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diff --git a/57968-0.txt b/57968-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d91548b --- /dev/null +++ b/57968-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2128 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57968 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 135. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, May 30, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 per +Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: "BOW-WOW!"] + + + + +THE BIG BLAST AT THE STONE QUARRY. + +BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD. + + +It was Friday afternoon, right in the middle of May, and it seemed as if +the wide front door of Prome Centre Academy would never get through +letting out just one more squad of boys or girls. It was quite the +customary thing for Felix McCue to have to wait a little later than the +rest. + +Miss Eccles was a faithful teacher, and she had often told Felix what an +interest she took in him; but he could have heard it a great deal more +thankfully at any other time than just after school, and when he knew +the other boys were waiting for him. He knew they were, because he had +showed them his slate in the arithmetic class, and they had read on it, +in big letters, "Got something to tell you. Big." + +He had printed every word of it, and he was glad he had done so now, for +if he had not he would have been all alone when he at last got outside +of the great door. He did not do that, either, until Miss Eccles had +looked him in the face for ten of the longest minutes, and talked to +him, with a ruler in one hand and a book in the other. + +Felix had listened, and he had said "yessum," very respectfully, every +time she mentioned George Washington or Benjamin Franklin, but for all +that he was only three seconds in reaching the open air, after she said: + +"You may go now, Felix, but I hope you will bring no more bumble-bees +into this school-room." + +"Yessum," and he was off so quickly that he did not hear Miss Eccles, +who was trying hard not to laugh right out, and saying to herself: + +"The queer little rogue! To think of his telling me, 'Plaze, mum, thim +bees knew just the wans to go for; ye cudn't have picked out betther +b'ys to have 'em light on.' And what I'm to do with him puzzles me. He's +one of the brightest boys in the whole school." + +At that moment Felix was walking away from the academy with a boy of +about his own size on either side of him. + +"B'ys," he was saying, "did yez know me uncle Mike was boss at the +shtone quarry?" + +"I did," said Bun Gates, on his left; and Rube Hollenhouser, on the +right, inquired, almost anxiously, "Was that the big news you kept us +waiting for?" + +"Was it that, indade? No; but he was along the green this very noon, +while I was hidin' Pete Mather's hat in the big maple-tree, and he towld +me if I wanted to see the biggest blast of rock that iver was touched +off at wan firing, I'd betther be where I could see the shtone quarry a +little before noon to-morrow." + +That was big enough news to satisfy anybody. The quarry was only a mile +or so down the creek, and not a long distance from the bank. It had not +been worked for some years, but Mr. Mike McCue was known to be a +contractor for the new railroad, and Felix was his nephew. There was +perfect confidence to be put, therefore, in the tidings; but Felix +added: + +"He bid me not tell everybody, for they don't want a crowd around. I +asked him wud it be safe on the wather, and he said, 'Yes, it wud, or in +it, or undher it, or on the far side of it.' So that's the way we'd +betther go." + +It was a trifle doubtful which of the ways suggested by his uncle was +the one Felix recommended adopting, but Bun instantly exclaimed: + +"We can get old Harms's boat. He'll lend it to me any day. It'll hold +half a dozen." + +"Kape shtill about it, thin. Mebbe Uncle Mike doesn't want to scare the +village. He said they'd all hear it whin it kem." + +"Loud as that?" said Rube. "Are they going to blast the whole quarry at +once?" + +"That's what I asked him, and he said, 'No; ownly the wist half of it.' +It's the new powdher they're putting in. None of your common shooting +powdher at all. It's a kind that bursts fifty times at wance." + +There was a touch of silence after that utterance, for there were +strange stories in circulation as to the explosive power of the new +invention the railroad men were using. Rube Hollenhouser had heard old +Squire Cudworth say that a "hatful of it would blow up the Constitution +of the United States"; and if that were true, what would not be the +effects of a wagon-load or so touched off all at once upon the stone +quarry? + +Bun and Rube were no sooner back from driving their cows that night than +they both went over to the blacksmith's house, and secured the loan of +his boat. Of course they told him what they wanted it for, and he said, +instantly: + +"Is that so, boys? Tell you what I'll do. I'd like to see that blast. +I'll go myself. Plenty of room in the boat." + +"What shall we do when we get to the mill-dam?" asked Bun. "The quarry's +away below the pond." + +"We can get another boat below the dam. If we can't, we can haul mine +around it in five minutes." + +The boys had been considering this problem at that very moment, but one +look at Harms the blacksmith was enough to convince any one of his +bodily ability to drag any boat on that creek around anything. He was +tremendously large and strong, and curly-headed and good-natured. +Everybody liked him, and he had more gray beard and mustache than any +other man in Prome Centre. + +"It's all fixed, then," said Rube. + +"I told Deacon Chittenden about it when I drove his cows in for him, and +he said right away that Katy and Bill could go. They won't take up any +room." + +"Plenty of room. Let 'em come. I'd just like to see how far that new +powder can blow a rock. Glad you told me. We'll start in good season to +be there." + +So far everything had worked to a charm; but while Bun Gates told his +mother at the supper table what was going to happen, his brother Jeff +spoke right out, "Mother, may I go?" + +"Yes," said his mother. + +And Aunt Dorcas added at once, "Certainly, and Lois too. But, Almira, +you or I, or both of us, had better go along to take care of them." + +Bun said something about the size of Harms's boat, but Aunt Dorcas +silenced him with: "Don't I know how many she can carry? Besides, I'm +bound to see that quarry blown up, just for this once." + +So Bun was put down; but when they all got out in front of the gate an +hour or so after breakfast next morning, there was Rube Hollenhouser in +front of his gate, and Felix McCue and little Biddy McCue were with him, +and right across the street were Mrs. Chittenden and Katy Chittenden and +Bill, and Bun said to himself, "If we had my speckled pig and +Chittenden's brindled cow, and if Harms took his dog, the boat'd be +'most full." + +Aunt Dorcas and Mrs. Chittenden began to think the party was growing +pretty large, but there was no need of it; for when they reached the +creek, near the bridge, there stood old Harms, and the first word he +spoke was: + +"I kind o' guessed how it'd be. Mornin', ladies. Glad we've got a good +load for both boats. You get in with me, and the boys can handle t'other +one." + +It was just like Harms. In another minute he remarked: "Git in now, and +we'll shove off." + +Aunt Dorcas was already in the very front seat of that boat, and Mrs. +Chittenden was in the middle, trying to balance herself. She made +William sit beside her, and they two made the boat look wider, there was +so much extra room on that seat. + +The other boat, the one Harms had borrowed, was almost half a size +larger, and it had a cargo this time; for Lois Gates and Katy Chittenden +were on the front seat, and behind them were Felix and Biddy. Rube was +on the rowing seat, and Bun and Jeff were in the stern. + +It was a grand ride down the creek, but when they came out on the +mill-pond, Mrs. Chittenden exclaimed: + +"I'd no idea it was so wide. Dear me! If I had dreamed of any such risk +as this, I'd never have come." + +"Nonsense!" said Aunt Dorcas. "If Mr. Harms's end of the boat keeps +above water, all the rest will." + +"He's a very heavy man," sighed Mrs. Chittenden. + +So he was, and when they reached the drag way, around the mill-dam, and +saw him put a roller on the grass and gravel, and drag those boats +around, one after the other, on the roller, and put them in the water +below, they understood that his weight counted for something. + +Three-quarters of a mile further down the creek; and now it grew wide +and ran slowly, and seemed to have formed a habit of being generally +deeper. The easterly bank sloped away from the water's edge, becoming +higher and steeper the further they drifted down. It was Biddy McCue who +first shouted: + +"Yon's the quarry. See the min on the ridge above? Uncle Mike said there +might be less than a hundred of thim." + +It looked as if there were at least a score or two, and the bald, +perpendicular front of the great limestone ledge was worth looking at +for a moment. + +"Katy," said Lois, eagerly, "do you see the quarry? That's what they're +going to blow away." + +"Dear me!" exclaimed Mrs. Chittenden. "Mr. Harms, is there any danger?" + +"Not unless there's an awful pile of that new powder behind those rocks. +What they want to do is to tumble the upper front of the ledge over, so +it'll fall into the quarry and they can get at it. I'd just like to see +a rock like that come down, pretty nigh a hundred feet." + +"Uncle Mike," said Felix, "told us he'd blown up hapes of stone in his +day, but he'd niver fired a blast like this wan." + +"Misther Harms, what wud become of us all if the powdher worruked the +wrong way?" + +"What way would that be?" said Mr. Harms. + +"The other way. I mean, if instead of blowing out the front of the rock, +it lift that all shtanding where it is, and blew out the country to the +back of it?" + +Before the big blacksmith could answer this question, Aunt Dorcas, who +had been looking at her watch, remarked: + +"Half-past eleven o'clock. If that thing's going to go off before +dinner-time, it's got to go pretty soon." + +"Boys," shouted Rube, "see 'em run! There's only one left on the ridge." + +"That's me uncle Mike," said Felix, proudly. "He always touches off the +big blasts himself, and thin there's no powdher wasted." + +"He's running too," said Bun. "He's afraid the new powder might get +ahead of him." + +"Look now, all of you!" shouted Mr. Harms. "Biggest blast ever heard of +around these parts." + +They hardly breathed for the next few seconds, but Aunt Dorcas had her +watch in her hand, and she was just saying, "Half a minute," when a +little puff of smoke and dust shot up at the top of the limestone ridge. +It was followed by other little puffs--nobody could tell how many, for +they were all smothered in a sudden cloud that arose for many feet. The +broad front of stone leaned suddenly out, as if it wished to look down +and see what was going on in the old quarry below. Then it lost its +balance at the same instant, and toppled swiftly over. A huge, dull, +booming report went out from the cloud of smoke and dust on the summit, +and that was followed by another great burst of thunderous, crashing +sound, as the masses of solid stone came down upon the rocky level +below. + +It all went by before Aunt Dorcas could look at her watch, and she was +just about to do so, when everybody else shouted "Oh!" and there was a +loud splattering splash in the water between the two boats. The only +"flying rock" sent out by the great blast had narrowly missed doing +serious mischief. It had not been a very large one, but only one human +being in either of those boats failed to dodge and lean the other way. +That Mr. Harms did not dodge or lean accounted for the fact that his +boat was only rocked to and fro a little, but for five minutes afterward +Aunt Dorcas was compelled to scold those seven children for tipping +their boat over, "without any kind of reason for it. The stone never +came nigh you." + +Still it was a good thing that the water was only two feet deep, and +that the weather was nice and warm. + +"B'ys," said Felix McCue, the moment he got his feet on the bottom, and +stood up, dripping, and holding up Biddy, "did yez iver see a blast like +that?" + +"Oh, Bun!" screamed Lois, "are there any more stones coming? Was it the +blast that upset us?" + +"Mother! mother!" sputtered poor Katy Chittenden, "did it blow you over +too?" + +"Rube," said Bun, "Jeff isn't scared a mite. Are you? I ain't." + +"Scared?