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diff --git a/56726-0.txt b/56726-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99bd14c --- /dev/null +++ b/56726-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3269 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56726 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE] + +Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved. + + * * * * * + +PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1896. FIVE CENTS A COPY. + +VOL. XVII.--NO. 858. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration] + +HOW TO START IN LIFE. + +RANCHING. + +BY HON. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + + +There are in every community young men to whom life at the desk or +behind the counter is unutterably dreary and unattractive, and who long +for some out-of-door occupation which shall, if possible, contain a +spice of excitement. These young men can be divided into two +classes--first, those who, if they get a chance to try the life for +which they long, will speedily betray their utter inability to lead it; +and, secondly, those who possess the physical capacity and the peculiar +mental make-up necessary for success in an employment far out of the +usual paths of civilized occupations. A great many of these young men +think of ranching as a business which they might possibly take up, and +what I am about to say is meant as much for a warning to one class as +for advice to the other. + +Ranching is a rather indefinite term. In a good many parts of the West a +ranch simply means a farm; but I shall not use it in this sense, since +the advantages and disadvantages of a farmer's life, whether it be led +in New Jersey or Iowa, have often been dwelt upon by men infinitely more +competent than I am to pass judgment. Accordingly, when I speak of +ranching I shall mean some form of stock-raising or sheep-farming as +practised now in the wilder parts of the United States, where there is +still plenty of land which, because of the lack of rainfall, is not very +productive for agricultural purposes. + +The first thing to be remembered by any boy or young man who wishes to +go West and start life on a cattle ranch, horse ranch, or sheep ranch is +that he must know the business thoroughly before he can earn any salary +to speak of, still less start out on his own accord. A great many young +fellows apparently think that a cowboy is born and not made, and that in +order to become one all they have to do is to wish very hard to be one. +Now, as a matter of fact, a young fellow trained as a bookkeeper would +take quite as long to learn the trade of a cowboy as the average cowboy +would take to learn the trade of bookkeeper. The first thing that the +beginner anywhere in the wilder parts of the West has to learn is the +capacity to stand monotony, fatigue, and hardship; the next thing is to +learn the nature of the country. + +A young fellow from the East who has been brought up on a farm, or who +has done hard manual labor as a machinist, need not go through a +novitiate of manual labor in order to get accustomed to the roughness +that such labor implies; but a boy just out of a high-school, or a young +clerk, will have to go through just such a novitiate before he will be +able to command a dollar's pay. Both alike will have to learn the nature +of the country, and this can only be learned by actual experience on the +ground. Again, the beginner must remember that though there are +occasional excitement and danger in a ranchman's life, it is only +occasional, while the monotony of hard and regular toil is not often +broken. Except in the matter of fresh air and freedom from crowding, a +small ranchman often leads a life of as grinding hardness as the average +dweller in a New York tenement-house. His shelter is a small log hut, or +possibly a dug-out in the side of a bank, or in summer a shabby tent. +For food he will have to depend mainly on the bread of his own baking, +on fried fat pork, and on coffee or tea with sugar and no milk. Of +course he will occasionally have some canned stuff or potatoes. The +furniture of the hut is of the roughest description--a roll of blankets +for bedding, a bucket, a tin wash-basin, and a tin mug, with perhaps a +cracked looking-glass four inches square. + +He will not have much society of any kind, and the society he does have +is not apt to be over-refined. If he is a lad of a delicate, shrinking +nature and fastidious habits, he will find much that is uncomfortable, +and will need to show no small amount of pluck and fortitude if he is to +hold his own. The work, too, is often hard and often wearisome from mere +sameness. It is generally done on horseback even on a sheep ranch, and +always on a cow ranch. The beginner must learn to ride with indifference +all kinds of rough and dangerous horses before he will be worth his +keep. + +With all this before him, the beginner will speedily find out that life +on a Western ranch is very far from being a mere holiday. A young man +who desires to start in the life ought, if possible, to have with him a +little money--just enough to keep body and soul together--until he can +gain a foothold somewhere. No specific directions can be given him as to +where to start. Wyoming, most of Montana, the western edge of the +Dakotas, western Texas, and some portions of the Rocky Mountain States +still offer chances for a man to go into the ranch business. In +different seasons in the different localities business may be good or +bad, and it would be impossible to tell where was the best place to +start. Wherever the beginner goes, he ought to make up his mind at the +outset to start by doing any kind of work he can. Let him chop wood, +hoe, do any chore that will bring him in twenty-five cents. If he is +once able to start by showing that he is willing to work hard and do +something, he can probably get employment of some kind, although this +employment will almost certainly be very ill paid and not attractive. +Perhaps it will be to dig in a garden, or to help one of the men drive +oxen, or to do the heavy work round camp for some party of cow-punchers +or lumberers. Whatever it is, let the boy go at it with all his might, +and at the same time take every opportunity to get acquainted with the +kind of life which he intends ultimately to lead. If he wishes to try to +ride a horse, he will be given every chance, if for no other reason than +that he will continually meet men whose ideas of fun are met by the +spectacle of a tenderfoot on a bucking bronco. + +By degrees he will learn a good deal of the ways of the life and of the +country. Then he must snatch the first chance that offers itself to take +a position in connection with the regular work of a ranch. He may be +employed as a regular hand to help cook on the ranch wagon, or taken by +a shepherd to do the hard and dirty work which the shepherd would like +to put off on somebody else. When he has once got as far as this his +rise is certain, if he is not afraid of labor, and keeps a lookout for +the opportunities that offer. After a while he will be given a horse +himself, and employed as a second-rate man to do the ordinary ranch +work. + +Work on a sheep ranch is less attractive but more profitable than on any +other. A good deal of skill must be shown by the shepherd in managing +his flock and in handling the sheep dogs; but ordinarily it is +appallingly dreary to sit all day long in the sun, or loll about in the +saddle, watching the flocks of fleecy idiots. In time of storm he must +work like a demon and know exactly what to do, or his whole flock will +die before his eyes, sheep being as tender as horses and cattle are +tough. + +[Illustration: ON A CATTLE RANCH--AN UNRULY STEER.] + +With the work of a cow ranch or horse ranch there comes more excitement. +Every man on such a ranch has a string of eight or ten horses for his +own riding, and there is a great deal of exciting galloping and hot +riding across the plains; and the work in a stampede at night, or in +line-riding during the winter, or in breaking the fierce little horses +to the saddle, is as exciting as it is hard and dangerous. The wilder +phases of the life, however, are steadily passing away. Almost +everywhere great wire fences are being put up, and no small part of the +cowboy's duty nowadays is to ride along the line of a fence and repair +it wherever broken. Moreover, at present the business of cattle or horse +raising on the plains does not pay well, and, except in peculiar cases, +can hardly be recommended to a boy ambitious for his future. + +So much for the unattractive reality of ranch life. It would be unfair +not to point out that it has a very attractive side also. If the boy is +fond of open-air exercise, and willing to risk tumbles that may break an +occasional bone, and to endure at need heat and cold, hunger and thirst, +he will find much that is pleasant in the early mornings on the great +plains, and on the rare days when he is able to take a few hours' +holiday to go with his shot-gun after prairie-chickens or ducks, or, +perchance, to ride out with a Winchester rifle to a locality where on +one of his working days he has seen a small band of antelope standing in +the open, or caught a glimpse of a deer bounding through the brush. +There is little temptation to spend money, unless he is addicted to the +coarsest kind of dissipation, and after a few years the young fellow +ought to have some hundreds of dollars put up. By this time he should +know all about the business and the locality, and should be able to +gauge just what he can accomplish. + +For a year or two perhaps he can try to run a little outfit of his own +in connection with his work on a big ranch. Then he will abandon the +latter and start out entirely on his own account. Disaster may overtake +him, as it may overtake any business man; but if he wins success, even +though of a moderate kind, he has a pleasant life before him, riding +about over the prairie among his own horses or cattle or sheep, +occasionally taking a day off to go after game, and, while working hard, +not having to face the mere drudgery which he had to face as a tyro. The +chances are very small that he will ever gain great wealth; and when he +marries and has children of his own there are many uncomfortable +problems to face, the chief being that of schools; but for a young man +in good health and of adventurous temper the life is certainly +pleasanter than that of one cooped up in the counting-room, and while it +is not one to be sought save by the very few who have a natural liking +for it and a natural capacity to enjoy it and profit by it, still for +these few people it remains one of the most attractive forms of +existence in America. + + + + +BIOGRAPHY OF A STARBOARD ANCHOR. + +BY H. PERCY ASHLEY. + + +The big Anchor rested on the smooth green lawn in front of the house, +all glistening in the sunshine with its new coat of white paint, and +there was nothing about it to show how it had once taken a very +important part in the lives of the youngsters who were even then playing +around on the grass not far away. But the old Bo's'n came along one day, +and he knew the story, and as near as I can remember it, this is what he +said the Anchor told him: + +I came out of the ground a great many years ago, and my appearance at +the time was somewhat crude. I was put on a train and taken to a place +where they gave me a bath, and afterwards I was melted, hammered, and +pounded until it seemed as if my last days had come. I had a chance to +cool off after this ordeal, however, and a new suit of galvanized +clothing was given to me. I felt very proud a few days later as I lay in +state at the door of a large ship-chandler's shop on South Street in New +York city. Frequently men who passed by in the crowd would stop to look +at me, and some of them would remark upon my beauty and my strength, +which made me expand with pride and give them one of my brightest looks. +Those were the days, you must remember, when I was new and foolish, for +up to that time I had never seen the ocean, except for the occasional +glimpses I caught over the corner of the dock and through the tangle of +shipping. + +Spring came, and all was hurry and bustle in the shop behind me. One +particularly fine morning a truck backed up against the sidewalk, and +some men loaded me on to it, and took me away and transferred me to a +steam-freighter, which landed me the next day at Newport. Soon afterward +I was shipped to the bow of a large schooner yacht. As long as I live I +shall never forget how the Captain and the mate looked me over; and as +they patted my arms and flukes they remarked that I was very well made. +Mr. Summerville, the owner of the yacht, also came forward to admire me, +and after him ran two of the prettiest children I had ever seen. Laying +his hand upon my arm, he said: + +"Children, this is the new Right Bower. We all place a great deal of +dependence upon him." + +I was so much overcome at this that I could not speak, but I extended my +palm and gave them my very best bow. + +I did not meet my associate Anchor until several days afterwards, since +he was on duty at the bottom of the bay; but the Chain, to which he was +very much attached, gave me his respects. A few days after my arrival, +my future chum, Patent Link Chain, came aboard, and we were introduced +by the mate. Patent Chain extended his shackles in a friendly way, and I +grasped them firmly in my ring. Little did we foresee the many trials +before us. + +It is needless for me to relate how I nearly fainted when thrown +overboard for the first time, and how my dear friend Patent Chain never +lost his hold upon me. Nearly all my duty was at night, for I was very +much stronger than the Port Bow Anchor. There was another Anchor on +board, called Kedge, but my partner and I did not take very kindly to +him, as he seemed to be stuck up, and spent most of his time aft. We +therefore let him severely alone, and we learned that he remarked to the +Chains one day that the Kedge family were called upon to do duty only on +special occasions, and to be rowed about in small boats. + +The Chains of this yacht for some reason never seemed to get along very +well together, and frequently when two of them were on duty at the same +time they would get in a tangle, and the mate would have to go out on +the bob-stay and chastise them with a marlinspike before they could be +separated. But, as my friend Patent Chain frequently remarked, the other +chain was very common and had a bad heart. Events proved his opinion was +well founded. + +We were on a cruise toward Maine when the turning-point in my life +occurred. As we sailed along one day I heard the mate say that bad +weather was ahead. That evening we came to anchor early in a sheltered +bay, and night came on dark and stormy. The wind increased, and sighed +and moaned in the rigging. Port Anchor had gone overboard several hours +before, but they soon found it necessary to send me down with him. I +felt a kind of foreboding of evil as I plunged into the water, and when +I reached the bottom I sank one of my arms as deeply into the mud as +possible, and groped with my fluke for solid rock. Patent Chain told me +he had not reached for such a length before, and he added that the Kedge +had been brought forward in case he might be needed. + +The storm increased to a hurricane, and soon Port Anchor cried out to me +that he felt his strength was giving way. Poor fellow! he seemed to +realize that he was too old to stand the terrific strain that he was now +being called upon to endure, and his Common Chain couldn't be counted on +to hold. Already some of the links were making preparations to part. I +called back words of cheer, but received no reply, and a moment later I +experienced a terrible shock, for Common Chain had broken, and poor old +Port Anchor had been left to his fate in the mud. I felt myself dragged +through the stones and the rocks along the bottom, and wondered what was +going to happen, for my good friend Patent Chain was telling me that +they were praying on deck that I might hold. Little Kedge sank down near +me, and tried hard to get a grip on the rocks, but he was so small that +he could do but little. Patent Chain shrieked in agony that he was being +torn apart, but entreated me at the same time to make final and +desperate efforts to save the yacht. Up above the Captain, the mate, and +the crew were working frantically to get the storm try-sail set, and +they had lashed two hempen cables to Patent Chain so that he could go +out further. In the mean time, however, I had found a ledge of rocks, to +which I seized with my flukes as well as with my stock, and Patent +Chain, spreading himself full length in the mud, clung to the bottom. + +How long this dreadful tension lasted I shall never know, but it seemed +years to me. It was probably only a few hours. And when I was finally +assisted to the surface by old Windlass the next morning, I found the +yacht was under way in tow, and headed for the nearest shipyard. She had +sustained considerable damage from the hurricane, and as I reached the +deck I was surrounded by awed and sympathetic faces. Everyone said I had +saved the yacht; and that is why I am placed here and why I am so well +treated. + + + + +BOY TROOPERS. + +BY RICHARD BARRY. + +ILLUSTRATED BY INSTANTANEOUS FLASH-LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS OF "TROOP A" +CADETS. + + +The cavalry has always been the most popular branch of army service in +song and story, and, beyond doubt, in the mind of the public. To a boy +who has a leaning towards military things it has an absolute +fascination, and if he likes a horse (and what boy does not?) it is his +choice beyond all others. + +[Illustration: DRESS PARADE.] + +In New York city there exists a troop of boy cavalry that has been +drilling and exercising faithfully, and under such able direction that +it may be taken as a model for what a boys' organization of this kind +should be. Soldiering means really serious work, whether it is in the +service of a State, a country, or merely entered into for the love of +it, and a boy who has not the proper spirit cannot long remain a member +of "Troop A" Cadets. It is astonishing to find how quickly and how well +the boy recruit learns to ride, how much he learns about a horse, and +how his muscles and his eye and his self-reliance develop under the +drill. The writer has seen riding that no cowboy need be ashamed of done +by a boy of fourteen who a year before had never thrown his leg over +anything but a Shetland-pony, and many of the young troopers never +mounted a horse at all until they first made their appearance in the +tan-bark ring of the troop riding-school. If a boy is a "muff," he does +not stay at it long; it takes a lad with the "proper stuff" in him, as +the riding-master tells you, to stand the thumping and sometimes the +falls of the first month's drill. A horse is a very complicated piece of +machinery to the