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diff --git a/58023-0.txt b/58023-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d660cbc --- /dev/null +++ b/58023-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2073 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58023 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 136. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, June 6, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 per +Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +"SCRAP." + +BY MRS. JOHN LILLIE. + + +"Come here, boys," said Mary Grey, closing the dining-room door very +softly, and calling Ben and Lewis to her. Mary was their elder sister. +She seemed a great deal older than the boys, for Ben was only nine, and +Lewis six, while Mary was seventeen. + +"A dear little brother is upstairs waiting to see you," said Mary. "And +if you are good boys, nurse says you may hold him for a few moments in +your arms." + +Ben and Lewis began capering about with delight; but they followed Mary +upstairs, very much impressed by the idea that they had a new member of +the family to meet--a tiny wee boy, all their own little brother. + +In Dr. Grey's house there is a big, sunny, peaceful room fronting an +old-fashioned garden, and there it was that the little brother lay +waiting in a pink and white cradle. Ben and Lewis went in very softly. +They were very much afraid of old Mrs. Newman, the nurse; they were +afraid the baby would cry; and yet there was in their minds a general +impression that the new boy in the family would put them out of power. +But at sight of the baby all such fears vanished. Such a mite of a +thing! A dear little black head, a pair of bright, blinking eyes, +doubled-up pink fists, and a dimple in one cheek. It was while the two +boys stood looking at him for the first time that he was given the name +which always clung to him in spite of his being christened Philip. + +"Oh, Mary," Lewis exclaimed, in a soft tone, "I sha'n't mind _him_--he +is only a little Scrap!" + +I don't know just why it was, but from that hour no one seemed to think +of calling him anything but "Scrap." Perhaps it was because he had such +a dear little face that every one wanted to give him a pet name. Perhaps +it was because he was so slimly built, and was always such a wee thing +in spite of rosy cheeks and merry ways. But in any case the name clung +to him. + +When his mother died he was only a baby, but she already had called him +by his nickname, and it was Mary, I think, who passionately declared he +should know no other. + +Ben and Lewis took Scrap in charge immediately. They thought it great +fun to hold the little big-eyed baby, and feel that he was younger and +weaker than they. But yet Scrap was a real boy. As soon as he could +understand any sort of fun, which was very early, they taught him all +their games, and they made him what they called their "Regiment." Ben +and Lewis were Colonel and Captain of Scrap; and Scrap himself was well +enough pleased with his subordinate position. Sometimes they played at +what they called "Marching against the North Pole," and it was a curious +thing that they always chose such very hot weather for this particular +game. They wore blankets, and counterpanes, and old seal-skin caps, and +they sat on the nursery stairs, covered with rugs, pretending they were +in sleighs, on their way to the North Pole, while the perspiration +streamed from their faces. It was usually Ben who, at a given moment, +impersonated a singular character known as the "Iceberg Man," and who +upset the whole company. Scrap, weighed down by bedding, generally fell +asleep during this performance, and I must say that Ben and Lewis rather +languished toward the end of it; but they never tired of playing at that +game over and over again, until cold weather came. + +Scrap had the measles about this time, and while he lay in bed Ben and +Lewis occupied themselves writing bulletins of his progress, which were +pinned to the dining-room door every morning, and were intended to be +very helpful in their character. Scrap was by no means dangerously ill, +but his seclusion filled the boys with a sense of horror. One of these +bulletins ran as follows: + +"No chainge for the better. Pulse is lite and he cries a good deal. Mary +says he's got to be made to keep still." + +Another: + +"He kicked Mrs. Brown, and called her a cross old thing. Tong is bad and +he wont kepe the kovers on him. Mary says he is orful to take kare of." + +As the disease progressed, the bulletins became still more unpleasantly +personal. One, written in very black ink, ran as follows: + +"He put his Tong out at the doctor, and mary says we are afrade he is +going to have the mumps and if he does wont there just be a time with +him." + +This "time" came to pass, for mumps set in, and poor little Scrap's +seclusion left him a very white-faced, tired little person indeed. But +after a time no more horrible bulletins had to be written about him, for +all his sweetness of temper returned, and he played at being the +"Regiment" again with great gayety. + +[Illustration: SCRAP AND HIS KITTEN.] + +It was about this time that I one day heard a knock at my front door, +and opening it myself, found Scrap standing very still, his eyes +twinkling, and his little mouth trying not to smile. He had a wee kitten +in a basket. + +"Well, Scrap!" I exclaimed, "I'm glad to see you, dear. Where did pussy +come from?" + +"I find I don't need her," he said, soberly, coming in and sitting down, +grave as a little judge. "She's a present for you. Do you think you like +cats?" + +"Not always," I had to answer in truth. "But that looks such a dear +little thing! Where did you get her, Scrap dear?" + +"The ashman gave her to me," said Scrap, with a little anxious frown. +"As a general fact ashmen don't own kittens, at least so this one said +they didn't; but he said if we didn't buy her he'd drown her in a bag, +and I bought her with my penny; but I find I don't need her, and I +thought you'd like her for a real truly present." + +Who could refuse Scrap's offering, even though it entailed watching a +little kitten that could not crawl? + +"She doesn't know how to be sorry for me," he said, as he was leaving, +having kissed pussy tenderly good-by--"but she is only a baby. I think," +he added, looking at me with his earnest little way--"I think the ashman +is her uncle." + +Scrap early developed two talents; one was for running away, the other +was for composing stories. The stories were most interesting, but the +running away used to frighten the whole household. Scrap would be +brought back from these expeditions a most dejected, tired little +person. One day he wandered all over New York with a German band; +another time he was found in an old woman's shanty, learning how to feed +pigs. When he was remonstrated with he would listen very soberly, fixing +his eyes on Mary's face, and watching her mouth with comical intentness; +but unfortunately it was impossible to make him appreciate the dangerous +character of his offenses. One day, after Mary had exhausted all her +eloquence, and told him of every possible danger, he remarked, calmly: + +"That wasn't half as interesting as the last time, Mary. You never told +me a word about Charlie Ross. Begin with how he was let go out to play." +Then his little eyes danced, and he added, with his quaint air: "Make it +just as frightening as you can, and couldn't you put in something about +bears? Just scare me awfully, and see if it won't do me good." + +Soon after this a means of preventing Scrap's vagabondizing occurred. +Dr. Grey decided to take all the children to Germany, and Mary told +Scrap he would see far more there than he ever could by running away. So +the family sailed one summer for Austria. It was when they were on the +steamer that they discovered Scrap had hidden away in his pocket a tiny +American flag. Ben and Lewis laughed at him dreadfully, but Scrap was +not to be put down. + +"Now, you boys," he said, with his most dignified air, "suppose they +should take me for a German, don't you see? I'll just show them my +'Merikan flag." + +This spirit moved little Scrap all the time he was abroad. He resolutely +refused to mingle with German boys in any purely German sport, lest he +should lose his position as a "'Merikan" among them. He would say, "I'll +show you some of our 'Merikan games, if you can learn them." + +In the little German town where the boys lived he became a sort of small +leader, older boys quite giving way before his manly assertion of +authority. Among others, Scrap played with some young German Princes, +whose rank in their own country entitled them to rule in all the games. +This puzzled and bothered Scrap. One day he withdrew from a game, calmly +remarking: "Perhaps you didn't know--I am a 'Merikan Prince." + +After that Scrap's power never was contested. All that winter he went on +writing his funny little stories, or telling them to the other boys. I +do not know just whence Scrap's stories came, nor how they were made up, +but I will quote from one which lies before me. + + "William and Billy were two brothers, and they lived with their + father and mother. Their father was named Mr. Holloway. He had been + a very rich man, but now he had lost most of his money. He lost it + through a chink in the wall. After that he kept his money on ice. + + "'Come,' said William to Billy. 