--no," said Rube. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything, and +all we've got's a ducking." + +The big blacksmith did a good deal toward restoring a comfortable state +of mind all around; but he could not make out that the other boat-load +were in a comfortable state of body; and so they set out for home. Long +before they got there, however, Katy said to Lois, + +"If it wasn't for my new bonnet strings, I wouldn't care," and Lois +replied: + +"Yes; but think how that rock looked when it let go and tumbled over. It +was awful! I'm satisfied." + + + + +HANDEL AND "THE MESSIAH." + +BY MRS. JOHN LILLIE. + + +On February 23, 1685, there was born in Halle, Saxony, to an honest +surgeon named Handel, a son, whom he christened George Frederick, and +who was destined half a century later to become the first musician in +the world. + +Little Handel's father abhorred music. As soon as the boy began to show +an aptitude for it, his father took him away from school, for fear that +some one would teach him his notes. Whether among teachers or scholars I +don't know, but the boy found a friend who contrived to procure for him +a little dumb spinet, and this he secreted in an attic, and learned not +only his notes from it, but how to use his fingers in practicing. Still +his father opposed him, and but for a certain visit he paid, his genius +might have been long hidden in the dull house at Halle. + +The elder Handel was invited to visit his son who was in the service of +the great Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, and young George, knowing music was +to be heard, if not easily learned, in that place, determined to go too. +So he ran after his father's carriage so far that the parent's stern +heart relented, and he was taken in. + +In the old castle at Weissenfels he quickly found out which of the +inmates were musical, and soon made friends with them. One day, after +the chapel service, he jumped on to the organ stool, and played in such +an astonishing manner that the Duke, who was still lingering in the +chapel, sent up to inquire who was playing. The boy and his indignant +father were summoned: but the Duke's evident delight in the child's +music softened old Handel's heart. He gave his consent to his son's +musical education, and almost from that moment George Frederick Handel +became known as a musician. + +[Illustration: GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL.] + +I can not tell you anything more of his childhood or youth but that he +studied very hard, and that, like every true genius, he was humble while +he was learning. We must skip over many years to the time when he went +to England; for there he produced his greatest works, and to this day +the English reverence him as their own. + +George I., King of England, you know, had been Elector of Hanover, and +so he as well as his successor felt a strong interest in Handel. The +latter went to England in 1710, and there he found that much attention +was paid to Italian music. Operas were very fashionable. They were quite +a novelty then. Fine ladies and gentlemen filled the opera-house. They +crowded the greenrooms behind the scenes, and chatted and talked at the +"wings," as if they were in a drawing-room. Fashion governed nearly +everything, and so Handel, realizing this, set to work upon an opera. He +wrote _Rinaldo_ in fourteen days, and it was produced at Drury Lane with +a splendor that created great excitement throughout London. We never +hear _Rinaldo_ now, but its airs are beautiful, and one of these, +"Lascia ch'io Pianga," lingers in the heart of every one who hears it. + +Well, Handel began to teach the Prince of Wales's daughters, to write a +great deal of music, and to be very much the fashion, and very famous. +So he roused the jealousy of petty people, and, strange as it may seem, +opinions differed to such an extent, and such a fuss was made, that +society was divided into two factions. One party favored a distinguished +musician named Buononcini, and the other Handel. The war raged, and +during it a wit and poet named John Byrom wrote the following verse, +which has since been famous: + + "Some say, as compared to Buononcini, + That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny; + Others aver that he to Handel + Is scarcely fit to hold a candle. + Strange all this difference should be + 'Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee." + +Handel's genius, however, was not to be suppressed by any such foolish +contentions. He worked on as usual, and in 1749 produced the work with +which his name is most associated, the oratorio of _The Messiah_. + +I do not think you can go into any part of England without finding +people who love _The Messiah_. It used to seem to me it was the one work +every one knew about. And it is well worthy of such general knowledge. +In it are airs that must move every Christian heart. It seems to teach +so many things--reverence, love, hope, and a glimpse of a heaven that +has in it God's many mansions. When I hear it sung it always seems to me +that the voices are those of the angels who sang on Bethlehem's plains, +"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men." + +I want to tell you something about oratorios in general; that is, how +they originated, and what they are as musical works. Oratorios, strictly +speaking, are dramatic and musical compositions where the parts are sung +without scenery or special costume, and they are on sacred subjects. + +Dramatic representations of sacred stories are as old as Christianity. +In the Middle Ages they were very common. At times of public rejoicing +they were given, or during any special season, like Advent or Lent, and +so far were they recognized as part of public life that the government +or special societies paid their expenses. + +These old performances were very roughly put on the stage, but gradually +from them grew an idea of a distinctly musical and dramatic sacred work. +In Germany, "Passion Music" was written. In Italy, it had long been +thought of and given; finally, the oratorio as we have it now was +developed by various great composers. + +Let us consider the oratorio for a moment as represented by Handel's +_Messiah_. The most famous part perhaps is the "Hallelujah Chorus." Hear +this sung by thousands: do you not thrill with joy and praise? As the +music swells on, with its bursts of melodious exultation, we feel +ourselves lifted away from everything common and base. Then take the +sweeter and softer airs: "Behold the Lamb of God," "With His stripes we +are healed," and then the great chorus, "For unto us a Child is born," +with the rush and sweep of the "Wonderful." Where do we seem to be? With +the shepherds watching on that star-lit plain; with Mary at the cradle +of her Divine Child; with the Wise Men offering up their gifts of +frankincense and myrrh in that illumined stable. The light of God's +glory dazzles us as we listen, and we can only echo in our humble +hearts, with our heads bowed, that repeated joyous "Wonderful!" + +Now do you not think a musician who could make any Christian heart full +of such reverence and love ought always to be honored? I like to think +of Handel revered as he is now. His life was not happy in many ways. +Many things troubled him. He used to sit hours playing on his organ, and +I have no doubt trying to reconcile himself to the blindness which fast +came upon him. He had many friends, but no family ties of his own. He +wrote on unceasingly, and some other time I may tell you more of his +work. Just now I have had space only to speak of his greatest oratorio. + +It was on April 6 that _The Messiah_ was given at Covent Garden, and +Handel attended the performance. He came home to his house in Brook +Street very weary, and there, eight days later, he died, April 14, 1759. +His grave is in Westminster Abbey. + + + + +MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER.[1] + +[1] Begun in No. 127, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +BY JAMES OTIS, + +AUTHOR OR "TOBY TYLER," "TIM AND TIP," ETC. + +CHAPTER IX. + +MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER. + + +It was so near the time for the circus to begin that Toby was obliged to +hurry considerably in order to distribute among his friends the tickets +the skeleton had given him, and he advised Abner to remain with Mrs. +Treat while he did so, in order to escape the crowd, among which he +might get injured. + +Then he gave his tickets to those boys who he knew had no money with +which to buy any, and so generous was he that when he had finished he +had none for himself and Abner. + +That he might not be able to witness the performance did not trouble him +very greatly, although it would have been a disappointment not to see +Ella ride; but he blamed himself very much because he had not saved a +ticket for Abner, and he hurried to find Ben that he might arrange +matters for him. + +The old driver was easily found, and still more easily persuaded to +grant the favor which permitted Abner to view the wonderful sights +beneath the almost enchanted canvas. + +From one menagerie wagon to another Toby led his friend as quickly as +possible, until they stood in front of the monkeys' cage, where Mr. +Stubbs's supposed brother was perched as high as possible, away from the +common herd of monkeys, which chatted familiarly with every one who +bribed them. + +Toby was in the highest degree excited; it seemed as if his pet that had +been killed was again before him, and he crowded his way up to the bars +of the cage, dragging Abner with him, until he was where he could have a +full view of the noisy prisoners. + +Toby called to the monkey as he had been in the habit of calling to Mr. +Stubbs, but now the fellow paid no attention to him whatever. There were +so many spectators that he could not spend his time upon one unless he +were to derive some benefit in return. + +Fortunately, so far as his happiness was concerned, Toby had the means +of inducing the monkey to visit him, for in his pocket yet remained two +of the doughnuts Mrs. Treat had almost forced upon him; and remembering +how fond Mr. Stubbs had been of such sweet food, he held a piece out to +the supposed brother. + +Almost instantly that monkey made up his mind that the freckle-faced boy +with the doughnut was the one particular person whom he should be +acquainted with, and he came down from his perch at a rapid rate. So +long as Toby was willing to feed him with doughnuts he was willing to +remain; but when his companions gathered around in such numbers that the +supply of food was quickly exhausted, he went back to his lofty perch, +much to the boy's regret. + +"He looks like Mr. Stubbs, an' he acts like him, an' it must be his +brother sure," said Toby to