novice, and he must be managed by the eye, the whole +body, and the mind. He knows when the rider on his back is timid or +determined, and he often acts accordingly. Horses have an individuality +that bicycles haven't, and the young trooper must learn to govern +besides learning merely to guide and "stay on." + +But to take in order what a boy cavalryman must learn. In the first +place he must be strong and willing, and quick to listen; that is a +great thing--listening. He will find out a great deal about himself, and +if he has the right stamina and spirit he improves in every way most +wonderfully. + +As soon as the recruit has been proposed for membership, which is done +in the same way it is done in the National Guard--that is, his name is +proposed by two members in good standing, then voted on by a committee, +and lastly by the whole troop--as soon as all this is done he takes his +first lesson. It is not on horseback--that comes later--but on foot; the +setting-up exercise has to be gone through with. This is quite a trial, +for it means standing erect, and going through various exercises with +the arms, the legs, the whole body; bending over with knees stiff, and +touching the ground until he wonders where so many aching muscles come +from. + +Then he learns the facings and marchings, a good deal like an +infantryman. But at last a sabre is put in his hand, and he is taught to +use it, standing firm on his out-stretched legs, and making wonderful +cuts and points to right and left--"cut at head, cut at body, at +infantry, at cavalry," etc., over and over. At first some of his +wonderful strokes in strange directions would cleave his horse in two, +and others would relieve him of his head or mayhap his tail; but soon he +learns the proper positions of all these things, and acts as if he were +on horseback. When this has been accomplished he is taught the drill +with the carbine, loading and firing, and the manual on foot. The +lieutenant in charge of the cadets informed me that boys learn quicker +and improve much more rapidly than grown men in all this, and that they +seldom remain in the "awkward squad" for any length of time. But now +comes the riding, and a great deal more; for the cavalryman must look +after his own mount, and be able to saddle and bridle. + +The first lesson means much. It is a good thing that grace does not +count, for it is hard to be graceful or at ease on a bumping, thumping +nag with nothing on his back but a blanket. In a little time one learns +to hang on with the knees and balance with the body, and then it looks +more like fun--the instructor lets go of the bridle-rein and ceases his +everlasting words of advice, and the recruit "goes it alone." When he +sits in a saddle after undergoing a long course of tan-bark drill, he +feels as comfortable as if he was in a chair, and wonders how he ever +thought it hard to do. + +[Illustration: IN COLUMN OF FOURS.] + +Now comes the drill on horseback at a walk, a trot, and a gallop. If the +horse is an old hand he helps the new trooper out amazingly; he seems to +understand the orders, and whisks into place and dresses into line +promptly as could be wished for. + +[Illustration: WRESTLING.] + +After the trooper gets out of the awkward squad for good and all, the +drills become exciting; every meeting is a series of games on horseback; +he learns to cut at the ball on the wooden post--"the Turk's head"; he +slashes at imaginary enemies afoot and mounted; he learns +"tent-pegging," which is riding full tilt down the arena at a wooden peg +driven into the ground, which he endeavors to pick up on the point of +his sabre, and soon he becomes part of his horse. It is exciting to see +three troopers playing the "ribbon chase." One of them has a knot on his +right arm, and the other two (they are all mounted without saddles) try +to get this ribbon off. It can only be taken off from the left side, and +they play tag and manoeuvre every which way to get a position. If the +one who is "it" is clever, he dodges and doubles, turns and backs, and +if he can keep his ribbon for three minutes he wins. But the others push +him hard, and here it is where good riding tells. I have seen a little +shaver who had to be helped up on to a fifteen-hand horse do some riding +that would be credit to a Comanche Indian. They wrestle--these boy +troopers--on horseback, and I have seen one leap from his own horse +astride that of his opponent, and then succeed in dismounting him. All +this brings out the best thing in a boy; it teaches him to be +self-reliant and quick in judgment, and it makes his big brother feel +proud of him--if he has a big brother. + +When they grow old enough (most of them are between fifteen and +seventeen) they generally get into the troop itself, and their +preliminary work puts them on a par with the best of the older troopers. + +Of course it costs something to organize and maintain a squadron of +mounted men, and the members pay yearly dues which cover the expense of +horse hire. Their uniforms they own themselves, and they cost about +twelve dollars. + +In any good-sized town or city it is perfectly possible for a number of +boys, with the help of their fathers, to organize such a troop if they +go about it in earnest and work in a systematic way. + +First of all a competent instructor must be obtained, and every one +should realize that money cannot be judiciously saved in his salary. He +should be the best man obtainable after a somewhat extended search. +Usually he is an old cavalry officer, or perhaps some cavalry officer +who has retired. Such men are to be had after some search, and apart +from their knowledge of cavalry movements they are valuable because they +take a personal interest in all that has to do with their work. + +Having secured the instructor a hall is then necessary, and this is by +far the most difficult thing to find of the whole outfit. Few towns and +not many cities have any hall the ground-floor of which can be used for +horses. If the troop is to be a serious affair, and it is impossible to +organize one unless it is to be serious, the cheapest way in such cases +is to build a huge shed with the earth for a flooring. Here is a +proportionately large expense, and the result is that most cavalry cadet +troops will have to be formed under the auspices of National Guard +troops, which already have armories for cavalry practice. + +Once you have an armory and an instructor, the rest is merely detail. +Much objection is made of late to military drill and the encouragement +of the love of war. Boy troopers have nothing to do with war. They +should not wish to fight, even to grow up to fight some day, except in +defense of their country. There is no more question of war in a cadet +troop than there is in a bicycle club. It is merely that the discipline, +the training, the exercise that are good for boys can be obtained in +this healthy, manly way, and cannot be obtained with equal efficiency in +any other way. + + + + +AN "OLD-FIELD" SCHOOL-GIRL.[1] + +[1] Begun in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE No. 857. + +BY MARION HARLAND. + +CHAPTER III. + + +It was only half past eight when the search party left Greenfield, but +it would be no darker at midnight. The two negroes who led the way down +the avenue and out into the public road carried blazing lightwood +knots--that is, long thick pieces of "fat" pine cut from the heart of +the tree, and, when lighted, burning for hours with a fierce flame fed +by the turpentine and resin which were the sap of the tree. + +Close behind the torch-men rode Mr. Grigsby, the dogs trotting beside +him, and almost upon his horse's heels was the "top gig" containing the +Major and Mr. Tayloe. The scene was striking and even solemn, and except +that the Major and his companion now and then exchanged a sentence in +subdued tones, not a word was uttered until they arrived at the open +space surrounding the school-house. There Mr. Grigsby dismounted and +Major Duncombe and Mr. Tayloe got out of the gig. The negroes were left +with the horses, Mr. Grigsby and the Major taking their torches. + +They trod lightly, and the soaked ground made no noise under their feet. +Pushing the door further open, they entered, holding their torches high +to throw the light into the room. The glare reached the figure of the +sleeping girl in the far corner, and with a whispered congratulation to +the father, the Major led the way to her. She lay upon her side, facing +them, her head pillowed upon her book, her hand under her cheek. She +slumbered soundly and sweetly, not stirring when the full blaze of the +fat pine struck her closed eyelids. + +At the second glance both men exclaimed in horror. Coiled right across +her naked ankles and feet was what looked like a striped gray and brown +rope. The spectators knew it instantly for a moccasin snake, next to the +rattlesnake and copperhead the most deadly of Virginia reptiles. +Attracted by the warmth of the child's body, he had curled himself up +for his nightly rest, and, raising an ugly head, hissed viciously as the +light was reflected from a pair of wicked eyes. Then, instead of +striking at the unconscious sleeper, he dropped to the floor and glided +swiftly under the benches to a darker corner. Mr. Grigsby sprang after +him and planted his heel upon his head. Had he missed him or put his +foot upon any other part of the snake, he must have been bitten. He +ground his heel into the creature's head with all his might until the +convulsed body, that had wrapped itself about his leg and writhed up and +down like a curling whip lash, ceased to twist and quiver. + +"Bravely done!" said Mr. Tayloe, in honest admiration. "But you ran a +great risk." + +"I did not think of that," answered the Scotchman, briefly. + +He was deadly pale, and his jaw was rigid. The sweat dropped from his +chin as he stepped off the dead snake and turned back to the bench where +his child lay. It was strange that the exclamations and stamping had not +aroused her. Had she been bitten, and was this heavy sleep the stupor of +death? The same thought was in the minds of the others while they +watched him in breathless silence. He knelt down by the still figure and +laid his hand gently upon her head. + +[Illustration: "DAUGHTER! FATHER'S LASSIE!" HE SAID, HIS LIPS CLOSE TO +HER EAR.] + +"Daughter! Father's lassie!" he said, his lips close to her ear. + +His voice was husky and unnatural, but she knew it in her sleep. Her +eyes unclosed slowly upon his face, and widened as she saw Major +Duncombe and Mr. Tayloe behind him. Still dreaming, she smiled slowly +and lifted her hand to wave it. It was all a part of the examination +day. She was still "playing ladies." + +"You do me too much honor, I assure you, sir," she murmured. + +She had not been bitten by the moccasin. But for the necessity of +ascertaining this, she would not have been told what danger she had +escaped. Short work was made with explanations, and no time was lost in +hurrying her from the place. Major Duncombe lifted her with his own +hands to her seat in front of her father upon his broad-backed horse, +and insisted upon sending one of the torch-bearers all the way home with +them. Flea was wrapped to her heels in a shawl that had been put into +the gig by Mrs. Duncombe's order. It was soft and fluffy and thick, and +the folds felt like a caress to her chilled limbs. Her father's arm held +her close to his breast; her head lay against his strong shoulder--how +strong and safe she had never guessed until now. + +Flea never forgot that ride and her awed enjoyment of each feature of +it. Her father's silence did not surprise her. He was never talkative, +and assured by his gentleness at the moment of her awakening, and the +clasp of his arm about her now, that he was not displeased, she was glad +to lean back in his embrace and indulge the fancies born of the night's +event. She was almost sorry when the dogs ran before them as they neared +the house, and the clamor of the welcome they received from the dogs who +had staid at home drew out Chaney and Dick from the kitchen, and was the +signal for the opening of the front door. It was full of heads, seen +blackly against the lighted interior, and Mrs. Grigsby's high-pitched +voice rang out, shrilly: "Got her, 'ain't you, pa?" + +"Ay, ay! all's right!" he answered. + +Carrying the muffled form in his arms, he walked up the path leading +from the yard gate, into the house, and set her down before the chamber +fire as he might a roll of carpet. + +"Don't you look too funny!" laughed Bea, as Flea began to disengage +herself. "Lor'! if you 'ain't got on Mrs. Duncombe's winter shawl!" + +"An' trouble enough she has given, I'll be boun'!" scolded the mother, +heedless of her husband's gravity and silence. "I should 'a' thought yer +pa would 'a' left you at Greenfiel' 'tel mawnin'." + +"Peace, wife," interposed Mr. Grigsby, sternly. "All of you come in here +and be still." + +They trooped into the chamber, Chaney, Dick, and the Greenfield negro +bringing up the rear, all curiosity and expectation, subdued by his tone +and action. For he had taken a well-worn Prayer-book from the mantel +shelf, and was turning the leaves while he spoke. Finding what he sought +there, he put out his arm to draw Flea to his side, and knelt with her +in the middle of the room. + +"Let us pray!" + +Everybody knelt where he or she chanced to be standing--Mrs. Grigsby by +the cradle of her sleeping baby, Bea and Calley at the foot of the bed, +Dee before a chair, the negroes crouching upon the floor. The candles +flared and guttered, the blaze in the fireplace was beaten this way and +that by the damp wind pouring in through the open doors, the drip and +dash of the rain without were a low accompaniment to the father's voice, +weighted with emotion. While he prayed he kept his hand upon Flea's +head. + +"Almighty God and Heavenly Father, we give Thee humble thanks that Thou +hast been graciously pleased to deliver from great danger the child in +whose behalf we bless and praise Thy name in the presence of Thy people. +Grant, we beseech Thee, O gracious Father, that she, through Thy help +may both faithfully live in this world according to Thy will and also +may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come, through Jesus +Christ our Lord. Amen." + +When all had risen he told in few and strong words where and how he had +found the child, now sobbing with excitement in his arms. + +"Now," he concluded, "we will talk no more of this matter to-night, and +I will have no questions asked this child. She is tired and nervous. In +nothing is she to blame. We have great cause for thankfulness for her +safety. Mother, have you had supper while we were away?" + +He never called her "ma." Flea was the only one of the children who +imitated him in this respect. Mrs. Grigsby was fussy, and in many things +foolish, but she obeyed her husband's orders in not questioning the +runaway, and wiping her eyes more than was quite necessary, led the way +meekly to the dining-room. It was an unusually silent meal, the father +setting the example of saying little while he ate. When supper was over +he kissed Flea, which he seldom did to any of the children, and bade +her, "Go right up to bed," and not to forget to say her prayers. + +"And you, Beatrice, when you go up, do not talk to her. She needs rest +and sleep." + +He was a sensible man, and his behavior on this occasion was what seemed +wise and becoming according to his judgment. If he had intended to +establish poor Flea in her dignity as an important personage, and stuff +her head with absurd notions, he could not have done it more surely. +When her bare feet trod the short crooked staircase leading to her +bedroom, it was with the measured pace of one who has a position to fill +and means to fill it. She was almost surprised that the glass to-night +reflected the face she was used to seeing in it. + +Bea followed her shortly, brimming over with curiosity and resolution to +hear all there was to tell. + +"Say," she said, in a half-whisper, coming up to her sister, "how big +was the moccasin? It must have felt mighty heavy on your feet. What did +pa kill him with?" + +Flea looked at her with owl-like seriousness, and laid her finger upon +her lip. + +"Don't be a fool!" returned the other, contemptuously. "Pa can't hear +us." + +Whereupon the newly made heroine lifted her hand and pointed upward, +rebukingly. + +"God can hear you," was what she meant. + +"Bah!" sneered Bea. "You needn't preach to your betters. Keep your old +story to yourself. I ain't a-going to put up with your airs. Mother +ain't, neither. Any runaway nigger can go to sleep in the woods and wake +up with a snake lyin' 'longside o' him. 