'Let us go down to the brook and + fish.' + + "So they went. + + "'Hi-i!' said Billy, 'I've found a penny.' + + "He then found a very large smooth rock to lay it on before they + began to fish. + + "They meant to catch a whale, but they tried for little fishes + first. William caught one little one, and laid it on the rock. + Presently they heard the fish screaming and yelling, and they went + to the rock, and saw the penny was gone. They knew the fish had + swallowed it, for he kept on screeching so. They took him up and + jiggled him by the tail, and the penny dropped out. At last they + caught a whale, and carried him home with the little fish. Mr. and + Mrs. Holloway thought they would like to go to that same brook and + fish. So, early the next morning, they went. They worked all day, + and William and Billy had two pieces of pie for dinner all alone. + And what do you think? When Mr. and Mrs. Holloway came home they + had only caught one skinny, miserable little thing, and William and + Billy sat down and roared laughing." + +Scrap asked Mary if she thought any one would like to publish this +story. He said it wasn't truly true, but he had it in his head just as +if it was true. He said the German boys liked it; but he knew they were +sorry William and Billy were Americans. + +Scrap began a museum about this time, and when you paid a penny and went +in to see it, you were treated to a tepid drink which he called +"lemarade," and which made you feel very uncomfortable almost at once. +Scrap mixed it in a bottle, and kept it under his little pillow, except +on "museum days." This museum was a source of great joy to the +round-faced German boys. It contained a variety of articles brought +from America. One was a piece of horseshoe, which Scrap labelled "An +American's bone." + +He had some old teeth; a broken pistol; an ancient army hat of his +father's; varieties of buttons; a few dried flowers, labelled, "From +Central Park, United States of 'Merica"; a piece of marble with which, +Scrap said, "any one could plant a whole tombstone" (he believed they +grew); and finally a number of old postage stamps. Quantity seemed to be +mainly Scrap's object. When, you got tired of looking, the "lemarade" +'was again handed around. + +After a few exhibitions of this valuable collection, it seemed to occur +to Scrap that the affair needed life and animation. So he instituted a +dance 'midway in the performance. It was done with great gravity, and +dear little Scrap's feet were so large that they made every movement +funny. Somehow, although it was meant as a diversion, that dance was so +pathetic no one could smile naturally, and Scrap himself seemed to +consider it a dignified affair. + +I am sorry that I can not tell you more about dear little Scrap's +doings. His active, merry, earnest ways seem to have filled all that +German winter. He organized all the games of the neighborhood, and was +the leader in everything. All the time he had certain quiet hours in +which, dear baby that he was in years, his education went on--his funny +little education! He wrote and read and spelled, and he did the most +astonishing little sums. + +One snowy March day Scrap fell ill. His longing to see America once more +grew positively painful. He kept his desk near him, and continued his +"museum days," always handing around "lemarade" at the usual intervals, +and promising us new dances when he got well. + +The boys used to make a circle around his bed, and it seemed to worry +them that at times they had been cross or rough with Scrap. Unless he +was very weak, he would always tell them stories. His little face grew +very white and wistful-looking, and his voice very tired, and I think if +any one had had the heart, those museum days would have been interfered +with, for he entered into the spirit of them so keenly that they left +him very weary. + +At last he gave them up of his own will. He found he could not enjoy +them; but he kept his little flag close at hand. One afternoon, when it +was snowing outside, and everything in-doors was very still, and Ben was +asleep in a chair by the fire, Scrap touched his sister Mary with one +little feverish hand, and said: + +"Molly, isn't it 'Merika yet?" + +Mary had tears so thickly in her eyes, she bent her face that Scrap +might not see them. The dear little face on the pillow was watching hers +anxiously. + +"It will be very soon, my darling." + +Scrap moved about restlessly for a moment, tracing a pattern on the wall +with one little finger. It grew tired so soon. When he turned his face +again to Mary, he said, with his old quaint air, and jealously holding +his little flag, "Won't I _always_ be a truly 'Merikan, Molly?" + +They re-assured him on this point, and he fell asleep quite comforted. +The dear little Scrap! He scarcely spoke again. The next day's wintry +dawn saw him in his last slumber. The little flag he had so treasured as +the symbol of his native land was held so closely in his fingers that +they would not move it. His little friends came in to see him for +good-by, and Mary and Ben and Lewis talked of the day when he had first +come to them, lying in that pink and white cradle over the sea. Would +the room look the same ever again? Ben wondered. Lewis talked of how +Scrap had loved the garden. + +When they kissed him for the last time, and laid him to rest, the bit of +color and the faded stars went with him. His dear little face wore its +sweetest look. The flag was clasped on his bosom, and winter flowers +were lying all about him. + + + + +WAVE AND SAND. + +BY CHARLES BARNARD. + + +I have now told you something, at three different times, about the sea, +the rocks, and the waves. You remember we looked at these things, and +tried to learn something of the way in which the winds and waves have +worked together to carve out the rocks and the dry land. There is +nothing like seeing a thing for yourself, and those boys and girls who +live near the eastern shore of the United States, between New York and +Florida, can easily visit one of the strangest of the strange works done +by the sea. + +Along the whole south side of Long Island, beginning at Montauk, all +along the Jersey shore, away down past Little Delaware, Maryland, and +Virginia, Cape Hatteras, and the low sandy shores of the Carolinas and +Georgia, to the Florida Keys, is a most singular beach, built up by the +sea. The odd thing about this thousand-mile beach is that it appears +about to move away. It is continually walking along the coast, up or +down, or forward and backward, as if restless and tired of staying in +one place. + +At one time it may have great holes cut through it, and at another time +it creeps along and closes up the gaps, and alters the whole character +of the country behind it. Its queer habit of creeping along the shore in +certain places has given such parts the name of travelling beaches. +Really, I suppose, there are no beaches in the world that do not travel +about at some time. They are all restless things, and while we may not +see them move, we feel very sure they can and do travel for miles +wherever the winds and waves compel them. People who live on these +travelling beaches try to stop them by building heavy stone walls, or by +driving rows of piles across them. They do not seem to care much, and in +some places the sand and rolling pebbles climb over the walls, and +travel on very much as they please. Coney Island is one of these +travelling beaches, Rockaway is another, Sandy Hook is part of another. + +The only thing that can stop one of these creeping beaches is a river. +The Hudson River, flowing out of New York Bay, breaks the beach in two +between the Highlands of Navesink and Long Island. There has been a big +fight here between the beach and the river. Coney Island has crept out +like a crooked finger from the east, and Sandy Hook has travelled up for +several miles from the south. If the river were not the strongest, the +beaches would creep out from each side and grow right across the great +bay, and Sandy Hook would touch Coney Island. Then, in place of the wide +bay open to the sea, there would be a long beach, with the ocean on the +outside and a