himself as Abner hurried him away to look at +the other curiosities. When he was at some distance from the cage he +turned and said, "Good-by," as if he were speaking to his old pet. + +During the performance that afternoon Abner was in a delightful whirl of +wonder and amazement; but Toby's attention was divided between what was +going on in the ring and the thought of having Mr. Stubbs's brother all +to himself as soon as the performance should be over. + +He did, however, watch the boy who sold pea-nuts and lemonade, but this +one was much larger than himself, and looked rough enough to endure the +hardships of such a life. + +Toby was also attentive when Ella was in the ring, and he was envied by +all his acquaintances when she smiled as she passed the place where he +was sitting. + +Abner would have been glad if the performance had been prolonged until +midnight; but Toby, still thinking of Mr. Stubbs's brother, was pleased +when it ended. + +He and Abner waited by the animals' cages until the crowd had again +satisfied their curiosity; and as the last visitor was leaving the tent, +old Ben came in, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Treat, both in exhibition +costume. + +Toby was somewhat surprised at seeing them, for he knew their busiest +time was just at the close of the circus, and while he was yet wondering +at their coming, he saw Ella approaching from the direction of the +dressing tent. + +He had not much time to spend in speculation, however, for Ben said, as +he came up: + +"Now, Toby, you shall see Mr. Stubbs's brother, and talk to him just as +long as you want to." + +The skeleton and his wife and Ella looked at each other and smiled in a +queer way as Ben said this; but Toby was too much excited at the idea of +having the monkey in his arms to pay any attention to what was going on +around him. + +Ben, unlocking the door of the cage, succeeded after considerable +trouble in catching the particular inmate he wanted, and handing him to +Toby, said: + +"Now let's see if he knows you as well as Stubbs did." + +Toby took the monkey in his arms with a glad cry of delight, and fondled +him as if he really were the pet he had lost. + +Whether it was because the animal knew that the boy was petting him, or +because he had been treated harshly, and was willing to make friends +with the first one who was kind to him, it is difficult to say. It is +certain that as soon as he found himself in Toby's arms he nestled down +with his face by the boy's neck, remaining there as contentedly as if +the two had been friends for years. + +"There! don't you see he knows me?" cried the boy, in delight, and then +he sat down upon the ground, caressing the animal, and whispering all +sorts of loving words in his ear. + +"He does seem to act as if he had been introduced to you," said old Ben, +with a chuckle. "It would be kinder nice if you could keep him, wouldn't +it?" + +"'Deed it would," replied Toby, earnestly. "I'd give everything I've got +if I could have him, for he does act so much like Mr. Stubbs, it seems +as if it must be him." + +Then Ella whispered something to the old driver, the skeleton bestowed a +very mysterious wink upon him, the fat woman nodded her head until her +cheeks shook like two balls of very soft butter, and Abner looked +curiously on, wondering what was the matter with Toby's friends. + +He soon found out what it was, however, for Ben, after indulging in one +of his laughing spasms, asked: + +"Whose monkey is that you've got in your arms, Toby?" + +"Why, it belongs to the circus, don't it?" And the boy looked up in +surprise. + +"No, it don't belong to the circus; it belongs to you--that's who owns +it." + +"Me? Mine? Why, Ben--" + +Toby was so completely bewildered as to be unable to say a word, and +just as he was beginning to think it some joke, Ben said: + +"The skeleton an' his wife, an' Ella an' I, bought that monkey this +forenoon, an' we give him to you, so's you'll still be able to have a +Mr. Stubbs in the family." + +[Illustration: "'OH, BEN!' WAS ALL TOBY COULD SAY."] + +"Oh, Ben!" was all Toby could say. With the monkey tightly clasped in +his arms, he took the old driver by the hand; but just then the skeleton +stepped forward, holding something which glistened. + +"Mr. Tyler," he said, in his usual speech-making style, "when our friend +Ben told us this morning about your having discovered Mr. Stubbs's +brother, we sent out and got this collar for the monkey, and we take the +greatest possible pride in presenting it to you; although, if it had +been something that my Lilly could have made with her own fair fingers, +I should have liked it better." + +As he ceased speaking, he handed Toby a very pretty little dog-collar, +on the silver plate of which was inscribed: + +MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER, + +PRESENTED TO + +TOBY TYLER + +BY + +THE SKELETON, THE FAT WOMAN, + +OLD BEN, LITTLE ELLA. + +Toby took the collar, and as he fastened it on the monkey's neck, he +said, in a voice that trembled considerably with emotion: + +"You've all of you been awful good to me, an' I don't know what to say +so's you'll know how much I thank you. It seems as if ever since I +started with the circus you've all tried to see how good you could be; +an' now you've given me this monkey that I wanted so much. Some time, +when I'm a man, I'll show you how much I think of all you've done for +me." + +The tears of gratitude that were gathering in Toby's eyes prevented him +from saying anything more, and then Mrs. Treat and Ella both kissed, +him, while Ben said, in a gruff tone: + +"Now carry the monkey home, an' get your supper, for you'll want to come +down here this evening, an' you won't have time if you don't go now." + +Ella, after making Toby promise that he would see her again that night, +went with Mr. and Mrs. Treat, while old Ben, as if afraid he might +receive more thanks, walked quickly away toward the dressing-rooms, and +there was nothing else for Toby and Abner to do but go home. + +It surely seemed as if every boy in the village knew that Toby Tyler had +remained in the tent after the circus was over, and almost all of them +were waiting around the entrance when the two boys came out with the +monkey. + +If Toby had staid there until each one of his friends had looked at and +handled the monkey as much as he wanted to, he and Abner would have +remained until morning, and Mr. Stubbs's brother would have been made +very ill-natured. + +He waited until his friends had each looked at the monkey, and then he +and Abner started home, escorted by nearly all the boys in town. + +The partners in the amateur circus scheme were nearly as wild with joy +as Toby was, for now their enterprise seemed an assured success, since +they had two real ponies and a live monkey to begin with. They seemed to +consider it their right to go to Uncle Daniel's with Toby; and when the +party reached the corner that marked the centre of the village, they +decided that the others of the escort should go no farther--a decision +which relieved Toby of an inconvenient number of friends. + +As it was, the party was quite large enough to give Aunt Olive some +uneasiness lest they should track dirt in upon her clean kitchen floor, +and she insisted that both the boys and the monkey should remain in the +yard. + +Toby had an idea that Mr. Stubbs's brother would be treated as one of +the family; and had any one hinted that the monkey would not be allowed +to share his bed and eat at the same table with him, he would have +resented it strongly. + +But Uncle Daniel soon convinced him that the proper place for his pet +was in the wood-shed, where he could be chained to keep him out of +mischief, and Mr. Stubbs's brother was soon safely secured in as snug a +place as a monkey could ask for. + +Not until this was done did the partners return to their homes, or the +centre of attraction, the tenting grounds, nor did Toby find time to get +his supper and go for the cows. + +Not once during the afternoon had Toby said anything to Abner of the +good fortune that might come to him through old Ben; but when he got +back from the pasture and met Uncle Daniel in the barn, he told him what +the old driver had said about Abner. + +"Are you sure you heard him rightly, Toby, boy?" asked the old +gentleman, pushing his glasses up on his forehead, as he always did when +he was surprised or perplexed. + +"I know he said that; but it seems as if it was too good to be true, +don't it?" + +"The Lord's ways are not our ways, my boy, and if He sees fit to work +some good to the poor cripple, He can do it as well through a circus +driver as through one of His elect," said Uncle Daniel, reverentially, +and then he set about milking the cows in such an absent-minded way that +he worried old Short-horn until she kicked the pail over when it was +nearly half full. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +THE LITTLE GREEN BEDS. + +BY MRS. M. E. SANGSTER. + + + There are little green beds in many a row + On our hill-sides fair and our valleys low, + And lying still in their hollows deep, + The gallant soldiers are fast asleep. + Oh, gently we tread when we pass a mound + Which under the flag is holy ground. + + And over our country here and there + Those little green beds grow bright and fair + When the May flowers drop in the lap of June, + And sweet in the pastures the wild bees croon. + With banner and bugle and beat of drum, + To honor the brave, then the people come. + + They come with the roses red and white, + And the starry lilies as pure as light; + They scatter the blossoms everywhere, + And the perfume thrills on the sighing air + As they wreathe with beauty each lowly mound + That under the flag is holy ground. + + O children, glad as the summer skies, + With your dancing dimples and laughing eyes, + Little you dream of the wild work done + Ere the soldiers' rest in these beds was won; + And you only know that here brave ones lie + Sleeping so soundly as years go by. + + Nothing they heed of the work or play + Of the busy world in the merry May. + Though life was sweet to the hero band, + They died for love of our native land; + And so we garland each lowly mound + That under the flag is holy ground. + + + + +MY FIRST KANGAROO HUNT. + +BY MRS. J. C. GIFFORD. + + +My husband and I were staying at a country house sixteen miles from +Champion Bay, quite in the "bush," and miles away from any one. Our host +was an influential person, and the owner of one of the largest stock +farms on the great continent of Australia. + +Everything was arranged for the hunt the day before, Mr. B---- having +selected and had brought in from the bush those horses which he thought +most suitable. The luncheon was all packed up overnight, and sent to the +hunting ground at four o'clock in the morning, accompanied by a barrel +of water, a luxury unattainable in the country we were bound for. + +When we rose in the morning we saw from our windows some of the +gentlemen already starting, and about an hour afterward the carriage +which was to convey our party of five to the meet was brought round to +the door. + +After we had driven about nine miles we came to a hollow, where we found +our horses waiting. Mine was a very neat gray, full of spirit, but very +good-tempered, while my husband's mount was a pretty bay mare, very +fast, which pulled considerably. We set off, each of us armed with +boomerangs, or heavy curved sticks from eighteen inches to two feet in +length. Our horses were excited, but we had to ride along as quietly as +possible, for fear we should start a kangaroo and let it get away too +far ahead. + +We had not long to wait before a beautiful "flying doe" got up about +three-quarters of a mile