'Tain't as if you had _done_ +anything." + +This was rough talk, but Flea was, in her own opinion, so high above her +sister's level that she could afford to despise it. Long after Bea had +fallen asleep the younger girl lay listening to the drip, _drop_, drip, +of the rain overhead, her cheeks on fire, her brain in a whirl, and her +eyelids feeling as if they were buttoned back and would not shut. + +She was a heroine. The former life had slipped off and away from her as +her friend the moccasin had shed his skin last spring. She must recast +her thoughts and her manners, make them over through and through in +order to live up to her new character. She hoped the rain would hold up +by morning, so that she could go to church. + +In imagination she saw how every head would turn toward her when she +should walk up the aisle. How people would stare and nudge one another +during the service, and crowd around her when it was over! Perhaps--and +she thrilled all over with merely thinking of it--Mr. Slaughter, the +rector, would return thanks publicly for her deliverance. It would be +just like Major Duncombe to ask him to do it. A church prayer, said in a +white surplice, with all the congregation saying "Amen" at the end, was +not too great an honor for a girl who had had an adventure. + +That was what the Major had said--"an adventure." She went carefully +over every word of his speech, remembering each word. + +"We are only too thankful to an overruling Providence that our little +heroine's adventure was not also a catastrophe, Mr. Grigsby." + +He had rolled it out in a grand, solemn way, quite as he read prayers +every morning and night at Greenfield. + +Everything had conspired to turn the little maid's brains topsy-turvy. +Her head felt actually light at her awakening from the sound sleep that +had finally overcome her. There was a queer strained aching all through +her, and she had never been crosser in her life. + +It was still raining. The ground was sodden; the trees drooped miserably +under the weight of wet leaves; the sky was one sullen, obstinate cloud, +heaviest and most obstinate toward the west faced by her bedroom +windows. + +No church or Sunday-school to-day. No show of her famous self to an +admiring congregation. Dreams and hopes came down with a cruel thump to +the realities of every-day home life. True, she put on, of her own +accord, stockings and shoes, and there were always clean clothes for +Sunday, but there were week-day clothes, and there were fried middling +and corn bread for breakfast, just as if nothing had happened. The +coarse food stuck in her throat; the common crockery--white, with fluted +green edges--the pewter spoons, the tin coffee-pot, the heavy +grayish-blue mug out of which she drank her "hot-water tea" (_i.e._ milk +and water sweetened), had not offended her taste yesterday, or ever +before. Now they were disgusting and humiliating. + +"You ain't eatin' nothin'!" remarked the mother, as the girl sat back in +her chair after a vain attempt to behave as usual. "Do you feel sick?" + +"No, ma'am. I'm just not hungry. I don't know why. I reckon I'll go up +stairs and lie down." + +"Let her alone. She'll be all right after a while," said her father, as +her mother began to scold, and Flea got herself out of the room as +quickly as possible. + +She could never be all right in this house, she was sure. Nobody +understood, or sympathized with her. She was stifled and cramped. So far +as the discouraged heroine could foresee, every day to come would be +like this and all those that had gone by--all rag carpet, and +green-edged crockery, and sugar-raggy babies, and Bea's old frocks made +over and let down, and fault-finding-- + +"Flea!" screamed her mother, from the bottom of the stairs, "ain't you +coming down to-day? Here's your sister with all the things to wash up +and put away." + +Flea was lying face downward on the unmade feather bed, dry-eyed and +wretched, when the call came. In sinking and sickness of heart she +obeyed the summons, the very click of her shoes on the stairs expressive +of unwillingness. Nothing she had read or heard of _heroinic_ behavior +helped her to go through with the drudgery of scraping plates, rinsing, +washing, and wiping crockery and pewter. + +"I don't see why mother don't use her silver spoons every day," she +grumbled to Bea, wiping and laying down a pewter spoon disdainfully. + +"She's goin' to leave 'em to me when she dies," returned that prudent +young person. "I'm glad she doesn't wear 'em out, or maybe get one of +'em lost, before then." + +There were only six teaspoons in all, and Mrs. Grigsby kept them in a +locked drawer. It was all of a piece with the mean, skimpy, tiresome +round of her daily life. There was no help for it--none. + +The day dragged on more wearily and slowly than ever day had gone +before. Her father could have told her, if she had confessed her misery +to him, that much of it was the reaction after last night's excitement. +As she did not speak of it, he paid little or no attention to her sober +face and unwonted silence. She performed her share of dish-washing, +table-setting, and table-clearing listlessly, but without complaint, and +when not thus employed spent most of her time upstairs. Nobody asked +what she did there; still less was anybody concerned to know what she +felt there. + +Dee--which is by interpretation David--had had a stupid day too. The +Grigsby Sunday rules bore hard upon story books and toys, and an active +boy of ten was soon at the end of his resources. His mother had scolded +him a dozen times for making a noise and getting in her way, and boxed +his ears twice. + +After the last buffet Dee took refuge in the barn and the society of +Dick and the horses. His father would not have approved of it, but his +father was not at home. Coming in at dusk, the boy stole up stairs on +tip-toe and peeped into his sister's room. The sun was fighting bravely +with the bank of clouds on the horizon, and the world was bathed in +lurid mist. By this flushed fogginess Dee could see Flea lying in a sort +of crumpled heap on the floor by the window. She started up at the noise +he made in entering. + +"What do you want?" she demanded, crossly. + +"You needn't get mad about it," returned her brother. "I'm just sick of +Sunday, and I reckon you are too. Monday's worth fifty of it, if you do +have to go to school. Ma's cross as two sticks, and pa's gone to look +after things up at 'the house,' and Bea's on her high horse, and the +young ones are worse'n a pack of bees for noise 'n' swarmin'." He sat +down sociably upon the floor by his sister. "I say, Flea, what you +s'pose you _were_ sparred for?" + +"Spared for? What are you talking about?" + +"Dick says that Chaney says that ma says you were sparred for somethin' +real big. Hadn't 'a' been for that, the moccasin would 'a' bit you sure, +and you'd been dead before anybody could 'a' got to you for to draw the +p'ison out. What you s'pose they meant? What you goin' to do?" + +Flea sat upright, looking straight out of the window. As Dick stopped +speaking she raised the sash and let in a wave of warm, sweet, damp air. +The pink light streamed in with it, flooding the girl's figure and face. +Her hair was tousled, and the dust of the bare boards had mixed with her +tears to streak her cheeks. Yet the boy stared at her, open-mouthed and +puzzled. Light that did not come through the window shone in her face; +her eyes were two stars; her fingers were knotted tightly upon one +another. + +"You are sure that you are not fibbing, Dee? Did they really say that?" + +"Certain sure. And Dick says it's true as gawspil. He know'd a baby +oncet they thought was clean dead, and all on a suddint it come to, and +sot up 'n' walked--like a maracle, you know. And his mother, she said +right straight off, 'He will be somethin' wonderful.' And so he was. He +fit in the las' war, an' killed, oh, thousands of the British, but girls +can't fight, you know. That's 'cause why I arsked you what you s'posed +you could 'a' been sparred for." + +Flea put her arm about her brother's neck, and pulled the rough head to +her shoulder. She and apple-cheeked, slow-witted Dee always got on well +together. + +"I love you, Dee," she said, in a gush of tenderness. "No matter how +great a lady I get to be--and I'm going to be something very great some +day--you and I will always be good friends. You won't tell anybody if I +tell you a secret?" + +The much-impressed Dee gave the desired promise. + +"Then--I'm a _heroine_, Dee!"--sinking her voice--"a sure-enough +heroine. And wonderful, beautiful things always happen to heroines. Like +Miranda, and Olivia, and Portia, and Cordelia, and Perdita, and Juliet, +and Hermione, and Rosalind, and ever and ever so many more ladies I've +read about. I'll tell you about some of them to-morrow. They are not +Sunday stories, you know." + +Neither, for that matter, was that Sunday talk into which she now +launched, holding the boy spellbound while the sun went down clear, and +the bright clouds grew pale, then dark. Into Dee's greedy ears she +poured the tales of what she meant to do and to be in the wondrous +To-Come of her dreams. + +The talk with her brother, the hopes rekindled by it, and his faith in +her and her future made the out-goings of the unhappy day to rejoice. +She laid her head upon her pillow that night in tolerable content with +home and kindred. They had sung hymns together, as was the Sunday-night +custom, and recited each a psalm and three questions in the Church +Catechism to their father, who had then granted them the treat of a long +story of his early life in Glasgow. + +No misgivings as to to-morrow held her eyes waking as she nestled down +under the patch-work coverlet she and Bea had put together and helped +their mother quilt last winter. The school-room would be her own +territory. As the only girl in the school who knew Mr. Tayloe, and had +been particularly recommended to him by his patron (she had borrowed +that word from an English story-book), she would be foremost in his +esteem. In "playing ladies" before sleep got fast hold of her she saw +herself introducing less-favored scholars to his favorable notice. + +"My sister Beatrice, Mr. Tayloe," she would say. Perhaps he would +answer, "I hope she is as intelligent and industrious as her sister." + +Flea's was a generous nature, but she did feel that that would pay off +Bea well for certain things she had said to her in days past. As for +Dee, who was dull at his lessons, her heart warmed and yearned over him +in the thought of the good she could do him through her influence with +the teacher. Mr. Tayloe looked as if he might be severe with a dull +pupil. She would stand between Dee and trouble. He was such a loving +little fellow, and her best crony, even if he did not care for books. + +Bea was going to wear a white frock to school if the weather were warm +enough. Flea's frock, a brown calico with round white spots on it, with +an apron of the same, was new and strong and clean. As the prize scholar +she could afford to be indifferent to dress. One of these days she would +make people who now laughed at her plain clothes open their eyes with +her satins--and--laces--and--India cotton stockings--and--oh yes! the pink +sash should be just the color of a peach blossom--and--have--fringed-- + +Flea was clean off to Slumberland, where nobody expects to dream of +sensible and probable happenings. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +RICK DALE. + +BY KIRK MUNROE. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +CHASING A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT. + + +The commander of the revenue-cutter had received from his Lieutenant a +detailed description of the sloop _Fancy_, together with what +information that officer had gathered concerning her destination, +lading, and crew. As a result of this interview it was determined to +guard all passages leading to the upper sound; and during the hours of +darkness the cutter's boats, under small sail, cruised back and forth +across the channels on either side of Vashar Island, one of which the +sloop must take. They showed no lights, and their occupants were not +allowed to converse in tones louder than a whisper. While half of each +crew got what sleep they might in the bottom of the boat, the others +were on watch and keenly alert. In the stern-sheets of each boat was an +officer muffled in a heavy ulster as a protection against the chill +dampness of the night. + +The night was nearly spent and dawn was at hand when the weary occupants +of one of these patrol-boats were aroused into activity by two bright +lights that flashed in quick succession for an instant well over on the +western side of their channel which was the one known as Colros Passage. + +"It is a signal," said the officer, as he headed his boat in that +direction. "Silence, men! Have your oars ready." + +Shortly afterwards another light appeared on the water in the same +general direction, but further down the channel. It showed steadily for +a minute, and was then lost to view, only to reappear a few moments +later. After that its continued appearance and disappearance proved most +puzzling, until the officer solved the problem to his own satisfaction +by saying: + +"The careless rascals have come to anchor, and are sending their stuff +ashore in a small boat. That light is the lantern they are working by; +but I wouldn't have believed even they could be so reckless as to use +it. Douse that sail and unship the mast! So. Now, out oars! Give 'way!" + +As the boat sprang forward under this new impulse, its oars, being +muffled in the row-locks, gave forth no sound save the rhythmic swish +with which they left the water at the end of each stroke. + +The row was not a long one, and within five minutes the boat was close +to the mysterious light. No sound came from its vicinity, nor was there +any loom of mast or sails through the blackness. Were they close to it +after all? Might it not be brighter than they thought, and still at a +distance from them? Its nature was such that the officer could not +determine even by standing up, and for a few moments he was greatly +puzzled. He could now see that the land was at a greater distance than a +smuggler would choose to cover with his small boats when he might just +as well run his craft much closer. What could it mean? + +Suddenly he gave the orders: "Way enough! In oars! Look sharp there +for'ard with your boat-hook!" + +The next moment the twinkling light was alongside, and its mystery was +explained. It was an old lantern lashed to a bit of board, that was in +turn fastened across an empty half-barrel. A screen formed of a shingle +darkened one side of the lantern so that, as the floating tub was turned +by wind or wave, the light alternately showed and disappeared at +irregular intervals. + +That the Lieutenant who was the victim of this simple ruse was angry +goes without saying. He was furious, and could he have captured its +author at that moment, the ingenious person might have met with rough +usage. But there seemed little chance of capturing him, for although the +officer felt certain that this tub had been launched from the very +smuggler he was after, he had no idea of where she now was, nor of what +direction she had taken. All he knew was that somebody had warned her of +danger in that channel, and that she had cleverly given him the slip. He +could also imagine the "chaff" he would receive from his brother +officers on the cutter when they should learn of his mortifying +experience. + +When, after cruising fruitlessly during the brief remainder of the +night, he returned to his ship and reported what had taken place, he was +chaffed, as he expected, but was enabled to bear this with equanimity, +for he had made a discovery. On the shingle that had shaded the old +lantern he found written in pencil, as though for the passing of an idle +half-hour, and apparently by some one who wished to see how his name +would look if he were a foreigner: + +"Philip Ryder, Mr. Philip Ryder, Monsieur Philippe Ryder, Signor Filipo +Ryder, Señor Félipe Ryder, and Herr Philip Ryder." + +"It's the name of the young chap who led me such a chase in Victoria, +and finally gave me the information I wanted concerning the sloop +_Fancy_," said the Lieutenant to his commanding officer, in reporting +this discovery. + +"Which would seem to settle the identity of the sloop we are after, and +prove that she is now somewhere close at hand," replied the commander. + +"Yes, sir; and it also discloses the identity of the young rascal who is +responsible for this trick, though from his looks I wouldn't have +believed him capable of it. He is the one I told you of who was so +scented with cologne as to be offensive. I remember well seeing the name +Philip Ryder on his dunnage-bag." + +The sun was just rising, and at this moment a report was brought to the +cabin, from a mast-head lookout, to the effect that a small sloop was +disappearing behind a point a few miles to the southward. + +"It may be your boat, and it may be some other," said the commander to +the third Lieutenant. "At any rate, it is our duty to look him up. So +you will please get under way again with the yawl, run down to that +point, and see what you can find. If you meet with your young friend +Ryder either afloat or ashore, don't fail to arrest and detain him as a +witness, for in any case his testimony will be most important." + +The _Fancy_ had hauled out of her snug berth soon after sunset that same +night, and fanned along by a light breeze, held her course to the +southward. Both our lads were stationed forward to keep a sharp lookout, +though with a grim warning from Captain Duff that if either of them fell +overboard this time, he might as well make up his mind to swim ashore, +for the sloop would not be stopped to pick him up. + +"Cheerful prospect for me," muttered Alaric. "Never mind, though, Mr. +Captain, I'm going to desert, as did the Phil Ryder of whom you seem so +fond. I am going to follow his example, too, in taking your first mate +with me." + +As on the previous night, the lads found an opportunity to talk in low +tones; and filled with the idea of inducing Bonny to leave the sloop +with him, Alaric strove to convince him of the wickedness of smuggling. + +"It is breaking a law of your country," he argued; "and any one who +breaks one law will be easily tempted to break another, until there's no +saying where he will end." + +"If we didn't do it, some other fellows would," replied Bonny. "The +chinks are bound to travel, and folks are bound to have cheap dope." + +"So you are breaking the law to save some other fellow's conscience?" + +"No, of course not. I'm doing it for the wages it pays." + +"Which is as much as to say that you would break any law if you were +paid enough." + +"I never saw such a fellow as you are for putting things in an +unpleasant way," retorted the young mate, a little testily. "Of course +there are plenty of laws I couldn't be hired to break. I wouldn't steal, +for instance, even if I was starving, nor commit a murder for all the +money in the world. But I'd like to know what's the harm in running a +cargo like ours? A few Chinamen more or less will never be noticed in a +big place like the United States. Besides, I think the law that says +they sha'n't come in is an unjust one, anyway. We haven't any more right +to keep Chinamen out of a free country than we have to keep out Italians +or anybody else." + +"So you claim to be wiser than the men who make our laws, do you?" asked +Alaric. + +Without answering this question, Bonny continued, "As for running in a +few pounds of dope, we don't rob anybody by doing that." + +"How about robbing the government?" + +"Oh, that don't count. What's a few dollars more or less to a government +as rich as ours?" + +"Which is saying that while you wouldn't steal from any one person, you +don't consider it wicked to steal from sixty millions of people. Also, +that it is perfectly right to rob a government because it is rich. +Wouldn't it be just as right to rob Mr. Vanderbilt or Mr. Astor, or even +my--I mean any other millionaire? They are rich, and wouldn't feel the +loss." + +"I never looked at it in that way," replied Bonny, thoughtfully. + +"I thought not," rejoined Alaric. "And there are some other points about +this business that I don't believe you ever looked at, either. Did you +ever stop to think that every Chinaman you help over the line at once +sets to work to throw one of your own countrymen out of a job, and so +robs him of his living?" + +"No; I can't say I ever did." + +"Or did it ever occur to you that every cargo of opium you help to bring +into the country is going to carry sorrow and suffering, perhaps even +ruin, to hundreds of your own people?" + +"I say, Rick Dale, it seems to me you know enough to be a lawyer. At any +rate, you know too much to be a sailor, and ought to be in some other +business." + +"No, Bonny, I don't know half enough to be a sailor; but I do know too +much to be a smuggler, and I am going to get into some other business as +quick as I can. You are too, now that you have begun to think about it, +for you are too honest a fellow to hold your present position any longer +than you can help. By-the-way, what would happen if a cutter should get +after