: December 30, 2015 [EBook #50798] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - - - - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER - -VOL. XX.--NO. 991.] DECEMBER 24, 1898. [PRICE ONE PENNY.] - - - - -ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE. - -BY JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of "Sisters -Three," etc. - -[Illustration: "AN ATTITUDE CALCULATED TO SHOW OFF ALL THE SPLENDOUR OF -HER ATTIRE." (_See page 183._)] - -_All rights reserved._] - - -CHAPTER XII. - -As Peggy sat writing in the study one afternoon, a shaggy head came -peering round the door, and Robert's voice said eagerly: - -"Mariquita! A word in your ear! Could you come out and take a turn -round the garden for half an hour before tea, or are you too busy?" - -"Not at all. I am entirely at your disposal," said Peggy elegantly, and -the young people made their way to the cloak-room, swung on coats and -sailor-hats, and sallied out into the fresh autumn air. - -"Mariquita," said Robert; then, using once more the name by which he -chose to address Peggy in their confidential confabs, "Mariquita, I -am in difficulties. There is a microscope advertised in _Science_ -this week that is the very thing I have been pining for for the last -six years. I must get it, or die, but the question is--_how?_ You see -before you a penniless man." He looked at Peggy as he spoke, and met -her small, demure smile. - -"My dear and honourable sir----" - -"Yes, yes, I know; drop that, Mariquita! Don't take for granted, like -Mellicent, that because a man has a title he must necessarily be a -millionaire. Everything is comparative! My father is rich compared to -the Vicar, but he is really hard up for a man in his position. He gets -almost no rent for his land nowadays, and I am the third son. I haven't -as much pocket-money in a month as Oswald gets through in a week. Now -that microscope is twenty pounds, and if I were to ask the governor -for it, he wouldn't give it to me, but he would sigh and look wretched -at being obliged to refuse. He's a kind-hearted fellow, you know, -who doesn't like to say 'No,' and I hate to worry him. Still--that -microscope! I must have it. By hook or by crook, I must have it. I've -set my mind on that." - -"I'm sure I hope you will, though for my part you must not expect me -to look through it. I like things to be pretty, and when you see them -through a microscope they generally look hideous. I saw my own hand -once--ugh!" Peggy shuddered. "Twenty pounds! Well, I can only say that -my whole worldly wealth is at your disposal. Draw on me for anything -you like--up to seven and six! That's all the money I have till the -beginning of the month." - -"Thanks!--I didn't intend to borrow, I have a better idea than that. -I was reading a magazine the other day, and came upon a list of prize -competitions. The first prize offered was thirty pounds, and I'm going -to win that prize. The microscope costs only twenty pounds, but the -extra ten would come in usefully for--I'll tell you about that later -on! The _Piccadilly Magazine_ is very respectable and all that sort of -thing, but the governor is one of the good old-fashioned, conservative -fellows, who would be horrified if he saw my name figuring in it. I'm -bound to consider his feelings, but all the same I'm going to win that -prize. It says in the rules--I've read them through carefully--that you -can ask your friends to help you, so that there would be nothing unfair -about going into partnership with someone else. What I was going to -suggest was that you and I should collaborate. I'd rather work with you -than with any of the others, and I think we could manage it rather well -between us. Our contribution should be sent in in your name, that is to -say, if you wouldn't object to seeing yourself in print." - -"I should love it. I'm proud of my name, and it would be a new -sensation." But Peggy spoke in absent-minded fashion, as if her -thoughts were running on another subject. Rob had used a word which -was unfamiliar in her ears, a big word, a word with a delightful, -intellectual roll, and she had not the remotest idea of its meaning. -Collaborate! Beautiful! Not for worlds would she confess her ignorance, -yet the opportunity could not be thrown away. She must secure the -treasure and add it to her mental store. She put her head on one side, -and said pensively: - -"I shall be most happy to er--er----In what other words can I exactly -express 'collaborate,' Rob? I do so object to repetition!" - -"Go shags!" returned Robert briefly. "I would do the biggest part of -the work, of course, that's only fair, because I want two-thirds of the -money, but you could do what you liked, and have ten pounds for your -share. Ten pounds would come in very usefully for Christmas." - -"Rather! I'd get mother and father lovely presents, and Mrs. -Asplin too; and buy books for Esther, and a little gold ring for -Mellicent--it's her idea of happiness to have a gold ring. I'll help -you with pleasure, Rob, and I'm sure we shall get the prize. What have -we to do? Make up some poetry?" - -"Goodness, no! Fancy me making up poetry! It's to make up a calendar. -There are subjects given for each month--sorrow, love, obedience, -resignation--that sort of thing, and you have to give a quotation for -each day. It will take some time, but we ought to stand a good chance. -You are fond of reading, and know no end of poetry, and where I have -a pull is in knowing French and German so well. I can give them some -fine translations from the Latin and Greek too, for the matter of that, -and it will look kind of swagger to put the authors' names underneath. -That will impress the judges, and make 'em decide in our favour. I've -been working at it only three days, and I've got over fifty quotations -already. We must keep note-books in our pockets, and jot down any ideas -that occur to us during the day, and go over them together at night. -You will know a lot, I'm sure." - - "'Sorrow and silence are strong, - and patient endurance is godlike, - Therefore accomplish thy labour of love, - till the heart is made godlike,'" - -quoted Peggy with an air, and Rob nodded approval. - -"That's it! That's the style! Something with a bit of a sermon in it -to keep 'em up to the mark for the day. Bravo, Mariquita! you'll do it -splendidly. That's settled then. We shall have to work hard, for there -is only a month before the thing must be sent off, and we must finish -in good time. When you leave things to the last, something is bound to -come in the way. It will take an age to write out three hundred and -sixty-five extracts." - -"It will indeed, for they must be very nicely done," said Peggy -fastidiously. "Of course it is most important that the extracts -themselves should be good, but it matters almost as much that they -should look neat and attractive. Appearances go such a long way." And -when Robert demurred and stated his opinion that the judges would not -trouble their heads about looks, she stuck firmly to her point. - -"Oh, won't they though. Just imagine how you would feel if you were -in their position, and had to look over scores of ugly uninteresting -manuscripts. You would be bored to death, and after plodding -conscientiously through a few dozen, you would get so mixed up that -you would hardly be able to distinguish one from another. Then -suddenly--suddenly"--Peggy clasped her hands with one of her favourite -dramatic gestures--"you would see before you a dainty little volume -prettily written, easy to read, easy to hold, nice to look at, and -do you mean to say that your heart wouldn't give a jump, and that -you would not take a fancy to the writer from that very moment? Of -course you would, and so, if you please, I am going to look after the -decorative department and see what can be done. I must give my mind -to it----Oh! I'll tell you what would be just the thing. When I was -in the library one day lately I saw some sweet little note-books with -pale green leaves and gilt edges. I'll count the pages, and buy enough -to make up three hundred and sixty-five, and twelve extra, so as to -put one plain sheet between each month. Then we must have a cover. -Two pieces of cardboard would do, with gilt edges, and a motto in old -English letters, 'The months in circling orbit fly.' Have I read that -somewhere, or did I make it up? It sounds very well. Well, what next?" -Peggy was growing quite excited, and the restless hands were waving -about at a great rate. "Oh, the pages! We shall have to put the date at -the top of each. I could do that in gold ink, and make a pretty little -skriggle--er--'_arabesque_,' I should say, underneath to give it a -finish. Then I'd hand them on to you to write the extracts in your tiny -little writing. Rob, it will be splendid! Do you really think we shall -get the prize?" - -"I _mean_ to get it! We have a good library here, and plenty of time if -we like to use it. I'm going to get up at six every morning. I sha'n't -fail for want of trying, and if I miss this I'll win something else. My -mind is made up! I'm going to buy that microscope!" Robert tossed his -head and looked ferocious, while Peggy peered in his rugged face, and -womanlike admired him the more for his determination. - -They lingered in the garden discussing details, planning out the work, -and arranging as to the different books to be overlooked until the tea -hour was passed, and Mrs. Asplin came to the door and called to them to -come in. - -"And nothing on your feet but your thin slippers? Oh, you Peggy!" -she exclaimed in despair. "Now you will have a cold, and ten to one -it will fly to your throat. I shall have to fine you a penny every -time you cross the doorstep without changing your shoes. Summer is -over, remember. You can't be too careful in these raw, damp days. Run -upstairs this minute and change your stockings." - -Peggy looked meek, and went to her room at once to obey orders; but the -mischief was done, she shivered and could not get warm, her head ached, -and her eyes felt heavy. Mrs. Asplin looked anxiously at her in the -drawing-room after dinner, and finally called her to her side. - -"Peggy, come here! Aren't you well? Let me feel your hand. Child, it's -like a coal! You are in a fever. Why didn't you tell me at once?" - -"Because I--really, it's nothing, Mrs. Asplin! Don't be worried. I -don't know why I feel so hot. I was shivering only a minute ago." - -"Go straight upstairs and take a dose of ammoniated quinine. Turn on -the fire in your room. Max! Robert! Oswald! Esther! Mellicent! will -everyone please look after Peggy in the future, and see that she does -not run out in her slippers!" cried Mrs. Asplin in a despairing voice, -and Peggy bolted out of the door in haste, to escape before more -reproaches could be hurled at her head. - -But an alarm of a more serious nature than a threatened cold was to -take place before the evening was over. The young people answered -briefly, Mrs. Asplin turned back to her book, and silence settled down -upon the occupants of the drawing-room. It was half-past eight, the -servants had carried away the dinner things, and were enjoying their -evening's rest in the kitchen. The Vicar was nodding in his easy-chair, -the house was so quiet that the tick of the old grandfather clock in -the hall could be heard through the half-opened door. Then suddenly -came the sound of flying footsteps, the door burst open, and in -rushed Peggy once more, but such a Peggy, such an apparition of fear, -suffering, and terror as brought a cry of consternation from every -lip. Her eyes were starting from her head, her face was contorted in -spasmodic gaspings for breath, her arms sawed the air like the sails of -a windmill, and she flew round and round the room in a wild, unheeding -rush. - -"Peggy, my child! my child! what is the matter? Oh, Austin--oh! What -shall we do?" cried Mrs. Asplin, trying to catch hold of the flying -arms, only to be waved off with frenzied energy. Mellicent dissolved -into tears and retreated behind the sofa, under the impression that -Peggy had suddenly taken leave of her senses, and practical Esther -rushed upstairs to search for a clue to the mystery among the medicine -bottles on Peggy's table. She was absent only for a few minutes; but -it seemed like an hour to the watchers, for Peggy's face grew more -and more agonised, she seemed on the verge of suffocation, and could -neither speak, nor endure anyone to approach within yards of her mad -career. Presently, however, she began to falter, to draw her breath in -longer gasps, and as she did so there emerged from her lips a series of -loud whooping sounds, like the crowing of a cock, or the noise made by -a child in the convulsions of whooping-cough. The air was making its -way to the lungs after the temporary stoppage, and the result would -have been comical if any of the hearers had been in a mood for jesting, -which, in good truth, they were not. - -"Thank heaven! She will be better now. Open the window and leave her -alone. Don't try to make her speak. What in the world has the child -been doing?" cried the Vicar wonderingly; and at that moment Esther -entered, bearing in her hand the explanation of the mystery--a bottle -labelled "Spirits of Ammonia," and a tumbler about an eighth full of a -white milky-looking fluid. - -"They were in the front of the table. The other things had not been -moved. I believe she has never looked at the labels, but seized the -first bottle that came to her hand--this dreadfully strong ammonia -which you gave her for the gnat bites when she just came." - -A groan of assent came from the sofa on which Peggy lay, choking no -longer, but ghastly white, and drawing her breath in painful gasps. -Mrs. Asplin sniffed at the contents of the tumbler, only to jerk back -her head with watery eyes and reddened lids. - -"No wonder that the child was nearly choked! The marvel is that she -had ever regained her breath after such a mistake. Her throat must -be raw!" She hurried out of the room to concoct a soothing draught, -at which Peggy supped at intervals during the evening, croaking out -a hoarse, "Better, thank you!" in reply to inquiries, and looking so -small and pathetic in her nest of cushions that the hearts of the -beholders softened at the sight. Before bedtime, however, she revived -considerably, and her elastic spirits coming to her aid, entertained -the listeners with a husky but dramatic account of her proceedings. How -she had not troubled to turn the gas full up, and had just seized the -bottle, tilted some of the contents into a tumbler in which there was a -small portion of water, without troubling to measure it out, and gulped -it down without delay. Her description of the feelings which ensued -was a really clever piece of word painting, but behind the pretence -of horror at her own carelessness, there rang a hardly-concealed note -of pride, as though, in thus risking her life, she had done something -quite clever and distinguished. - -Mrs. Asplin exhausted herself in "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" of sympathy, and had -nothing harsher to say than-- - -"Well, now, dearie, you'll be more careful another time, won't you?" -But the Vicar's long face grew longer than ever as he listened, and -the lines deepened in his forehead. Peggy was inexperienced in danger -signals, but Esther and Mellicent recognised the well-known signs, and -were at no loss to understand the meaning of that quiet "A word with -you in the study, Mariquita, if you please!" with which he rose from -the breakfast-table next morning. - -Peggy's throat was still sore, and she fondly imagined that anxiety -on its behalf was the cause of the summons, but she was speedily -undeceived, for the Vicar motioned towards a chair, and said, in short -grave sentences, as his manner was when annoyed-- - -"I wish to speak to you about the event of last night, my dear. I am -afraid that you hardly realise the matter in its true light. I was not -at all pleased with the manner in which you gave your explanation. You -appeared to imagine that