in front of us, when every one let his horse go +as hard as he could, until the pace became tremendous, the horses having +to jump all the bushes they came to. + +After we had galloped for several miles, the country became rough and +thickly grown with black-boys--a species of palm-tree, so called from +its black stem. Unfortunately, my husband, in avoiding a collision with +a lady, managed to come up against one of them, and it being strong, did +not give with the weight of the horse, and knocked him out of the +saddle. For a moment I was rather frightened, but as he called to me +that he was all right, and told me to go on, I did so. He soon got his +horse back, and came after us as quickly as possible. + +Of course this little episode rather threw me out of the hunt, and in +the distance I saw Miss L---- going a good pace with the kangaroo close +ahead of her. She rode very well, and never once left it. After a while +I found myself pretty close to it, and by this time our horses were +getting a little bit used up. It seemed a long time before the kangaroo +was knocked over. As soon as one of us got alongside of it, it doubled, +and then the work of getting sufficiently near to upset it had to begin +again. The pace they go is almost incredible, especially that of a +"flying doe," and before one is accustomed to it their hopping has a +peculiar effect. Each spring they give, their tails beat the ground as +if worked by machinery. Mr. B---- eventually knocked over the "flying +doe" at Miss L----'s request, she being uncertain how it ought to be +done. I am glad to say it was not killed, but "ear-marked," and let go. + +We gave our horses a little rest, and then started off again. Luckily +the day was cloudy, or the heat on the sand plains would have been +unbearable. This time again we were most fortunate, and soon saw a very +big kangaroo going away ahead of us. After a short time we came to a bit +of thick bush which the kangaroo made for. If not excited, one would +think twice about going straight into it. However, I saw two bush-riders +go at it, so thought I would try too, much to their amusement, and I was +rewarded. Just in the middle the kangaroo doubled, and being then quite +close to him, I had all the fun to myself, and Bismarck--my +horse--entered into it perfectly. + +Crash we went through the bush regardless of the possibility of eyes +being poked out by boughs, and our faces being scratched all over. In +fact, I found the only thing to do was to sit tight, keep my head down, +and let the horse go. He followed the kangaroo until we found ourselves +in the open again. Then we came alongside of him in a canter, as he was +getting tired, so I got Bismarck very close, and knocked him down. I +then thought he would give us no more trouble, but much to my surprise, +when pulling up the horse, I saw him get up and begin to go off. I was +determined he should not get away, so our chase began again. We soon +were together, and I made Bismarck keep a little bit ahead of him, +waiting for our opportunity to upset him. He was actually hopping along +under my feet, and I knocked his head with my foot. He tore my habit by +putting one of his paws through it, and scratched one of Bismarck's +fore-legs in trying to cross him. This he was not quick enough in doing, +and was soon down on the ground. The actual run was, I believe, only two +miles. The kangaroo was afterward killed, and his paws cut off for me as +a remembrance of my first hunt, but in drying they were spoiled, and I +never got them. His tail was taken home to be made into soup, which is +most excellent. + +After luncheon the gentlemen went off to find another kangaroo if +possible. They were all on foot, except my husband and Mr. B----'s +nephew. However, they soon found a fine one, and four of them carried it +in to us alive. They tied a rope round it, and fastened it to a tree. At +first the animal tried hard to get away, but finding it useless, +remained very still. We had a few dogs out with us, but they are not +required if there are a good many people mounted. Of course, to any one +hunting by himself, they would be a necessity. Just before our start +homeward it was proposed to let the kangaroo go, and with some +difficulty they managed to untie the rope. The kangaroo being at bay, it +stood upon its hind-legs, with its back to a tree, and kept striking out +with its paws. It really was a piteous sight, standing there with its +big brown eyes, and it did not seem to realize it was free, although the +dogs barked and people shouted to make it move. + +At last it went off, and I longed for it to get away; but before going +any distance it stood up again, with the dogs round it, and the poor +brave kangaroo was soon dragged by them to the ground. It seemed quite a +melancholy ending to our day. + + + + +[Illustration: "JUST ONE LOCK OF HAIR."] + +JUST ONE LOCK OF HAIR. + + + "You see, mamma dear, Charley asked + For just one lock of hair; + I thought I'd cut it off myself, + I knew you would not care. + + "Please now, mamma, don't look so grave, + The piece is very small; + And, see--I cut it off just where + It doesn't show at all." + + + + +OILING THE WAVES. + + +We have all heard of pouring oil on the waters, but most of us have +supposed that the phrase meant only the soothing of angry people by +gentle words, and that it was what the grammars call a figurative +expression. + +But sailors and fishermen have often tried the experiment of sprinkling +oil upon stormy waves with great success. The oil when dropped upon the +billows spreads over their surfaces, forming a fine film, and smoothing +a safe path for ships that would otherwise be in danger. + +Many curious instances of this are given by the captains of whalers and +merchant ships. The master of the _Gem_, a British brigantine, bound +from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Bristol, encountered a hurricane, +which blew frightfully for thirty-six hours. The vessel was in the +utmost peril, when the captain remembered to have read an article on the +use of oil at sea. He at once poured a quantity into a canvas bag, and +fastened it to a rope six fathoms long, trailed it to windward of the +ship, and the oil leaked out, and made smooth water around the vessel. + +In September, 1846, a terrific gale of wind lashed the Atlantic to fury, +and a little fishing-boat was seen tearing her way through the white +waves to the coast of Sable Island. Watchers on the shore saw two men on +board throwing something at intervals into the air. + +When the boat arrived on shore, as she did in safety, with all her crew, +it was found that the captain had stationed two men near the +fore-shrouds, where he had lashed two casks of oil. Each man was armed +with a wooden ladle two feet long, with which he dipped up the blubber +and oil, and threw it as high as he could into the sea. The wind carried +it to leeward, and as it spread far over the water, though the waves +rose very high, they did not break. The little _Arno_ rode into Sable +Island, leaving a shining path in her wake. + +The way in which the oil is used by those who wish to preserve their +boats from wreck is very simple. + +The _King Cenric_, for instance, a sailing ship bound from Bombay to +Liverpool, with coal, was caught in a heavy gale, which lasted five +days. Her officers filled two canvas clothes-bags with oil, and made two +or three small holes in each. The bags were then towed along by the +ship. + +Our own Dr. Franklin, who always used his eyes, tried the experiment of +calming rough water by oil in the harbors of Newport and Portsmouth. He +had observed the serenity of the waves around the whaling ships, and he +said that even a tea-spoonful of oil produced a wonderful effect. + +Mr. John Shields, of Perth, Scotland, has been trying the experiment on +a grand scale in Peterhead North Harbor. His apparatus carries twelve +hundred feet of piping into deep water two hundred yards seaward of the +bar. There are three conical valves, fixed seventy-five feet apart, at +the sea end of the pipe, and when the pipes are charged with oil, by +means of a force-pump in a hut on shore, the oil escapes so rapidly that +the wildest waves become gentle ripples. + +Mr. Shields has been improving and testing his invention for two years, +and expects by means of it to make the dangerous harbor of Peterhead +entirely safe, however furious the weather. + + + + +[Illustration: IN THE HALLS OF HIS ANCESTORS.] + + + + +PHOTOGRAPHY AND WORK. + +BY ALLAN FORMAN. + + +Amateur photography is getting to be exceedingly popular. The price of +outfits is so low that they are within reach of all, and from what we +hear it would seem that a goodly number of the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE +are engaging in it. A few words therefore on the subject from one who +has been through the first few months of enthusiasm and disappointment +which succeed the purchase of an instrument may be of service to those +who have embarked on the ocean of amateur photography. + +Of course you will use the dry plates. I say of course, because for the +amateur they are cheaper, more convenient, produce better results, and +afford a wider latitude of subject than the wet plates. We will suppose, +then, that you have provided yourself with a good camera and lens, +chemicals, plates, baths, and all that go to make a complete outfit. + +Your first trouble will be with your dark room. It must be _absolutely_ +dark; the faintest ray of white light will destroy the most perfectly +timed picture. Any closet will do, so long as you can have perfect +darkness and room to work. The most luxurious dark room I ever saw was +ten feet square, provided with hot and cold water, and lighted by two +large windows with panes of ruby glass. The gold-colored glass looks the +same, but is worthless for photographic purposes. On the other hand, I +have worked in a closet two feet deep, by the dim light of a single ruby +lamp. But in photography as in everything else the "golden mean" is +preferable. + +If kept in a perfectly dark box, the dry plates need not be developed +for months. Travellers often change plates, and even develop and fix +them, at night, in their rooms, by the aid of a ruby lantern. As the +changing of plates is an operation which consumes but little time, this +may be done with safety, but we would recommend the young photographer +to make use of his dark room for the process of developing. + +Besides the pans, or baths as they are called, for the chemicals, you +must have in the dark room a supply of clear water, and a vessel in +which to throw it after it has been used. Dry plates require frequent +washing, as we shall see further on. Your dark room must be, then, of +moderate size, free from white light, provided with clean water, and +free from dust. If it is dusty, you will have minute specks on the +picture. The plates must be kept in this room, and must be transferred +to and from the plate-holders here. + +Next comes the business of mixing the chemicals. There are several +different formulas for the development of dry plates, but I have found +the ferrous-oxalate developer to be the simplest and best. The most +convenient way to prepare the solutions is to take two common glass +preserve jars, put in about a quarter of a pound of neutral oxalate of +potash in one, and about the same amount of protosulphate of iron in the +other; then pour on warm water, and let the crystals dissolve. + +It makes no difference how much water you put in; the object is to get a +"saturated" solution; that is, a solution in which the water has +absorbed all the chemical matter it can take up. After the chemicals +have had time to dissolve--say fifteen or twenty