us to-night?" + +"That depends," replied the first mate, sagely, glad to feel that there +were some legal questions concerning which he was wiser than his +companion. "They might fire on us, if we didn't stop quick enough to +suit 'em, and blow us out of the water. They might capture us, clap us +into irons, and put us into a dark lock-up on bread and water. The most +likely thing is that we would all be sent to the government prison on +McNeits Island." + +"And I suppose if we ever got out we would always be watched and +suspected," suggested Alaric, who had listened to all this with almost +as much dismay as though it were an actual sentence. "Well, I'll never +be caught, that's all. I'll drift away in the dinghy first." In saying +this the boy threatened to do the most desperate thing he could think +of. + +"I believe I'd go with you," said Bonny. "Now, though, I must go and get +ready our private signal, for we are getting close to the most dangerous +place." + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BONNY'S INVENTION, AND HOW IT WORKED. + +Bonny walked aft, exchanged a few words with Captain Duff, and then +disappeared in the cabin, where he remained for some minutes. When he +again came on deck he bore a box in which was a lighted lamp provided +with a bright reflector. Only one side of the box was open, and this +space the lad carefully shielded with his hat. The sloop was just +entering Colros Passage, between Vashar Island and the mainland, and was +nearer the western shore than the other. + +Holding his box as far down as he could reach over the landward side of +the vessel, Bonny turned its opening toward the shore, and allowed the +bright light to stream from it for a single second. Then by quickly +reversing the box the light was made to disappear. A moment later it was +shown again, this time with a piece of red glass held in front of the +lamp. This red light, after appearing for a single second, was also made +to vanish, and another quick flash of white light took its place. A +minute or so later the whole operation was repeated, and the white, red, +and white signal was again flashed to the wooded shore. At the fourth +time of displaying the signal it was answered by two white flashes from +the shore. + +There was a moment of suspense, and then Bonny exclaimed, in a low tone, +"Great Scott! They're after us!" + +[Illustration: BONNY'S INVENTION STARTED ON ITS JOURNEY.] + +Extinguishing his light, he again dived below, this time into the +forecastle. When he reappeared he bore the float and lighted lantern +already described. Alaric had noticed this queer contrivance the day +before, and while wondering at its object, had amused himself by idly +scribbling on a smooth shingle that he found inside the tub. Now this +same shingle was hastily lashed to the lantern, and the whole affair was +launched overboard. At the same time the sloop was put about, and +leaving this decoy light floating and bobbing behind her as though it +were in a boat, she sped away toward the eastern side of the channel. + +When Bonny rejoined Alaric at the lookout station he asked, with a +chuckle: "What do you think of that for a scheme, Rick? It's my own +invention, and I've been longing for a chance to try it every trip; but +this is the very first time we have needed anything of the kind. I only +hope the light won't get blown out, or the whole business get capsized +before the beaks capture it. My! how I'd like to see 'em creeping up to +it, and hear their remarks when they find out what it really is!" + +"What does all this flashing of lights and setting lanterns adrift mean, +anyway?" asked Alaric, who was much puzzled by what had just taken +place. + +"Means there's a revenue-boat of some kind waiting for us in the +channel, and that we are dodging him. The lights I showed made our +private signal, and asked if the coast was clear. Skookum John didn't +get on to 'em at first, or maybe he wasn't in a safe place for +answering. When he saw us and got the chance, though, he flashed two +lights to warn us of trouble. Three would have meant 'All right, come +ahead'; but two was a startler. It was the first time we've had that +signal; also it's the first chance I've had to test my invention." + +Ever since leaving the dancing light Bonny had not been able to take his +eyes from it, so anxious was he to discover whether or not it served the +purpose for which it was intended. It grew fainter and smaller as the +sloop gained distance on her new course. Then all at once it seemed to +rise from the water, and an instant later disappeared. + +"They've got it, and lifted it aboard," cried Bonny, delightedly; and in +his exultation he called out, "The beaks have doused the glim, Cap'n +Duff!" + +"Douse your tongue, ye swab, and keep your eyes p'inted for'ard!" was +the reply muttered out of the after darkness. + +"What an old bear he is!" muttered Alaric, indignantly. + +"Yes; isn't he?--a regular old sea bear? But I don't mind him any more +than I would a rumble of imitation thunder. I say, though, Rick, isn't +this jolly exciting?" + +"Yes," admitted the other, "it certainly is." + +"And you want me to quit it for some stupid shore work that'll make a +fellow think he's got about as much life in him as a clam?" + +"No, I don't; for I am certain there are just as exciting things to be +done on shore as at sea, and if you'll only promise to come with me, +I'll promise to find something for you to do as exciting as this, and +lots honester." + +"I've a mind to take you up," said Bonny, "and I would if I thought you +had any idea how hard it is to find a job of any kind. You haven't, +though, and because you got this berth dead easy you think you'll have +the same luck every time. But we must look sharp now for another light +from Skookum John." + +By this time the sloop had again tacked, and was headed diagonally for +the western shore. + +"Who is Skookum John?" asked Alaric. + +"Skookum? Why, he's our Siwash runner, who is always on the lookout for +us, and keeps us posted." + +"What is a Siwash?" + +"Well, if you aren't ignorant! 'Specially about languages. Why, Siwash +is Chinook for Indian. There's his light now! See? One, two, three. Good +enough! We've given 'em the slip once more, and everything is working +our way." + +As it grew lighter Bonny pointed out the now distant masts of the cutter +they had so successfully passed a short time before, and said, with a +cheerful grin: "There's the old kettle that thought she could clip the +_Fancy_'s wings, and bring her to with a round turn." + +Captain Duff laid all the blame of their late arrival on poor Alaric. + +"If it hadn't been for your fool antics of two nights ago," he said, +"we'd made this port a good hour afore sun this morning. You're as +wuthless as ye look, and ye look to be the most wuthless young swab I +ever had aboard ship, barring one. He was another just such white-faced, +white-handed, mealy-mouthed specimen as you be. Couldn't eat ship's +victuals till I starved him to it, and finally got me into the wust +scrape of my life. Now I shouldn't be one mite surprised if you'd put me +into another hole mighty nigh as deep. So you want to quit your nonsense +and 'tend strictly to business, or I'll make ye jump. D'ye hear?" + +Alaric acknowledged that he heard, and then walked forward to light the +galley fire. + +The sloop rounded a long point and came to anchor in a wooded cove, +apparently as wild as though they were its discoverers. A couple of +Chinamen, who had evidently camped there all night, waited to greet +their countrymen on the beach, to which Bonny at once began to transfer +his passengers, a few at a time, in the dinghy. As fast as they were +landed they were led back into the woods and started toward Tacoma, +which was but a few miles distant. + +Alaric managed to get his canvas bag on deck unseen by Captain Duff, and +slip it into the dinghy as the boat was about to make its last trip. + +"Hide it on shore for me, Bonny," he said. + +"All right; I will if you'll promise not to skip until we've had another +talk on the subject." + +"Of course I promise; for I'm not going without you." + +"Then perhaps you won't go at all," laughed Bonny. + +So the bag was taken ashore and concealed in a thicket a little to one +side, and Bonny came back to prepare breakfast, for which Alaric had the +water already boiling. + +When this meal was nearly ready, and as the boys were sniffing hungrily +at the odors of coffee and frying meat, Captain Duff suddenly appeared +on deck. + +"Go up on that point, you foremast hand--I can't remember your +thundering name--and watch the cutter while me and the mate eats. After +that one of us'll relieve ye. Ef she moves, or even shows black smoke, +you let me know, d'ye hear?" + +Alaric managed to secure a couple of hard biscuits with which to comfort +his lonely watch, and then Bonny set him ashore. + +Picking up his bag and carrying it with him, the boy clambered to the +point, and selecting a place from which he could plainly see the cutter, +began his watch, at the same time munching his dry biscuit with infinite +relish. Much of the water intervening between him and the cutter was +hidden from view by nearby undergrowth, and the necessity for scanning +it never occurred to him. + +After a while Bonny came to relieve him and allow him to go to +breakfast. + +"Have you really made up your mind to desert the ship?" asked the young +mate, noticing that Alaric had his bag with him. + +"Yes, I really have," answered the other, "and you will come with me, +won't you, Bonny?" + +"I don't know," replied the latter, undecidedly. "Somehow I can't make +it seem right to desert Captain Duff and leave him in a fix. Seems to me +we ought to stay with him until he gets back to Victoria, anyway. +Besides, I'd lose my wages, and there must be nearly thirty dollars due +me by this time. But you go along to your breakfast, and after that +we'll talk it all over. Haven't seen anything, have you?" + +"No, not a sign, but-- Hello! What's that?" + +"Caught, as sure as you're born!" cried Bonny, in a tone of suppressed +excitement. + +Then the two lads, peering through the bushes, watched a boat, flying +the flag of the United States Revenue Marine and filled with sturdy +bluejackets, enter the cove and dash alongside the smuggler _Fancy_. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +A HOMELY WEED WITH INTERESTING FLOWERS. + +BY W. HAMILTON GIBSON, + +AUTHOR OF "HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS," "SHARP EYES," "PASTORAL DAYS," ETC. + + +The recent article from my pen on the "Riddle of the Bluets," and which +showed the important significance of its two forms of blossoms, suggests +that a few more similar expositions of the beautiful mysteries of the +common flowers which we meet every day in our walks, and which we claim +to "know" so well, may serve to add something to the interest of our +strolls afield. It is scarcely fair to assert that familiarity can breed +contempt in our relations to so lovely an object as a flower, but +certain it is that this every-day contact or association, especially +with the wild things of the wood, meadow, and way-side, is conducive to +an apathy which dulls our sense to their actual attributes of beauty. +Many of these commonplace familiars of the copse and thicket and field +are indeed like voices in the wilderness to most of us. We forget that +the "weed" of one country often becomes a horticultural prize in +another, even as the mullein, for which it is hard for the average +American to get up any enthusiasm, and which is tolerated with us only +in a worthless sheep pasture, flourishes in distinction in many an +English or Continental garden as the "American velvet plant." + +The extent of our admiration often depends upon the relative rarity of +the flower rather than upon its actual claims to our appreciation. The +daisy which whitens our meadows--the "pesky white-weed" of the +farmer--we are perfectly willing to see in the windrows of the scythe or +tossed in the air by the fork of the hay-maker. The meed of our +appreciation of the single blossom becomes extremely thin when spread +over a ten-acre lot. How rarely do we see a bouquet of daisies on a +country table? And yet, strange inconsistency! the marguerite of our +goodwife's window-garden, almost identical with the daisy and not one +whit prettier, is a prize, because it came from the "florist's," and +cost twenty-five cents, with five cents extra for the pot. + +A certain thrifty granger of the writer's acquaintance was recently +converted from the error of his attitude toward the "tarnal weeds and +brush." He was one of the tribe of blind, misguided vandals who had +always deemed it his first duty "after hayin'" to invade with his scythe +all the adjacent roadside, to "tidy things up," reducing to most +unsightly untidiness that glorious wild garden of August's floral +cornucopia, that luxuriant tangle of purple eupatorium, the early +asters, goldenrod, vervains, wild-carrot, and meadow-rue. + +He was converted in the sanctuary, where one August Sabbath he beheld by +the side of the pulpit, dignified by a large beautiful vase, a great +bouquet of this very tall purple thoroughwort, meadow-rue, and +wild-carrot of his abomination, and which had actually fallen before his +scythe on the evening previous. "Well, there!" he exclaimed; "I didn't +realize they _was_ so pretty!" + +The beauty of the commonplace often requires the aid of the artist as +its interpreter, a fact which Browning realized when he expressed, +through Fra Lippo Lippi: + + "We're made so that we love + First when we see them painted, things which we have passed + Perhaps a hundred times, nor cared to see." + +An illustration of the truth of this axiom was afforded in a recent +incident in my experience. Sitting at the open window of my country +studio one summer day, engaged in making a portrait of a common weed, a +friendly farmer, chancing "across lots," seeing me at work, sauntered up +to "pass the time o' day." As he leaned on the window-sill his eye fell +upon the drawing before me. + +"My!" he exclaimed, "but ain't that pooty?" + +"What!" I retorted, "and will _you admit_ that this drawing of a _weed_ +is pretty?" + +"Yes, your _draft_ thar is pooty, but you artist fellers alliz makes 'em +look pootier 'n they _ought_ to." + +So much for the mere attributes of manifest outward beauty without +regard to consideration of "botany" or the structural beauty of the +flowers. The "botanist" finds beauty everywhere, even among the +homeliest of Flora's hosts. But in the light of the "new botany," which +recognizes the insect as the important affinity of the flower--the key +to its various puzzling features of color, form, and fragrance--every +commonest blossom which we thought we had "known" all our lives, and +every homely weed scarce worth our knowing, now becomes a rebuke, and +offers us a field of investigation as fresh and promising as is offered +by the veriest rare exotic of the conservatory; more so, indeed, because +these latter are strangers in a strange land, and divorced from their +ordained insect affinities. The plebeian daisy now becomes a marvel of a +flower indeed--five hundred wonderful little mechanisms packed together +in a single golden disk. The red clover refuses to recognize us now +unless properly introduced by that "burly bumblebee" with which its life +is so strangely linked. + +The barn-yard weeds need no longer be considered uninteresting and +commonplace, because their mysteries have not yet been discovered, and I +can do no better in my present chapter than to select one of their +number and redeem it from its hitherto lowly place among them--one of +the homeliest of them all, and whose blossoms are scarce noticed by any +one except a botanist. + +In my initial illustration is shown a sketch of the Figwort, or +scrophularia, a tall spindling weed, with rather fine luxuriant leaves, +it is true, but with a tall, curiously branching spray of small +insignificant purplish-olive flowers, with not even a perfume, like the +mignonette, to atone for its plainness. But it has an _odor_ if not a +perfume, and it has a nectary which secretes the beads of sweets for its +pet companion insects, which in this instance do not happen to be bees +or butterflies, but most generally wasps of various kinds, as these +insects are not so particular as to the quality of their tipple as bees +are apt to be. But the figwort has found out gradually through the ages +that _wasps_ are more serviceable in the cross-fertilization of its +flowers than other insects, and it has thus gradually modified its +shape, odor, and nectar especially to these insects. + +Let us then take a careful look at these queer little homely flowers, +and for the time being consider them as mere devices--first, to insure +the visit of an insect, and second, to make that insect the bearer of +the pollen from one blossom to the stigma of another. Here we see a +flower with three distinct welcomes on three successive days. + +A FLOWER WITH THREE WELCOMES. + +[Illustration: A. First Day's Welcome--Stigma at the Doorway.] + +[Illustration: A¹. First Day--Sectional View.] + +[Illustration: B. Second Day's Welcome.--Stigma bent downward beneath +two withered Stamens at Doorway.] + +[Illustration: B¹. Second Day--Sectional View.] + +[Illustration: C. Third Day's Welcome.--Four Stamens at Doorway.] + +[Illustration: D. Fourth Day.--Fall of Blossom. Its Mission fulfilled.] + +[Illustration: E. Fifth Day.--Pod Enlarging.] + +The flower bud usually opens in the morning, and shows a face as at A, +which must be fully understood by looking at the side section shown at +A¹. + +The anthers and pollen are not yet ripe, but the stigma is ready, and +now guards the doorway. To-morrow morning we shall see a new condition +of things at that doorway, as seen at B and B¹. The stigma has now bent +down out of the way, while two anthers have unfolded on their stalks and +now shed their pollen at the threshold. The third morning, or perhaps +even sooner, the other pair come forward, and we see the opening of the +blossom as at C. Blossoms in all these three conditions are to be found +on this cluster. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.] + +A small wasp is now seen hovering about the flowers, and we must now +turn our attention to him as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The insect +alights, we will assume, on a blossom of the second day (Fig. 1), +clinging with all his feet, and thrusting his tongue into the heads of +nectar shown at A¹ and B¹. He now brings his breast or thorax, or +perhaps the under side of his head, against the pollen, and is +thoroughly dusted with it. Leaving the blossom, we see him in flight, as +at Fig. 2, and very soon he is seen to come to a freshly opened flower, +which he sips as before. The pollen is thus pushed against the +projecting stigma, as shown at Fig. 3, and thus, one by one, the flowers +are cross-fertilized. + +The stigma, after receiving pollen, immediately bends downward and +backward, as shown in B¹, to give place to the ripening anthers, and +shortly after the last pair of them have shed their pollen, the blossom, +having then fulfilled its functions, falls off, as shown at D. This may +be on the afternoon of the third day, or not until the fourth. If not +visited by insects it may chance to remain the longer time; but more +than one tiny wasp gets his head into such a blossom, and is surprised +with a tumble, his weight pulling the blossom from its attachment. + +[Illustration: SINGULAR METHOD OF BRANCHING AND FLOWERING.] + +The result of that pollen upon the stigma is quickly seen in the growing +ovary or pod, which enlarges rapidly on the few succeeding days, as in +E. + +Many species of hornets and wasps, large and small, are to be seen about +the figwort blooms, occasionally bees, frequently bumblebees, which +usually carry away the pollen on the under side of their heads. + +Who shall any longer refer to the figwort as an "uninteresting weed"? + + + + +GRANDFATHER'S ADVENTURES. + +CALIFORNIA GOLD-HUNTERS. + + +"It seems to me, Grandpop, that you have had every kind of exciting +experience except a fight with Indians," said Ralph Pell. + +Captain Sterling laughed. "Don't be so sure that I haven't had that kind +thrown in too by way of variety, my boy," answered the old sailor. + +Ralph was all agog in an instant. "There, Grandfather, I know you must +have a story to tell about them, or you wouldn't answer me in that way; +so please tell it, and I'll learn to box the compass backwards to-morrow +to repay you," cried the eager lad. + +"All right, Ralph," was the pleased rejoinder; "it's a bargain. And now +for my yarn: + +"When the California gold fever set the world aflame 'way back in '49, I +caught the craze, and determined to dig a big fortune out of old Mother +Earth in short order, instead of reefing topsails in winter gales of +wind and chewing upon salt junk for a living; so I shipped in a big +vessel named the _San Juan_, that had loaded mining-tools for a cargo, +and set sail for the Golden Gate. + +"Three months after leaving New York we dropped anchor off San +Francisco; but it was not then the great city of to-day, with thousands +of noble buildings, paved streets, and electric lights, but a town of +tents and hovels thrown together on either side of rough wagon-tracks, +and these streets were only here and there faintly lit up at night by +the sickly glow of smoky lamps and tallow candles that shone out from +the open doorways and the turned-back flaps of dirty canvas huts. + +"Although all hands had considerable money due them in the way of wages, +it was counted as nothing compared with the bags of gold nuggets that we +confidently expected to possess later on, so we all dropped overboard +one night while the officers were asleep, and swam ashore. Each man had +carefully retained a portion of the advance money paid to him before +sailing, in order to buy a shovel, pickaxe, and provisions, and as the +miners' stores always remained open until late at night, we supplied +ourselves with what we required immediately after landing, and by +sunrise were well on our way into the interior, safe from pursuit and +capture as deserters. + +"Our outfit was the most meagre, but it had taken every cent we had to +purchase it, for pickaxes and shovels were five dollars each, and the +provisions, which were of the poorest quality, were paid for at a +corresponding price. + +"There was no mistaking the way to the gold regions, for the trail was +defined clearly enough in the way of broken-down and abandoned wagons of +every variety, while small straggling parties and large organized +companies either passed or were passed by us every few miles. Everybody +and everything was colored with the magic suggestion of gold; even the +atmosphere seemed to taste of the precious yellow metal, and there was +but one thought, one ambition, one incessant subject of conversation +from the gray-haired man to the youngster trotting along by his side, +and that was _gold! gold! gold!_ + +"At last, after many hardships, we reached the gold country, where +thousands of men, representing almost every nationality, were feverishly +digging into the soil, sifting the sands of river-beds, and picking into +the rocky sides of mountains, extracting the wealth that had been +zealously hoarded by nature since the beginning of the world. + +"It would make too long a story if I attempted to tell you of our work, +our hopes, disappointments, and success. From one cause or another we +kept separating, some to plunge deeper into the fastnesses of the +mountains, some to associate with new partners, and others to try their +fortunes alone. At last I found myself paired off with a man who had +been my chum on board the _San Juan_--a manly young fellow, as brave as +he was clever, and with whom I shared all the danger, trouble, and +fortune that were met with during the time that we remained in the +country. + +"We tried every kind of work in the way of digging, washing, and +searching for pockets in the rocks, treasuring our little finds +carefully, and holding on to them as long as we could; but living of the +cheapest kind was expensive, and in spite of all our frugality the store +of gold in the leather belt-bags that we carried strapped about us would +ebb and flow about as regularly as the ocean tides. Often would we work +from sunrise to sunset, and then find ourselves rewarded by only just +enough gold dust to exchange at the sutler's tent for a little flour and +a piece of bacon on which to make our supper, while perhaps the men on +either side of us had 'struck it rich,' and before our covetous eyes +would exhibit a handful of yellow lumps or a tin cup brimming to the top +with golden flecks of metal. + +"One night as we sat rather disconsolate on a ledge of rock just outside +the cave in which we kept house, and which we had dug for ourselves in +the side of a steep hill, Jim Richards, my partner, exclaimed: + +"'Luck's against us here, Sterling, and I'm for cutting loose and trying +it back in the mountains, where we won't find ten men to every picayune +bit of metal. What do you say?' + +"'That's all right about the men part of it, Richards,' I answered, 'but +how about Indians? They don't trouble us down here because we're too +many for them; but wouldn't they make things rather lively for us back +there?' + +"We talked the subject over pretty thoroughly, and at last decided to +risk our scalps. In the morning we parted with our entire stock of gold +in exchange for two rifles, some ammunition and provisions; then +shouldering our picks, we struck out for the range of mountains off in +the eastward, whose summits could be faintly seen through the blue haze +that enveloped them. + +"For several weeks we worked unmolested, seeing nothing of the hostile +red men; and it seemed that fortune, having become tired of remaining in +hiding, at last condescended to show us her fickle, smiling face, for we +discovered quite a few modest pockets, from which we took varying +numbers of pure golden lumps, and our weighty, bulging belts became at +times the subject of our laughing complaints. But the weather had +commenced to grow cold, and we were warned by it that winter was +approaching and that our work must soon end. While fortune lasted, +however, we were reluctant to leave, and kept postponing our departure +from day to day. At last one morning Jim came creeping back within the +shelter that we had made, telling me to throw off my blanket and look +out. The ground was covered with a white mantle, and the flakes +continued to fall. There was only one thing to do, and that was to be +done quickly. Before all landmarks were gone we were to get out of the +mountains, and make all haste to the mining camp twenty miles away. We +left our tools behind us, and rapidly made our way down the valley that +emerged into a plain, and ten miles across which our old camp was to be +reached. + +"As we rounded a spur of rock, Jim, who was in the lead, stopped so +suddenly that I pitched up against him. There was no necessity to ask +for an explanation. Not more than fifty yards ahead of us several Indian +tepees were erected, and from around the poles at their tops smoke was +curling, showing that the savages were keeping warm beside the fires +kindled within the tents. + +"We walked backward until the spur of rock was again between us and our +foes, and with fast-beating hearts discussed the situation. There was no +escape from the valley except through the pass in which the Indians were +camped. If we turned back, it was to die of cold and want in the +mountains. Jim crept forward and peered around the ledge. Finding that +the redskins were yet within their tepees, we decided on the daring plan +of stealing past them and gaining the plain, which we could see a short +distance beyond, trusting that the snow would not allow our foot-falls +to be heard. + +"Holding our breath, we commenced our hazardous way through the little +village. We had reached the last tepee undiscovered, when a chorus of +yelps told us that the Indian dogs had at last detected our presence. As +we broke into a mad run a series of savage war-whoops was all the +knowledge we wanted that the fiends were after us. + +"'Get out on the plain!' yelled Jim. 'It's our best chance!' + +"We made the best of our little start, covering the snow-carpeted ground +like hunted deer, and reached the open just as a flight of arrows struck +all about us. Suddenly Jim stopped, wheeled about, and discharged his +rifle, toppling over the foremost Indian. I was about to follow suit +when my companion cried out to me to hold my fire until he loaded, for +if the redskins knew that both guns were empty they would come on and +cut us down while we were helpless, whereas being armed with bows and +arrows only, they were at a disadvantage, and could be held off if we +played our game skilfully. + +"Never will I forget that ten-mile retreat over the field of snow, +holding the bloodthirsty crew at a distance as they circled about us +with cries of rage, trying every artifice known to their warfare to get +us in their power. More than one reckless warrior went down in the +attempts they made, and it was not until the camp was almost reached +that they left us. + +"'Sterling,' said Jim to me that night, as we sat as guests within the +shelter of a miner's hut, 'I think I've got enough of gold-hunting. I'm +going back to the States.' + +"'Jim,' I replied, 'you're not going alone.'" + + + + +A BRAVE YOUNG SCHOOL-TEACHER. + + +In a town in the Rockies, a short while ago, a young girl, who taught in +the little school-house of the place, performed an act of heroism worthy +of the highest commendation. One of her small scholars had a pet +antelope, a sweet, docile, little creature, that followed its mistress +to school, remaining quietly near the door during class hours. One day +it lay as usual near the door, lazily basking in the sunlight, while the +children pored over their studies. Suddenly there came a light thud and +a scream. There, with his fore feet crushing the little creature, +crouched a big mountain-lion, savagely switching his tail from side to +side, and eying the children. The little tots, screaming wildly, ran to +the furthest corner, huddling there in a heap. + +The teacher, although pale with fear, did not for a moment lose her +nerve, but searched the room for some means of rescuing her little +scholars. Hanging on the wall near the door was a shot-gun, and she +determined to obtain it, although to do so she had to pass the lion. +Summoning all her courage, she advanced down the room, facing the savage +beast, who stopped tearing at the antelope and growled ominously. +Nothing deterred in her purpose, however, she passed by him and took the +gun from off the pegs. The lion turned his head, and curiously watched +her as she retreated up the room again. The gun being empty, it was +necessary to return to her desk to procure some shells and load it. +Savage with blood, the lion left the antelope, and prepared to spring +upon the group of children. He made one leap over the benches, which +landed him in front of the teacher's desk, and his eyes catching sight +of her, he changed his purpose, and swinging around, was about to spring +upon her. Noticing this, the teacher, who had been watching for a good +opportunity to shoot, instead of waiting for him to make the leap, +walked quickly up to him, and before the astonished brute could recover +she placed the muzzle of the gun in his ear and pulled both triggers. +The recoil knocked her over, and she fell to the floor senseless. The +gun did its work, however, for the lion's head was almost blown to +pieces, and the brute lay a quivering heap on the floor. The children +ran screaming down the road, and men hastened to the school-house, to +find the brave girl recovered, but wildly trembling. After learning the +circumstances, they seized a chair, and seating the girl in it, carried +her, with the dead lion, through the town, cheering and praising her +brave act. + + + + +FREDDY'S FIRST-OF-APRIL RESOLUTIONS. + + + "One by one our good old customs are going to the wall," + Said little Fred, "and pretty soon we'll have none left at all; + So I'm going to keep All-Fools' day, just because I think we should + Not idly let it lapse into innocuous desuetude. + + "I'm going to see that father gets a paper one year old; + The napkins I am going to pin up tight in every fold; + The sugar I shall mix with salt, and see that Bridget bakes + Some batter-covered flannel disks to serve for griddle-cakes. + + "A purse upon the sidewalk then quite unobserved I'll fling, + And when folks stoop to pick it up I'll yank it with a string. + I've cut a lot of strips of cloth to pin to passers-by, + And every pompous man I see I'll make look like a guy. + + "Beneath a battered ancient 'tile' I'll slyly place a brick + To stub the toes of thoughtless men who give a passing kick; + I'm going to tell the teacher a new boy has come to school, + And when he asks the pupil's name I'll call out 'April Fool!' + + "I think a little nonsense of this harmless home-made kind + Is just as good for growing boys as some that's 'more refined,' + Affected by the modern race of little school-boy prigs + Who look with scorn on tag and tops and kites and Guinea pigs." + + H. G. PAINE. + + + + +[Illustration: From Chum to Chum] + +BY GASTON V. DRAKE. + +X.--FROM JACK TO BOB. + + + MOUNTAIN HOUSE, _July_ --, 189-. + +[Illustration] + + My Dear Bob,--We fellers had that mass-meeting to complain about + the eagle-eyed head-waiter that won't let us take all the nuts and + raisins we want out of the hotel dining-room, but the proprietor + won't discharge him because he doesn't dare to. The trouble is the + head-waiter isn't like other head-waiters you meet. Head-waiting + isn't his regular business. He's a college man and he pays for his + education with what he makes here in the summer-time, and as he's + centre rush in his college football team the proprietor's afraid of + him. I knew the minute I saw him that he was something of that + sort, because his hair reaches down over his collar, and he said + something about me in Latin once; and I heard him tell one of his + college mates that came through here on a bicycle that the place + wasn't perfect. "They haven't any nats or merskeeters," he said, + "but it swarms with small boys that's worse." + + [Illustration] + + He isn't so bad though when he isn't on duty. He told me a lot + about things you learn studying one day when I met him coming down + the road. He'd been out taking a little exercize on a bicycle. I + had my wheel out too, and we rode along a little ways together, and + he asked me if I was going to college. I told him of course I was, + and he wanted to know where, and I told him I didn't know, but I + thought I'd go to Yale if she didn't stop winning everything there + was going. I want to be on the winning side, I said. That's a good + idea, he said, everybody ought to want to do that, but of course + everybody couldn't, because if everybody was on the winning side + nobody'd be on the losing side, which would be a bad thing for the + world. He's a queer fellow, the way he looks at things. He said + bicycling up hill was always more fun than coasting, because when + you got to the top of the hill you were glad it was over, while + when you had coasted to the foot of it you were sorry it was all + over. It's the same way in football, he said. There's more fun in + getting beaten in a stiff game than winning in a walkover. And then + he told me to always take a man of my own size. + + "Why don't you?" said I. "I'm not a man of your size, but you've + been fighting me about those nuts and raisins I take away." + + He only laughed when I said that, and then he said he took 'em away + from me because he wanted me to be a man of his size some day, + which I wouldn't be if I eat so many nuts and raisins, and I guess + he's right, and I told him I'd quit. When I got back to the hotel I + told that Chicago boy about it, and he said he didn't take any + stock in head-waiters, and he wasn't going to quit for ten of 'em, + but that night he wished he had, because just to be brave as he put + it, he slipped three bananas, two oranges, six bunches of raisins, + two handsful of nuts, and a peach into his blouse, but the + head-waiter caught him and took him straight to his Pop. His Pop + turned him upside down, took him by the heels and gave him a shake, + and all the things tumbled out on the floor, so that now he's not + allowed to have anything of the kind at all even in the + dining-room. + + Sandboys likes the head-waiter very much, and says there isn't very + much use in boys trying to fool him, because it hadn't been very + long since he was a boy himself and he's up to all their tricks, + and his game of football is the finest that ever was. One time two + years ago when he was in school his team had been forced back + almost to the goal line, Sandboys says, when all of a sudden he got + the ball and ran half way down the field with it before he was + stopped, and then, with both his own and the other eleven sitting + on his back he crawled the rest of the way and made a touch-down + and won a goal. + + "I don't see how that could be though," I said. + + "Neither do I," said Sandboys, "but that's what he did." + + Unfortunately Sandboys forgot what school it was he went to, and + the head-waiter when I asked him about it, only laughed and said + Sandboys was a great man. + + [Illustration] + + There was a slight-of-hand man here last week doing tricks in the + parlor, and I tell you he was fine. He could do anything with + anything. He asked if some little boy in the audience wouldn't come + up on the platform and let him see if he couldn't find some money + in his ears. That made everybody laugh, and I thought I'd go up, + but I wish now I hadn't. If I'd only gone outside and shook my head + I'd have been ten dollars in, because