fresh-water lake on the inside. + +All the rivers that flow east from the mountains in the Eastern States +below New York Bay have had to fight with this creeping beach before +they could escape into the sea. In some places the beaches have crept +right across the streams, and compelled them to turn aside and go +another way. + +[Illustration: NEW JERSEY COAST SOUTH OF SANDY HOOK.] + +Here is a map showing one place where long years ago there was a strange +fight between the creeping beach and two poor little rivers. The place +is on the New Jersey shore not far from New York. At the bottom of the +map is a part of the Shrewsbury River. Just north of it is another and +larger stream called the Navesink. Still farther north are the high +hills called the Highlands of Navesink. In front of these two streams +and the hills is a narrow strip of beach, and outside of this is the +Atlantic Ocean. There is a carriage-road and a railroad on top of the +beach, and from the car windows you can see the surf breaking on one +side, and the still waters of the two rivers on the other side. It is so +narrow that often the sea breaks entirely over it, and in the +summer-time you can walk from one side to the other in less than two +minutes. To the north this beach extends to Sandy Hook, and to the south +it stretches for hundreds of miles, with here and there a break, as at +the Chesapeake or at the Delaware Capes, far down to Florida. +Pine-trees grow on it here. Far away to the south the wild palmetto, the +orange-trees, and the bananas grow along the shore. + +The strange thing about the place shown on this map is found just where +the two rivers meet. A long time ago--so long that no one can tell when +it may have happened--the rivers ran into the sea just where the beach +is now. Where the hotels and cottages stand was once deep water. There +are two ways in which this may have happened: it may have been a storm +that threw up a bar across the river's mouth, or the creeping beach may +have slowly pushed its way along and closed it up. It may have been both +the storm and the creeping sand. At any rate, we may feel pretty sure +the river was dammed up, and the water, finding no other outlet, turned +to the north, and burst through into Sandy Hook Bay. It cut a path along +the front of the hills, and there we find it to-day, a narrow river +running to the north between the beach and the high-lands. Steam-boats +pass up the Navesink River this way, and a bridge has been built over +the stream to the beach. All this, as it is to-day, is shown on the map. + +This creeping motion of the beach is very curious. The waves when the +wind blows from the south or southeast strike the shore obliquely; that +is, instead of rolling in "broad-side," as the sailors would say, or +squarely in front, they strike at an angle. One end of the wave strikes +the bottom first, and the breaking surf seems to run along the beach, +instead of falling all at once, for some distance. The waves, as you +have seen, push the sand along before them, and so it happens that these +southeast waves drive the sand along as well as up the beach. The sand +slides and rolls toward the right, or north, and the beach is said to +creep or travel. If there is an opening in the beach, the waves push the +sand from the south into the opening, and it grows out into the deep +water just as you saw in the picture of the sand-bar. This beach has +already crept three miles out into the water, and made Sandy Hook. + +One thing is quite certain. There was at one time a deep channel through +the beach just here. At one time not many years ago a storm broke +through the beach, and a ship, losing its way, ran in there, and was +wrecked. Not a trace of the old hull can be found now. The beach long +ago crept over the place, and to-day the sand makes a solid strip of +land there, just as we see it. + +Look at the map again. Opposite the two rivers, outside the beach, you +see a curious tongue or spit running out from the shore. This is under +water, out of sight. The United States Coast Survey sent their boats all +over this place, and measured the depth. The numbers on the map show the +depth of the water in feet. Just here it is shallow. A little farther +north, directly opposite the two rivers, it is much deeper. Again, +farther along, there are more sandy spits and bars running out under +water. This shows that at one time there was a deep channel here between +the two shoals. It is fair to suppose this deep place was the old mouth +of a river. It is said there are even some old teeth left in it yet, for +on the southern spit is a buoy that marks a dangerous place called the +Shrewsbury Rocks. All these things tell us that at one time these two +rivers ran into the sea where now the beach stands, and that the waves +and the creeping sand got the best of the rivers, and altered the whole +face of the country hereabouts. Where once was an inlet and a swift +river is now a beach and a broad shallow-stream, lined with marshes, and +slowly filling up with salt grasses and soft mud washed down from the +red soil of the hills. What will happen next may be quite as strange as +that which has gone before. + +Not long ago I sailed for three days and nights along the coast from New +York to Savannah. By day we could see from the steamer's deck trees and +buildings, bath-houses, fishing-houses, and tall light-houses standing +on the western horizon, as if planted in the water. They were on this +same low beach that extends for a thousand miles along our coast. Behind +the beach for nearly all the way there is still water, in lagoons or +great swamps, in narrow streams ashore, or in great inland seas like +Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. At one place in Florida there is a strange +stream called the Indian River that flows for a hundred miles just +behind the beach, close to the sea, before it finds a way out into the +ocean. In many places steamboats pass along the coast for long distances +behind this sandy fringe that lines the shore. Still more curious is the +low land behind the beach and the still water. It stretches like a vast +plain, growing wider and wider toward the south, far down to Florida. It +is covered with pine-trees, and in some places it is called the +Pine-Barrens, and at other places the Piny Woods Country. + +The waves and the creeping beaches have been at work a long time, just +as they are at work to-day. There will always be a struggle between the +rivers at these queer travelling beaches, but which will be the victor +and what will grow out of it all nobody can tell. It makes no difference +after all. Some one may have his pretty house torn down by the waves, +and steamboats may have to change their routes; but the Fatherly +Goodness that controls these things will do what is best for the sea and +the land and all His children. + + + + +MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER.[1] + +[1] Begun in No. 127, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +BY JAMES OTIS, + +AUTHOR OF "TOBY TYLER," "TIM AND TIP," ETC. + +CHAPTER X. + +THE ACCIDENT. + + +That night Toby and Abner went to the circus grounds with Uncle Daniel +and Aunt Olive; and when old Ben approached the party, as they were +nearing the tent, Toby motioned the cripple to come with him, for he +thought it might be better that the boy should not hear the conversation +concerning him. + +It had been decided by Uncle Daniel that the boys should go to the +circus grounds that evening, and stay there until it was nearly dark, +when they were to go home to bed; for he did not believe in having boys +out after dark, being certain it was better for their health to go to +bed early. + +Toby therefore intended to make this visit simply one of farewell. But +first he wanted Abner to see a little more of the bustle and confusion +that had so fascinated him in the afternoon. + +To that end the boys walked around the inclosure, listened to the men +who were loudly crying the wonderful things they had for sale, and all +the while kept a bright look-out in the hope of seeing some of their +circus friends. + +It was nearly time for the performance to begin when the boys went into +the skeleton's tent, and said good-by to the thin man and his fat wife. + +Then Toby, anxious to run around to the dressing-rooms to speak with +Ella, and not daring to take Abner with him, said to the boy: + +"Now you wait here for a minute, and I'll be right back." + +Abner was perfectly contented to wait; it seemed to him that he would +have been willing to stay there all night, provided the excitement +should continue, and as he leaned against one of the tent ropes, he +gazed around him in perfect delight. + +Toby found Ella without much difficulty; but both she and her mother had +so much to say that it was