minutes--filter the +solutions into separate bottles, and cork them tightly, to keep out the +dust. Always filter all your solutions before using them; even filter +the water if it is not perfectly clear. Cleanliness is a prime necessity +in photography, and the amateur can not be too careful. + +Now comes the "fixing" solution, which is made by dissolving four ounces +of hyposulphite of soda in twenty ounces of water. Filter into a bottle, +and cork it until used. Make at the same time a saturated solution of +common alum, and use it for washing the plates after taking them out of +the developer, and before fixing. Directions are given by many involving +the use of cyanide of potassium, tartaric acid, bromide of ammonia, and +the like; but it is better for the beginner to use as few chemicals as +possible. More pictures are spoiled than saved by inexperienced +doctoring. + +After your chemicals are all prepared, put a plate in your holder, or +wooden box with slides, one or more of which accompany every outfit. +Focus your camera on some object; a row of buildings, the side of a +house, or a board fence is preferable for this experiment. Take off the +cap, and pull the slide about half of the way out. Expose about six +seconds, and pull out the slide the rest of the way. Expose this six +seconds again, and replace the slide. You now have two exposures, of six +and twelve seconds respectively, on the same plate. This is for timing +the lens. It is impossible to give any definite rules for the time of an +exposure; experience must teach this. + +In a gallery where the surroundings are the same and the light varies +but little, it is comparatively easy to determine how long a plate +should be exposed in the camera. But in out-of-door work the amateur +must take into consideration the state of the weather and the +atmosphere, the presence or absence of reflecting surfaces, such as a +stretch of sand-beach, a sheet of water, or the proximity of a +light-colored building, and time the plate accordingly. + +After you have taken the test-plate, return to your dark room, and pour +into the bath four ounces of neutral oxalate, and mix with it one ounce +of iron solution. Take the plate from the holder, wash it in cold water, +and drop it into the mixture. The image will begin to appear in from +three to five minutes. After it has become clearly defined, wash it +again in cold water, and put it in the alum solution for a few minutes. +Another washing, and it is ready for the fixing solution, which will +keep the picture from turning black, as it would otherwise do, if +exposed to the light. + +Let it remain in the fixing solution until the white film has +disappeared. Then wash it in water, and you have your negative. Now +examine this carefully, and see whether the six-second or the +twelve-second exposure is the best. After a few experiments you will be +able to judge pretty accurately how long to expose a plate. + +It would be impossible to enumerate the mistakes which a young +photographer will make. The only way is to profit by them, and not make +the same one a second time. Many boys who get a photographic outfit are +disgusted with it, after one or two trials, because they can not make as +good a picture as a professional photographer. The principal causes of +failure can, however, be enumerated as follows: + +1. Imperfectly darkened operating-room, which will make the picture dim +or "foggy." + +2. Dust in the dark room, unfiltered chemicals or washing water, which +will make pinholes in the negative. + +3. Over or under exposure, which will either make the negative too black +or too thin to print successfully. This last, however, is excusable in +the young beginner. + +Finally, boys are apt to be careless. A crack in the door of the +operating-room, a bottle left uncorked to collect the dust, dirt or dust +on the hands, a little more of this solution or a little less of that, +they think would make no difference. Photography requires accuracy and +cleanliness, and no one can hope to take a satisfactory picture unless +he will cultivate these qualities. + +If any boy or girl--and girls, as a general rule, make better amateur +photographers than boys--thinks to learn amateur photography for "fun," +I should say to him or her, emphatically, Don't. But to any one who has +a sincere love for the beautiful in nature, and who is willing to _work_ +to obtain lasting mementos of the scenes which are dear to him, a +photographic outfit may become a source of never-ending pleasure. + + + + +WHAT A GEORGIA BOY FOUND WHILE FISHING. + + +One day several years ago a Georgia boy went fishing. He started for a +creek that ran not far from his home; but as he knew there were few fish +in it except small cat-fish, he probably did not expect to return with a +very well-filled basket. Most boys, however, know how to get a good deal +of pleasure out of a day's fishing, even if the fish are small and bite +slowly. + +Taking his lines and hooks, this Georgia boy went to the creek, and +there sat down to dig for bait with his pocket-knife. In digging, he +turned up a curious and pretty pebble which attracted his attention. +Wiping the earth from it, he found it to be semi-transparent, and about +the color of the flame of a wood fire. As he turned it around, it +reflected the light in a peculiar way which interested the boy, and so, +instead of throwing the pebble away, he put it into his pocket. + +As he had never seen a stone of the kind, he showed it to a good many +persons as a curiosity in a small way, and after a while he came to +value it about as a boy values a marble of the kind called real agate. + +On one occasion he showed his pretty stone to a visitor from Cincinnati, +who seemed even more interested in it than others had been. This +gentleman examined the pebble again and again, and finally asked +permission to take it to Cincinnati with him to show to some one there. +Not long afterward the gentleman returned, and told the lad that his +"pretty stone" was worth a good many thousands of dollars. It was, in +fact, what is called a fire opal, a very precious stone, specimens of +which are so very scarce and costly that jewellers can not afford to +make use of them. The few that have been found since Humboldt carried +specimens to Europe have been eagerly bought at enormous prices for the +great museums. + +When the parents of the Georgia boy learned the nature and value of his +discovery they had the stone sent to Europe, and sold to advantage. The +sum received for it was quite a little fortune. + +I have never heard how many fish the boy caught, but I am very sure that +he can not complain of his luck on that day. + +Since that time a good many opals have been found in the region in which +the boy dug for bait, and among them one or two small fire opals, but +none equal in value to his. Some efforts have been made to search the +region thoroughly, and to work it as an opal mine. There is a great +difference in opals, but when they are really beautiful their value is +very large. For an opal in the museum at Venice $250,000 was offered +without success. Marc Antony is said to have sent a Roman Senator into +exile because he would not sell him an opal ring for which he had paid +nearly a million of dollars. + + + + +"POPSEY." + +BY MATTHEW WHITE, JUN. + + +This was the name Walter Radlow's father had requested should be given +the gray donkey which he presented to his son on the latter's thirteenth +birthday. + +"You see, I was at my wits' end what to buy," he afterward explained; +"for a dozen birthdays, to say nothing of as many Christmases, had about +exhausted my genius for discovering something new, and I was beginning +to think I'd have to start all over again with a rattle, when the idea +of a donkey and cart popped into my head." + +So Popsey was the donkey, and the donkey was Walter's, and--such a +donkey! Not one of your meek, spiritless animals, "warranted gentle with +ladies and children," that you must beat to make go, and simply cease +beating to stop. + +Ah, no; Popsey, though not wild or vicious, was full of life, which was +just what Walter delighted in; and as Mrs. Radlow had satisfied herself +that the beast was really too small to do any serious damage, she ceased +to worry about his "playfulness." + +But it was not long before Popsey became so attached to his young master +that it was thought perfectly safe to allow two-year-old Amy the +privilege of a ride now and then, from which she returned in a very +mixed state of mind as to whether she wanted to tell papa about Popsey, +or Popsey about papa. + +One Saturday, about three months after Popsey's advent, Walter's cousins +came over from Wallingville to make him a visit. They were the children +of Mr. Radlow's only brother, and Helen was fourteen, May twelve, and +Jack ten. + +They arrived about nine in the morning, to find Walter just recovering +from an attack of rheumatism, and suffering from such a raging toothache +that he could scarcely bear to speak. + +"But don't mind me," he said, as they all gathered about him to condole +and bemoan. "When you come from town to the country for the first time +in years, and for such a short stay, too, you mustn't stick in the house +just because a chap can't go round with you to-- Oh!" and poor Walter +suddenly dashed his head down against the hop pillow on the lounge, +while the girls sympathetically exclaimed, "Too bad!" and Jack looked as +if he was afraid it might be "catching." + +But in a moment or two Walter bobbed up again to say, "There's the +croquet set and archery, tennis and--Popsey." + +"Oh yes; that's the donkey, you know," eagerly interrupted Jack. "And, +oh, Walter, did you say we might drive him?" + +"Of course. I guess Helen can manage the fellow. And, by-the-way, you +might take the cart and drive over to the Hillwins'. Fred's got a prime +book about middies I've wanted to read ever since Christmas, and if +you'll borrow it for me, I think it'll make me forget this--" And the +boy expressively ended his sentence by another plunge into the depths of +his hop pillow. + +When the plan was first mentioned to her, Mrs. Radlow was inclined to +doubt Helen's ability to deal with Popsey's peculiarities. Though docile +enough with Walter, he might prove troublesome to a stranger. + +"But, Aunt Jennie, don't you remember how I drove when we were all up in +the mountains one summer? And, besides, you know you wrote to mamma that +Popsey was so small that you never worried about the children being out +with him." + +As this last argument of Helen's could not very well be answered, the +coachman was ordered to harness up. + +When the cart was brought to the door, and the three visitors prepared +to crowd themselves into it, a great outcry was made by Amy, who +shouted, "Me too! me too!" so often and so shrilly that, for the sake of +securing quiet in the house for Walter, Mrs. Radlow at last consented to +let her go. + +"I'll hold her on my lap just as tight," pleaded May, "and Jack can +stand up behind." + +And so it was arranged, and Amy's face, which had been all drawn down +for a good cry, wrinkled up into a laugh instead. + +Then Popsey was petted and patted, endearingly addressed as "Good +donkey," and called upon times innumerable to "whoa" when he had not +thought of stirring, after which preliminaries the girls got in, Amy was +handed over to them, and Jack climbed up behind. + +"Drive around to the front lawn, so Walter can see you," said Mrs. +Radlow, when all was ready for a start, whereupon Helen chirped to her +steed, and guided him over the grass opposite the second-story window, +at which appeared a black head and white pillow, one of which was nodded +gayly, and the other waved on