you had done something clever and amusing. I -take a very different view. You showed a reprehensible carelessness -in trifling with medicines in the dark; it might have caused you your -life, or, at best, a serious injury. As it was, you brought pain upon -yourself, and gave us all a serious alarm. I see nothing amusing in -such behaviour, but consider it stupid, and careless to an almost -criminal extent." - -Peggy stood motionless, eyes cast down, hands clasped before her, a -picture of injured innocence. She did not say a word in self-defence, -but her feelings were so plainly written on her face that the Vicar's -eyes flashed with impatience. - -"Well, what have you to say?" - -Peggy sighed in dolorous fashion. - -"I am sorry; I know it was careless. I am always doing things like -that. So is Arthur. So was father when he was a boy. It's in the -family. It's unfortunate, but----" - -"Mariquita," said the Vicar sternly, "you are _not_ sorry! If I had -seen that you were penitent, I should not have spoken, for you would -have been sufficiently punished by your own sufferings, but you are not -sorry; you are, on the whole, rather proud of the escapade! Look into -your own heart and see if it is not so?" - -He paused, looking at her with grave, expectant eyes, but there was -no sign of conviction upon the set face. The eyes were still lowered, -the lips drooped with an expression of patient endurance. There was -silence in the room while Peggy studied the carpet, and the Vicar gazed -at her downcast face. A moment before he had been on the verge of -anger, but the sternness melted away in that silence, and gave place to -an anxious tenderness. Here was a little human soul committed to his -care--how could he help? how best guide and train? The long, grave face -grew beautiful in that moment with the expression which it wore every -Sunday as he gazed around the church at the beginning of the sermon, -noting this one and that, having a swift realisation of their needs and -failings, and breathing a prayer to God that He would give to his lips -the right word, to his heart the right thought to meet the needs of his -people. Evidently sternness and outspoken blame was not the best way to -touch the girl before him. He must try another mode. - -"Peggy," he said quietly, "do you think you realise what a heavy -responsibility we laid upon ourselves when we undertook the care of -you for these three years? If any accident happened to you beneath -our roof, have you ever imagined what would be our misery and remorse -at sending the news to your parents? About their feelings I do not -speak; you can realise them for yourself. We safeguard you with every -precaution in our power; we pray morning and night that you may be -preserved in safety; is it too much to ask that you will do your part -by showing more forethought, and by exercising some little care in the -daily duties of life? I ask it for our sakes as well as your own." - -A faint pink flush spread over Peggy's cheeks; she gulped nervously and -raised her eyes to the Vicar's face. Twice her lips opened as if to -speak, but the natural reserve, which made it agony to her to express -her deepest feelings, closed them again before a word had been spoken. -The question was not answered, but a little hand shot out and nestled -in Mr. Asplin's with a spasmodic grip which was full of eloquence. - -"Yes, dear, I know you will! I know you will!" he said, answering the -unspoken promise, and looking down at her with one of his sweet, kindly -smiles. "It will be a comfort to my wife as well as myself. She is very -nervous about you. She was upstairs three times in the night to satisfy -herself that you were well after your fright, and is too tired herself -to come downstairs this morning. She is always bright and cheery, but -she is not very strong. You would be sorry to make her ill." - -No answer, only another grip of the hand, and a sudden straightening -of the lips as if they were pressed together to avoid an involuntary -trembling. There is something especially touching in the sight of -restrained emotion, and as the Vicar thought of his own two daughters, -his heart was very tender over the girl whose parents were separated -from her by six thousand miles of land and sea. - -"Well, now, dear, I have said my say and that is an end of it. I -don't like finding fault, but my dear wife has thrown that duty on my -shoulders by being too tender-hearted to say a word of blame even when -it is needed. Her method works very well, as a rule, but there are -occasions when it would be criminal to withhold a just reprimand." The -Vicar stopped short and a spasm of laughter crossed his face. Peggy's -fingers had twitched within his own as he spoke those last two words, -and her eyes had dilated with interest. He knew as well as if he had -been told that she was gloating over the new expression, and mentally -noting it for future use. Nothing, however, could have been sweeter -or more natural than the manner in which she sidled against him, and -murmured-- - -"Thank you so much. I am sorry! I will truly try," and he watched her -out of the room with a smile of tender amusement. - -"A nice child--a good child--feels deeply. I can rely upon her to do -her best." - -Robert was hanging about in the passage, ready, as usual, to fulfil his -vows of support, and Peggy slid her hand through his arm and sauntered -slowly with him towards the schoolroom. Like the two girls, he had been -at no loss to understand the reason of the call to the study, and would -fain have expressed his sympathy, but Peggy stopped him with uplifted -finger. - -"No, no--he was perfectly right. You must not blame him. I have been -guilty of reprehensible carelessness, and merited a reprimand!" - -(_To be continued._) - -[Illustration] - - - - -SOCIAL INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN EAST END GIRL. - - -PART I. - -AN EVENING AT A GIRLS' CLUB. - -I first made Belinda Ann's acquaintance at a social evening at a club -in Bethnal Green to which I had been invited by the lady who had -instituted it. - -In my innocence and ignorance (for at that time I was unacquainted -with the manners and customs of the East End) I took my little roll -of music in my hand, thinking I should be expected to contribute to -the evening's entertainment; but on arrival I found that this was not -necessary, as the girls were quite capable of amusing themselves and us -too. - -On certain occasions a fixed programme was arranged and carried out by -friends from the West End, but this happened to be an "off night," when -the members did pretty much as they pleased, my hostess leaving them to -their own devices entirely, and not interfering unless their spirits -threatened to get too boisterous. - -As she truly said: "You cannot expect the same manners and etiquette -here that you find among Lady Clara Vere de Vere and her friends at -their aristocratic club near Grosvenor Square, but my girls have a -great sense of honour and chivalry, and a word from me is generally -sufficient." - -The club-room was at the back of a large, old-fashioned house which at -one time, long, long ago, stood in its own extensive grounds in the -midst of a peaceful, rural neighbourhood. - -Now it was hemmed in on all sides by streets and houses teeming with -life, and the only relic of its former grandeur left was a tiny piece -of ground in front. - -Still, a certain air of aristocratic calm hung about it, and after my -recent long drive through the hot, crowded streets, I breathed a sigh -of relief when the front door closed behind me and I found myself in -the spacious entrance-hall. - -I followed the neat maid-servant (herself an East Ender born and bred) -along this out into a little paved yard, which we crossed, and up a -flight of break-neck stairs into the club-room. - -It was a long, narrow apartment, with a low platform at one end, and -the wooden walls were hung with gay-coloured bunting interspersed with -various flags, a few pictures from Christmas numbers, and some framed -texts. - -Odd strips of carpet, matting and rugs, covered the floor and on these -stood small tables laden with magazines, books and games, while little -chairs stood here and there not in stiff rows but in conversational -attitudes, so to speak. - -A fixed bench ran all round the walls, a piano (rather the worse for -wear inside and out) stood in one corner of the platform, and a few -plants in pots disguised by crinkled paper completed the furniture. - -Judging from the noise that greeted me when I entered, the lungs of -Belinda Ann and her friends were in fairly good condition, and I felt -distinctly alarmed as I advanced, for they all turned and stared at -me with one consent, making frank and audible remarks on my personal -appearance and dress. - -The room was crowded with girls, tall and short, dark and fair, fat and -thin, very few of whom were playing games or reading, but all of whom -were chattering as fast as their tongues would let them. - -I was relieved when the lady who had invited me stepped forward to -shake hands and at once piloted me up the room (for she knew I wanted -to learn all I could about my East End sisters) whispering as she went, -"I'm going to introduce Belinda Ann to you. You'll find out all you -want to know from her," and next minute I found myself deposited next -a girl who surveyed me with a mixture of good-humoured contempt and -watchful suspicion. - -The first was due to my small size, the second to a lurking conviction -that I wanted to patronise, or as she afterwards expressed it, "Come -the toff over her." - -As soon as she found out I was far from wishing to do this, she became -more friendly, and assured my hostess that she'd take care of the -"lydy." - -Belinda Ann was a head and shoulders taller than myself and broad in -proportion, although she was only eighteen. She possessed a quantity -of black hair which came down to her eyebrows in front in a thick, -straight fringe and was beautifully bright and clean. Brown eyes looked -fearlessly at you from under the fringe, and her whole manner was that -of a girl who, ever since she could walk, had had to fight for herself -and protect herself, and had done it too. - -You couldn't imagine anyone taking a liberty with Belinda Ann, although -she was hail-fellow-well-met with everyone. - -She might be a little rough in her manners, and not always too refined -in her speech, but Belinda Ann had a heart of gold, was as true as -steel to her friends, and thoroughly enjoyed life, taking the sweet -with the bitter, spending money royally when she had it, and cheerfully -going without when times were bad. - -This evening she was attired in a peacock-blue cashmere and plush -dress, which had seen its best days, almost covered by a large apron, -not so clean as it had once been, and surmounted by a limp black straw -hat adorned with some dejected-looking black feathers without a vestige -of curl about them, and various dirty white flowers which flopped -aimlessly over the brim. - -I noticed that her boots were strong and good, and that near her lay -a thick, handsome shawl, and in time I learnt that these two items of -dress rank next in importance to the famous feathers, and that every -true East Ender insists on having them of the best quality, and pays a -good price for them. - -Belinda Ann, meanwhile, having exhausted her interest in me, was -turning to exchange "chaff" with her other neighbour, when, with an -inward gasp, I plunged boldly into conversation. - -"Do you come here every evening?" I asked. - -"Depends!" was the abrupt answer, given in an off-hand, defiant sort -of way which characterised her manner with strangers. "P'raps I do an' -p'raps I don't!" and her look so plainly added, "What's it to you?" -that I refrained from pursuing the subject. - -"You all seem very lively," I hazarded next, with a look round. - -"So you'd be to get a chance to do somethin' beside work!" was the -fierce reply. - -This made a capital opening to the question I was longing to lead up -to, namely, "What do you do all day?" - -"Oh, I'm engyged in chemistry," was the proud reply, accompanied by a -visible swelling of her whole person. - -"Chemistry!" I ejaculated, rather awe-struck at finding her so clever. - -"'Ere, don't you believe 'er!" struck in a fair, florid girl next her -on the other side. "She's bluffin' yer! She only sticks the lybels on -the bottles at the cord-liver oil factry over the wy." - -Whereupon Belinda Ann, with perfect good-humour, made a grab at the -other's hat and a friendly little tussle ensued, accompanied by shrieks -of laughter and a brisk interchange of chaff. - -As soon as this interlude was over and they had once more settled down, -I took up the thread of conversation again. - -"And are all these girls engaged in sticking----I mean, in the -chemistry?" I inquired. - -"No," she retorted; "some's jam an' some's pickles, but the jams are -a low lot!" and the air of inexpressible scorn with which she said it -would not have disgraced a West End beauty alluding to another, "who is -not in our set, my dear." - -I began to think my hostess had made a mistake in assigning me to -Belinda Ann, as the latter seemed more disposed to snub me than -anything else, and I was rather relieved when the piano struck up and -the girls began to dance. - -There were no men present, but this did not at all interfere with their -happiness, and I sat lost in amazement at their extraordinary agility -and wonderful steps. - -Belinda Ann (or as I heard her friends call her, Blinderann) was in no -wise behind the others, and sprang hither and thither with the best. - -My hostess sank into a seat beside me and murmured apologetically-- - -"I let them do this to work off a little of their exuberant spirits, -for they would never sit still a whole evening, and would fight -probably if they had no other outlet. Some nights, if there is any -specially good concert or entertainment, I allow each girl to bring -one male relative or friend, but oddly enough they don't often avail -themselves of the permission. On an informal evening like this, when -there are only girls, I don't think a little physical exercise does -them any harm, and it tires them out so that they will listen to -anything I have to say to them afterwards. If I drew the rein too -tight, they would all disperse to the four winds and I should never get -hold of them again." - -I agreed, and presently seeing a girl leaning up against the wall, I -plucked up courage and asked her if she would care to have me as a -partner. - -She seemed slightly surprised, but consented graciously, and we took a -few turns together. - -I flattered myself I had got on fairly well, and felt so elated at my -success that by-and-by I sought Belinda Ann, who was fanning herself -vigorously with her hat, and requested the pleasure. - -[Illustration: ENVY.] - -Her answer rather stunned me. - -"No, thank'ee. I've been watchin' yer an' your style won't do fer me!" - -Before I had time to reply she was off again, taking part in some -very pretty figures in which narrow coloured ribbons were plaited and -unplaited as the girls holding the ends moved hither and thither. - -As soon as everyone was thoroughly tired and disposed to sit quiet for -half an hour or so, a girl (a stranger from the West End like myself) -was asked by the hostess to play something, and accordingly, thinking -as I should have done, that they preferred lively tunes, sat down and -began to rattle off some "catchy" popular airs. - -She was unceremoniously stopped by Belinda Ann-- - -"'Ere, we don't want that rot!" - -"Oh," mildly replied the unfortunate pianist, not quite knowing what to -say; "I thought you liked variety?" - -"No, we don't," retorted the other, misunderstanding her and thinking -she meant the music hall close by; "the V'riety costs tuppence an' we -can't 'ford it." - -"Well, what would you like?" was the inquiry. - -"Give us 'We are rout on the ocean syling,' or 'God be with you till -we meet agyne,'" and this request being complied with, these favourite -hymns were shouted out at the top of their voices, Belinda Ann's in -particular being like a clarion. - -After this a diversion was created by one of the "pickles" volunteering -a recitation which she gave with a good deal of dramatic power; -then another girl sang a little song, and Belinda Ann followed with -a second, and so the evening wore away to its close; but I felt -dissatisfied, for I seemed no nearer attaining my object than before. - -Taking the opportunity, I forcibly detained Belinda Ann as she was -drifting by, and diffidently observed-- - -"You've told me what you work at, but how do you amuse yourself?" - -"'Ow? There ain't much difficulty 'bout that!" she returned scornfully. -"There's this sort o' thing, an' bank 'ollerdys, an' weddins, an' -funerals, an' launchin' ships, an'-----" - -"I wish you'd let me go with you to some of these!" I eagerly -interrupted. - -She looked dubiously at me for a minute, thinking I was joking, but -seeing I was in earnest, remarked casually-- - -"Well, I don't mind ef I do, but it's a bit rough sometimes fer the -likes o' you." - -"Oh, I sha'n't mind," I joyfully replied. "When can I begin?" - -"A friend o' mine's goin' to be married the dy after ter-morrer," she -said graciously. "I could get yer an invite, if yer liked." - -"Do!" was my ecstatic response. "Where shall we meet?" - -"'Ere," she returned. "Yer can't go wanderin' about these streets by -yerself, an' it wouldn't do fer your grand friends to see me a-knockin' -at your door!" - -I was trying in vain to assure her that she was quite wrong, when -she suddenly rammed her hat viciously down on her head, slung her -shawl round her like a woollen whirlwind, and with the brief remark, -"G'night," was gone. I also soon afterwards took my leave, having first -told my hostess about the proposed expedition. - -She looked a little anxious, but her face cleared when she heard that -Belinda Ann was coming with me. - -"That's all right," she observed, with a sigh of relief. "She's to be -trusted to see that you come to no harm; but don't leave her for a -minute, and don't wear jewellery or carry much money." - -I promised, and went home full of anticipation at the idea of the new -world about to open before my delighted eyes. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -QUEENS AS NEEDLEWOMEN. - -BY EMMA BREWER. - - -CHAPTER III. - -After the death of Jean D'Albret a hundred years or more passed before -any Queen distinguished herself specially as a needlewoman, and by the -time Queen Mary, Princess of Orange, came to the throne, needlework as -an employment for the high-born had quite gone out of fashion. - -She, however, seemed to have the love of it born in her. Every hour -not occupied with devotion and business was spent by her in all kinds -of needlework; in fact, she worked so well and so constantly that one -might have supposed she was earning her daily bread. - -She regarded idleness as the greatest corrupter of human nature, and -she believed that if the mind had no employment it would create some of -the worst sort for itself. - -She tried to impress this upon the ladies of her Court, who had fallen -into sad habits of idleness which, she assured them, not only wasted -their time, but exposed them to many temptations. - -It was to remedy this and to imbue them with her love of work that she -assembled her ladies every day and worked with them for two or three -hours, and while thus employed, one was appointed to read aloud some -interesting book. - -As usual, the Queen's example was followed by all classes of women and -girls in the kingdom, and it became as much the fashion to work as it -had been to be idle. - -This example came in the very nick of time, for it was stated on good -authority, that "women had become quite mischievous from lack of -employment." - -This action of the Queen, which seems but a small thing, was in reality -a great step towards bettering the age. - -For proofs of this Queen's own beautiful work, one has only to go to -Hampton Court Palace where much of it is still to be seen. - -(Before leaving the seventeenth century, I should like to mention a -quaint fact. It is, that a Catherine Sloper is buried in the cloisters -of Westminster Abbey--date 1620. Her epitaph is, "Exquisite at her -needle." I thought it so curious, standing alone as it does.) - -Coming to the middle of the eighteenth century, we find a group of -royal needlewomen, most of whom found help and comfort in the art of -needlework. - -What, for example, would poor Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI., -have done without it in prison, or Josephine, wife of Napoleon, in her -retirement, or Queen Charlotte in her domestic sorrow? - -To begin with Marie Antoinette. She was devoted to needlework, even in -her happy and prosperous days. In her own private room at Versailles -the low chairs surrounding that in which she usually sat were always -full of workbaskets and bags containing wools, silks, and canvas; -these, together with the beautiful designs for the tapestry, were -bought at the firm of Dubuquoy. - -The Queen's hands were never idle; she was like a busy bee always at -work even when chatting with friends and visitors or waiting with her -bonnet on for the King to walk with her. - -Not only was she clever at embroidery and tapestry, but she could both -mend and make her dresses, her mantles, and under-linen; she could also -trim her hats and mend her shoes. - -Madame Elizabeth, her sister-in-law, who was with her all through her -sorrow, was equally clever with her needle, and the two together have -left some beautiful work in silk and wool on canvas. - -When she quitted her life at Versailles, she did not give up her -needlework; but inquietude and anxiety assailed her as she feverishly -sorted her wools in the Tuileries, hearing all the time the menaces and -threats of the howling crowd outside. - -Both in the Tuileries and in the Temple the Queen and Madame Elizabeth -did very simple work, that is to say, work not requiring concentration -of thought, which would have been impossible for them under the -circumstances. One can picture them, silent and sad, with heads bent -and speaking little, while their needles passed in and out the canvas -watered with tears. - -Yet so long as they were allowed to work there was some comfort left -them, something wherewith to beguile the time. - -Pauline de Tourzelle, the daughter of the governess, was taken with the -Royal Family when they were imprisoned in the Temple, but she had no -dress save that she had on. As some of Madame Elizabeth's clothes had -arrived, she gave the girl one of her dresses, but it did not fit her, -therefore the Queen and Madame Elizabeth set to work and re-made it. - -One of the pieces of work Marie Antoinette did in the Temple fell -into the hands of the Bernard family at Lille, by whom it is greatly -treasured. - -The account of the way the Royal Family passed their time in the Temple -is very pathetic. When at four o'clock the King slept in his arm-chair, -the Queen and Princesses worked at their tapestry or knitting, while -the little Dauphin learnt his lessons, and after the King had retired -for the night they mended their clothes or those of the King and the -Dauphin. - -It is stated that the King's coat became ragged, and as Madame -Elizabeth mended it, she had to bite off the thread with her teeth, as -the scissors had been taken away. - -So long as they were allowed to employ themselves with needlework there -was comfort for them, and yet more, for by their work they were able -to keep up some sort of correspondence with their friends outside the -prison. It is just possible that the jailors had a suspicion of this. -Anyhow, the time came when all their sewing materials and tools were -taken from them and they were desolate indeed. - -Subsequently when Marie Antoinette was removed to the Conciergerie, a -place of confinement of the lowest order, her suffering was greatly -increased at not being allowed to work. The jailors refused even -knitting-needles. At length the thought came to her of drawing out some -threads from the stuffing of her bed, which, with two wooden skewers, -she knitted into garters. - -Some of the work done by Marie Antoinette and Madame Elizabeth during -the last two years of their lives is still in existence, and consists -of hangings six feet by four. The groundwork of the tapestry is in -black wool, with bouquets of flowers, roses, pinks, and convolvulus, on -coarse canvas. - -Some of these hangings were acquired by Rome in 1881. - -The Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Buonaparte, both loved and -excelled in the art of needlework, and it certainly was of the greatest -possible comfort and solace to her during the years of her retirement. - -Like Marie Antoinette, she always worked at her embroidery or tapestry -when receiving her most intimate friends, and chatting with them late -in the evening. - -After her separation from Napoleon she took up her abode in beautiful -Malmaison, where, between botany and needlework, she spent most of her -time. The hangings of the saloon were entirely her own work, and the -exquisite furniture of her drawing-room was upholstered in embroidery -and tapestry worked by herself and her ladies in previous happy years. - -Needlework was not infrequently put on one side during the evening -hours, in order that Josephine, her ladies, and guests, might make lint -for the Sisters of Charity, who were greatly in need of it for the -wounded soldiers. - -We now come to our Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Had it not -been for the intense delight she took in the cultivation of decorative -needlework, the art itself might have been forgotten. - -She was not only very fond of needlework, but exceedingly anxious that -the Princesses should excel in the art. - -In the room where she usually sat with her family were some cane-bottom -chairs, and as an amusement in their play hours she taught the little -Princesses the different stitches on this rough substitute for -canvas. As the children grew older a portion of each day was devoted -to needlework, and with their mother for teacher they became very -accomplished needlewomen. - -The Queen herself embroidered the dresses which the Princesses wore -on the coming of age of the Prince of Wales. They were white crêpe -embroidered with silver. - -She worked several sets of chairs, which are now at Frogmore and -Windsor. These she did in her early days. Later in life she employed -herself almost entirely with knitting. - -The Princess Royal, when only ten years old, was such an accomplished -needlewoman that she worked a suit of rich embroidery for her brother, -the Prince of Wales, which he wore on his birthday. - -Queen Charlotte used to find the strict English Sunday hang heavily -on her hands. Her industrious fingers "ached," as she said, "for -employment. If I read all day my poor eyes get tired. I do not like to -go to sleep, so I lock my door that nobody may be shocked, and take my -knitting for a little while, and then I read a good book again." - -Her chief delight was needlework. When in the morning the weather was -unfavourable, her Majesty occupied herself with needlework, and in the -afternoon she worked while the King read to her. - -When it was known that the British troops in Holland required flannel -waistcoats to screen them from the severe cold and insalubrity of -the soil, the Queen Charlotte sent to London immediately for a large -quantity of flannel, and she and the elder Princesses cut out several -dozens on the very day it was sent. The poor in the neighbourhood of -Windsor were employed in making the waistcoats. - -One of her most important acts in connection with needlework was the -establishment of an institution for training and educating in an -accomplished manner the daughters of poor clergy and decayed tradesmen. - -She purchased a house and grounds in Buckinghamshire, where a lady of -high attainments was placed at a salary of £500 a year to instruct the -pupils in plain needlework, embroidery, and tapestry. - -The work done in this institution was exquisite. For example, the -dresses worn at Court on New Year's Day, 1787, by Queen Charlotte -and the two elder Princesses were made there. The state bed of Queen -Charlotte, together with several ottomans now in Hampton Court Palace, -which are highly-finished pieces of embroidery, were executed by the -pupils in this school. - -Few people knew how much good Queen Charlotte did in a quiet way. - -One never thinks of Catherine II. of Russia as devoting any time to -needlework, yet we find that she worked and presented to Voltaire a -likeness of herself, which he placed in his chamber at Ferney. It is -still in existence in Ferney, but very much faded, and instead of -hanging on the wall as formerly in the place of honour, it is now -placed in a dark corner of the room. - -Once again needlework took a back place until our Queen Adelaide -introduced it as a fashion, and required of all ladies who were invited -guests at her Court that they should be good needlewomen, otherwise she -could not receive them. - -It was a bold thing to do even for a queen, but it turned out well, -causing ladies who took it up for convenience to become skilled workers -and to like the occupation. Queen Adelaide herself was a beautiful -needlewoman, and set an example to all her people. - -Thus we have seen how our queens have kept alive the useful and -ornamental art of needlework--an art invented by woman and kept going -by her for the necessities, comfort, and ornament of the whole peoples -of the world. - -Dr. Johnson says: "Women have a great advantage, viz., that they may -take up with little things without disgracing themselves; a man cannot -except by fiddling." I suppose he refers to needlework. - -It is an occupation that allows the thoughts and tongue of the worker -full liberty; indeed, it is woman's pretty excuse for thought. - -We have noted its power in the lives of the highest of the land--how -it soothes sorrow, calms the troubled mind, and causes solitary hours -to pass more pleasantly, and, as asserted by some rude man, it keeps -us women out of mischief. But whatever it does or does not do, it is -without doubt a gentle, graceful, elegant, and feminine occupation. - -These papers would not be complete without mentioning the work of our -dear Queen Victoria, who in her moments of leisure knits warm garments -for the poor. These may be seen in many a cottage round about Balmoral. - - - - -CHRONICLES OF AN ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN RANCH. - -BY MARGARET INNES. - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE JOURNEY DOWN SOUTH. HOUSEKEEPING. CHINAMEN. - -The journey from San Francisco to San Miguel, some six hundred miles, -we took by steamer, and it was the most delightful episode of all our -Californian experiences. It was the month of April, and with exquisite -weather; the sea was like a pond, so calm and still; the sun was not -too hot, and there were numberless interesting living things to watch -as we moved along the summer sea. Several enormous whales went past, -generally in couples, their great fat backs rising out of the water -side by side, and passing our boat swiftly and with the greatest ease, -when we would see them in a few moments, far in the distance, spurting -up big fountains of spray. Not far off from the whales were generally -flocks of the tiny whale birds, which seemed to use these monsters as -their jackals, feeding greedily on the shoals of fish they drive before -them, so greedily indeed, that many of them were too gorged and heavy -to rise out of the water and our way, but, after a helpless attempt, -would duck under only just in time. The flying fish were more alert, -and would rise away out of the water, going many yards through the air -before dropping again into the sea, and glittering with every rainbow -colour in the sunshine. - -The coast scenery is not beautiful; it is too bare and dry-looking, -especially after passing Santa Barbara, but the glamour of the southern -sun is over everything, and gives all a caressing smile, at any rate, -from a distance. It was a delight to see these wonderful effects again, -and we felt glad to be once more in the warm sunshine. - -When we arrived at the bay of San Miguel late in the afternoon of the -fourth day, it looked so radiantly beautiful in the soft glow of the -setting sun, as if it might indeed be the gate into a real land of -promise; a land flowing with milk and honey. - -It is a splendid bay, and the position of the town is quite ideal, -and though the most has not been made of its possibilities, many -improvements are going on steadily. Given money and taste, it should be -one of the most lovely places in the world. - -We found comfortable rooms in a boarding-house, and settled down to -rest awhile from searching and questioning. The boys went to school as -in San Francisco. These free State schools are exceedingly good. The -teachers are among the most charming ladies we have met, and the plan -of using the same books, and the same system of teaching all over the -State, saves much loss of time, since a child coming to a new school -can at once be placed in exactly the same position where he left off, -in his former school, some three hundred miles away. - -But in spite of our determination to let ourselves drift for a time, -we were very soon drawn into the same old probing and exploring, more -especially as we were delighted with the climate of San Miguel. On the -strength of this, and because our English hearts were hungering for -some place more homelike than any boarding-house can ever be, we took -a little house, hired the necessary furniture, and began our first -experiences of Chinamen as general servants. - -We had the most wonderful procession of Celestials through the little -kitchen before we left that wee house. There was no room convenient for -the Chinaman's bedroom, without giving him one close to our own, which -was not to be thought of, so the arrangement was, that when supper was -over, and the work done, he should retire to Chinatown, coming back in -good time in the morning to get breakfast and do his other duties. He -seemed quite pleased with this plan, and we got along swimmingly for a -fortnight. Then he dropped the news casually to me that he was going -to Los Angeles the next day. When I exclaimed at the shortness of the -notice, he beamed all over, and said, "Me bling other boy, him allie -lightie, him stay." - -Before I had quite made up my mind what to do, I heard breathless -jabbering in the kitchen, and on going in there, was introduced by Sing -Lee to Quong Wong, our new cook. Both of them were very friendly and -smiling. No. 1 was showing No. 2 where everything was kept, and giving -him what sounded like most eloquent instructions about his duties, both -of them being very grave and business-like over this. I did not seem -to be needed, and so quietly went back to the sitting-room. Supper was -prepared and cooked by the two together to an unending accompaniment of -Chinese chatter. - -This was the beginning of the procession. Some men stayed a week, -others three weeks or a month, and each brought and carefully installed -his successor, I taking no part whatever, except to learn a new Chinese -name. We had tall fat fellows, tall lean ones, little dumpy ones and -spare wiry ones; all of them clever and quick beyond anything I had -ever seen or known. They keep themselves exquisitely neat, in their -white linen coats and aprons, which seem always to remain spotless. -Their hands are perfectly fascinating; such delicate tapering fingers, -and such a masterly way of touching everything. One member of the -profession, I remember, who had the most dainty taper fingers, was -very fond of music, and, seeing that I was interested, sat down very -simply at my Broadwood grand (the only piece of furniture which we -had brought from Frisco) and played some hymns quite nicely. He used -to sing, too, at his work--all day--in a curious high falsetto, of -which he seemed very proud. He had learnt to play the piano at the -mission schools, where many of them go, and are converted--so they say. -But they find the free lessons in English, which are given there, so -cheap and convenient, that their motives in being converted are rather -mixed. When he left me, it was to go the very next day to San Francisco -on most important business, so he said. That, of course, was only -the usual way of giving notice, and did not prevent his greeting me -smilingly whenever I chanced to meet him in the streets of San Miguel. -He came to the rescue also, when, through some hitch, the chain of -succession was broken, and I was left to struggle alone in my little -kitchen, and he stayed with me till he could find another "boy." I -began to be haunted by a story I had heard often repeated. A certain -lady was much puzzled and distressed because she could never keep any -Chinaman beyond a few days; they would arrive, smiling and seemingly -much pleased with everything, but invariably on the third or fourth day -they would insist upon leaving at once. At last, in despair, the poor -mistress persuaded her Chinaman to explain the mystery to her, before -he had carried himself and his bundle away. - -He led her to a dark corner of the kitchen, and showed her some Chinese -writing high up on the wall, which be interpreted, "too much talkee -here." That was all. But it had been enough to upset all the comfort of -the household. - -Probably after that she took the hint and let her Chinaman do the work -in his own way, with as few words or instructions from her as possible. -They are so marvellously clever in taking up the work of a new place -the very moment they arrive, exactly as though they had been always in -this one house only, that it is no wonder they resent any interference; -and the sooner one learns to leave them entirely to themselves, the -sooner one reaches some kind of peace. - -However, I found to my relief, that no secret sign had gone out -against myself or the house; the difficulty was the long daily walk to -Chinatown. With their small feet and uncomfortable shoes, they are all -bad walkers, and each in turn had tired of the effort, and handed the -place over to a friend. This explanation, kindly given me by Mr. Kee -Mane, who kept the Chinese stores, lifted a weight from my mind, and I -resigned myself to continuing my lessons in fresh Chinese names. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -[Illustration: A WINTER NIGHT.] - - - - -A CAROL OF FOOTPRINTS. - -BY NORA HOPPER. - - - 'Twixt snow and snow in their poor apparel - The singers come with their lightsome carol, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - The singers come in a huddled crowd - Singing "Gloria" low and "Gloria" loud, - On Christmas Day in the morning. - - Under the tread of so many feet - Snow turns mud in the lamplit street, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - Yet you may see while the dawn endure - Shining footsteps from door to door, - On Christmas Day in the morning. - - Shining prints of a little child, - Feet in the mud set, undefiled, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - A little while do the footprints stay - Till the clear dawn deepens to rosy day, - To Christmas Day in the morning. - - And those who have looked on the footprints bright, - They know, in the dusk 'twixt day and night, - (On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,) - That Christ has passed with the passing feet - Of folk that praised Him in carols sweet - On Christmas Day in the morning. - -[Illustration] - - - - -LESSONS FROM NATURE. - -BY JEAN A. OWEN, Author of "Forest, Field and Fell," etc. - - -PART III. - -THE PERSEVERING SPIDER. - -[Illustration] - -Can any pleasant moral lesson be learned from the spider? I fancy -some of our readers asking--the spider, whom many regard as the most -treacherous, cruel, and unrelenting of those creatures who lie in wait -for prey? By the song "Will you walk into my parlour? said the spider -to the fly," in the nursery, several generations of children have been -early prejudiced against this useful and most intelligent insect. - -When they are a little older, it is true, the spider is held up to them -as a wonderful example of perseverance in that story of King Robert the -Bruce, who, when he was banished from his country, lying in concealment -in a miserable hovel, and considering whether it would not be well to -give up the struggle to secure his own, and with it restore freedom to -his country, was attracted by the sight of a spider hanging at the -end of a thread and trying to swing from one part of the cabin roof -to another in order there to fix its line. Six times whilst the King -watched it attempted to do this and failed. The Bruce remembered then -that he also had made just six attempts--that is, fought six battles -with his enemies, and without success. "Now," thought he, "if that -spider tries a seventh time and succeeds, I will take it as a good omen -for myself, and will also try my fortune a seventh time." The spider -reached the beam, and Bruce went forth to victory after victory. - -The disgust aroused by the spider is by no means a just one, and the -fear some people have of these insects is most unreasonable and absurd. -In tropical countries the bites of some are dangerous, but not nearly -so much so as is supposed. Our own spiders are harmless enough. I never -destroy the webs they make in my garden, the circular nets which they -stretch from one branch to another, which are considered by experts to -show a perfection of weaving, whilst those webs which are woven in odd -corners of our dwellings reveal an intelligence in their arrangement -which is perfectly marvellous. I heard a clever man say lately that -spiders were the greatest engineers in the world. - -In some corner of your room you may study the horizontal net, -covered with dust, perhaps, which is the base of the structure. -Irregularly-crossed threads above this cause the prey to become -entangled, and its end is inevitable. Most ingenious is the den in -which the hunter is hidden in waiting. It consists of a circular tunnel -with a double outlet. One of these, being horizontal, opens on to the -web. The other is vertical, with a passage below, which serves as a -trapdoor, whilst from the former the spider darts out on his prey. As -soon as a fly has been destroyed--its blood sucked--it is seized by its -captor and dragged to the tunnel to be thrown out at the trapdoor. This -is no doubt lest the _débris_ should alarm other flies. The hunter can -also escape itself, when necessary, by this exit. This does not often -happen, perhaps, and the main use of the trapdoor, says M. Pouchet, -an interesting French naturalist, is to get rid of the remains of the -spider's repasts. - -"The poison apparatus of spiders," says the same author, "is precisely -analogous to that of serpents, only it is of microscopic size. It -possesses mobile teeth, hollow fangs which distil the poison into -the wound, and this is secreted by a peculiar gland situated in the -interior of the palpi attached to the under jaws which effect the -bite. In the large tropical species this lethal fluid is so active -that it kills in an instant animals of a far superior size, and is -often employed against the birds which the spiders seize on the trees." -The so-called Bird-eating Spider attacks the lovely humming-birds. It -is called the Great Spider in South America, and its cocoon is three -inches long and one broad. - -Thinking of the creatures of prey and their quarry is always a painful -subject. Yet we know surely that the all-wise Creator would not order -the balance of nature to be kept up in this way if it involved cruelty. -There is cruelty in some of the methods of vivisection--in the horrible -way, for instance, in which one French scientist at least has studied -and tested by torture how far a poor loving mother dog will bear being -maimed, before it can be induced to leave its offspring. And there is -a brutality, as demoralising to the men who have to carry out their -master's orders in felling oxen for the market, as it is torturing to -the poor beasts. Nature's methods of killing are, as a rule, mercifully -rapid. It seems to be a part of the Creator's plan that some of His -creatures should live on the rest, and "some," says a thoughtful writer -on God's providence, "have suggested that such a state of things -implies a reflection upon the Divine goodness, ... but by the means -now specified some classes of animals are held in check which would -otherwise so multiply as to become an intolerable nuisance." - -And so we consider with complacence the fact that the cat kills the -mouse, the owl catches up the field vole and the beetle; the swallow -rids the air of insect pests which would render life intolerable, the -ladybird lives on the aphides that devour our plants--those fat green -insects which destroy our roses and honeysuckle. - -The spider does his own appointed work in a way which shows astute -intelligence. Death is the common lot, and most of the creatures preyed -on pass swiftly away in the full height of enjoyment without lingering -sickness or decay. I have known a spider's web put to a very odd -purpose by a lady I knew well in New Zealand, a very successful poultry -rearer. When her chickens had "the pip," she declared that she cured -them by a buttered pill consisting of spiders' webs. And I have known -also Chinamen give dying men, as a last remedy, a tiny chicken pounded -up in a mortar, bones, feathers, and all, and welded into a huge pill. -They declared that it often cured when all else had failed. But this is -a digression. - -To return to our spiders. Besides the geometric spiders (_sic_) we have -the gossamer spiders, little creatures that make floating webs in the -air and on the ground in the autumn. These avail themselves cleverly -of the currents of air in attaching their lines, raising their arms to -test the direction of the light winds. Her webs are often destroyed by -rain or wind, or broken by some large creature like a bee or a wasp -getting entangled in one; but the patient worker is not so discouraged -as to give up. She patiently fasts, until the damage is repaired. And -spiders seem to be weather prophets, for it has been stated that when -it threatens to become wet and stormy, the outdoor spider will make the -threads which support its net short, but if they expect finer, settled -weather, these will be long. As is the case with ants, some species are -more provident than others, and one has been described which suspended -its prey in the meshes above and below the centre of the net, having -quite a well-stocked larder. In the Fen countries a raft of a ball -of weeds, held together by slight silken threads or cords, is often -observed, on which the spider floats down a stream in quest of drowning -insects. - -The "Mason Spider's" home consists of a hole several inches deep in -the ground, and perfectly cylindrical. It is lined with hangings. The -one nearest the rough sides is thick, and carelessly woven. Over this, -like a skilful decorator, he places a hanging of fine silk, carefully -wrought. The door or lid of this dwelling is furnished with a cushion -of silk inside, whilst above it is made of the same material as the -soil, so that when the master is at home there is nothing to reveal -that fact, his door being closed. Layers of earth and silk compose the -lid. - -Kate Dalrymple, as the old Scottish ballad tells us, was "Aye eident -and thrifty." Eident is a rare word, expressive of great perseverance -and application. "To be called eident and thrifty" was the greatest -commendation to the good graces of the desired mother-in-law. I am not -sure, however, apart from this, that it is always a very desirable -thing to be coveted as a wished-for daughter-in-law. A very shrewd -friend of mine, a witty Scotchwoman, when young was told that the -mother of one of her suitors was very anxious that she should marry -him. "'Deed," said the girl, "I'd sooner marry a man