some time before he could leave them to go in +search of Ben. + +The old driver was curled up on his wagon, taking "forty winks," as he +called a nap, before starting on the road again. + +When Toby awakened him he explained that he would not have taken the +liberty if it had not been for the purpose of saying good-by, and Ben +replied, good-naturedly: + +"That's all right, Toby; I should only have been angry with you if you +had let me sleep. I've fixed it with your uncle about that little +cripple; and now, when I get pitched off and killed some of these dark +nights, there'll be one what'll be sorry I'm gone. Be a good boy, Toby; +don't ever do anything you'd be afraid to tell your uncle Dan'l of, and +next year I'll see you again." + +Toby wanted to say something; but the old driver had spoken his +farewell, and was evidently determined neither to say nor to hear +anything more, for he crawled up on the box of the wagon again, and +appeared to fall asleep instantly. + +Toby stood looking at him a moment, as if trying to make out whether +this sudden sleep was real, or only feigned in order to prevent the +parting from being a sad one; and then he said, as he started toward the +door: + +"Well, I thank you over and over again for Mr. Stubbs's brother, even if +you have gone to sleep." Then he went to meet Abner. + +When he reached the place where he had left his friend, to his great +surprise he could see nothing of him. There was no possibility that he +could have made any mistake as to the place, for he had left him +standing just behind the skeleton's tent. + +Toby ran quickly around the inclosure, asked some of the attendants in +the dressing-room if they had seen a boy on crutches, and then he went +into Mr. Treat's tent. But he could neither hear nor see anything of +Abner, whose complete disappearance was, to say the least, very strange. + +Toby was completely bewildered by this event, and for some minutes he +stood looking at the place where he had left his friend, as if he +thought that his eyes must have deceived him, and that the boy was still +there. + +There were but few persons around the outside of the tent, those who had +money enough to pay for their admission having gone in, and those who +were penniless having gone home, so that Toby did not find many of whom +to make inquiries. The people belonging to the circus were busily +engaged in making ready for the night's journey, and a number had +gathered around one of the wagons a short distance away. But Toby +thought it useless to ask them for tidings of his missing friend, for +he knew by experience how busy every one connected with the circus was +at that hour. + +After he had stood for some time looking helplessly at the tent rope +against which he had seen Abner leaning, he went into the tent again for +the purpose of getting Uncle Daniel to help him in the search. As he was +passing the monkey wagon, however, he saw old Ben--whom he had left +apparently in a heavy sleep--examining his wagon to make sure that +everything was right, and to him he told the story of Abner's strange +disappearance. + +"I guess he's gone off with some of the other fellows," said Ben, +thinking the matter of but little importance, but yet going out of the +tent with Toby as he spoke. "Boys are just like eels, an' you never know +where to find 'em after you once let 'em slip through your fingers." + +"But Abner promised me he'd stay right here," said Toby. + +"Well, some other fellows came along, an' he promised to go with them, I +s'pose." + +"But I don't believe Abner would; he'd keep his promise after he made +it." + +While they were talking they had gone out of the tent, and Ben started +at once toward the crowd around the wagon, for he knew there was no +reason why so many men should be there when they had work to do +elsewhere. + +"Did you go over there to see what was up?" asked the old driver. + +"No; I thought they were getting ready to start, an' I could see Abner +wasn't there." + +"Something's the matter," muttered the old man, as he quickened his +pace, and Toby, alarmed by the look on his friend's face, hurried on, +hardly daring to breathe. + +One look into the wagon around which the men were gathered was +sufficient to show why it was that Abner had not remained by the tent as +he had promised, for he lay in the bottom of the cart, to all +appearances dead, while two of the party were examining him to learn the +extent of his injuries. + +[Illustration: "'WHAT IS THE MATTER? HOW DID THIS BOY GET HURT?' ASKED +BEN."] + +"What is the matter? How did this boy get hurt?" asked Ben, sternly, as +he leaped upon the wagon, and laid his hand over the injured boy's +heart. + +"He was standing there close by the guy ropes when we were getting ready +to let the canvas down. One of the side poles fell and struck him on the +head, or shoulder, I don't know which," replied a man. + +"It struck him here on the back of the neck," said one of those who were +examining the boy, as he turned him half over to expose an ugly-looking +wound around which the blood was rapidly settling. "It's a wonder it +didn't kill him." + +"He ain't dead, is he?" asked Toby, piteously, as he climbed up on one +of the wheels, and looked over in a frightened way at the little +deformed body that lay so still and lifeless. + +"No, he ain't dead," said Ben, who had detected a faint pulsation of the +heart; "but why didn't some of you send for a doctor when it first +happened?" + +"We did," replied one of the men. "Some of the village boys were here, +and we started them right off." + +Almost as the man spoke, Dr. Abbott, one of the physicians of the town, +drove up, and made his way through the crowd. + +Toby, too much alarmed to speak, watched the doctor's every movement as +he made an examination of the wounded boy, and listened to the accounts +the men gave of the way in which the accident had happened. + +"His injuries are not necessarily fatal, but they are very dangerous. He +lives at the poor-farm, and should be taken there at once," said the +doctor, after he had made a slight and almost careless examination. + +Toby was anxious that the poor boy should be taken to his home rather +than to the comfortless place the doctor had proposed; but he did not +dare make the suggestion before asking Uncle Daniel's consent to it. He +was about to ask them not to move Abner until he could find his uncle, +when Ben whispered something to the doctor that caused him to look at +the old stage-driver in surprise. + +"I'll ask Uncle Dan'l to take him home with us," said Toby, as he +slipped down from his high perch, and started toward the tent. + +"I'll take care of that," said Ben, as he went toward the tent with him. +"I had just fixed it with your uncle so's he'd take Abner from the +poor-farm an' board him, an' now there's all the more reason why he +should do it. You go back an' stay with Abner, an' I'll bring your uncle +Dan'l out." + +Then Toby went back to the wagon, where the poor little cripple still +lay as one dead, while the blood flowed in a tiny stream from one of his +arms, where the physician had opened a vein. + +Not understanding the reason for this blood-letting, and supposing that +the crimson now was due to the injuries Abner had received, Toby cried +out in fear; but one of the men explained the case to him, and then he +waited as patiently as possible for the driver's return. + +Both Uncle Daniel and Aunt Olive came out with Ben, and within a very +few moments Abner was being carried to the farm-house, in the same wagon +that had taken him there before in company with the skeleton and his +party for that famous dinner. + +It frightened Toby still more to see the unconscious boy carried into +the house by Ben and the doctor as though he were already dead; and when +Aunt Olive led them into the best room, where no one had slept since +Uncle Daniel's sister died, it seemed as if every one believed Abner +could not live, or they would not have carried him there. + +Toby hardly knew when Ben went away, or whether he said anything before +he left, or, in fact, anything else, so sad and confused was he. He did +not even think about Mr. Stubbs's brother, but remained in one corner of +the room, almost hidden by one of the flowing chintz curtains, until +Uncle Daniel heard him sobbing, and came and led him away. + +"There is good reason to hope Abner will recover," said the old man, as +he stroked Toby's hair; "but he is in the keeping of the One who never +errs, and whatsoever He does is good." + +Then Uncle Daniel actually kissed the boy, as he told him to go to bed +and go to sleep. Toby went to bed as he was commanded, though it seemed +impossible he should sleep while Abner might be dying. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +THE BOYHOOD OF WILLIAM CHAMBERS. + + +Boys and girls who can buy HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE every week for four +cents, and other periodicals and books almost as cheap, can have very +little notion of the difficulty that little folk had seventy or eighty +years ago in getting something to read. It was only fifty years ago, +indeed, that the first efforts were made to supply cheap, instructive, +and entertaining literature, and one of the men who made those efforts +is still living in Scotland. Mr. William Chambers, who is now eighty-two +years of age, has lately published a little account of his life, and +what he has to tell of his boyhood and youth is very interesting. + +His father was unfortunate in business, and became so poor that young +Chambers had to begin making his own way very early in life. He had +little schooling--only six pounds' (thirty dollars) worth in all, he +tells us--and as there were no juvenile books or periodicals in those +days, and no books of any other kind, except costly ones, it was hard +for him to do much in the way of educating himself. But William +Chambers meant to learn all that he could, and that determination +counted for a good deal. There was a small circulating library in his +native town, and he began by reading each volume straight through, +without skipping one. Then he got hold of a copy of the _Encyclopædia +Britannica_, which most boys would regard as very dry reading. He read +it carefully. When that was done, young Chambers was really pretty well +educated, although he did not know it. + +About this time the boy had to go to work for his living. He became an +apprentice to a bookseller in Edinburgh. His wages were only four +shillings (about a dollar) a week, and on that small sum he had to +support himself, paying for food, lodging, clothes, and everything else, +for five years. "It was a hard but somewhat droll scrimmage with +semi-starvation," he says; for after paying for his lodgings and +clothes, he had only about seven cents a day with which to buy his food. + +In the summer he jumped out of bed at five o'clock every morning, and +spent the time before the hour for beginning business in reading and +making electrical experiments. He studied French in that way too, and on +Sundays carried a French Testament to church, and read in French what +the minister read in English. + +Winter came on, and the poor lad was puzzled. It was not only cold, but +entirely dark at five o'clock in the morning during the winter months, +and William, who had only seven cents a day to buy food with, could not +afford either a fire or a candle to read by. There was no other time of +day, however, that he could call his own, and so it seemed that he must +give up his reading altogether, which was a great grief to the ambitious +lad. + +Just then a piece of good luck befell him. He happened to know what is +called a "sandwich man"--that is to say, a man who walks about with +signs hanging behind and before him. One day this man made him a +proposition. The sandwich man knew a baker who, with his two sons, +carried on a small business in a cellar. The baker was fond of reading, +but had no time for it, and as he and his sons had to bake their bread +early in the morning, he proposed, through the sandwich man, to employ +William Chambers as reader. His plan was that Chambers should go to the +cellar bakery every morning at five o'clock, and read to the bakers, and +for this service he promised to give the boy one hot roll each morning. +Here was double good fortune. It enabled Chambers to go on with his +reading by the baker's light and fire, and it secured for him a +sufficient breakfast without cost. + +He accepted the proposition at once, and for two and a half hours every +morning he sat on a flour sack in the cellar, and read to the bakers by +the light of a penny candle stuck in a bottle. + +Out of his small wages it was impossible for the boy to save anything, +and so when the five years of his apprenticeship ended, he had only five +shillings in the world. Yet he determined to begin business at once on +his own account. Getting credit for ten pounds' worth of books, he +opened a little stall, and thus began what has since grown to be a great +publishing business. + +He had a good deal of unoccupied time at his stall, and "in order to +pick up a few shillings," as he says, he began to write out neat copies +of poems for albums. Finding sale for these, he determined to enlarge +that part of his business by printing the poems. For that purpose he +bought a small and very "squeaky" press and a font of worn type which +had been used for twenty years. He had to teach himself how to set the +type, and as his press would print only half a sheet at a time, it was +very slow work; but he persevered, and gradually built up a little +printing business in connection with his bookselling. After a while he +published an edition of Burns's poems, setting the type, printing the +pages, and binding the books with his own hands, and clearing eight +pounds by the work. + +Chambers wrote a good deal at that time, and his brother Robert wrote +still more, so that they were at once authors, printers, publishers, and +booksellers, but all in a very small way. After ten years of this work, +William Chambers determined to publish a cheap weekly periodical, to be +filled with entertaining and instructive matters, designed especially +for the people who could not afford to buy expensive books and +periodicals. Robert refused to join in this scheme, and so for a time +the whole work and risk fell upon William. His friends all agreed in +thinking that ruin would be the result, but William Chambers thought he +knew what the people wanted, and hence he went on. + +The result soon justified his expectations. The first number was +published on the 4th of February, 1832. Thirty thousand copies were sold +in a few days, and three weeks later the sale rose to fifty thousand +copies a week. + + + + +THE CHILDREN'S DAY. + + +The children of the city of Brooklyn, Long Island, are fortunate in +having a day of their own when they have the right of way. The schools, +public and private, are closed, and some of the finest streets are given +up to the little folk on the day of the annual Sunday-school parade. + +For weeks before May 24 bright eyes were wide with pleasure whenever the +"Anniversary" was mentioned. In the various schools special songs were +practiced, and mothers, whether rich or poor, were very busy at home in +making the pretty dresses and suits which were to be worn on the +occasion. At last the time drew near. + +Then the little hearts had only one anxiety--the weather. Would it rain? +Would it be clear? Oh, how many little people spelled slowly through the +newspaper reports the day before, and lisped their opinions about the +probabilities! The joy was great when the sun rose on Wednesday, and the +sky was as blue and soft as if it had just been swept free of cloudy +cobwebs on purpose for the Brooklyn procession. + +At 11 A.M. the City Hall bell pealed out grandly, and its tones were +answered by church bells all over the city. There was a perfect chorus +of chimes. + +Noon had scarcely struck when the pavements were thronged with boys and +girls hastening to their several schools. There the exercises consisted +of addresses and music. As soon as these were ended, the parade began. +There were 60,000 children in movement at once through the beautiful +tree-shaded avenues: 112 Sunday-schools took part, arranged in seven +divisions. They marched, with banners flying, to the music of military +bands, which played their most triumphant strains. Mottoes, emblems, +flowers, white dresses, rainbow ribbons, floating curls, and cheerful +faces altogether made a pageant which it did tired people good to see. +Twenty-three schools formed the Prospect Park division. + +The Park itself had been dressed by nature in the brightest of green and +the loveliest of early-blooming shrubs. The long meadow with its velvet +sward was staked off for the children's evolutions, and protected from +the crowd by genial policemen. On the grand stand sat his Honor the +Mayor, and with him were a number of clergymen, and persons of official +dignity. + +Brooklyn has been called the City of Churches. She might be styled the +City of the Innocents, so many lovely little ones does she gather every +year at her wonderful May Anniversary. + +When the march was ended, the scholars returned to their places of +meeting, where they were feasted on cake and ice-cream before going to +their homes. + +No doubt some of them were a little weary, but not too much so to +prevent their sleeping sweetly after their happy day. + +[Illustration: THE CHILDREN'S DAY--FIFTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE +BROOKLYN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.] + + + + +HOW