high, the two to be suddenly clapped +together again in a fashion, that caused Helen to give Popsey a touch of +the whip, and speed off after the "prime book about middies." + +[Illustration: "'ISN'T HE JUST TOO CUNNING!'"] + +"Oh, isn't he just too cunning!" exclaimed May, as the little donkey +trotted along, with his big load, as steadily as a family horse. + +Amy crowed with delight; Helen made a great show of flourishing her whip +(taking good care, however, to keep it out of range of Popsey's long +ears), while Jack pranced about behind in genuine boyish joy. The road +was easy enough to follow, and inside of three-quarters of an hour Helen +drew up before the Hillwins' gate. Their house was the only one within +sight, and just beyond it two or three roads crossed one another in +quite a confusing manner. + +"It's lucky we haven't any further to go, Helen," remarked May, as she +noted the latter fact, "for we'd surely become mixed, and-- But I +declare, if Amy isn't fast asleep in my arms! Poor dear, the ride's been +too long for her, I guess. You go in, Helen, and I'll sit perfectly +still so as not to wake her. Don't be long, though." + +Jack was already out and standing at Popsey's head, but no sooner had +her elder sister vanished from sight under the long grape arbor that led +to the house, than May suddenly discovered that she was terribly +thirsty. + +"Oh, Jack," she cried, "I must go in and get a drink; but I don't want +to wake baby, and make her cross, perhaps; so I'll just put her down +here in the bottom of the cart on the seat cushion. I'll be back in a +minute or two; but mind, keep a tight hold on the donkey, and if Amy +wakes up, talk to her till I come." + +Jack answered "All right," May jumped down to hurry off after Helen, and +then there was no sound to break the country stillness but the autumn +wind, as it whirled the dead leaves to the ground, and the rumble of a +train as it rushed along the track down by the river. + +As it happened, Fred Hillwin was not at home, or he most certainly would +have come out to inspect Popsey and keep Jack company. As for Fanny, she +was so overjoyed at the unexpected call from her old school friends, +that for about five minutes she could do nothing but give expression to +her delight. Then the book Walter wanted had to be hunted up, all of +which together consumed a good deal of time, the delay seeming +especially prolonged to Jack, who soon grew tired of gazing at the top +of baby's cap between Popsey's ears, and longed for some more exciting +occupation. The donkey stood as if glued to the spot, and Amy slept on +as peacefully as if in her little crib at home. + +Suddenly the noon-day quiet was broken in upon by the blast of a horn, +accompanied by the quick trot of horses' feet. + +"A circus, perhaps!" exclaimed Jack; but, alas! whatever it was, nothing +could be seen from where he stood, for the sound came from the turnpike +just beyond the cross-roads before mentioned. + +"Oh, how I would like to see what it is!" sighed the boy. Then he +quickly measured with his eye the distance he would have to run, saw +that Popsey seemed perfectly stationary, and with a sudden impulse +dashed off to the corner, arriving just in time to behold a four-in-hand +coach rush by like the wind. + +It had scarcely passed him, however, when it stopped with an abruptness +that threatened to pitch the passengers on ahead of it. + +"What can be the matter?" thought Jack, and with all a boy's curiosity +he ran on down the road to find out. + +It seemed that one of the "leaders" had stumbled and fallen, and +consequently been stepped on by the "wheelers," which resulted in such +an entanglement of horses and harness as Jack had never seen before. + +With wide-open eyes he looked on at the efforts of the gentlemen to +straighten things out, and was about to ask if he could help them, when +suddenly, with a cry of "Oh, Popsey--and the baby!" he tore back to the +Hillwins' gate, and found the donkey-cart--gone. + +With a terrible fear in his heart, the thoughtless boy gave one +despairing look around him, and then started off on a run, in the +direction in which Popsey had been headed, after a black speck just +visible in the distance. + +Two minutes later Helen and May came hurrying down the long walk through +the garden, provoked with themselves at having staid so long. + +"I do hope Amy hasn't waked up," said May; "but I told Jack in case she +should-- Why, where are they?" + +"Perhaps Jack's driven down the road a little," suggested Helen. + +But a hurried glance in both directions soon convinced the girls that +the donkey-cart was nowhere near, and they were both beginning to feel a +dread of they knew not what, when all at once May exclaimed, "Oh, Helen, +look! here comes Jack now, and _without Popsey_!" + +In great excitement the sisters ran to meet him, and imagine their +horror when, with a voice all broken with sobs, he cried: "Oh! oh! it +was only a--a peddler's wagon, and I ran nearly a mile to catch it, +and--and now I don't know where to look, because Popsey's run off with +the baby!" + +Terrified beyond description at the thought of the danger that +threatened their aunt's pet, who had been so reluctantly committed to +their charge, the girls commanded Jack to tell them instantly just how +it had all happened, which he did with teeth-chattering from fright, +and repeated assertions that he had believed Popsey was asleep. + +"But didn't I tell you not to stir?--and oh, Helen, it's partly my fault +too, for if I hadn't been so foolish as to leave Amy, she--" Here May +broke down completely, and leaving her and Jack in tears together, Helen +flew back to the house, and soon returned with Mrs. Hillwin, Fanny, the +maid, and the cook. Then she pointed out the three roads it was possible +the donkey had taken, and burst out crying herself. + +"An' shure, miss, don't give way so," said the cook, cheeringly, "but +jist take yer stand at the cross-roads beyant, an' ask ivery person that +comes along--an' precious few do it be in this wild region, bad luck to +it!--ef they're afther seein' a donkey runnin' off wid a baby." + +This sensible suggestion was at once acted upon, and while the rest all +hurried off in the direction of a turnip-field, which the maid declared +Popsey must have sniffed, Helen stood at the junction of the three roads +until a pleasant-faced old gentleman in a buggy approached her. + +"Oh, sir," she cried, rushing up dangerously close to the wheels, "did +you meet a runaway donkey-cart?" + +"No, not I," was the answer; and the gentleman repressed a smile, but +suddenly grew quite grave as he drew rein and asked if the donkey's name +was Popsey. + +"Oh, yes, yes," exclaimed Helen. "And have you seen him?" + +"No, but I am going to see his owner now, and if you will get in, I will +take you along with me. I am the family doctor, and am quite well +acquainted with Popsey." + +Hardly knowing what she did, but feeling that any sort of motion or +action was better than waiting in suspense, Helen accepted the +invitation, and began at once to pour forth her tale of grief to the +kindly old physician, upon hearing which he whipped up his horse, saying +that he was sure no harm had come to Amy. + +Then Helen suddenly recollected how she had deserted her post, and was +filled with a foreboding lest some one should pass the cross-roads who +might know something about the donkey-cart, and there would be no one +there to question him. + +"Here comes Mr. Radlow's coachman now," exclaimed the doctor, when they +had nearly reached their destination, "and driving at a furious rate. I +warrant it's turned out just as I expected;" and with the words he +signaled to the man to stop. + +"Yes, yes, exactly as I imagined," said the physician, when the coachman +had hurriedly and excitedly explained that Popsey had come trotting back +to the stable with the lines about his heels, and baby Amy crowing +joyously in the bottom of the cart, and that in consequence Mrs. Radlow +was in a great state of fright concerning the fate of the cousins. + +"Well, I'll soon relieve her fears on that score; and do you, Dennis, +drive on toward the cross-roads with your carriage as fast as ever you +can, and bring the other two children back." + +As for Helen, she had not yet recovered from her joyful surprise. + +"To think," she exclaimed, "that that donkey should have turned +deliberately around and walked off home, nearly four miles, without +upsetting anything, while we were looking for him in every other +direction! There certainly never was such a dear little animal. But that +doesn't excuse Jack's thoughtlessness, and I'm going to give Aunt Jennie +leave to punish him _very severely_." + +However, when the case was laid before the doctor, he declared that as +the fault lay really with so many persons, and that as the three cousins +had suffered sufficiently already from anxiety and suspense, the blame +should be changed to praise, and that given to Popsey, who had displayed +a disposition to execute the errand upon which he had been sent as +speedily as possible. + + + + +[Illustration: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN DINAH WENT OUT AND LEFT TOPSY ALL +ALONE.] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + Good-morning, little bird; + I wish you'd sing for me; + You look as if 'twere fun to live + Out-doors so wild and free. + + I've brought Matilda Jane + Because she needs the air; + She is a very pretty child, + With lovely curling hair. + + How many little birds + Are flying round to-day! + Now surely you will stay with me + When I've come here to play? + + Oh, you have children three, + And they, perhaps, have stirred; + Well, if they need you, hurry home. + Good-morning, little bird. + + + + +OUR POST-OFFICE BOX. + + + NEW YORK CITY. + + I thought I would write to you about my little bird Billie. He is a + canary of the German breed, and is rather long and slim, but he + sings very sweetly. I think he is the smartest and most intelligent + bird I ever saw outside of a show. I taught him myself to stand on + my finger whenever I put my hand in his cage; and he knows when I + speak to him, for when I call to him, he will turn his head toward + me, as if to say, "What?" I used to make him seesaw on a little + stick with his little companion John, who was blind nearly all his + life, which was very short; and then I would make him hold a little + gun, and balance himself on a ball which I would keep in motion. He + would stand on a little cart, and hold the reins with one claw, + while I drew him around the room, with John, held in a + market-basket, sitting on behind. He seldom tries to fly away, and + I have frequently taken him out-doors in my hands, without fear of + his escaping. Sometimes, for a change, I used to let him swing like + a paroquet in one of my bangles. This I do not think he liked much, + for his tail was so long it was hard for him to keep his balance. + But the most difficult thing that I taught him to do was to lie on + his back and pretend he was asleep. I would lay him down gently, + and after kicking his feet, and trying to grasp my fingers, he + would lie perfectly still until I touched him, when he would jump + up; and then I would have him kiss me, which he can do nicely, + moving his bill all the time. I should like to tell you about John, + who died, we think, on account of his eyes, which, after we had had + him a little time, became covered with white mists, which we think + were cataracts. + + A STRONG FRIEND OF + "HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE". + +It would be interesting to hear of your method in teaching your pet so +many pretty tricks. I suppose you were very gentle and patient, and