whose mother was -not so anxious to get him married." And she was quite right. - -But to be persevering as well as brave, and to be gifted with physical -energy and endurance, is a rare endowment for any woman. Mrs. Scott -Gatty, in one of her stories, tells of a preacher who used to say, -"Girls, be brave; boys, be pure." I used to hear this story many years -before, as a child. It was told then of an old superintendent of a -Sunday-school. He would say, "Boys, they bid you be brave and girls be -pure; but I say, Girls be brave and boys be pure." Then the world would -be far on in a better way than it is now. - -"The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces," -says the wise man in Proverbs xxx. 28. What a picture in a few simple -words of the industry, courage and perseverance with which this little -creature is gifted! and of the reward which would seem to be implied. -Shall we seem to be straining the image if we allow our thoughts to be -carried by this picture to the home of our heavenly King, where, as -we are promised, our eyes shall see Him "in His beauty"? "To patient -faith," says the hymn, "the prize is sure." - -The spider, we might say, is essentially of an aspiring nature. She -weaves her net high up in corners where the duster and broom of the -busy housemaid will not easily reach her. She fasts long and is not -drawn away from the spot where she expects to get the reward of her -patience. Many of us can work hard and well by fits and starts, but we -weary of sustained effort, and we are "found sleeping." Or like the -pilgrims to the Celestial City we are tempted to stray and delight -ourselves in flowery "Bypath meadows." Play, healthy recreation, we -must have, but it must be such as helps us in the race of life and not -such as weakens our purpose and hinders us from reaching the desired -goal. I look back sometimes on the companions of my girlhood, and I -must often acknowledge that certain boys and girls whom we were wont to -reproach as being dull plodders, have beaten many of their fellows in -the battle of life. - -There is a species of spider which carries, attached to her body, a -round, white, silky bag of eggs, just about as big as a pea. It is -heavy, but nothing would induce the affectionate mother to part with -it. The French naturalist, Bonnet, in order to test this love for -her offspring, once threw such a mother spider into the hole of an -ant-lion, in the sand where the great insect lay in hiding for its -prey. The poor spider tried to run away but the ant-lion caught at the -bag of eggs and tried to drag it under the sand. At last he succeeded -in breaking the gluten by which her bag was attached to her. Instantly -the spider seized this in her jaws and she struggled hard to bear it -away. It was in vain however; her precious burden was dragged under. -Then the poor mother might have escaped with her own life, but she -preferred death to the loss of her offspring, and if the naturalist had -not taken her out of the pit she would have been buried with them. She -would not leave the spot however, although Bonnet tried to make her do -so, by moving her with a little twig, over and over again. In reading -this one cannot help wishing that she had not been so tortured. Some of -our scientists, as I said before, have pushed their studies of moral -qualities in the so-called brute world to a most unjustifiable extent, -it would seem. - -When the young of this affectionate mother are hatched, and they -have got out of the bag where they were kept so safely, they attach -themselves to her body. She carries them everywhere she goes and feeds -them until they are able to fend for themselves. - -Referring to persevering industry, we recall the pretty story of -William Cobbett's courtship and marriage, as told by Dr. Smiles, -from his "Life." Cobbett was a practical man, full of blunt common -sense. When he first saw the girl who afterwards became his wife, -she was only thirteen years of age, he being twenty-one, and at the -time sergeant-major in a foot regiment stationed at St. John's in New -Brunswick. Passing her father's door, on a cold winter's day, he saw -the girl out in the snow, scrubbing a washing-tub. "That's the girl for -me!" he cried, mentally, and he set about making her acquaintance. As -soon as he could get discharged from the army, he determined that he -would persuade her to become his wife. The girl returned to Woolwich -with her father, who was also a sergeant-major, but in the artillery. -The night before they left St. John's, her lover sent her a hundred and -fifty guineas which he had saved, begging her to accept it, so that she -might not be obliged to do any hard work until he also could return to -England and marry her. She took the money, and it was five years before -Cobbett obtained his discharge and was able to go to see the girl he -loved. "I found," he said, "my little girl a servant of all work--and -hard work it was--at five pounds a year, in the house of a Captain -Brisac; and, without hardly saying a word about the matter, she put -into my hands the whole of my hundred and fifty guineas unbroken." Soon -afterwards they were married, and he delighted later in attributing -to her "the comfort and much of the success of his after life." In -his "Advice to young men" he drew from his wife his picture of a true -and womanly helpmate, with "a vividness and brightness and, at the -same time, a force of good sense that have never been surpassed by any -English writer." - -What Sarah Martin, who was left an orphan very young, and who as a -woman went out dressmaking first at one shilling a day, was able to -achieve in visiting and helping to reclaim poor prison women, and not -only them but dissolute men and boys, loving, praying, and watching by -them, you ought all to read fully. I think the story of her life was -published by the Religious Tract Society. She gave six and seven hours -to this work every day. For twenty years she did this without help or -reward--her grandmother having left her ten or twelve pounds a year; -the rest of her income coming from her hard work during part of each -day as a dressmaker. At last the gaol committee told her that she must -become their paid servant at twelve pounds a year or "be excluded from -the prison." Although she shrank from this payment of her labours of -love, she had to accept it, or give up her charge, and for two years -she had that poor stipend until her health failed. She was in point -of fact schoolmistress and chaplain and seamstress to the scum of -Yarmouth. But what a reward was hers! - -In my last paper I quoted Matthew Arnold's lines-- - - "Tasks in hours of insight willed - May be through hours of gloom fulfilled." - -"_Les beaux esprits se rencontrent_," and it will perhaps interest -some of you, as it has done myself, to hear that Professor Tyndall -used to say of Professor Faraday that "in his warm moments he formed -a resolution and in his cool ones he made that resolution good." We -cannot all be active scientists or philanthropists, but let us end this -little study by resolving that we will be less discouraged and hindered -by difficulties in our own special work, or by the consideration of -what we are apt to deem our unfitness for the appointed task, our own -inadequacy, than we have hitherto been. - - "With one hand work and with the other pray, - And God shall bless them both from day to day." - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -"OUR HERO." - -A TALE OF THE FRANCO-ENGLISH WAR NINETY YEARS AGO. - -BY AGNES GIBERNE, Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "The Girl at the -Dower House," etc. - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A FRENCH CONSCRIPT. - -Roy did not soon lose sight of those words of Ivor--"Why, Roy, don't -you know that you are the one bit of cheer left to us?" - -He had not perhaps hitherto been more disposed to put himself into the -place of another than most boys of thirteen; but the events of the last -few months had tended to make him thoughtful; and close intercourse -with Ivor could hardly fail to pull him mentally upwards. - -Denham was not only considerably better educated and better read than -the average young officer of his day--a matter for congratulation in -respect of Roy's present education--but also his intellectual gifts -were well above the average level. The main force of the man lay, -however, rather in the direction of character than of pure intellect. -There was about him a soldierly directness and simplicity, and a -thoroughness which often belongs to that type of nature. Whatever might -befall, he would do his duty, not only with no thought of consequences -to himself, but in the most direct and complete mode possible. - -He was a good man as well as a most gallant soldier, and that in the -best sense of the word. He was one who might say little, but who would -at all costs do what he believed to be right. He was honourable, true, -pure-minded, chivalrous towards women, tender towards little children, -reverent and faithful towards his God. He was indomitable in courage, -when he faced a foe; but so soon as fighting ceased he would be the -first to succour a wounded enemy. All this means largely, as has been -earlier stated, that Denham Ivor had taken shape under the influence -and the example of John Moore. Ivor was the pupil, Moore the master. - -The prolonged banishment from England and captivity in France were a -terrible trial to him; not only because he was cut off indefinitely -from the girl whom he loved with whole-hearted devotion, but because -also he was cut off in his young full vigour from every hope of -promotion and honour, and debarred from serving under the Commander -whom he loved with a devotion no less whole-hearted. Yet he seldom -spoke about the greatness of the trouble. It seemed as if his spirit of -soldierly obedience had taught him submission to the Divine Will. - -It is easy to see that a friendship of this kind could not fail to be -good for Roy. And the friendship was not such in name only, for there -were advantages on both sides. Much as Ivor could do for the lad, in -the way of teaching him and keeping him out of mischief, there was an -opposite view of the matter. Roy, by his light-heartedness and his -spirit of unconquerable fun, could and did do much to lighten the -weight of the young Guardsman's wearisome captivity. - -Thus far Roy had done it, not knowing. Now the fact had dawned upon -him, as a novel idea, that he might be some little help to Ivor. He was -delighted; yet almost immediately he found the task less easy than when -he had carried it out unconsciously. - -The journey from Fontainebleau to Verdun, a matter of one hundred -and seventy miles or more, would be no great matter in these days of -steam-power, but it was a considerable matter in those times of slow -travelling. It seemed to weigh upon Ivor's spirits more than anything -had yet weighed upon them; or Denham was less successful in hiding -what he really felt. Mrs. Baron was brighter than for months past; her -relief at not being forced to leave her husband or to part yet with Roy -tending to cheerfulness; and Colonel Baron, glad to see her happy, was -the same himself. Roy as usual was in good spirits. Ivor alone appeared -to have parted with his elasticity. He did not give in to the mood of -depression, but it was patent enough to Mrs. Baron, whose concerned -gaze wandered often in his direction. - -No one except Ivor himself could know the haunting vision of Polly -Keene, which floated before his eyes, through all those miles of -driving, driving, ever farther away from where he craved to be. -He might respond readily to Roy's chatter; but so soon as silence -recurred, up again would come that picture of Polly, with her soft -velvet eyes, her delicate colouring, her arch smile. And then he would -hear the tender yielding in her voice, as she confessed that she did -like Captain Ivor--well, just a little! and that she might perhaps be -willing to marry him--well, some day! - -Out of this Denham would awake to the dreary flat of the surrounding -country, in its wintry colouring; and the wonder would suggest -itself--how many years might not creep slowly by before that could ever -be? He might even grow old and grey in this miserable banishment before -he should see Polly again. Why not? - -In those times wars had been wont to last in one unbroken stretch, for -such periods as seven years, ten years, twenty years, thirty years. - -Would Polly be content to wait for him? - -This question took him by surprise one day, with nothing especial to -call it forth. Ivor had not before so much as thought of the reverse -possibility. The idea that she might _not_ be willing to wait came -freshly; but having once come, it did not soon depart. - -He never afterwards lost the impression of that moment. The scene -around was deeply stamped upon his mind, in connection with the one -thought. - -They had just reached the end of a stage, and were entering a small -town, where fresh horses would be in waiting. Ivor was listening to -Roy, responding in a half-absent fashion, and gazing down the street, -when, without prelude or warning, that query burst upon him. - -Would Polly indeed be willing to wait? Did she care enough? She was -very young; hardly more than a child in age. If he were to be years -away from her, the two never meeting, letters seldom passing between -them, could he expect--would it even be fair and reasonable to -expect--that he should remain enshrined in her heart, as surely as she -would remain enshrined in his? Polly had known him intimately but a few -weeks, though their acquaintance extended farther back; and impressions -made upon the mind and imagination at seventeen are not always deep -or lasting. Moreover, Polly was exceedingly pretty, quite unusually -charming. Other men would wish to marry her. Could he expect such -constancy on her part, as to wait through long years for her absent -lover, refusing every other chance that might present itself? What -would her grandmother think and say? Polly, with all her charms, was a -portionless maiden. - -The whole question rolled itself out before Denham's mental gaze, as -they drove along the chief street of the place, exciting less attention -than commonly on such occasions. With his bodily eyes he saw little, -yet in a manner he was aware that a considerable stir prevailed, and he -heard, almost without hearing, Roy's rapid questions. - -"I don't in the least know," he replied mechanically, as they came to a -halt before the inn. - -"Den, look! What a lot of people outside the _maison de ville_! What's -it all about? And don't some of them look miserable? What are they -after?" - -"I have not the slightest idea. Something seems to be wrong. Easy to -find out." - -The mystery was soon explained. This happened to be a day appointed for -drawing for the conscription; and around the door of the little town -hall opposite were gathered the near relatives of the young fellows -who were eligible. There was no mistaking the dread written upon their -faces. - -One woman in particular drew notice. She was bent and old in -appearance, with grey hair, though very likely not beyond middle age; -and she wore a short, very full skirt, with a long-waisted bodice, and -big brass buckles on her shoes. From under the wide-brimmed hat her -face waited with a consuming eagerness for news, the lips working, the -eyes staring. - -"I wonder if she's got a son. I hope, if she has, he won't be taken," -exclaimed Roy. "What are they doing inside?" - -"Drawing lots, to see who must go to the wars. All the young men in the -neighbourhood, of a certain age, have been called together, probably; -and then those who are passed by surgeons as whole and healthy are made -to draw lots. Some will escape, and some will have to go." - -"O look--they are coming out. And something is being said--what is it?" - -"Hush--the names of those who are drawn." - -All listened intently; and the elderly woman, clasping her worn hands, -leant forward, with a face of concentrated