DOLLY BEAT THE HUNTERS. + +BY PROFESSOR FRED MYRON COLBY. + + +"Charley, it's time to go after the cows," said Farmer Goodwin to his +oldest boy, one summer day, near evening. + +"I'm off, father," replied Charley, a bright little fellow of eleven, +and whistling to Tiger, a large brindled mastiff, he was soon marching +toward the pasture with the dog at his heels. + +This was ninety years ago very nearly, and the place was near the +historic mountain of Kearsarge, in central New Hampshire. Moses Goodwin +was one of the early settlers of that region, and his cabin stood far up +the cleared slope of the mountain, on a fertile ridge of land, where the +fields of corn were ripening for the harvest. + +The sides of the mountain were covered with thick forests, even as they +are to-day, affording excellent haunts for the wild animals of the +latitude. The bark of the wolf, the screech of the cougar, and the growl +of the bear were well-known sounds to most of the early settlers. +Indeed, it was no uncommon thing for the families of the pioneers to be +awakened at night by the fierce chorus of wild beasts around their +cabins. + +There were large State bounties on all of these animals, and after a few +years their numbers began to diminish. At the time of our story it was +very seldom that a bear or a panther was seen about the settlement. If +now and then a farmer lost a fine sheep or a favorite calf, it was no +more than was expected. Farmer Goodwin had himself lost that very autumn +a valuable young heifer, which was supposed to have been carried off by +a bear. None of the other settlers had lost any of their stock, and it +was supposed that the animal had left the neighborhood. + +Charley was gone longer than usual after the cows on the evening in +question. His parents began to feel uneasy at his protracted absence. + +"It's time he should be here," said the farmer. "The stock must have +wandered farther than usual." + +"I am afraid something has happened to him," observed Mrs. Goodwin, her +fair face growing a shade paler at the thought of her boy's danger. +"Perhaps he's met a bear or a panther." + +"There he is now, all right, I guess," exclaimed the husband, as he +heard the cattle going into the barn. "I'll go out and help him turn +them in." + +As he opened the door, in rushed Tiger, uttering fearful moans, and +shaking like an aspen leaf. The mastiff was in a terrible condition. His +brindled hide was all covered with blood, and there were torn places and +gaping wounds on his neck and shoulders, showing conclusively that he +had been engaged in a fight with some powerful animal. Mrs. Goodwin sat +down, white and faint, in a chair. + +"Charley is dead. I know he is. The beast has killed my boy. Oh, what +shall I do?" she sobbed, half frantic in her grief. + +"Be calm, mother," said the settler. "I don't believe it's as bad as +that. The creature attacked the dog. Perhaps Charley is hiding +somewhere. I'll get Neighbor Savary to go with me, and we'll see if he +can't be found." + +He lit a candle and placed it in an old tin lantern, and went to the +house of his next-door neighbor. Together the two men followed the path +to the pasture, and searched that inclosure all over; but they were +unable to find any trace of the boy. + +Once or twice they stopped and called his name, but there was no answer. +As they were passing through the thick underbrush by the banks of the +brook, a fierce scream stayed their steps. There was the sound of a +large body tearing through the shrubbery, and by the light of their +lantern they saw the fierce beast spring up into a tree and begin +tearing the bark with its claws. + +"It's a painter, sure enough," said Goodwin's neighbor. "We'd better +start for the house, seeing as how we ain't armed." + +"And must I go home without my boy? How can I? It will kill my poor +wife." + +"It's the only thing left us. There, the painter's going away. It's +useless to stand here any longer." + +The beast was heard moving off; and they turned sadly toward home. + +On the following morning a large company of men and boys, neighboring +settlers, were gathered with their dogs and guns around Goodwin's cabin +door. The news of Charley's disappearance and of a panther in the +neighborhood had spread like wildfire through the settlement. It was +determined to hunt the monster to the death. + +The excited party started at once, dividing into two companies, each +under an experienced hunter. It was thought by this method that the +panther would have fewer chances of escaping, and be brought to bay with +more dispatch than if the hunters marched all in one body. + +Far up on the mountain the hounds took the scent and dashed away, +followed by the hunters. But away to the left, on another ridge of the +mountains, was heard the bay of the pack belonging to the other +division. Still the enthusiasm of the settlers was not cooled. At noon +the two parties met on the other side of the mountain. A light lunch was +eaten, and then they started on the homeward track. Nothing had been +seen of the panther. + +On the Warner side of the mountain, late in the afternoon, the hounds of +one of the parties made a great outcry. It was in a swamp, not far from +the Goodwin pasture. The men hurried to the spot, jumping stones and +bushes and the trunks of fallen trees in their haste. They met the dogs +coming back. Two of them had bloody muzzles, and bore hideous wounds on +their bodies. + +"The dogs have had hold of something, and something has had hold of +them," said one of the men, quaintly. "It's a painter's work; I know the +marks of their claws." + +The hunters went through the swamp cautiously. The dogs would not go +back again. No trace of the panther was found. Disappointed and weary, +they proceeded down the mountain toward the settlement. + +"What is that?" asked one of the men, suddenly. + +A sound like that of some one shouting was plainly heard. They all +stopped to listen. The shout was repeated, and was not far off. + +"It's my boy! It's Charley's voice!" cried Goodwin. "He must be alive," +and he rushed in the direction of the sound. + +At the foot of the hill before spoken of, in Goodwin's pasture, there +was a large ledge of rocks. Toward that the party hastened. + +"Charley! Charley! where are you?" shouted the pioneer. + +"Here I am," replied the little fellow--"down here in the rock. I can't +get up." + +Several of the party had already mounted the ledge, and they now saw +what was the matter. There was a crevice or crack running through the +rock from top to bottom, all the way from a foot to a foot and a half in +width. Into this fissure the boy had fallen, and as the sides were steep +and smooth, he could not possibly climb out. A hazel withe was cut, and +one end given him, and he was speedily drawn to the surface. + +"How came you in there, Charley?" asked his father. + +"I fell in," answered the boy. "I was out there under that maple when +the panther jumped on to Tige. I ran to the top of this rock, and +stumbling, fell down in there. The panther came several times and tried +to reach me, but he couldn't. Oh, I'm so tired and hungry!" + +"We'll be at home soon," said his father. "Your mother will be looking +for you." + +They hastened toward the cabin with eager footsteps, and soon met the +other party, who were returning from a fruitless search for boy or +panther. Just then the report of a gun was heard at the settlement. + +"What does that mean?" asked a brawny pioneer. + +"I don't know," answered Goodwin. "Something must be the matter." + +The party hastened their steps to a run. + + * * * * * + +At the close of the long afternoon, Dolly Goodwin, a girl of about +sixteen, had gone out to do the milking. The cows had not been turned to +pasture that day, but had been kept in an inclosure near the barn, shut +in by a stone wall eight feet high. + +Her mother had objected to Dolly's doing this. "Father will be at home +soon," she said, "and there will be time enough then." + +But Dolly, who was a busy little body, insisted. "If you are afraid for +me, I will take my gun. You won't have to worry then. The cows really +ought to be milked, for it's almost dark. Besides, Brindle and Loo like +me." + +The girl took down a small, pretty musket from its place over the deer +antlers; it was her own, purchased the year before from her own savings. + +The yard seemed a safe, cozy place, and Dolly felt like smiling at her +mother's fears as she sat down on a stool and began milking one of the +gentle, mild-eyed animals that were complacently chewing their cuds. She +had one of the pails about filled, when there was a sudden disturbance +among the horned inmates of the inclosure. + +Dolly rose to her feet and gazed around, grasping her musket in both +hands. We can