that +you taught him one thing perfectly before letting him begin upon +another. + + * * * * * + + WASHINGTON, D. C. + + I, like Virginie C. B., am practicing a few of the gymnastics + mentioned in No. 118. We have a bar across one of our doorways a + foot from the top, which I catch hold of and swing by. I can not + draw my chin up to it yet, but can come very near it. After the + Postmistress has assured us she has seen Jimmy Brown, his stories + are much more interesting to me, for they must be the experiences + of a real boy. We always laugh at them, they are so funny. + + My sister has been all over the establishment of Harper & Brothers, + and saw them printing YOUNG PEOPLE. I should like to see that, and + hope to some time. I think it was Augusta C. who did not like cats. + She would not change her mind if she saw our cat, for that lazy + animal is awake all night and asleep all day. We have had no less + than six cats during the past year. "The Talking Leaves" excited us + very much, and I think it was splendid. Toby Tyler is a very nice + little boy, I think, and when I first glanced at the picture of the + circus coming in, I thought they were taking him away again. + + We have some flowers in our back yard, and we like them very much. + The seeds are just coming up, and I take great interest in watching + them. We have some very pretty pansies, roses, and bridal-wreaths. + They are blooming now. I brought some wild flowers from the woods, + and my sister brought some violets; they are growing very nicely. + We have but one geranium, and its blooms are shrivelled. I do not + know what to do to it. + + I like to write stories very much, and I love dearly to draw + pictures. Last Tuesday was very warm, and you would have thought it + was summer if you had suddenly been transported to Washington. + + EMILY N. + +Perhaps your geranium needs rest. Try the plan of pinching off every bud +for the next few weeks. The soil may need enriching, or you may have +watered it too freely. + + * * * * * + + BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. + + I have written to HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE three times, and none of my + letters have been printed; but I believe in perseverance, so I am + going to try again. I have never read any paper I liked half as + well as HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. Papa gets it for me, and I read it + to my little brother. One night I was reading "Tim and Tip" to him, + and I happened to look up, and he was crying. He didn't want me to + think he was crying, so he said, "It's only the water that comes + out of my eyes." I like Jimmy Brown's stories very much. I think + all of the stories in the paper are very interesting. Jimmy Brown + and Georgie Hackett seem to possess about the same qualities. My + favorite study in school is history. + + EMMA. + +I do not know Georgie Hackett, but poor Jimmy is certainly an +interesting boy, though I would not care to have him living at my house, +unless he could behave better than he now does. Perseverance is an +excellent quality. You could not have a better motto than + + "If at first you don't succeed, + Try, try again." + + * * * * * + + SANBORN, DAKOTA TERRITORY. + + I am a little English girl eight years old, and hope to see this + letter printed, to please dear papa, as he does not know I am going + to write. I have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE two years (ever since + we left England), and have never written before. I have an Indian + pony, on which I ride about; her name is Frances. My brother Jack + has one called Charlie. I have a little sister Mabel; she is six, + and so fat that mamma calls her Pumpkin. She calls me her fairy + lily. I have seen Jumbo in England, and am glad he has come to + America. Papa says some time I may see him again. I am very fond of + reading. I have lots of books, and my grandma sends me _Little + Folks_ every month. I have been learning music for a year, and am + getting on nicely. We find lovely flowers about here, and I gather + mamma lovely bunches for the table every day. Good-by. + + KATIE S. + + * * * * * + + JUNCTION, IDAHO. + + I am a little boy seven years old. I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, + and I like it very much. I think "Toby Tyler" and "Mr. Stubbs's + Brother" are the best of all. Blue Ribbon has a little kitten; she + is teaching it to walk. I have a horse; his name is Old Indian. The + reason I call him Old Indian is because we bought him of the + Indians. I have some nice rides on him. We live on a ranch, and + have lots of little calves and little chickens. I do not go to + school, but study my lessons at home. I send one dollar for Young + People's Cot. + + OLIVER T. C. + +Your contribution has been sent to the lady who receives and takes care +of the money for Young People's Cot. Is Blue Ribbon the little kitten's +mother? I hope Old Indian is a gentle pony. From his name I should think +he might be quite fiery. + + * * * * * + +"PAPA, WHAT MAKES THE RAIN COME?" + + Mabel and Ethel can't write for themselves, and they do not know + that I am writing to the Post-office Box to tell other little girls + about them. What here follows is not a made-up story; it is set + down almost word for word as it was spoken. The girls were in their + little beds, talking about different things, and papa was sitting + at the table reading a book by the light of the lamp. Thunder was + heard in the distance, and Ethel remarked that the rain was coming. + This led Mabel to ask the question which forms the title of this + letter, "Papa, what makes the rain come?" + + While thinking about the best way to make her understand the + wonderful and beautiful natural process--how the sun draws up + vapors from land and sea, and stores the treasures of rain in the + clouds, returning them in showers of blessings upon the + earth--Ethel broke in with her views, thus relieving me of a + difficulty. So I kept quiet as a mouse, and listened while + pretending to read. Ethel, half raising herself in bed, thus + explained: + + "Why, Mabel, I will tell you what makes the rain come. You see, God + is up there above the clouds, and He has wings, and flies from + place to place, all over. Then, you know, He has a pump, with a big + deep well, with lots, oh! lots of water in it, and on the pump + there is a rubber tube, with a sprinkler fastened to it. And then + He pumps, and pumps, and pumps, and the angels they pump, and the + water comes, and spurtles, and spurtles, and spurtles, and + spurtles, and spurtles, and spurtles; and that's what makes the + rain come." + + These were the child's thoughts and expressions on the beautiful + phenomena of the rain. The explanation seemed sufficient and + satisfactory, as both little thinkers forthwith resigned themselves + into the loving arms of "tired nature's sweet restorer," and were + carried far away into the happy land of dreams. + + F. J. T. + FARMINGTON, MINNESOTA. + + * * * * * + + CHURCHVILLE, MARYLAND. + + As the day is rainy, we have been looking over HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE, and seeing so many nice letters in Our Post-office Box. I + thought, by way of variety, I would send one from Harford County. I + have two sisters. One is a teacher, and she is going to read some + pieces out of your paper to the children in her school. + + We have a colt named Pinafore. The other day I turned another + horse, with a halter on, into the same field with him. Pin caught + the halter in his mouth, and led him about as he had seen us do. I + have a Scotch terrier dog named Jack. I hitch him to a little + wagon, and he is better trained than the speckled pig in No. 132. + + I think your paper is just splendid, but like to read "Mr. Stubbs's + Brother" the best of all. I went to see Jumbo in Baltimore. + + FRANK B. + + * * * * * + +OUR BABY BOY. + + Oh, he's so sweet, + The darling thing! + On his small feet + We kisses fling. + + He plays, he crows, + Can laugh and sing, + And thinks he knows + 'Most everything. + + He goes to bed + So sweet at night; + You'll hear his tread + Soon as 'tis light. + + He plays, you know. + The whole day through, + And he can blow + His trumpet new. + + All places round, + No sweeter toy + Than this is found-- + Our baby boy. + + DAISY M. (aged 9.) + DAVENPORT, IOWA. + + * * * * * + + BAYFIELD, WISCONSIN. + + I am thirteen years old, and have a little adopted sister, whose + name is Elsie, and whom I love just as much as if she were my own + sister. She is seven years old. I wish the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE + could see my canary-bird. His name is Jim. I often let him out of + his cage, and sometimes he comes hopping up to me, and then he will + chirp until I give him a piece of apple or orange. + + I am very fond of reading. I have just finished a book called + _Zigzag Journeys in Europe_, and I enjoyed it very much. Our house + is a square from Lake Superior. We can stand at any window and look + right out on the lake. Bayfield is a great summer resort for + invalids and pleasure-seekers. Very nearly all the large steamboats + come here. From Bayfield we can also see five of the Apostle + Islands. + + SUSIE P. + +Would it not be nice if we could have all the cunning and beautiful pets +our little friends write about arranged together in a great exhibition? +As this is impossible, we must try to see each of them from the pretty +pen pictures their little owners send. + + * * * * * + + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. + + I am nine years old. Last Easter mamma gave me HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE as a present. I am delighted with it, and reading those + letters written by the young folks has put me in the notion of + telling you something of myself. I go to school in West + Philadelphia. Mamma thought the ride out there would be good for my + health. I am obliged to start at eight o'clock, and I get home at + two. I eat my dinner, learn my lessons, and then I am ready for + play, which I enjoy greatly. I have neither brother nor sister, but + I have several little friends. I have two velocipedes. Mamma gave + me one when I was only four years old; it has three wheels; I call + it my little clipper. The other has four wheels; I call it my + propeller. I have a set of garden tools. I tell you I play hard + until tea-time; then I get ready for tea. By eight o'clock I am + quite ready for bed, as I have to get up at six. Sometimes I take a + little ride before breakfast on my velocipede, or play with my pet + cat, which I call Charlie, after papa. Mamma says she intends to + turn over a new leaf, and have me black my own boots in the + morning, and promises if I do it for two weeks she will make me a + present of a nice blacking-box like papa's. + + G. W. H. + + * * * * * + + ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. + + I am seven years old. I have a little brother five and a dear + little sister two years old. I go to school, and my brother goes to + the kindergarten. I will tell you how my little sister said her + prayers last night. She said, "God bless mamma and papa, and our + dear, dear kittie cat. Amen." We thought it was so cute. I envy the + little boys who live in the country. I have never been out of the + city, but hope to go for all the summer. This is the first letter I + have ever written. + + LUCAS N. + + * * * * * + + NEW YORK CITY. + + I want to tell you of my pets. I have a little pug dog; his name is + Punch. I have such fun with him, he is so playful. Then I have two + canary-birds, and their names are Sweet and Top-knot. And I have a + little kitten; her name is Betty; mamma named her. + + I take