when I got up on the platform + he grabbed hold of my ear and got ten silver dollars out of it. I + never was more surprised in my life, and Pop thought he'd be smart + and have fun with the man. He got up and said he recognized those + ten dollars by the feathers on the eagles on the back of 'em. He + said he'd left them under his pillow the night before, and he + supposed that they'd slipped into my ear when I climbed over into + his bed. The man said all right he could have 'em, and when Pop + went up to get 'em they'd disappeared into the piano, and when he + went there to get 'em they'd disappeared into Sandboys' pocket, and + so on until Pop gave up chasing them, and said the prestidigitter + could keep 'em for himself. Everybody thought that was a great joke + on Pop, and he got very red, but later on when the man passed his + hat around for people to put quarters and dimes in for him, Pop + told him there was a four dollar bill in my eye he could have. This + made everybody laugh, which put Pop in a better humor, and I saw + him give the man two dollars and a half later on. + + Besides this there hasn't been anything going on here that's worth + writing about. I asked Sandboys to give me some kind of an idea + about what to tell you that would be interesting, and he asked me + why I didn't tell you about the fourteen-pound pickerel I caught in + a lake last week. Why, I said, I didn't catch any fourteen-pound + pickerel. What difference does that make? he asked. You can tell + him about the one you would have caught if you'd caught it, which I + think was rather funny. Somehow or other I'm beginning to believe + that Sandboys has lots of things happen to him that never happened, + and I'm going to be careful about what I believe. I asked the + proprietor about that bear story he told, and the Colonel said he'd + never heard of it, and all the satisfaction I could get out of + Sandboys later was that the Colonel was like all very prosperous + personages. His memory was short. + + Give my love to anybody you think would like to have it, and if you + meet any Kings or Queens don't forget to talk right up to 'em like + a real American. + + Yours affectionately, + + JACK. + + + + +[Illustration: INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT] + + +[Illustration: R. W. MOORE.] + +There was not much record-breaking at the Interscholastic Games in the +Madison Square Garden a week ago Saturday night, doubtless on account of +the heavy track; but there was good sport and plenty of it, and better +in-door games than these have never been seen in New York. Not only did +the local schools turn out in full force, entering their strongest +teams, but the winners of the recent B.A.A. games came down from Boston, +and the leagues of Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island, and +Philadelphia sent some of their best men--men who proved so clever that +the New-Yorkers managed to secure only five firsts out of the thirteen +events, and but 49 points out of a possible 117. With such an +aggregation the games became truly representative of school athletics, +in the East at least, and they foreshadow a brilliant success for the +National Games next June. If we can get as representative a gathering on +that occasion, there need be no fear for the future of the Association. + +[Illustration: W. S. HIPPLE.] + +St. Paul's School has good reason to feel pride in the achievement of +her team, for it was as a team that the lads of Garden City won success +rather than as individuals. The development of track athletics at St. +Paul's during the present year is really worthy of note. At the Long +Island League games last May, the Garden City team ranked fourth with 20 +points, the winner of the day being Adelphi Academy with 39. At the +Inter-City games the week following, St. Paul's held eighth place with 6 +points--Barnard leading with 21. At the recent in-door games of the Long +Island League in Brooklyn, St. Paul's showed her newly developed +strength by ranking third, and her team took the same place at the +Berkeley games a week later, Berkeley and Barnard being ahead of her in +both instances. But St. Paul's has fewer stars and a better general +average than these two New York schools, and for this reason was able to +roll up 19 points, and take first place at the New Manhattan Athletic +Club games, the athletes from out of town robbing both Berkeley and +Barnard of several firsts which they can usually count upon in local +contests. + +[Illustration: W. M. ROBINSON.] + +Beers of De La Salle is the only man who scored a double win at the +Garden, and he deserves praise for his work. He won his heat in the +hurdles in 7-3/5 sec., and then took the final after a hot race with +Bien of Berkeley over a course that was far from ideal for hurdling. In +the broad jump he displayed the best form of any of the contestants. +This may not sound very complimentary to those who saw the display of +form that evening, for it was wretched; but Beers's performance gave +evidence of his having done systematic work. The box was doubtless +responsible for a good deal of the floundering that the jumpers indulged +in when they landed, and the runway no doubt had little spring; but +neither of these disadvantages can account for some of the marvellous +mid-air gyrations that most of them executed in their flights. + +[Illustration: R. G. PAULDING.] + +Broad-jumping is an event that we seldom have at in-door meets, and the +performances in the Garden on this occasion showed very well why this +event has to be abandoned. It is impossible, of course, to jump on a +board floor. At the N.M.A.C. games the board floor had been covered with +a pretty heavy layer of clay and dirt, but as soon as a man landed in +the jumping box where this layer had been turned over, he slid, and in +nine cases out of ten fell backward. This could not be helped, and was +just as great an obstacle for the success of one man as it was for +another, and consequently Beers's performance of 19 ft. 2-1/2 in. is +most creditable. The N.Y.I.S.A.A. out-door record, made by Pell in 1891, +is little better, being 21 feet 5 inches. + +N.M.A.C. INTERSCHOLASTIC GAMES, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, MARCH 28, +1896. + + Event. Performance. Winner + 50-yard dash (Senior) 6 sec R. W. Moore, Barnard, N. Y. + 50-yard dash (Junior) 5-4/5 " W. A. Robinson, St. Paul's, + L. I. + 220-yard dash 26-1/5 " W. M. Robinson, Worcester + Academy, Mass. + Quarter-mile run 57-4/5 " C. R. Irwin-Martin, Berkeley, + N. Y. + Half-mile run 2 m. 12-1/5 " W. S. Hipple, Barnard, N. Y. + One-mile run 4 " 56 " E. W. Mills, Berkeley, Boston. + 50-yard hurdle (3 ft.) 7-2/5 " A. F. Beers, De La Salle, + N. Y. + One-mile walk 7 " 59-2/5 " A. L. O'Toole, English + High-School, Boston. + Running high jump 5 ft. 7-1/2 in. F. R. Sturtevant, Hartford + High-School. + Running broad jump 19 " 2-1/2 " A. F. Beers, De La Salle, + N. Y. + Pole vault 10 " R. G. Paulding, Black Hall, + Conn. + Putting 12-lb. shot 42 " 1 " F. C. Ingalls, Hartford + High-School. + Relay race 4 m. 2-1/5 sec. St. Paul's School, L. I. + +Points. + + St. Paul's 19 + Berkeley, N. Y. 14 + De La Salle 13 + Worcester Academy 11 + Barnard 10 + Hartford High 10 + Boston English High 7 + Berkeley, Boston 5 + Black Hall 5 + Collegiate School 3 + Packard Institute 3 + Drisler's 3 + Brooklyn High 3 + Pingry's, Elizabeth, N. J. 3 + Polytechnic Preparatory 2 + Cutler's 2 + Newark Academy 1 + Roman Catholic High, Philadelphia 1 + Wilson and Kellogg's 1 + +[Illustration: A. F. BEERS.] + +The prettiest performance of the evening, taking everything into +consideration, was Mills's running of the mile. Mills was one of the +Boston contingent, and at the B.A.A. games the week before he took the +1000-yard run in 2 min. 33 sec. He is a very fast man for long +distances, being better at a five-mile event than at one. He is a +well-built young athlete, has a beautiful stride, and runs in much +better form than any scholastic competitor that has ever appeared in +local games. It was plain to see as soon as the race had been started +that Mills was to have everything his own way. He contented himself with +remaining at the rear of the bunch for the first lap or so, letting +others set the pace, and waiting for the crowd to straggle a little +before he tried to take the lead. Then he got into his stride, and +trotted to the front as if the rest were standing still, and kept on +increasing his lead at every lap. It soon became evident that the race +was to be merely a contest for second place, but the Boston boy's +running was of such a high grade that most of the spectators watched +him, and seemed to lose interest in the real struggle, which was +practically between Manvel of Pingry's, Turner of Cutler's, and Bedford +of Barnard. Manvel had sized up Mills very early in the race, and did +not allow himself to be drawn away too fast, but ran consistently for +second place. Bedford, however, worked a little too hard in the early +stages, and did not even secure a place at the end. + +Mills's time was 4 min. 56 sec., and if the track had not been so heavy +I feel certain he could have knocked off at least ten seconds. If he had +been pushed at all he would have done better still. In the University +team race Orton was hard pushed by Grant of Harvard, but his time was +only 4 min. 52-3/5 sec., a little over three seconds faster than Mills's +time in the mile; and Orton is one of the cracks among American +amateurs. It would be interesting to see a race between Mills and Orton. + +The heavy track precluded any record-breaking or good time in the +sprints. W. M. Robinson, of Worcester Academy, took his heat in the +50-yard dash in 5-4/5 sec. At the B.A.A. games he ran the 40-yard dash +in 4-4/5 sec. Moore of Barnard, however, met Robinson in the finals, and +his winning time was 6 sec., Robinson being unable to repeat the work he +had done in his heat. Another Robinson, he of St. Paul's, in the Junior +50-yard ran his first heat in 6 sec., and then won the final in 5-4/5 +sec., doing better according to the summarized record than the Senior +winner. + +In the half-mile run, Dow, one of the Boston athletes, was considerable +of an unknown quantity, but he was not fast enough to defeat Hipple of +Barnard. The Bostonian took the pole at the start, and went off with an +easy stride, Hipple hanging back in third place; but at the third round +the New-Yorker began to catch up, and the race with Dow was neck and +neck into the stretch, where Hipple burst ahead and won by several +yards. Hall of St. Paul's, who had not been working so hard, then +quickly passed Dow, and took second honors. Irwin-Martin of Berkeley had +little trouble in his quarter-mile heat, but when it came for the +decisive encounter he had to work for his points. He did not get to the +front until the last lap, and even then he had to do his best to defeat +Van Wagenen of St. Paul's. + +The hurdle races were too short to be interesting, and the performers +knocked over the hurdles so consistently that this usually pretty race +was a good deal of a failure. + +Next to the mile run, the mile walk was as exciting as any of the events +of the evening. There was a good field, and in it were two good +men--Walker of Berkeley and O'Toole of Boston. O'Toole walked in +faultless form, and was content to remain in the middle of the bunch for +the first lap; after that he made long strides for the front. Myers kept +close to him, and Walker worked hard the entire distance to secure the +lead. At the fourth lap the Berkeley lad did get to the front, but +O'Toole immediately put on more steam and gained several yards. Ware of +Packard Institute did steady work the entire distance, and came in +second, with Walker close behind him. If Walker and O'Toole meet at the +National I.S.A.A. games in June, it will be a very close contest, with +the same advantage of physique in favor of the Bostonian; but both +athletes are about equal in form and style. + +Of the field events, the pole vault was perhaps the most interesting, +narrowing down to a battle between Paulding of Black Hall and Johnson of +Worcester. Paulding finally took first honors by clearing the bar at 10 +feet. Both men would doubtless have done better if the conditions had +been more favorable, the runway being soft and without spring. The shot +went to Ingalls of Hartford, who put it 42 feet 1 inch; the broad jump +went to Beers, as already stated; and the running high jump also went to +Hartford, with Sturtevant, who cleared 5 feet 7-1/2 inches. He is a very +promising man. + +The relay race was run off in the very excellent time of 4 minutes 2-1/5 +seconds. The St. Paul's representative in the first quarter secured the +lead, and the Garden City runners thereafter managed to increase their +gain on every lap. In the last, Irwin-Martin started in for Berkeley and +gained slightly on Hall, the St. Paul's man, but the latter had too +great an advantage to be overcome, and five more points went to Garden +City. + +Two California schools are going to meet in a kind of single combat at +an early date. It seems that the school paper of Oakland claimed that +Cheek, Rosborough, Jenks, and Dawson could defeat the whole team the +Berkeley High-School sent to the last A.A.L. field-meeting. The Berkeley +athletes at once called upon the Oaklanders to descend from the +house-tops, and sent a challenge for dual games, O.H.-S. to be +represented by the four men she had so proudly vaunted, and B.H.-S. to +be represented by four of her strongest athletes. The events in this +duel will be the same as those at the regular A.A.L. field-meetings, +including the relay race, which the four champions of each school are to +run. This glorious tournament will doubtless be held on April 18th, and +I, for one, should like to see it. + +The Secretary of the National Lawn-Tennis Association has announced the +dates for this summer's tournaments, and according to his list the +Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia interscholastic tournaments will +be held on May 2d. The Interscholastic Championships at Newport are +scheduled for August 13th. + +The schedule for the interscholastic cricket season in Philadelphia has +been revised and definitely arranged as follows: May 6th, Episcopal +_vs._ Penn Charter, Haverford _vs._ De Lancey; May 13th, Germantown +_vs._ Haverford, De Lancey _vs._ Penn Charter; May 20th, Germantown +_vs._ Episcopal, Penn Charter _vs._ Haverford; May 27th, Germantown +_vs._ Penn Charter, De Lancey _vs._ Episcopal; June 1st, Germantown +_vs._ De Lancey, Haverford _vs._ Episcopal. + +The New England I.S. League took in a number of new schools as members +at its recent meeting, and voted to join the National Association. There +are now over thirty-five schools in the Boston Association. It ought to +be able to send an almost invincible team to the national field-day in +June. + + THE GRADUATE. + + + + +[Illustration: STAMPS] + + This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin + collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question + on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address + Editor Stamp Department. + + +The illustrations of the "local" Confederates in this column excited +some interest in the readers of the ROUND TABLE, and resulted in the +finding of several of the rare and a large number of the common +varieties. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +Of late great interest is being paid to the North American British +Colonies, and I illustrate the scarce Canada issue used between 1851 and +1859. With the exception of the Threepence they are all scarce, and the +"Twelvepence" is one of the rarest stamps. Excluding minor varieties, +their values are as follows: + + Unused. Used. + 3d. red $3 $0.25 + 6d. purple 20 5.00 + 1/2d. pink 6 3.00 + 7-1/2d. green 12 15.00 + 10d. blue 25 8.00 + 12d. black 400 300.00 + +Varieties on laid paper, and perforated copies are worth still more. + +Quite a number of correspondents have called my attention to a +difference in the color of the paper used in printing the current issue +of U.S. stamps. An examination shows the paper to be the same. The +seeming difference arises from the careless wiping of the steel plates +during printing. + + C. E. M.--No. It is worth bullion only, probably 50c. + + A. SUBSCRIBER.--1813 cent is worth 35c., 1616 worth 10c. + + E. B. COUNCIL.--No premium if you wish to sell. You can buy of + dealers at about double face value. + + G. F. COHOON.--Canada coins are not collected in the U.S. The other + things mentioned are tokens, not coins. + + D. L. DELAMARTER.--I do not know the Weissinger & Bate stamp. The + 18 kr. Wurtemburg unperforated is worth about $7.50. + + L. K.--The newspaper stamps of 1865 are worth $2 for the blue 5c. + with white border, $15 blue border, $6 each for the 10c. and 25c. + Reprints are common. + + H. FROST.--The coin is a Spanish dollar, worth 50c. Philately is + growing stronger every day. The 24c. Treasury is priced $4 used, + the 7c. $1.25 used. War Department set about $5 either used or + unused. + + P. L. PARSONS.--The Missouri Defence Bond has no market value. + + C. BETHUNE.--Some of the English colleges at one time issued stamps + for postal purposes, but they are not collected in America. + + J. D. CORBIE.--The coin is Spanish and has no value. Many millions + of these old Spanish coins are still in existence. + + ALINS.--No addresses of dealers are given in this column. + + A. A. KRIEGER, 1531 New Broadway, Louisville, Ky., wants to + exchange stamps. + + W. K. DART.--Foreign revenues are worth nothing in this country. + The coin has no premium. + + L. P.--Your stamp is from the centre row of the sheet, hence has no + perforation on one side. No special value. The Philadelphia die has + a double line; the Hartford a single line under the word "Postage." + + W. F. MEEKS.--The 1803 cent can be bought for 15c. + + G. H. C.--No premium on the coins. + + SARA L. YOUNG.--The New York 5c. black of 1845 is worth $7.50 if in + good condition. + + D. W. W.--Old albums or catalogues have no value. The 10c. green on + buff U.S. envelope, 1853, wide ends, can be bought for $5. Names of + dealers, etc., not given in this column. + + PHILATUS. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +Arnold + +Constable & Co + + * * * * * + +INFANTS' AND + +CHILDREN'S WEAR. + +SPRING STYLES. + +_Lace-Trimmed Robes,_ + +_Dotted Linen Coats,_ + +_Hand-made Guimpes,_ + +Piqué Bonnets, Mull Caps, + +Infants' Layettes. + +_Children's Reefers, Outing Suits,_ + +_Shirt Waists._ + + * * * * * + +Broadway & 19th st. + +NEW YORK. + + + + +[Illustration: ROYAL BAKING POWDER] + +A cream-of-tartar baking powder. Highest of all in leavening +strength.