suspense. - -"Jean Paulet----" sounded clearly. - -A bitter wailing cry burst from her, drowning what followed. - -She held out wild appealing arms. "Mon fils! Mon fils!" she gasped, and -dropped senseless to the ground. - -"Can nothing be done?" exclaimed Mrs. Baron, in distress. "The poor -creature! George, will they not let him off? Surely they need not be so -cruel as to take him away!" - -"I am afraid the only chance would be a substitute--and not much hope -of that." - -"Do ask. Find out something. Do, please." - -Denham crossed the road with his rapid stride, followed closely by -his shadow, Roy, while the Colonel came after in more leisurely -style. The poor woman's friends were attending to her, and Ivor, -always the Colonel's spokesman in a foreign language, made inquiries -of a respectable man, perhaps a small shopkeeper, standing by. The -man shrugged his shoulders as he replied. It had to be, he said, not -unkindly but resignedly. All young men equally were subject to the -conscription, and he who "fell" had to go. There was no escape, no -remedy. None, except through the purchase of a substitute, and Marie -Paulet, he feared, could not manage that. She was a good woman, truly -estimable, and he was sorry for her, yes, sincerely sorry; but what was -to be done? The First Consul required soldiers, and, in fact, he would -have them! Another expressive shrug. - -How much would be required for a substitute? _Eh bien_--one hundred -livres would doubtless suffice. Mme. Paulet, foreseeing this day, had -toiled hard and saved assiduously during many years; but with her -utmost exertions, as he knew, for she had told him, she had managed to -get together only fifty-five livres. No substitute could be obtained -for only fifty-five livres. No, no, impossible! Jean would have to go, -and his mother would grow used to it, like other mothers. How soon? -_Sans doute_ he would be marched away at once--immediately--to the -nearest depôt, there to be exercised. The thing had to be. There was no -remedy. All France was giving up her best men, by tens of thousands, to -feed the Army. In parts already none but women and old men remained to -till the soil. - -Was Mme. Paulet a widow? asked Denham. - -"Oui, oui, oui, oui," the man said, fast as the words could come. -Certainly she was a widow; but then she was not over sixty, nor was -Jean her only son. Had she been over sixty, and depending for her -subsistence upon an only son, then _vraiment_ her case would have been -easily pleaded. Marie Paulet was under fifty in age, though she looked -more, since she had toiled hard and had known much sorrow. She had a -second son too, young and somewhat lame, but able to work, though in -truth more of a burden than an assistance. Jean, however, would have to -go. This was a supplementary conscription for the year, more men being -urgently required by the First Consul. - -Jean Paulet stood with a face of sullen despair beside his mother, -saying not a word. He was scarcely over nineteen, only one fortnight -past the day, Ivor's informant remarked; and he looked young, being -loose-limbed and shambling, though broad-shouldered. - -"Ask them how much they could make up among themselves towards the -purchase of a substitute. Some may be willing to help." - -Denham obeyed, and a discussion took place in raised voices. The two -Englishmen waited gravely, Mrs. Baron watching affairs from the coach, -while Roy stood close by, scanning the conscript with interested gaze. -Marie Paulet sat upon the cold ground, weeping bitterly. - -"About fifteen livres seems to be the outside, sir. They are poor here. -It is a marvel how the woman has managed to save so much. But I am -ready to give fifteen livres." - -Colonel Baron's eyebrows stirred. "More than you can afford, I should -have imagined, but you know your own business best. Well, tell them -that if they can find a substitute for one hundred livres, you will -give that, and I will give another fifteen. Of course, we can't wait -now to see the end of the affair. Tell them we promise it on the -word of an English gentleman--that's understood everywhere. Give -our Verdun address to the Curé yonder--he looks an honest man. For -my part, I doubt if a substitute can be procured, the drain on the -country has been so severe of late. But they may succeed. Anyhow, it -will soften matters a little to the poor woman. One rather grudges -letting the money go into French pockets, but I defy anyone with proper -sensibilities to stand out against that poor creature's misery." - -Denham listened with his air of half-military, half-courtly, attention -to this somewhat prolonged exposition of the Colonel's views. Then -he explained what "Monsieur le Colonel Anglais" had said, failing to -make clear his own share in the matter, though from no lack of power -to express himself. The scene that followed was eminently French in -its _abandon_ of joy. One of the young men present, who was eligible -but who had not been drawn--had not _tombé_, as the saying was--came -forward, and offered for the sum of one hundred livres to go as -the substitute for Jean Paulet. This settled matters; and without -hesitation Colonel Baron produced notes for the amount he had named, -Denham adding his own donation with a rapid movement, which drew no -attention. - -Whereupon enthusiasm rose to its height. The people of the town, with -whom Marie and her son were plainly favourites, shouted their approval; -while Marie crept close to Colonel Baron, knelt at his feet, sobbed -out her wordless rapture, and even kissed his hands, to the Colonel's -discomfiture. - -"I say, Den, I'm going back to the carriage. Say whatever you choose to -them. It's all right, but I vow this sort of thing doesn't quite suit -a Britisher. And it strikes me you haven't made 'em understand that -you're doing as much as I am. Tell 'em that, and talk as much as you -think right, and then come along." - -A murmur in French from Roy to Jean Paulet gave the further -explanation, which would not have been forthcoming from Denham; and he -had to submit to some of the vehement demonstrations from which his -Colonel had basely fled. Denham endured them, with a certain reticent -indifference of manner, which did not mean true indifference. A -slightly quizzical smile stirred his lips, but the dark eyes, bent upon -poor old Mme. Paulet, were infinitely kind. - -Then he too made a move towards the coach; and Roy, lingering one -moment more, held out a hand to Jean, who seemed half stunned with his -unexpected escape. - -"Bon jour, monsieur," the boy said frankly. "I'm glad you are not going -to fight against the English just yet." - -Jean muttered broken words--something of a faltering hope and prayer -that a day might come when he should have it in his power, perhaps--who -could tell?--to do some benefit for Monsieur le Colonel, or for -Monsieur le Colonel's friend. - -It seemed very unlikely--most unlikely--that he and these passing -English prisoners should ever meet again, still more that he should be -able to do aught for them. Yet most improbable events do take place in -this world of ours. Roy had not that day seen the last of Jean Paulet. - -As the coach started, in the midst of grateful acclamations, Marie -Paulet held up mute hands, tears streaming down her faded cheeks. Such -a look was hers, that even Colonel Baron was conscious of moisture in -the region of his eyes, though by no means easily moved to outward -emotion. Mrs. Baron was weeping outright, with the thought of what -such a parting would be between Roy and herself. As for Denham--nobody -managed to get a clear sight of his face for a quarter of a minute. - -Then once more they were rolling along the interminable roads, Roy -declaiming with boyish vehemence against Napoleon, and wondering -whether Jean Paulet would ever again be drawn, and would have after all -to go. They found a good deal to say on the question, and for a while -the interest of the subject kept them going. - -But Denham's mind, like a spring slowly released, went back before long -to the one engrossing question, which for a space had been thrust into -the background. Would Polly indeed wait for him--no matter how long his -imprisonment might last? Or would she grow tired of waiting, forget his -love and some day become the wife of another? - -He could not look that possibility in the face with any sort of inward -composure. It held him in thrall, both day and night, through the -remainder of this wearisome journey. - -Roy was perplexed, during the last two or three days of their progress -towards Verdun, at Ivor's absorption of mind. For the first time in -his experience, his remarks failed repeatedly to reach the other's -understanding. So new a phase of matters was bewildering. Not, however, -till they were within three hours of Verdun did he note his friend's -face with sufficient care to exclaim-- - -"I say, Den, I do believe you're tired! Are you?" - -"Been a dull companion to-day--have I?" - -"Why--but, Den!" Roy spoke in accents of amazement. "You never used to -be anything of that sort! You never usen't to have anything at all the -matter with you." - -"Didn't I? All right--what do you want me to look at now?" - -"Is it because you're a prisoner? Do you know, I couldn't get to sleep -last night for ever so long--not till past eleven--thinking about it -all. I say--don't you hate old Boney? I do. He makes everybody unhappy. -Just think of that poor Marie and her son; if you and papa hadn't been -there, she would have lost Jean, and perhaps she'd never have seen him -again. Wasn't it horrid? And I don't see how men can fight properly, -when they don't want to fight at all. Our soldiers fight, because they -choose, not because they're made to whether they want it or not. I'm -sure Jean didn't want to be a soldier, or he wouldn't have been so glad -to get off." - -Mrs. Baron leant across to say softly, "Roy, do leave Denham in peace -for a little while." - -"Why, ma'am, he likes me to talk. He always says so." - -Mrs. Baron looked again towards Ivor, with a dubious expression. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -VARIETIES. - - -"WILLIE ONLY TOOK A HORSE." - -Horse-stealers in our time are a good deal handicapped by a change that -has come over public opinion. The Government used to hang them, but the -populace were by no means horrified at the crime. - -Here is a story indicating considerable former leniency in popular -thought. A horse-coper "took" a horse and was discovered and convicted, -but owing to some assistance he had given the police, he received a -light sentence. - -He settled in a Norfolk village, turned an honest stock-breeder, and -prospered greatly; but there was always a rumour that he had been -convicted of some sort of stealing. - -A farmer's daughter, however, fell in love with him and he asked her -from her father. - -"No," said the old yeoman; "I've nothing against you, but no child of -mine shall wed a man who has been in trouble for stealing." - -The daughter cried and implored, and at last sobbed out, "Willie only -took a horse." - -"Why," exclaimed the farmer, "didn't ye say so before! Here have I been -treating a respectable man as if he had been a thief!" - - -THE DEAD DEFUNCT. - -A learned weaver, in stating his case before the provost of Irvine in -Ayrshire, in the days when hand-loom weaving was a leading industry -in that town, having had occasion to speak of a party who was dead, -repeatedly described him as the defunct. - -Irritated by the iteration of a word which he did not understand, the -provost exclaimed-- - -"What's the use o' talking so much about this child you call the -defunct? Cannot ye bring the man here and let him speak for himsel'?" - -"The defunct's dead, my lord!" replied the weaver. - -"Oh, that alters the case," gravely observed the wise provost. - - -THE ART OF CONVERSATION. - -"Tell me," pleaded the artless maid, "wherein lies the secret of the -art of conversation." - -The sage struck the attitude he was wont to assume when in the act of -imparting wisdom and said-- - -"My child, listen!" - -"I am listening!" breathlessly she answered. - -"Well, my child," he rejoined, "that is all there is in the art of -conversation." - - -HOW TO BE FREE FROM DISCONTENT. - -A philosopher offered sacrifice every day in the temple of Jupiter and -made always the same prayer. - -At last Jupiter grew tired of hearing over and over again the one -request and said, "What would you have?" - -"I crave to become a contented man," replied the philosopher. "Never -yet have I enjoyed a really peaceful day, for I have never been -entirely contented. Even now, aged as I am, there is always something -that I long for." - -"Consider well what you ask," said the god sternly; "there is but one -way in which you can secure the boon you seek." - -"And what is that?" asked the philosopher eagerly. - -"I must strike you dead; for in death only can man be free from -discontent." - -"Upon consideration," replied the philosopher, "I think I should be -better contented to remain discontented." - -And so saying he put on his hat and hastily withdrew from the temple. - - -DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. - - "Trust yourself to God who calls you, - Then no harm can e'er befall you; - Don't be discouraged. Do the right, - And day will chase away your night." - - -HOW SHE SHOWED HER GRATITUDE. - -The present Bishop of Gibraltar, Dr. Sandford, tells the following -story. When a young man, and a shy, very shy curate, he called to see -an old woman among his parishioners, who complained to him that all -she had to live on was half-a-crown a week which she received from the -parish. - -"And out of that, sir," she went on, "I have to pay two shillings for -rent, a shilling for firing, sixpence for bread, fourpence for----" - -"Stop, stop, my good woman," said the young curate, "you can't pay all -that out of half-a-crown." - -"Yes, sir, but I do," she persisted, "I pay----" and she ran through -her accounts again. - -Finding she was not to be convinced of her arithmetical errors, and -that she was both poverty-stricken and deserving, Mr. Sandford promised -to send her an extra half-crown on his own account each week. - -"For this she rewarded me," says the bishop, "by coming much more -regularly to church, but to my horror she never caught my eye while -I was in the reading desk or pulpit without promptly jumping up and -bobbing me a little curtsey to show her gratitude. Imagine my feelings -as a shy young curate." - - -HOW THE DUCKS WERE TAUGHT.