music lessons, and go to school, and also attend a riding + school twice a week. I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE very much. I + think "Toby Tyler," "The Little Dolls' Dressmaker," and "Mr. + Stubbs's Brother" are tiptop. Good-night. + + BERTHA E. F. + + * * * * * + +The Postmistress has pleasure in inviting the attention of boys to the +following request: + + The boys at this place having organized a social club, desire to + have their secretary open a correspondence with the secretaries of + other and similar clubs of boys. Persons interested will please + address for further information, + + W. T. FRANKLIN, + 82 East Jersey St., Elizabeth, N. J. + + * * * * * + + MOTT HAVEN, NEW YORK. + + I am a little girl nine years old. I have five dollies; their names + are Katie, Jessie, Jemima, Daisy, and Ella. I have had Jemima eight + years. I have a bedstead, and a carriage in which, on fine days, I + take them out riding. I also have a trunk, and lots of other + things. I have never been to school, and only began to write one + year ago last February, and I hope you will be able to read this + letter. + + AGGIE L. S. S. + +I suppose Jemima is the favorite of the five dollies, as you have had +her almost all your life. You write very well indeed. + + * * * * * + + SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. + + Our grandma sends us HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, which we find very + interesting. We are Americans. We came here partly for our + education, but mostly for our health. I am almost fourteen. I + thought I would write to the Post-office Box, and tell you what I + have seen. We have been to Netley Abbey, which is a very ancient + ruin; it is over eleven centuries old. We have visited Netley + Hospital. While we were there we saw a number of soldiers come in + from the Zulu war. The hospital is a very fine building. We have + also been to Romsey Abbey, and we saw there a plait of hair which + is supposed to be a thousand years old. We have been to Winchester + Cathedral, and saw many ancient tombs. We went to the New Forest, + and saw the place where William Rufus was killed. + + F. B. M. + +You have a very pleasant opportunity to study English history, and you +must write to the Post-office Box again, and tell us more about the +places you visit. + + * * * * * + + I read the letters in the Post-office Box every week. I study + geography, spelling, arithmetic, writing, and Latin. I have gone to + school here for almost ten months. I have had a nice black and + white rabbit for almost a year. I will try to get some wild ones + this spring, and tame them. Some of us boys take our dinners out in + the woods on Saturdays, and have a splendid time. In cold weather + we build a fire. + + I will give a book entitled _Tel Tyler at School_, 750 mixed + foreign stamps, several foreign postal cards, a piece of petrified + honey-comb, two shells from St. Augustine, Florida, and a pebble + from Amsterdam, New York, for sixty stamps from Alsace-Lorraine, + Angola, Antigua, Azores, Bolivia, Bermuda, British Honduras, + Ceylon, Chili, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, + Ionian Isles, Labuan, Lagos, Liberia, Malta, Nevis, Nicaragua, + Orange States, Paraguay, Persia, Salvador, San Marino, Shanghai, + St. Lucia, Trinidad, and Virgin Isles. Stamps must be in good + condition. + + CHARLES L. HOLLINGSHEAD, + Care Rev. R. K. Todd, Woodstock, Ill. + + * * * * * + +C. Y. P. R. U. + +AN INDIAN ELEPHANT.--Some of you have been very much interested in Jumbo +and his enormous appetite. A traveller who engaged an elephant to carry +him over a part of India during a journey which occupied some weeks, +gives this account of the elephant's food, and of the care which he +received while on the march: Every day he was fed with cakes composed of +flour, ghee (which is clarified butter), and coarse salt. Twenty-five +pounds of flour were mixed and baked, and one-half the quantity was +given to the elephant in the morning, and the other in the evening. +Besides these cakes, he ate freely of the leaves and branches of trees. +Each morning he would go with his mahout, or driver, into the jungle, +and there he would choose and pick the branches he liked best, loading +them on his back, and taking the supply home to the camp. There was a +kind of marshy grass which he considered a very choice dessert. When a +person engages an elephant, he of course engages the mahout as well. The +mahout usually takes his wife and children with him, as it takes several +people to keep an elephant comfortable. Every morning and evening he +must have his bath, and before beginning the day's march his forehead, +ears, paws, and every part of his body likely to be cracked with the sun +must be greased. When the party comes to a halt, the elephant's heavy +trappings are always taken off, and he is allowed to rest under a +spreading tree. When an elephant does not feel well, he makes a pill for +himself without saying a word to the doctor. With his trunk he rolls up +a ball or two of red earth, and swallows it, just as naturally as pussy, +when her head aches, scampers off to the catnip bed, and takes a dose of +her favorite herb. + + * * * * * + +MYRTLE.--I think a Shakspeare club such as you and your girl friends +have organized must be both pleasant and instructive. Instead of so many +stories, dear, let me persuade you to read books of travel which will +give you an idea of the world we live in; and when you tire of them, and +want a change, try history. The books you mention are too exciting and +highly wrought to be good reading for you at present. I think you would +find Sir Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake" and "Marmion" very +fascinating, and Miss Strickland's _Queens of England_ would keep you +delightfully occupied all summer. + + * * * * * + +TOM H.--Sir Richard Whittington, the hero of the tale of _Whittington +and His Cat_, was born about 1354, in Gloucestershire, England. He was +not a beggar boy, but belonged to a good family. When less than ten +years old he was sent to London to be a little apprentice. From step to +step he rose, until he became a great merchant, and finally Lord Mayor +of London. Very likely he did send his cat away on one of his employer's +ships to clear the vessel of rats and mice, and it would not be at all +strange if he sometimes fancied he heard the sweet tones of the +Bow-Bells calling to him + + "Turn again, Whittington, + Lord Mayor of London." + +Few boys become successful men without ambition. It is a good thing to +mean to be somebody one of these days. But doing well is better than +dreaming. The lad who works with all his might at whatever he begins, +never slighting any duty until it is done, will be sure to make a useful +and honored man. Now, as I have preached my little sermon, let me tell +you some of the noble things Dick Whittington did. He caused a conduit, +or pipe, of water to be put on tap in the wall of St. Giles's church, +thus making a drinking fountain five hundred years ago very much like +those we have now. He built the Guildhall Library in 1419. He repaired +hospitals, and did a great deal of good among the poor and the sick, and +was very kind to children. He died in 1423. + + * * * * * + +We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week to the +article entitled "Handel and 'The Messiah,'" by Mrs. John Lillie, to +"Oiling the Waves," and to "Photography and Work." In the latter Mr. +Allan Forman endeavors to point out to young amateur photographers the +way to overcome some of the difficulties that are likely to attend their +earlier efforts. We hope that no one who has procured an outfit will +become discouraged or induced by a few failures in the beginning to +abandon this delightful and improving pastime, which has recently become +so popular. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +TWO ENIGMAS. + +1. + + My first is in rope, but not in string. + My second is in throw, but not in fling. + My third is in rill, but not in brook. + My fourth is in glance, but not in look. + My fifth is in lance, but not in dart. + My sixth is in tremble, but not in start. + My seventh is in servant, but not in slave. + My eighth is in grotto, but not in cave. + My ninth is in manage, but not in wield. + My whole's an American battle-field. + + EMPIRE CITY. + +2. + + First in fun, not in play. + Second in green, not in gray. + Third in idle, not in work. + Fourth in tired, not in shirk. + Fifth in eel, not in fish. + Sixth in dream, not in wish. + Seventh in sad, not in gay. + Eighth in study, not in play. + Ninth in tame, not in wild. + Tenth in gentle, not in mild. + Eleventh in learn, not in school. + Twelfth in smart, not in fool. + My whole a country great and wide, + Whose flag is honored on every side. + + EDNA M. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +TWO CHARADES. + +1. + + I am composed of 8 letters. + My first and second is a verb. + My third and fourth is a preposition. + My fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth is a kind of vegetable. + My whole is the name of a maiden. + +2. + + I am composed of 8 letters. + My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the name of an inventor. + My 6 and 7 is a preposition. + My 8 is an article. + My whole is a name noted in Arabian story. + + MILTON W. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +ZIGZAGS--(_To Will A. Mette_). + +1. A volcanic rock. 2. A musical term. 3. More. 4. A kind of beetle. 5. +A tuft. 6. A Swiss coin. 7. Stead. 8. A pit. 9. An ancient Norse +character. 10. A kind of tea. Zigzags--A mineral. + + LODESTAR. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +ST. ANDREW'S CROSS OF DIAMONDS. + +Central Diamond--1. A letter. 2. A genus of serpents. 3. Small vessels. +4. The Goddess of Revenge. 5. A letter. + +Upper Right-hand Diamond--1. A letter. 2. An Anglo-Saxon money. 3. Small +nails. 4. Coalesce. 5. A letter. + +Upper Left-hand Diamond--1. A letter. 2. A Roman deity. 3. A native of +the West Indies. 4. Part of the body. 5. A letter. + +Lower Right-hand Diamond--1. A letter. 2. An animal. 3. A past +participle. 4. A Chinese musical instrument. 5. A letter. + +Lower Left-hand Diamond--1. A letter. 2. A boy's name. 3. An alloy. 4. A +tree. 5. A letter. + + LODESTAR. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 132. + +No. 1. + +Dub-lin. + +No. 2. + +D-ur-a. P-aisle-y. V-eva-y. M-agent-a. S-ever-n. M-iser-y. L-adog-a. + +No. 3. + +Diary. + +No. 4. + +Helena. Charles. Red. Snake. Erie. Clinch. Charles Dickens. + +No. 5. + + T T + T A B T U B + T A B E S T U B E S + T A B A R E T T U B U L A R + B E R M E B E L A M + S E E S A M + T R + +No. 6. + +Lair--air. Clock--lock. Gas--as. Mill--ill. Man--an. Skate--Kate. +Shot--hot. Sam--am. Sever--ever. + + * * * * * + +The answer to the Rebus on page 432 (No. 131) is "A bird in the hand is +worth two in the bush." + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Maud Mary Chambers, +George P. Taggart, John J. Widrig, Mabel Shelton, Eda L. Baldwin, Clara +Blank, Sammie Bronson, Lulu Kirtland, Alice and Richard Tindall, "I. +Scycle," A. Gertie Childs, F. F. Tonn, Leo Marks, Clinton Roe, Elsie +O. R., Edgar Seeman, A. E. Cressingham, William A. Lewis, Mabel and +Annie Knight, Lizzie Maxwell, J. R. Blake, Jessie S. Godine, Albert +Feibel, "Red Riding Hood," Florence Raymond, John Walter Bangs, Smith +Tangiers, Arthur Comstock, and Lulu Brown. + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._] + + + + +[Illustration: SOME ANSWERS TO WIGGLE No. 26, OUR ARTIST'S IDEA, AND NEW +WIGGLE, No. 27.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, May 30, 1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57968 *** |