--_Latest United States Government Food Report._ + +ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK CITY. + + + + +BREAKFAST--SUPPER. + +EPPS'S + +GRATEFUL--COMFORTING. + +COCOA + +BOILING WATER OR MILK. + + + + +Snap Shot + +Camera, takes 4 pictures, 1 loading. It's a dandy, $1. The Comet Co., +Lewisburg, Pa + + + + +[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] + + + + +[Illustration: Commit to Memory] + +the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and +Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be +done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people +who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as Three good songs +or hymns. + +[Illustration: Clear, Sharp, Definite,] + +and accurate Memory work is a most excellent thing, whether in School or +out of it, among all ages and all classes. But let that which is so +learned be worth learning and worth retaining. The Franklin Square Song +Collection presents a large number of + +[Illustration: Old and New Songs] + +and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising +Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much +choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In +the complete and varied + +[Illustration: Table of Contents,] + +which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found +dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing +to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate +and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any +country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, +with sample pages of Music, address + +Harper & Brothers, New York. + + + + +[Illustration: BICYCLING] + + This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the + Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our + maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the + official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. + Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the + Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership + blanks and information so far as possible. + + +[Illustration: Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers.] + +If you are in no hurry on your trip to Buffalo, it is well to spend a +day or two in Syracuse, and take some of the rides in the vicinity of +that city. The streets are very poorly paved in the city itself, with +few exceptions, but on getting out of the immediate city limits the +roads are moderately good. It is well for the tourist to remember that +the Syracuse Athletic Association, on Jefferson Street near Salina, and +the Century Cycling Club, at 319 James Street, will be glad to see at +any time any member of the bicycling confraternity who goes through +Syracuse. + +On leaving the city by the west, proceed out Genesee Street, which is +asphalt. To leave the city on the east, take East Water Street to Pine +Street, and turn to the right into East Genesee Street, running out to +the Genesee turnpike by keeping to the left again. To leave Syracuse on +the south, run out to Onondaga on Salina Street, which is cobble-stones +as far as Onondaga, and is brick to Burt. Further out than this it is +macadamized. To leave Syracuse on the north--and this, by-the-way, is +one of the pleasantest rides in the vicinity of Syracuse--cross the +river at the swing bridge, thence, turning to the right, pass through +James Street to Catherine, and proceed along this to Lodi; turn to the +left into it, and again to the left into Pond Street. It is but one +block to Litac Street, where you should keep to the left, and run +another block to Kirkpatrick, thence turn into Alvord Street; proceed +along this to Court Street, and thence proceeding to Park Street, turn +left around the park itself, and proceed over the canal bridge to +Liverpool. At Liverpool cross the bridge and turn to the right into the +tow-path, which is left at the next bridge by turning to the left, +whence you run to Long Branch. At the latter place proceed along the +boulevard across the entire western side of Lake Onondaga through Maple +Bay, Manhattan Beach, Rockaway Beach, Pleasant Beach, and Lakeview. +Beyond Lakeview you run into the Marsh road at the end of the boulevard; +thence turn left to Sand Street, where a turn to the right is made, and +the run along Sand Street is continued until West Genesee Street is +reached, whence it is easy to return to the swing bridge. This is a +fifteen-mile ride, and is perhaps the pleasantest in the vicinity of +Syracuse. + +Continuing the journey towards Buffalo, leave Syracuse by the north on +South Salina Street, and crossing the canal, turn into West Genesee +Street. Again cross the canal bridge, and proceed direct out Genesee +Street over the turnpike to Camillus. From Camillus to Elbridge there +are some very bad hills, which are in places unrideable. Elbridge is +fifteen miles from Syracuse. The run from Elbridge to Weedsport is +direct except at a point about a mile and a half out, where a turn to +the right must be made, and the turnpike followed to Weedsport direct. +The road is in reasonably good condition, but is somewhat sandy. From +Weedsport to Port Byron and Montezuma, and on through Clyde to Lock +Berlin, the route follows the canal. In fact, most of the way from Port +Byron to Clyde is on the canal tow-path, which, though it is three miles +longer than by the road, is much better riding and much more picturesque +and interesting. At Clyde take West Genesee Street, and proceed direct +to Lock Berlin, forty miles distant from Syracuse. The road is good, and +at the intersection of the four corners turn sharp to the left, cross +the canal, pass under the railroad, and, taking the first turn to the +right, again crossing the railroad and canal, proceed direct into Lyons, +finally passing by a hill that is practically unrideable. The distance +is about forty-three and a half miles. + + + + +[Illustration: THE PUDDING STICK] + + +Speaking of good manners, is it not worth while to think about how we +behave in church? One mark of a thoroughbred girl is her air of repose, +especially when she is in public. She avoids restlessness, she sits +quietly, and she listens to the sermon. Other and ill-trained persons +may observe to their neighbors that the contralto flats or the tenor's +voice is cracked, but the well-mannered girl keeps unkind criticisms of +the quartette and the choir strictly to herself. She does not whisper +during service, nor look about her, for she knows that the place and the +hour are sacred, and she would not like to disturb others, even if she +were not in the proper spirit, on her own account. Whoever else is late, +the girl I am thinking of is in good season, and she does not bring with +her an atmosphere of haste and confusion into a house which should be +quiet and tranquil. + +But you will accuse me of preaching, and this is not my wish; so I will +tell you of something else. A girl writes to me that she has a great +ambition to become an editor, and wants to know how to begin her +training for the profession. As she is still in the high-school, with +four years of college to follow her present course, she is not pressed +for time. If I were she I would practise the writing of bright, short, +chatty paragraphs. Until you make the attempt, you will not believe how +hard it is to write in two or three sentences the gist of an occurrence, +to relate what is necessary in a story, to describe an event or a +person, without using too many words. The girl who can write clever +paragraphs will in good time find a newspaper which will use her work. +As between producing paragraphs or poems, I advise the paragraph as by +far the better factor in forming a really good style. But if, as with +Daisy R---- and Alice F----, my girls like to write verses, there is no +reason why they should not acquire so graceful an accomplishment. + +As for earning money out of school hours, Belle S----, there are not +many ways open to a girl. In the first place, the hours of a girl's life +at school and at home are very full. She has her lessons to prepare, and +there are usually some home duties which fall to her share. A +school-girl must not overwork, for if she does she will neither do +credit to her teacher nor to her own abilities. We insist in these days +that the best students are those who are in good health, able to walk, +to ride a wheel, to play golf and tennis, and to lend a hand at whatever +is going on. Pallid, attenuated girls are out of fashion. + +Still there are chances now and then for girls who need or who wish to +add to their store of pocket-money, and if you will wait till next week, +and then turn to the Pudding Stick, you will discover some of them. I +have taken pains to find out things which young girls at school actually +do, so that I will not be misleading you or extending false hopes, only +to be disappointed when you read my report in the case. + +At the same time, if you were my own daughter, I would rather have you +wait, and not enter the lists with those who earn money until her school +days were over. + + E. T. C.--A girl of your age should not have headaches. Be careful + of your diet. Avoid hot rolls and cake and candy, which you say you + are fond of. If fresh air, exercise, and attention to your diet do + not cure you, it is worth while to find out whether the trouble may + not arise from your eyes. An oculist by fitting the eyes with the + right glasses often drives away the cause of a persistent headache. + + BETTIE G.--I know of no way in which you can become a good + performer on the piano without patient and very regular practice. + There is no easy road to music. Do not believe any one who tells + you there is. + + MARGUERITE.--I am told by a music-teacher of eminence that too much + practising is as bad as too little. Try breaking your time into + four half-hours daily. With your studies, two hours a day is all + you should devote to the piano. + + MART AND LILL.--It is customary for girls to sign their full names + in correspondence with strangers. You are Martha and Elizabeth to + the world. The pet names are pretty for home use. + + MARION.--I cannot tell you how to write a letter in which you have + nothing to say. Wait till you have some reason for writing, and + then you will not find the task hard, especially as you are fond of + writing letters to the home people. + + ELEANOR DANA.--Any of Mary E. Wilkins's books will suit your + friend; I think she would like _A Humble Romance_ or _Jane Field_. + + WINNIE LEWIS B.--Certainly it is right to wear cleaned gloves, and + if the work is done well, and the gloves are of a light color, they + may be cleaned several times before they are abandoned as past use. + + ARCHIE P.--Wear your hair in a long thick braid for the present. + +[Illustration: Signature] + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +FINISH that WEARS + +[Illustration] + +The enamel and nickel that are applied to Columbia Bicycles know no +equal for beauty. Better still, this beauty is the same a year +hence--two years hence. A rub of the polishing cloth, and Columbia +enamel shines like new. In every detail you can be sure of +Columbias--unequalled, unapproached. + +[Illustration: Columbia Bicycles] + +Standard of the World. + +$100 to all alike + +Columbias in construction and quality are in a class by themselves. + + * * * * * + +POPE MFG. CO., Hartford, Conn. + +Columbia Art Catalogue, telling fully of all features of Columbias--and +of Hartford bicycles, next best, $80, $60, $50--is free from the +Columbia agent or is mailed for two 2-cent stamps. + + + + +[Illustration: HARTFORD TIRES] + + + + +[Illustration] + +LAUGHING CAMERA, 10c. + +The latest Invention in Cameras. You look through the lens and your +stout friends will look like living skeletons, your thin friends like +Dime Museum fat men, horses like giraffes, and in fact everything +appears as though you were living in another world. Each camera contains +two strong lenses in neatly finished leather case. The latest +mirth-maker on the market; creates bushels of sport. Catalogue of 1,000 +novelties and sample camera 10c., 3 for 25c., mailed postpaid. Agents +wanted. + +Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro., + +Dept. No. 27. 65 Cortlandt St., New York. + + + + +JOSEPH GILLOTT'S + +STEEL PENS + +Nos. 303, 404, 170, 604 E.F., 601 E.F. + +And other styles to suit all hands. + +THE MOST PERFECT OF PENS. + + + + +Postage Stamps, &c. + + + + +[Illustration] + +STAMPS! =800= fine mixed Victoria, Cape of G. H., India, Japan, etc., with +fine Stamp Album, only =10c.= New 80-p. Price-list =free=. _Agents wanted_ +at =50%= commission. STANDARD STAMP CO., 4 Nicholson Place, St. Louis, Mo. +Old U. S. and Confederate Stamps bought. + + + + +$117.50 WORTH OF STAMPS FREE + +to agents selling stamps from my 50% approval sheets. Send at once for +circular and price-list giving full information. + +C. W. Grevning, Morristown, N. J. + + + + +=LOOK HERE, BOYS!= 50 stamps and hinges, 15c.; 100, 25c. Cheaper packets +if you want. Sheets on approval. List sent free. Send Postal Card. + +W. C. SHIELDS, 30 Sorauren Ave., Toronto, Canada. + + + + +=STAMPS.=--20 different stamps free if you send for our approval sheets at +50 per cent. commission. Enclose 2c. stamp and give reference. + +DIAMOND STAMP CO., Germantown, Pa. + + + + +125 + +dif. Gold Coast, Costa Rica, etc., 25c.; 40 U. S., 25c. Liberal com. to +agents. Large bargain list free. F. W. MILLER, 904 Olive St., St. Louis, +Mo. + + + + +STAMPS! 100 all dif. Barbados, etc. Only 10c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. +List free. L. DOVER & CO., 1469 Hodiamont, St. Louis, Mo. + + + + +=FINE APPROVAL SHEETS.= Agents wanted at 50% com. P. S. Chapman, Box 151, +Bridgeport, Ct. + + + + +U.S. Stamps and Coins. 8 dif. large cents, 50c. + +R. M. P. Langzettel, Box 1125, New Haven, Conn. + + + + +=115= foreign stamps, Liberia, Borneo, Indo-China, etc., 7 cts. H. L. +ASHFIELD, 767 Prospect Ave., N. Y. + + + + +Harper's Catalogue, + +Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any +address on receipt of ten cents. + + + + +[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] + + * * * * * + +Writing Letters. + +III. + +Young persons--and old persons too, for that matter--ought to be careful +what they put down in writing. Letters are permanent things--or likely +to become so. Italian, Spanish, French, and Continental Europe business +men are much more cautious about signing their names and about reducing +business matters to writing than the same class of men in England and +America. But if these Continental business men do sign anything, they +live up to it. Americans are too much given to agree to almost anything, +and then--regret having done so. Young men fall into this error. + +In correspondence, be very sure that you know to whom the letter is +going, that it reach him, and that it will then be promptly destroyed, +before you trust to paper even that indignation which the world agrees +in calling righteous. Trivial matters of a personal character that ought +not to be said ought much less to be written. A good rule is: Never +write anything that you would blush to have all the world read. + +In constructing letters, give some advance thought to the task. Avoid +details, be explicit, and polite. If you ask a reply and it is your +business, enclose a self-addressed and stamped envelope, but do not put +into it a sheet of blank paper. Say all you have to say before you sign +your name. "N. B.'s" there is no excuse for. If you find one necessary, +write your letter over again. Too much trouble? Not so. It is the least +troublesome in the long-run, for, having taken it a few times, you +acquire the habit of constructing your letters as you wish them, and +ever after avoid both re-writing and "N. B.'s" If you enclose other +papers in the envelope with your letter, say so, and specify what they +are. + +Do not imagine yourself to be your correspondent's only correspondent. +If you are writing on a business matter, begin one letter where the last +one ended. Give details of your business in order that your +correspondent may learn at once what you are writing about. If your +letter be an answer to another letter, answer all of the questions. +Don't neglect to look at the letter and think you have answered. Consult +the letter and be sure about it. + + * * * * * + +The Lake Worth Country. + + I suppose there is not a tract of land in the United States that + has increased in value so rapidly as that of the now famous Lake + Worth Country. Twenty-five years ago there were no settlers there, + and it was not until early in the '80's that it began to be + attractive. Several years ago the finest piece of land on the lake + could be bought for $250. Congressman Miner, of New York, was + offered a portion, but refused. Last winter he was told that the + same piece of property is now worth $50,000. + + The improvements along the lake cost millions of dollars. Among the + lovely places is that of C. L. Craigin, of Philadelphia. It cost + more than $115,000. Mayor Swift, of Chicago, has a winter home + overlooking the lake, situated on a high bluff. The most + conspicuous place on the lake is the site of the Episcopal Church, + Bethesda-by-the-Sea. + + A part owner of the famous Hutchinson Land Grant is Colonel A. T. + Lewis, a native of Mississippi. In 1836, during the Indian war, he + marched from St. Augustine to Tampa Bay. He was in the fight that + resulted in the death of the Indian chief Hoocha Billy. He also + secured the title to the Spanish grant opposite Ancona, which he + had been contesting since 1875. + + HARRY R. WHITCOMB. + UMATILLA, FLA. + + * * * * * + +At School in Germany. + + I am an American boy, from the city of New York, but already three + years have gone by since I last passed the Narrows on my way to + Europe. I shall never forget my feelings as I saw the last of the + well-beloved coast, which I knew I should not again see for many + years. I had previously been over Lake Ontario (and in my whole + life I was never in a worse boat), and a good way up the St. + Lawrence; but still it was a curious sensation to see nothing for + days but sky and ocean. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my trip pretty + well. I was not troubled by seasickness, and arrived, after a + journey of seven days, at Southampton. I passed a week in London, + which I was very anxious to visit, but after having seen some of + it, my curiosity quickly subsided. It is not half as nice as New + York. Then I went to Cologne _viâ_ Flushing, Venlo, and from there + to Stuttgart, the capital of the kingdom of Würtemberg, where I + still live. + + One often mentions the beautiful position of this town, and it has + indeed many advantages which we do not find in other German cities. + Among other things Stuttgart is especially noted for its good + schools, and of these the "Realgymnasium," which I frequent, is + probably the best. Contrary to the so-called "humanistischen + gymnasium" we are taught only Latin, not Greek and Hebrew, but a + great deal of mathematics. There are three departments: lower + gymnasium, first to third classes (primary); middle gymnasium, + fourth to sixth classes (grammar school); the higher gymnasium, + seventh to tenth classes (college). Of these again, classes one to + seven have each three parallel classes, viz., a, b, c. The three + highest, VIII., IX., X., have only one class each. + + Our general hours for lessons (I am now in the VII.), are, in + winter, from 8, in summer, from 7-12, and from 2-5. That's pretty + long, but still when we get home our work is not nearly done, for + we have a good deal of work to do at home. With mathematics--that + is, geometry, algebra, and physics, I get on very well, thanks to + the good grounding I received in America, but Latin is in some + sense my stumbling-block. Still, I already appreciate the beauty of + Latin literature. French I read with perfect ease and pleasure. I + could tell you a good deal more about school, but I fear to weary + my readers, so I will only mention how our bodily education is + cared for. + + Thrice a week we have gymnastics, once swimming, four times fencing + (with foils now, afterwards with bayonet and sabre), and we also + play a good deal of football, which has begun to spread in Germany + during the last three years, and which, by the wish of the Emperor, + has been introduced into all the higher schools. Like many other + classes mine has also formed an eleven, of which I am captain. Our + school library is very good, consisting of about eight thousand + books of the best German, English, French, Latin, Spanish, and + Italian authors. These form ample amusement for our leisure hours. + Our summer vacation lasts from July 25th till the 6th or 7th of + September, Christmas holidays from December 23d until 5th or 7th of + January. At Easter we have two and a half weeks. + + I am, comparatively speaking, a recent member of the Order of the + Round Table, but a very old reader of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. I + myself have had it since 1887, and before me my brother took it for + several years. The volume of 1880, in which, if I remember right, + _Moral Pirates_ and _Who was Paul Grayson?_ (I think that was the + name) was printed, is still in my possession. I have followed with + great interest the stories of Mr. Kirk Munroe--the _Mates_, + _Fur-Seal's Tooth_, _Snow-Shoes and Sledges_, _Fire Rangers_, _Road + Rangers_, and _Sea Rangers_. Of Captain King's stories I prefer + _Cadet Days_ to _Corporal Fred_. + + This is my first trial of a letter to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, and I + much doubt if it will pass muster, but I hope I shall be allowed to + try again, and to be more successful then. I always read the + letters and questions, and if I could be of any use to a member I + would do so with the greatest pleasure. + + PAUL LOESEY, R.T.F. + STUTTGART, GERMANY. + + * * * * * + +Plants that Live on Insects. + + The plant known as the Drosera, or Sundew, is very curious, and is + well worth watching, for it is what is called insectivorous. That + is, it eats insects for food. Its leaves are covered with bristles, + and on the end of each bristle is a drop of sticky secretion which, + when the sun shines on it, looks like dew, hence the common name. + But if a fly or other insect lights on the leaf, he gets caught. + Then the outer bristles turn towards him, and at last, although it + takes about twelve hours, the leaf folds around him. The plant + takes all the nutriment from the insect's body, and opens, ready + for another catch. It has been proved that a plant fed on animal + food is more vigorous than a plant that is not. This Drosera is + very common in wet meadows and on the shores of ponds. It has a + more expert cousin, the Dionæa. This closes its leaf very quickly, + and the insect has no chance to escape. + + LINCOLN W. RIDDLE. + JAMAICA PLAIN. + + * * * * * + +Legendary Geography. + +CONCEALING RIVERS, CITIES, STATES, AND ISLANDS. + +In the country _beyond the mountains_,(1) where we spent our summer +vacation, a _kind of fish_(2) is caught by _fish-spearing_,(3) in the +_cold spring_(4) _between the rivers_(5) by a _husher or bully_.(6) + +Traces of the _silver or lead ore_(7) in the _Green Mountains_(8) on the +_cross shore_(9) are distinctly seen in the _bold rock_(10) by the _long +lake_,(11) where the tired and _drowsy_(12) fishermen, stopping for rest +and refreshment, are lulled to sleep by the _thunder of waters_(13) +rushing through _the strait_(14) near the _islands of land turtles or +tortoises_.(15) + +The country is rich in geographical interest and old Indian legends. It +is a curious coincidence that the initials of the geographical names +concealed by their definitions, when properly arranged, give a national +holiday of historic importance. + +Answers.--1, Housatonic River. 2, Tippecanoe River. 3, Androscoggin +River. 4, Sandusky River. 5, Nashua. 6, Indiana. 7, Galena. 8, Vermont. +9, Yokohama. 10, Aleutian Islands. 11, Kennebec River. 12, Iowa. 13, +Niagara. 14, Detroit. 15, Gallapagos Islands. Thanksgiving Day. + + + + +[Illustration: THE CAMERA CLUB.] + + Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly + answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to + hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions. + + +PHOTOGRAPHING THE STARS. + +How many of our Camera Club have tried to photograph the stars? Of +course, to make accurate pictures of the stars one must have special +apparatus, and the camera must be adjusted by machinery so that it will +move as the earth moves; but one may make very curious and also +interesting pictures of star "tracks" with an ordinary camera. The +winter-time is the best time of year for making such pictures, for the +stars appear much brighter then than in warm weather. + +Use a moderately quick plate and expose for fifteen or twenty minutes, +pointing the camera toward that part of the heavens where there are +stars of the largest magnitude. When the plate is developed, there will +appear on it what seems like white marks, more or less distinct, +according to the brightness of the stars which came within the compass +of the lens. + +If the camera is pointed toward that part of the sky which answers to +the equator the lines will be straight, but if the camera is pointed +toward the North star the lines will be curved. An interesting study may +be made of one of the planets when in the vicinity of stars of first and +second magnitude. The plate, when developed, will show that the planet +travels in a different direction from that of the stars. The moon may +also be photographed, and a much shorter exposure made than for the +stars; indeed, one can make an almost perfect photograph of the moon +when it is full, or nearly so. + +Of course the plates are of no special value except as curiosities; but +one may be as fortunate as was one young amateur recently, who, when +exposing a plate, caught the image of a large meteor which shot across +the sky within the field of his lens. Several interesting pictures of +comets have been made with an ordinary camera; but these celestial +visitors come few and far between. Photographs may be taken on bright +moonlight evenings, and are sometimes very artistic. It is necessary to +expose the plate from half an hour to an hour, according to the +quickness of the plate and lens used. + + E. A. M., New York, wishes to know if blue prints may be made with + a pocket kodak. Blue prints may be made from any negative, however + small. Films make as good blue prints as glass plates. + + J. MOULTRIE LEE, JUN., says that he cannot find the articles which + are referred to in previous numbers. He says that he turns to the + number of the book and pages, but finds nothing relating to camera + work. This must be because he turns to the page and not the number + of the ROUND TABLE. He asks for a formula for sensitizing paper. A + formula for making plain salted paper will be found in No. 796 + (January 29, 1895) and in No. 803 (March 19, 1895). This formula + was also reprinted in the circular sent out in October last. Our + correspondent also asks how to make a waxed paper negative from a + print of which the negative is destroyed, and how to transfer the + film from one plate to another. In answer to the latter question, a + paper is already prepared giving direction for this process, and + will appear in an early number of the ROUND TABLE. To wax a print, + heat an iron hot enough to melt wax readily, but not hot enough to + scorch. Take a piece of pure white wax, rub a little on the face of + the iron, and iron the print lightly on the back. If the picture is + a landscape do not wax the sky. After it is waxed enough to be + transparent, rub the iron over the print to warm the wax, and take + up all the excess of wax with a clean piece of blotting-paper. It + can then be placed in the printing-frame, using a glass support, + and printed from, the paper negative being waxed in the same way. + + LADY HELEN GARNER wishes to know what a "kit" is, and what it is + for. The "kit" used by photographers, which is probably what Lady + Helen means, is a thin frame inserted in a plate-holder so that one + may use a smaller plate than the one for which the holder was + originally made. If one has a 5 by 8 plate-holder, a frame with an + opening 4 by 5 or 3-1/4 by 4-1/4 may be placed in the holder, and + by this simple arrangement the smaller sizes of plates used in the + larger holder. A 5 by 7 plate is used in a 5 by 8 holder by using + two thin strips of wood half an inch wide. Both the frame and the + strips of wood are blackened. + + SIR KNIGHT SPRAGUE CARLETON wishes to know how to make good + transparencies, as those which he has made lack detail and are not + transparent enough. Directions for making transparencies were given + in the ROUND TABLE No. 798 (February 12, 1895); but another paper + will soon be published on this subject. If Sir Knight Sprague will + tell what process he uses, time of printing, etc., we will be glad + to suggest what remedy is needed. It would seem from the + description that the transparencies were over-exposed. + + SIR KNIGHT K. GREGORY says he is going to buy a small camera, and + wishes to know how to develop and print his own pictures. He will + find directions for beginners in recent numbers of the ROUND TABLE. + The first paper was published May 21, 1895, and the others follow + in order. + + SIR KNIGHT FRED E. TURNER wishes to know if the process described + in the ROUND TABLE for making prints with nitrate of uranium + produces permanent prints. The prints made with the salts of + uranium are, if properly treated, as permanent as the blue print, + with perhaps the exception of the green, which sometimes loses the + brilliant tone which it has at first. This is due to the + development and fixing of the red print. This process was first + practised by Niepce de St. Victor. + + + + +[Illustration: Ivory Soap] + +Plenty of sleep, fresh air, careful diet and the daily use of a good +soap like the Ivory will purify the complexion as no cosmetic can. + +THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI. + + + + +HOOPING-COUGH + +CROUP. + +Roche's Herbal Embrocation. + +The celebrated and effectual English Cure without internal medicine. +Proprietors, W. EDWARD & SON, London, England. + +E. Fougera & Co., 30 North William St., N.Y. + + + + +=A NEAT BOX,= containing 12 mineral specimens from Millard County, Utah, +including genuine gold and silver ore, copper, onyx, etc., postpaid to +any address for 25 cts. J. A. ROBINSON, Clear Lake, Utah. + + + + +[Illustration: Thompson's Eye Water] + + + + +[Illustration] + +PRINTING OUTFIT 10c. + +Sets any name in one minute; prints 500 cards an hour. You can make +money with it. A font of pretty type, also Indelible Ink, Type Holder, +Pads and Tweezers. Best Linen Marker; worth $1.00. Mailed for 10c. +stamps for postage on outfit and catalogue of 1000 bargains. Same outfit +with figures 15c. Outfit for printing two lines 25c. postpaid. + +Ingersoll & Bro., Dept. No. 123. 65 Cortlandt St., New York. + + + + +PLAYS + +Dialogues, Speakers, for School, Club and Parlor. Catalogue free. + +=T. S. Denison=, Publisher, Chicago Ill. + + + + +CARDS + +The FINEST SAMPLE BOOK of Gold Beveled Edge, Hidden Name, Silk Fringe, +Envelope and Calling Cards ever offered for a 2 cent stamp. These are +GENUINE CARDS, NOT TRASH. UNION CARD CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO. + + + + +FREE. + +Comic return envelopes. Sleight of Hand exposed. List of 500 gifts. +Album of cards. Send 2c stamp for postage. Address Banner Card Co., +Cadiz, Ohio. + + + + +A NEW BOOK + +TOMMY TODDLES + +By ALBERT LEE. Illustrated by PETER S. NEWELL. Square 16mo, Cloth, +Ornamental, $1.25. + + A more entertaining collection of nonsense has rarely been + penned.--_Boston Traveller._ + + This is primarily a book for boys, but it contains numerous chunks + of wisdom for the delectation of older heads.--_St. Louis Globe + Democrat._ + + We have not seen anything of the kind more pleasing since "Alice in + Wonderland."--_N. Y. Press._ + + The story is intended to be juvenile, but it will appeal to + thousands of grown-up juveniles better than to the juveniles + themselves.--_Boston Daily Advertiser._ + + This is one of the most charming bits of fairyland writing I have + read in a long time. The boys and girls will delight in it, but the + old folks, no matter how many years they carry, will find an equal + pleasure.... It is a charming little volume.--George H. Hepworth in + _N. Y. Herald_. + + * * * * * + +OAKLEIGH + +A Story for Girls. By ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND. Illustrated. Post 8vo, +Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. + + A story for girls, charmingly written, and illustrated throughout + with pictures dainty enough to please the most fastidious + damsel.... The incidents are full of life, the characters are very + natural, and the conversations well sustained, so that the story is + full of intense interest from beginning to end.--_Chicago + Inter-Ocean._ + + * * * * * + +By W. J. HENDERSON + +=Afloat with the Flag.= By W. J. HENDERSON, Author of "Sea Yarns for +Boys," etc. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25. + + Mr. W. J. Henderson's latest sea-story for boys is one of the best + we have seen.... The story has been read with eager interest by + thousands of ROUND TABLE readers, and it will have an additional + charm to them and others in its present book form.--_Boston + Advertiser._ + + * * * * * + +HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York. + + + + +[Illustration: APRIL FOOLS AND APRIL SHOWERS. + + "OH, I'M AN APRIL FOOL INDEED, AND HERE'S THE REASON WHY: + I LEFT MY UMBRELLA AT HOME, SUPPOSIN' 'TWOULD BE DRY!" +] + + * * * * * + +IT SETTLED THE QUESTION. + +The Colonel was the possessor of a fat colored man who was extremely +lazy--so much so that everybody in the town had tried to do something to +liven him up. They usually abandoned their effort after a trial. + +There was quite a gathering at the Colonel's one afternoon, and the +question of the lazy colored man came up. Finally one of the gentlemen +asked leave to experiment, and to gratify him the Colonel sent for his +lazy servant. It was some time before Sam put in an appearance. When he +came, the gentleman addressed him thus: + +"Sam, as I was coming up the garden path I noticed several snails down +near the gate. I want to show these gentlemen some of their +peculiarities, so catch one for me, please." + +Sam scratched his gray wool and departed. + +The Colonel and his friends smoked and chatted for a long while, and +still no Sam and no snail. + +"Well, that fellow is really lazy," said the gentleman who had sent him +on the quest. "Colonel, would you mind sending for him, and see what on +earth he is doing?" + +The Colonel did so, and Sam entered the room. + +"Well," said the gentleman, "did you catch one of those snails?" + +"'Deed no, sah," replied Sam; "dey was too powerful quick fo' me. Ise +couldn't catch up wid dem!" + +That settled the question. + + * * * * * + +A NEW COUNTRY. + +A party of tourists were examining one of the large trees of California. +One of the party remarked: + +"What a magnificent specimen! Surely it must be the oldest tree in the +world!" + +An Irishman who was with the party cried out: "Now, faith, how could +that be?" and burst out into laughter. "Sure any one knows this is a new +country, and how the mischief could that tree be ould?" + + * * * * * + +A LIGHT BREEZE. + +During one of the recent windy days in New York a discussion arose +between some gentlemen at dinner about the velocity of wind. Each +related a boastful story of his own experiences. One of the party, a +hardy Westerner, said he was once riding in a train through Kansas. + +"There was what is called out there 'a light breeze' blowing. I had +occasion to look out of the window, and the moment I put my head out off +went my hat." + +"What did you do?" asked one of the party. + +"Well, gentlemen, several people told me not to worry, that the breeze +was strong enough to take it there. I sort of wondered what they meant, +but that hat was handed to me by the station-agent at our next stop, +about forty miles from where it blew out of the window. We came along +pretty fast, too--I guess about fifty miles an hour. But then eighty +miles an hour for wind is called 'a light breeze' in that country, and +the hat went by the eighty-mile route." + + * * * * * + +A HARD MACHINE TO RIDE. + +"Papa, what is a bicycle, anyhow?" asked Jack. + +"Why, it's a two-wheeled vehicle, the wheels being placed tandem. The +word is derived from _bi_, meaning two, and _cyclus_, a wheel. If it had +one wheel it would be a unicycle." + +"I've ridden a unicycle many a time." + +"You? Where?" + +"In the garden--in the wheelbarrow." + + * * * * * + +A SMALL BOY'S NOTION. + +"Oh, mamma," said little Willie, as he made his first close inspection +of a bicycle, "this machine has got rubbers on to keep its wheels from +getting wet!" + + * * * * * + +An Irishman and a Yankee were playing the forfeit game of Questions. + +"How does the little ground-squirrel dig his hole and show no dirt at +the entrance?" asked the Irishman. + +"Give it up," said the Yankee at last. + +"Sure, you see, he begins at the other end of the hole," declared Pat +triumphantly. + +"But how does he get there?" queried the Yankee. + +"Oh, that's your question; answer it yourself," said Pat. + + * * * * * + +A BRAVE OFFICER'S ANSWER. + +During Napoleon's campaign in Russia a young officer was very successful +in defeating, with a handful of men, a large body of Cossacks who had +been skirmishing along the line for some days, doing considerable +damage. The officer risked his life in a daring deed of bravery, and +Napoleon, hearing of it, sent for him and praised him. + +"Sire," said the officer, "I am happy for your praise, but the Cross of +the Legion of Honor would make me happier." + +"But you are very young," said Napoleon. + +"Sire," answered the brave officer, "we do not live long in your +regiments." + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, April 7, 1896, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56726 *** |