--An officer in the British navy tells us -that on one of his voyages, he saw a Chinaman, who kept ducks for a -living, practise an odd piece of ingenuity. In the daytime the ducks -were permitted to float about on the river, but at nightfall they were -carefully collected. The keeper, when it began to grow dark, gave a -whistle, when the ducks always flew towards him with violent speed, so -they were all invariably safe at home in less than a minute. How do you -suppose he had educated his flock so effectually? He always beat the -last duck. - - - - -"DINNA FORGET": A NEW YEAR'S SERMON. - -BY "MEDICUS" (DR. GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M., R.N.). - - "Her air, her manners, all who saw admired; - Courteous though coy, and gentle though refined. - The joy of youth and health her eyes displayed, - And ease of heart her every look conveyed." - - -This well-known magazine of ours, the dear old "G. O. P.," is read -wherever in this wide world the English language is understood, and it -is this very fact that puzzles and worries me a good deal when I am -commencing to write a paper for my readers. You see it is like this: -things I may say, and advice I may give, may not suit everyone, as the -"G. O. P." finds its way into cottage as well as mansion-house. I have -seen its welcome face while travelling in my caravan, in many a stately -home in England and in many a feudal castle in bonnie Scotland; and I -know too it is read by the farmer's fireside in this country and by the -ingle-side in the far north, when the snow-wind goes howthering round -the house and mourns in the chimney like the sound of sea and wind on a -surf-beaten shore. - -And I "dinna forget" either that I have many thousands of lassies in -the city, who have but little time to open it till eventide or even -till Sunday itself. - -Nor do I forget that the things I tell girls at home here to do, may -not altogether apply to those in Australia or Africa. Never mind, I try -to do my best. Who can do more? - -And now, first and foremost, I must wish you all a very healthy New -Year. This is from my heart. Dinna forget that. For, if you have -health, you are bound to have happiness, so long as shocks of grief -and real sorrow keep aloof. Even then, if you are strong, you will be -better able to withstand these, than if you were chicken-hearted and -weakly. - -There is one symptom of weakness, by the way, that is often -over-looked. A girl may be as fresh and bonnie as a thistle or a rose, -yet if she is too sensitive and too sentimental she cannot be really -well. Over-sensitiveness may be caused in a good many ways, but it is -very apt to lead on to hysteria, and this is a very serious ailment. - - -NOT GOING TO REPEAT. - -I am not going to repeat to you all the various rules of health I have -already, in these columns, laid down scores of times, for the very best -of dishes may be served up once too often. - -Just one thing, however, I must mention, and you may consider me -talking figuratively or not, as you please. - -I have a pet swift--the biggest kind of swallow that visits this -country--but, being a pet, he never leaves me more than twelve hours at -a time, and in that brief space he may have flown one thousand miles, -and perhaps visited the rooms of more than one hundred of my girl -readers. He can speak various languages almost as well as Rougemont, -and a little nearer to the truth, and I sit up to listen to him -sometimes till long past twelve at night. - -Dinna forget to look out for my birdie. He can see you when you little -know of it. But one thing which he has recently told me is that a very -large number of you have given up your bath, to which I fondly fancied -I had inured you. This vexed me a deal; but you will promise to begin -it again very soon, won't you? It is the greatest invigorator of the -muscles and nervous system in the world. So "dinna forget." - - -COLDS AND COUGHS. - -Dinna forget that colds and coughs are rampant about this time of the -year. I am writing these lines long before Christmas, and I have been -prophesying for England an open winter. But dinna forget that a green -Yule makes a fat kirkyard, and colds are more easily caught from the -green cold earth and the damp cold winds than even from frost and -snow. The more you are out-of-doors in snow-time--which ought to be -glow-time--the better you will be, provided you are not too warmly and -heavily clad and do not wear india-rubber clothing in any shape or form. - -When a cold comes on, take a warm drink or posset of some kind at -bed-time and eight to ten grains of Dover's powder. Get thus a good -sweat and a good sleep. Then take an aperient (apenta water) next -morning, but I advise you to remain in bed till eventide. This is one -of the best ways of cutting short a cold that I know of. - -But if coughing continues, you must see a doctor. Coughs may be far -more dangerous than you think, and may lead to mischief. Dinna forget -that death respects neither beauty nor sex. Indeed, it is often the -sweetest flowers of earth that leave us first. - - -NEURALGIA. - -A great many young ladies from seven to seventy complain about this -terrible trouble in some form or another. If it is what we call -hemi-crania, engaging, if I may use the term, the whole half of the -face and head, it may proceed from a bad tooth, or from what is the -worst sort of a tooth anyone could be plagued with--a tooth with one -small hole in the side. Have this seen to as soon as the first attack -has gone. Probably a clever dentist may be able to fill it for you. -Some girls go hurrying away to the dentist at once, have gas, and have -it out. Such a pity, for as you get older what a blessing you will find -your own teeth! - -Thank Heaven, I have never worn a false tooth, but it strikes me the -sensation can be far from agreeable. If one uses the toothbrush, with -a good disinfectant powder, such as borax or charcoal, followed by a -rinse of water tinged red with permanganate of potash (and this is -usually sold as Condy's fluid), she will have teeth that will last as -long as they're wanted. - -But what I wish to tell you here is this: apart from actual decay of a -tooth and consequent irritation of the nerve, a girl need never have -facial neuralgia, nor sciatica, nor any other "algia" if she but lives -in such a way as to make herself hardy as a heather stem. Dinna forget -that. - - -CURATIVES. - -Dinna forget that medicines are, as a rule, but palliative, and to call -them curatives is, in nine cases out of ten, a very great misnomer. -All doctors will tell you the same; but they are exceedingly useful -and even most necessary at times. Only dinna forget that they do not -repair, nor rebuild the framework of our bodies. Only good, well-chosen -food can do that. But, as it does not do to eat when you are not -hungry, because then the stomach and other organs are too delicate to -digest, you must get up an appetite by exercise, recreation and fresh -air. - -I don't want you to go about as if you were an invalid. That will make -you worse, and your friends will pretend to pity you, and this acting -on your mind will soon make you an invalid in earnest. No, keep up -bravely and do not complain. Fate will then say-- - -"Oh, there is no frightening that girl to death! She doesn't scare -worth sixpence. Look at her now, on her bit of a bike, with her lips -like a half-cut cherry, and the rose tint upon her cheek. Bah, I'll go -and try to frighten someone else!" - -Then your nerves are re-strung, muscles get hard, you grow a biceps, -and every ache and pain flies away to the Back o' Bell-Fuff. - - -AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. - -At this time of year many girls whose nerves are finely strung suffer -from hypochondriasis, or lowness of spirits, more especially if the -ground is soft and the sky grey and ugly. - -The real hypochondriac is more or less verging on lunacy, because she -has delusions. Nothing seems to go right with her, nothing ever will -be right again. There is no beauty anywhere in life, which, taken on -the whole, is a great big fraud. Why was she ever sent into this world -at all, at all, against her will? She is sure she didn't wish to be -born, and she wishes she were well out of it. She is sad, melancholy, -abstracted, and does nothing with any will. - -Well, what shall we do with a girl of this kind? What say you, mother? -Medicine? Was that what you suggested? Well, medicine, even if she -could swallow the whole pharmacopœia, would do her no more good than -a pinch of snuff; in fact, not so much, for the snuff would make her -sneeze, and that would help her for a time. She must have a change. - - "A change, a change, and many a change, - Faces and footsteps and all things strange." - -Dinna forget that. If she cannot get away, she must get a new fad of -some kind. Only there is one thing, mother, which pray dinna forget. -You must never let her think that you think she is ill. You've got to -draw her away from her imaginary miseries, and all will soon be well. - -"What would you prescribe for my daughter?" a lady once asked me. "She -must eat." - -"Then let her have a Shetland pony," I replied abstractedly. - -"What!" - -"A Shetland pony, and a young one. Oh, not to eat, to ride on, and make -a general favourite of. For a time the pony will manage her; then with -love and a tiny switch she will learn to manage the pony. After that -the fun will begin, and her imaginary troubles will all fly away." - -In a month or two the cure was complete, and I used to see the -girl--she was young--careering across the common, her bonnie yellow -hair and the pony's mane streaming out in the wind and her face as -merry as a May morning. - - -DOES WINTER DAMAGE BEAUTY? - -It need not, if beauty is only looked well after. But how shall it be? -Not by powders and paint, dear young readers--dinna forget that. Leave -rouge and the rest of it to Miss So-and-so and all the other "quite old -things" whom you know. Be ye natural; unless, indeed, you have some -real blemish. Dinna forgot you have youth on your side, and youth and -beauty are almost synonymous terms. You like Miss So-and-so very well -indeed, and my swift has just told me she heard you make the following -remark the other day to a companion-- - -"Know Miss S.? Oh, yes; have known her for ages. Poor, dear, old thing, -how well she makes up!" - -Well, hug the happiness you possess in being young, to your heart -of hearts; but a little tinge of sadness must mar it at times, when -you remember that you too must get older and be fain to assume the -attractions you shall then no longer possess. - -But beauty in winter? Well, it must be kept up, and can only be kept -up by rational means. If you expose yourself to high cold winds while -biking or driving, you may spoil your complexion for weeks to come. I -declare I should hardly like to enter the breakfast-room with such a -cold as your own folly has brought you, accompanied by watery eyes that -blink at the sunshine, and that wicked, wee red nose. Well, exposure is -unnecessary, so we shall leave that alone. - -Next comes ablution and clothing. If you care a French penny for the -beauty you possess, you will be careful as to both. If you won't, can't -or sha'n't take your bath, dinna forget to have very frequent changes -of underclothing. But in some form or other thorough ablution is -imperative. - -Food comes next. Never touch stimulants. I know some young ladies -do, but it is the biggest mistake in the world, quite an elephantine -error. Dinna forget that. As regards solid food, the more solid it is -the better; and you should now--unless stout--have plenty of sugar and -fatty food. Potatoes and other starchy foods should be taken also. You -want to keep up the strength? Sugar is power! Dinna you forget that. - -Dinna forget this either: that pudding after dinner helps to spoil the -complexion. Have fruit instead. A little vaseline--cold cream at night -will preserve the skin. You need nothing else. Good-bye! Dinna forget! - -[Illustration] - - - - -"SISTER WARWICK": A STORY OF INFLUENCE. - -BY H. MARY WILSON, Author of "In Warwick Ward," "In Monmouth Ward," -"Miss Elsie," etc. - - -CHAPTER III. - -Towards the end of a busy morning Sister Warwick was cheered by the -bright face of her youngest sister, who had come up for a day's -shopping, and who appeared in the ward for a few moments. - -She went with a smile and something sunny to say to the bedside of the -one or two patients she remembered to have seen during her last visit. -Mrs. 13 she asked after with special interest, and paused with sudden -gravity to look at the lines on the suffering face, just now at rest in -sleep. - -She knew Mrs. 13's story, and her heart burnt within her as she -recalled it. How she longed for those who say that the sweating system -of ill-paid and unwholesome work is a thing of the past to stand where -she stood and see for themselves! - -Presently the warm-hearted girl had other thoughts--still kind ones--in -her pretty head. She begged her elder sister to come into her room and -see what she had put there. - -Oh, such a glorious basket of roses! - -Sister Warwick plunged her face among them and sighed her enjoyment, -not only of the scent, but because they had come from home, and because -a dear mother's hands had helped to cut and pack them there. - -"They are not for the ward or the patients this time," said the eager -young voice. "Mother and I thought of it together. We want one to -be laid on each of the nurses' plates at dinner to-day as a little -surprise. Do you think Miss Jameson would say 'Yes' if I took them to -the Nurses' Home?" - -"Of course she would, dear! Only try! And how I wish you could hear -what the nurses will say and the look on their faces when they see a -pretty, gay table where there is usually a desert-plain of white china! -It is a nice thought!" - -"Well, mother and I have come to the conclusion that you working-women -want freshening with a flower sometimes as well as the rich folk. We -mean to do it again some day. Oh, and there are quite enough to go -all round, I hope, and to leave a supply for the Sisters' dinner this -evening. We weren't going to leave you out, you poor, tired old thing. -You look rather washed out, dear." - -There was an anxious question in these last words. - -Sister Warwick told her a little about her disturbed night, and got -a loving kiss of sympathy. Then the merry girl bustled away, leaving -behind her an atmosphere the brighter for her coming. - -Who more than hospital nurses appreciate these short-lived breaks in -their lives, these little visits from their own people that flash -sunshine and warmth into the dark corners? - -And the flowers too. What would hospital life be without the flowers? -Have we not already seen some of the many happy uses to which they may -be put? - - * * * * * - -The typhoid--No. 10--was a poor flower-girl. She had not failed to -notice how the nurses loved the fair blossoms, and with reviving life -her warm little heart filled with gratitude for the tenderness and care -she had received. She could only think of one vent for her feelings. - -"Look here, Sister," she said. "I generally stand at the top o' -Cheapside or thereabouts. Do come my way. I'll be looking out for you. -And I'll give you such a bowkay!" - - * * * * * - -Susie, if she was inclined to fret for "mother" and "home," had a -plucky little soul with which to greet other woes. Just to-day she -was feeling it very perplexing that, in spite of a decidedly hungry -appetite, she was knocked off her dinner altogether. She tried not to -grumble, but her face was very wistful until Sister came and explained -that the doctors wished it, and that in the afternoon she was to "have -on a clean night-gown and such a pretty bed-jacket that is waiting in -my room, and I shall tie up your hair with this nice piece of blue -ribbon. We are going to take you to see the doctors instead of their -coming to see you to-day. You know how kind they are, don't you, little -maid?" - -Susie had nothing but gentleness to remember, and fortunately she did -not connect Sister's words with the great cruel lump on her leg that -was sapping her little life and giving her those sudden sharp pains -that often drew her little lips together with a pathetic "Oh!" - -It was thus that Sister Warwick tenderly shielded the child as much -as possible from the terrors of anticipating an unknown ordeal, and -Susie went smiling in Sister's arms to the operating theatre. She only -had one short moment of fear when she found herself laid on that very -strange bed, with so many strange faces round her. - -Then she went to sleep. She supposed so, for she opened her eyes again -in the long, quiet ward, with the bright flowers on the table and -Sister beside her, one hand resting on her curls, and the other holding -her tiny wrist. Sister was smiling too. Seeing this, Susie guessed -there was nothing to be frightened at, though down in her little heart -she fancied she should have been afraid of something--she did not know -what--if she had waked to find herself alone. - -She drank the milk that was given her, and feeling drowsy sighed a -"Good night, Sister," turned a very white little face sideways upon the -pillow, and slept again--this time a natural satisfactory slumber. - -Susie never realised what a blessed thing had happened to her during -that confused time. For she was hardly old enough to connect that -"going to see the doctors" with the fact that her "poor, poor leg," as -she called it, grew rapidly well from that day. - -Happy Susie, to pass so calmly through such a crisis in your life! and -to lie in your little cot all unconscious of the interest you cause, -not only to your doctors and nurses, but to all the elder women in the -beds up and down this long room, who were well enough to enter into -what went on around them. The flower-girl was one of these, and Mrs. 13 -was another. - -Patty, being a spoilt little mortal, expressed a wish that she too -might "have a pretty hair-tie, and go to see the doctors with Sister." -She was quite jealous of all the attention Susie was receiving, and -thought herself neglected by contrast. - -Sister laughed, and made it all right by saying: - -"You shall do better than that, dear. Some day soon we will put you -into the mail-cart, wrap you up in a pretty blue shawl, and you shall -go under the trees in the gardens." - -So Patty had the pleasure of anticipation, too. - -(_To be concluded._) - - - - -ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. - - -MEDICAL. - -A NEW CORRESPONDENT.--1. Take a lukewarm bath every day. Where you -perspire most profusely sponge the parts over with toilet vinegar and -water. A very good way to check excessive sweating, especially if it is -offensive, is to dust the inside of your gloves, stockings and sleeves -with a powder consisting of ninety-nine parts of silica and one part of -salicylic acid, finely powdered. Wash your feet and hands every night -in warm boracic acid solution (two teaspoonfuls of boracic acid to the -quart of water). Change your linen frequently during hot weather.--2. -The voice of the girl does not alter so much as does that of the boy. -It also "forms" more gradually, and there is rarely or never a distinct -"cracking" of the voice of the girl like that which usually occurs in -the boy. At nineteen years of age the speaking voice is fully formed, -but the singing voice may go on improving till thirty or even later. - -DAISY.--Anything which disturbs the health will cause a dark sallow -complexion and dark rings round the eyes. Defective hygienic -surroundings, lack of exercise or sufficient nourishment, overwork, -or indeed anything which interferes with perfect health will cause a -sallow complexion. The way to improve your complexion is to take plenty -of exercise, eat well, and pay attention to the general laws of health. -Cosmetics and other applications would make your face worse. - -DAUGHTER.--Your mother suffers from hay fever. Let her follow the -advice we gave to Josephine last week. If this proves successful so -much the better. But hay fever is a ticklish thing to treat, and but -rarely does the first treatment tried effect a cure. Snuffs of various -kinds are often used for this ailment. We have seen better results from -snuffs containing menthol or aristol than from others. Very often a -trivial surgical manœuvre, such as destroying a sensitive spot with a -prick of the electric needle will permanently cure hay fever. Sometimes -nothing seems to do any good. Hay fever is thought by some people to -result from the pollen of flowers irritating the mucous membrane of the -nose. This may be a cause in some cases, but it cannot be invariably -the rule. As a matter of fact a large number of totally dissimilar -affections are lumped together and called "hay fever," and so it is not -difficult to see why the same treatment will not be of avail to every -sufferer from this complaint. - -PUSSY.--Can indigestion be cured at home? Of course it can. Better at -home than anywhere else. The person who told you that indigestion could -not be cured without sea air is not a reliable authority. Attention to -diet is everything in indigestion. Last year in THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER -we published two articles on indigestion. Let your friend read these, -and also the answers to correspondents which deal with the subject of -indigestion. We seem to be always discussing indigestion, nervousness -or face spots. She must not eat apples either raw or cooked. She may -relieve her constipation if necessary with a little liquorice powder -or a teaspoonful of cascara sagrada. If your friend reads what we have -advised, she will find all she needs to cure herself of indigestion. - -STAVESACRE.--We are thoroughly aware that this drug is used to destroy -lice in the hair. It is not a drug which we would advise anyone to use. -It is a violent poison, and in our experience it does not do what it is -intended to do. - -MIMOSA.--1. It is hardly correct to say that "nearly every girl is -anæmic." A great many girls do suffer from that malady, but "nearly -every girl" is an exaggeration. We do not think that anæmia is on the -increase, if you take into consideration the conditions under which -girls live. Anæmia is always much more prevalent in cities than it is -in small towns and villages. Consequently, as our towns grow larger, -a greater number of girls get anæmia. In London we think that anæmia -is slightly less common than it was formerly.--2. In severe anæmia the -legs very often do swell. In the slighter grades of the affection they -only swell after severe exertion. - -FOND MOTHER.--There are few places in the world more deadly to -Europeans than the Gold Coast. If you can possibly prevent your son -from going to such an unhealthy place we strongly advise you to do -so. Very few Europeans who have set foot upon "The White Man's Grave" -recover their health when they return home. And it is but a small -number that ever do return. - -PURE WATER.--You say that you have a porcelain filter. Do you mean a -charcoal filter in a porcelain jar, that is, a cottage filter? or do -you mean a filter in which the water is forced through porcelain? The -latter kind of filter is thoroughly efficient. The former kind is far -worse than useless. The question of the use and abuse of filters has -been considered by two commissions. The latest commission was held last -year. It dealt chiefly with the value of the pocket filters used by -British soldiers. The report was very condemnatory. - - -STUDY AND STUDIO. - -BEN BOLT.--1. We smiled at your amusing French-English letter, but -we can inform you that we only criticise the handwriting of our -correspondents when we have been asked to do so. The request very -usually accompanies the MSS. sent to us.--2. There is certainly room -for improvement in your English prose, but we should judge you quite -capable of making yourself competent to undertake translations. - -MISS HATHWAY, whose society we have frequently mentioned, writes to say -that her address is now Chambers' Library, Wokingham. Her "Excelsior -Literary Club" for essays, stories, research, subjects of discussion, -with criticism and prizes, originated in 1877. The second term of her -classes for English subjects, French, and Italian, is now beginning. -Terms (moderate) on application, with stamp for reply. - -AGATHA.--We feel much sympathy for you.--1. Your drawing is good, the -shading being well managed for one who has never learned. We advise you -to persevere.--2. Your writing is very clear and excellent, considering -that you have to write lying on your back. We hope you will soon be -stronger. - -ARDCHULLARY.--1. You have not given your quotation quite correctly-- - - "The light that never was, on sea or land, - The consecration, and the Poet's dream." - -These magnificent lines are from a poem by Wordsworth, "suggested by -a picture of Peele Castle in a storm." They mean the light of poetic -imagination, which irradiates life, although it is not seen with the -outward eye.--2. Your writing is neat and good, but the tails to your -g's and y's, etc., are too long. - -BOUGIE'S FRIEND (Belgium).--1. We answered your first question some -time ago.--2. In reply to your inquiry as to whether "there is no harm -in flirting," we must tell you that there is a type of flirting which -is distinctly vulgar, and does not elevate a girl in the eyes of the -man who is amusing himself with her. On the other hand, it is only fair -to say that some people apply the term "flirting" to very harmless and -innocent gaiety and brightness, which is perfectly natural when young -people meet together. - - -INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. - -"LYS DE FRANCE" writes to inform her many would-be correspondents that -she has already made her choice. She adds, "You cannot imagine the -pleasure your 'International Correspondence' has afforded me." - -"ERICA," Buda-Pesth, Hungary, has offers of correspondence from Miss -Edwards, Bibbenluke, New South Wales; and Miss Green, G. M. King, Esq., -Glen Rock, Spring Valley, Tarkastad, Cape Colony. - -MARIE ARAPIAN has an offer of correspondence from Miss Julia Ina -Fraser, Egypt House, Newmarket Place, Westmoreland, Jamaica. - -MISS FRASER would "like to correspond with some nice ladylike girls -about her own age (seventeen) in England, France and Italy, or India." - -MISS CLARISSA J. AULT and her sister would be glad to have a French -girl correspondent of about their own age (nineteen to twenty-one). -Address, Aulton House, Church Gresley, Burton-on-Trent. - -MISS EMMA L. YOUNG is anxious to obtain a French correspondent aged -twenty-one. Address, 2, Sans Souci, Harold Cross Road, Dublin. - -"POKER," Cholwell House, Temple Cloud, Bristol, wishes to correspond -with a French girl aged about eighteen, of good family. She suggests -that "they should correct each other's letters." - -MISS LILIAN A. J. SLADE, Lawn Villa, Crewkerne, Somerset, would like -both a French and German correspondent aged about eighteen. - -"ONE WHO IS PUZZLED" wishes to correspond with Miss Florence A. Jeffery -(New York). She should write to the address we gave. - -MISS VIOLET GOODHART GODFREY, M.L.S., wishes for an American -correspondent; she is eighteen next January. Will an American girl -(either the one whose request we published on August 6th, or another) -write to her at Ivy Hatch, Horsham? - -GERTRUDE wishes for a French correspondent. - -CLEM wishes to exchange letters with a French, German, or Italian lady. - -MISS E. WATKINSON, Wanaka, The Vale, Chelsea, wishes to correspond with -a young lady of her own age (twenty-four) in Canada. - -IGNORAMUS wishes for a French girl correspondent of seventeen to twenty. - -DOROTHY CROSS, Minterne, Cerne, Dorset, and MISS MADELINA PULLIN, The -Parsonage Farm, Warminster, Wilts, wish to correspond with French girls -aged about fourteen. - -"CISSIE," Southend, should send her full name and address. - -"A READER OF THE 'G. O. P.,' J. B. ASHFORD," a girl aged seventeen, -wishes for either a French or German correspondent, or both. Address, -55, Marlow Road, Anerley, London, S.E. - - -MISCELLANEOUS. - -DOMBEY.--We have not made the experiment ourselves, but we have heard -that you may restore a faded photograph by placing it in a saturated -solution of bichloride of mercury, leaving it in the bath for a -few minutes, and then washing and drying it; of course it must be -unmounted. There is another method; but whatever experiment you make -should be first tried on one which is of no value to you. For our -part, we should prefer to leave the photo in the experienced hands of -a professional artist, and we cannot take any responsibility in giving -the foregoing recipe. - -MARTA.--There is no cruelty attached to the trade in ostrich feathers. -The birds are not killed, excepting only at Buenos Ayres, to provide -the market with them; nor are they made to suffer from plucking like -the poor geese, to supply quill pens. Each plume is cut with a sharp -knife close to the skin, and this gives no pain any more than the -cutting of our hair. The stumps wither and fall out; or after ten days -may be removed. The greatest supply comes from the Cape; but they are -also produced in Tripoli, Egypt, and Morocco. But the trade prices for -birds has much gone down. - -A. B.--The name "Collect," as applied to the short prayer employed -before the Epistle and Gospel, simply expressed the fact that it -has reference to the main subjects of the latter extracts collected -together. The term "Bible" only meant "a book" in the time of Chaucer. -It has been restricted in its application to the Divinely-inspired -collection of writings, and the article "the" was super-added. And so -the term "Scriptures" is employed with the definite article, to show -that these writings are separate from all others; sometimes the word -"holy" being further employed to mark them as standing alone, and -in a rank superior to that of any others, however distinguished and -authoritative. - -EDITH.--Should anyone step on your foot, or accidentally push against -you, and apologise, say "Not at all, don't mention it." Do not say "All -right," and certainly not the vulgar reply, "Granted," from which an -inference could naturally be drawn that you considered an apology was -due, which would not be complimentary. - -L. E. BIRD.--The initial letters placed on an invitation card--"R. S. -V. P."--are those of the French words, _Répondez, s'il vous plait_, -which, translated into English, means, "Answer, if you please." Your -handwriting is scarcely formed, but very legible, and promises well for -a running hand, with practice. - -BEATRICE.--You had better transact the business through the _Exchange -and Mart_. Get one of the papers to see their terms (70, Strand, W.C., -Office of the _Bazaar_. _E. & M._). - -FLORENCE A. JEFFERY.--A halfpenny of William and Mary, with plain edge, -and the date under Britannia, "1694" (in copper) is worth from 1s. to -5s.; but some examples have sold for much more. Three halfpennies, one -Irish, have been sold for £1 12s., but they were very fine specimens. -Another of 1694, of bold work, extremely fine, realised £7 10s. A -halfpenny of George II. is worth from 6d. to a 1s. The head of the date -you name, "1754," is an old one. - -H. MAXWELL.--We must refer you to the 1st volume of _The Oracle -Encyclopædia_ (Geo. Newnes, Ltd.), page 619, where you will read--"In -the old Church of St. Martin, built in the 12th or 13th c., Roman -bricks and Norman sculpture have been worked-up in the walls!" - -M. D.--We recommend you to dispose of the medical books through the -_Exchange and Mart_ (70, Strand, W.C.). - -SILKWORM might offer her silk for disposal through the medium of the -above-named paper. - -LIZZIE.--The French obtained the soubriquet of "frogs" not because of -their using these creatures as food, because we find that the southern -Germans, Austrians, and Italians esteem the green ones in the same way, -as delicacies of the table, but the name was derived from the original -heraldic device of their kings, who bore on their escutcheons "three -toads (or frogs) erect, saltent." In the year 1791, "What will the -frogs say?" was a common phrase of the Court at Versailles, applied to -the citizens of Paris. The site of this city was once a quagmire, or -swamp, like that of London, and was called _Lutétia_, or "mud land," -its inhabitants living like the frogs, in the mud. September 20th, -1885, fell on a Sunday. - -C. W. N.--We like your "Reverie." It shows much poetical feeling; but -a little flaw at the commencement might be corrected. The nave cannot -be said to be "pierced" by the aisle, an arch, nor even by the column. -They do not go through the roof. We do not say this satirically, but -because the full and correct meaning of words must be remembered and -strictly employed in their true sense. - -MAY.--Hermanszoon van Rhyn Rembrandt was a Dutch painter and engraver; -born in 1608, and died in 1669. If your picture be signed, it is -valuable. Search the corners carefully for any initials, date, or mark. -You do not name the subject. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's note--the following changes have been made to this text: - -Page 195: might changed to night. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. -991, December 24, 1898, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - -***** This file should be named 50798-0.txt or 50798-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/7/9/50798/ - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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