see how she looked--a thin slip of a girl, with bare feet +and ankles, a gown of linsey-woolsey, her gingham bonnet thrown back +from her curls, and hanging to her neck by its fastened strings. The red +in her cheeks and the flash in her eye made her look very charming. + +Her quick eye soon caught a glance of a lithe, cat-like animal creeping +stealthily along the high stone wall. Its glaring eyes, the long +undulating tail, and the tawny-colored hide told well enough the +character of the intruder. She knew it was a panther. + +Dolly's heart rose into her throat, and for a moment, as she said +afterward, she thought she should run as poor Brindle had done. But she +was a pioneer girl, strong and healthy, and her nerves were soon under +control. She raised her weapon to her shoulder, and levelled it full at +the tawny breast of the crouching panther. + +Her aim was taken instantly. She saw the greenish eyes glitter, and the +long tail lash the wall excitedly. The next moment the savage beast +sprang toward her. At the same moment her finger pressed the trigger. + +She knew no more until she heard the baying of hounds and the loud cries +of the returning hunters. Her father opened the heavy wooden gate, and +came in where she was leaning half faint against the wall. + +"I am all right now, father," said Dolly, in reply to his anxious +interrogation, "but I was kind of sick like a while ago." + +She still looked very pale. + +"The girl has beat the hull of us!" cried a rough pioneer. "It's the +very beast we were arter. See, there's the marks of the hounds' teeth. +Well, it's saved us a journey to-morrow; that's a comfort. But you beat +the dickens, Dolly, you do." + +They all crowded around, offering congratulations, and for weeks +afterward her exploit was the talk of the neighborhood. + +The panther proved on measurement to be one of the largest of its kind; +lacking only an inch of being seven feet in length, including its tail. +The State bounty was forty dollars. This sum, with what she realized +from its skin, made Dolly quite a rich young lady for those times. + + + + +ROBIN GOODFELLOW. + +BY ELLA RODMAN CHURCH. + + +"Once upon a time, a great while agoe," begins a strange fairy tale that +was written in the days of bad spelling, "there was wont to walke many +harmlesse spirits called fayries, dancing in brave order in fayry rings +on greene hills with sweete musicke (sometimes invisible), in divers +shapes; and many mad prankes would they play." + +It was at this time that a mischievous imp, named Robin Goodfellow, who +was half fairy and half human being, was going about from place to +place, sometimes doing good-natured things, but often bent only on +mischief. + +All sorts of queer stories were told of him; and when anything happened +that people couldn't understand, they were sure to say, "It's some trick +of Robin Goodfellow's." When he was only six years old, the neighbors +complained of him to his mother for tormenting their very lives out +whenever her back was turned. Finally he was threatened with a whipping, +and to escape this punishment Robin ran away. + +After travelling a long distance from home he met a tailor, who engaged +him as an apprentice. For a time he behaved himself very well. But +finally his love of mischief got the better of him, and he was at his +old tricks again. + +One day his master had a gown to make for a woman, and it must be +finished that night; they both sat up late to work on it, and by twelve +o'clock it was finished all but putting in the sleeves. The tailor was +very sleepy, and said that he would go to bed. He told Robin to "whip on +the sleeves," and then follow him. Robin said that he would, and as soon +as his master had disappeared, he hung up the gown and whipped it most +severely with the sleeves. + +When the tailor came down in the morning, he found him still busy at +this work, and asked him what he was doing. + +"What you bade me," was the reply--"whipping on the sleeves." + +"You rogue!" exclaimed his master: "I meant that you should have set +them on quickly and slightly." + +"I wish you had said so," rejoined Robin, "for then I need not have lost +all this sleep." + +The tailor was obliged to finish the work himself; but before he could +get through, the woman came for her gown, and scolded because it was not +ready. Hoping to soften her wrath by offering her some refreshment, +Robin's master told him to bring the remnants they left yesterday. The +tailor had reference to some cold meat; but the mischievous apprentice +brought down the remnants of cloth left of the gown, which the tailor +had intended to keep. The man turned pale; but the woman declared that +she liked this breakfast better than the other, and sent Robin to get +some wine. He never came back. + +One day Robin had made a long journey, when he became so tired that he +sat down by the road and fell asleep. Here he had a wonderful dream, in +which troops of fairies danced about him to the sound of sweet music. +Among them was King Oberon, who laid a scroll beside him, which was +there when he awoke. On the scroll it was written that he was the Fairy +King's son, that every wish of his should be granted, that he should +have the power of turning himself into any shape he pleased, and that +one day he should be taken to Fairy-land--on condition that he played +tricks only on those who deserved them: + + "But love then those that honest be, + And help them in necessity. + Doe thus, and all the world shall know + The pranks of Robin Goodfellow." + +On reading this document, Robin was much delighted, and began at once to +try his power. As he was tired, he wished himself a horse, and found +himself leaping and curvetting as nimbly as though he had just come out +of the best of stables. Then he tried being a dog, then a tree, and at +last he was quite satisfied that he could do or be anything he pleased. + +After this his pranks were worse than ever, but he obeyed his father's +instructions, and harmed only vicious and idle and cross-grained people. + +One day in crossing a field he met a rude fellow, to whom he said: +"Friend, what is a clock?"--the style then of asking the time. + +But the other chose to reply, churlishly, "I owe thee not so much +service, but because thou shalt think thyself beholden to me, know that +it is the same time of the day as it was yesterday at this time." + +Then Robin resolved to amuse himself with this man, who was going +further on to catch a horse that was at grass; and he turned himself +into a bird to watch him. The horse was wild, and ran away over hedge +and ditch, and the man after him as well, as he could. Presently Robin +thought of taking the shape of the horse, and came near enough to let +the churl get on his back. Then he stumbled, and hurled his rider to the +ground. Robin allowed him to mount again, but only to throw him off in +the middle of a large pond. Then, in the shape of a fish, he swam +ashore, and laughed maliciously, "Ho, ho, hoh," leaving the poor man +half drowned. It is to be hoped that this lesson in manners did the +clown good. + +Robin had more amiable moments; and often at night he would visit +farmers' houses and help the maids to break hemp, to bolt, to dress +flax, to spin, and do other work, for he was "excellent in everything." + +Night was his favorite time for jokes, and he would sometimes walk +abroad with a broom on his shoulder, and cry, "Chimney-sweep!" But when +any one called him, he ran away laughing, "Ho, ho, hoh." Sometimes he +would pretend to be a beggar in distress, and beg most pitifully; but +when they came to give him alms, he would cheat them in the same way. +Then again he would sing at a door after the fashion of wandering +minstrels, and when people came to pay him, there was nothing left of +his song but "Ho, ho, hoh." + +King Oberon sometimes called his son to Fairy-land on nightly visits. He +was summoned, to dance in the fairies' ring, by a shrill, sweet pipe, +blown by little Tom Thumb, the order having been given, + + "Whene'er you heare my piper blow, + From thy bed see thou goe." + +At last he was taken to dwell there altogether, and the world was rid of +the pranks of Robin Goodfellow. + + + + +A KETTLE-HOLDER. + +BY MRS. T. W. DEWING. + + +Kettle-holders are things that must be in every household, and there is +nothing that ingenious little fingers can spend their time upon to a +better advantage in the days when they are too young to undertake more +elaborate and difficult fancy-work. Here is a design that can be easily +worked, and will be sure to please mamma if it is only carefully put +together, and all the stitches neatly taken. + +[Illustration] + +Cut the four leaves of the clover, from grayish-green cloth or flannel, +and baste them on a ground of pink cloth, as shown in the design. Sew +them fast with a fine button-hole stitch. Make the ribs of the leaves, +the stem, the little white triangular-shaped marking in the centre of +the upper edge of the leaf, and the white crescent on the lower part of +the leaf, also the four little white stems that join the four leaves +together, in chain stitch of white saddler's silk. + +Let the border be of pink silk several shades paler than the pink +ground. Sew it to the main part by over-handing it neatly on the wrong +side. Work the horseshoes in the corners in chain stitch with gray +saddler's silk. Represent the nails by gold beads, which must be tightly +sewed on. Line the back with green flannel, turning in the edges, and +hemming it very neatly. The lining at the back should always be a +little--a very little--smaller and tighter than the front, or, as the +holder is constantly bent, the lining becomes loose and baggy. + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE PRISONER AT THE BAR. + + + "Stand up at the bar," cried the Justice severe. + "And what you can say I will patiently hear; + But you have been brought here so often before + That I fear it will be the old story once more. + + "Stop! You needn't repeat that you couldn't find work. + For I know you quite well for a tramp and a shirk; + You sneak round the farm-houses begging for bread, + And will rob even those by whose hands you are fed. + + "For a stout hearty fellow like you it's a shame + To take the alms due to the sick or the lame; + But to steal from the kind ones who pity your case, + I must punish severely a meanness so base." + + "Well, your Honor, I've nothing to say, for I see + That nothing will change your opinion of me; + I suppose you will tell me, as often before, + That I must be sent to the tread-mill once more." + + "You take the words out of my mouth," said the Judge; + "You are sentenced a month on the tread-mill to trudge; + And when your tramp's over, perhaps you will feel + That it's better to work at the plough than the wheel. + + "For good honest labor will bring its reward, + While the way of the idle and vicious is hard; + And 'tis better in youth to this precept to hold + Than have to confess it when hardened and old." + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + +I wonder if all the young people are as glad as I am that June has come +again? You know the poet says: + + "What is so rare as a day in June? + Then, if ever, come perfect days. + When heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, + And softly above it her warm ear lays." + +Some of you are studying hard in these bright hours, so that you may be +ready for examination. I hope you have been so faithful all the term +that you will not need what some students call cramming to make you +successful now. Others of my boys and girls are busy with their roses +and honeysuckles. My thanks to the dear little hands that have gathered +wild flowers for me. + +You must tell us about your summer pleasures, children, and if anybody +meets with an adventure, remember that Our Post-office Box would like to +hear about it. + + * * * * * + + NEW YORK CITY. + + I am a little girl nearly seven years old. We have no live pets in + the city, but my little sister Anna and I have fourteen dolls. I am + thankful to say they are very healthy; none of them have had the + mumps or _cook_ing-cough, as my little sister calls it. In the + summer we all go to Long Island. There we have a pony, two cows, + one calf, two cats, a kitten, and some chickens. We have great fun + bathing. I am writing this myself, and if you think it is nice + enough to print, I shall be the proudest little girl in New York + city. + + HELEN B. + + * * * * * + + HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA. + + I've been a reader of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE quite two years, but + have seen no letter as yet from here, therefore I'll write at least + one from this mountainous part of the State. My country home is in + sight of the Blue Ridge, and one can get a distinct, grand view of + some of its peaks a mile from our home. No one of your little girl + subscribers enjoys the Post-office Box more than myself. In fact, + both big and little folks here appreciate and read most of Harper's + publications. I wish everybody who lives in low flat countries + could at least visit our mountains, and our State's + greatest, curiosity, the Natural Bridge, in Rockbridge County; it is + worth a trip to Virginia just to see that wonderful work of nature. + But I must not write too long a letter, for fear you'll not find + space to publish it; so I'll close by stating that I'm the youngest + of twelve children. With best wishes for our dear kind + Postmistress, + + MAGGIE S. + +The Postmistress returns heartily the love of all the dear girls and +boys who send her their pleasant messages. She has visited your lovely +mountain land, Maggie, and it is her opinion that you can not praise its +beauty too highly. + + * * * * * + + KING GEORGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA. + + I am ten years old. I have one brother and three sisters. I have a + cow and a calf. We have a play store; we make wooden dollies and + many other things to sell. We have a dog and a cat. The dog's name + is Trip, and the cat's Tiger. There is a little bird that comes + down by the door, and we give him crumbs; he is real tame. I used + to have a pet rooster, but papa sold him. He would fly up on my + shoulder, and when he saw any one with a pan he would fly in it. I + will tell you about a squirrel that lives in a very large hollow + hickory-tree back of our house. He is so cunning! He comes out on + the side of the tree and chatters at us, and the dog and cat try to + catch him, but he is too sharp for that. He comes and steals + walnuts from our store-house, and carries some to his tree. We have + two small mules; I love to ride on their backs. + + EMMA F. B. + + * * * * * + + DURBIN, DAKOTA TERRITORY. + + I am a little boy thirteen years old, and I live on my father's + farm, one-half mile from Durbin, in the celebrated Red River + Valley, about six miles from the world-renowned Dalrymple Farms. + Our house stands on the high beautiful banks of the Maple River. + + Two months ago my sister and two brothers and myself were taken + sick with diphtheria. I haven't been able to walk since. My little + brother Allie died. I want to tell you what the sweet little boy + said when he was sick--he did not like to take his medicine; and + mamma said to him, "Allie, take it to please mamma," and then he + took it; and a little while after mamma heard him say, in his + sleep, "I will take it to please mamma." The last time he took his + wine he said to papa, "Papa, I will never take it again." He was + five years old, and could read and spell, and count up to one + hundred without missing, and we never tried to teach him; he + learned it all himself from hearing us. I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE + from the first number. I could not live without it. + + Please print this, as I am unable to walk, and have little to amuse + me. + + LYNN C. M. + +What a sweet memory you have of the dear patient little brother, who was +so ready to please his mamma, even when in pain! + +I hope, as the summer days bring their pleasures, you will grow strong +again, and be able not only to walk, but to run and jump as boys like +to. + + * * * * * + +There will be a general clapping of hands when the Cot report is read +this month. Here is a letter, which everybody will enjoy, from a friend +who has the Cot on her mind all the time: + + I am certain a great many of our young readers, when they see the + Cot acknowledgments, will exclaim, "My! how did we get so much + money all at once?" I don't wonder at your surprise; I am sure I was + surprised when I heard the good news. Well, that $550 which you see + put down as the result of a fair is what did the work. Sometimes in + reading our fund column I have wondered why so few names from New + York city appeared among our contributors; the greater part of the + work before has been done in the East, West, or South. But now New + York city has stepped up bravely to the front, and is worthy of + great praise. Four little girls living here, namely, Madeline + Satterlee, Helen Manice, Gertrude Parsons, and Mamie W. Aldrich, + formed a club in Lent, and worked for this fair, and earnest + workers they must have been. The fair was held April 22, in the + Sunday-school room of Zion Church, Thirty-eighth Street, New York, + which was kindly lent for the purpose. Of course I was at the fair, + and a very pretty one it was. I only wish more people could have + known about it, and have been there to encourage these little girls + in their good work. Very busy they all looked, waiting on the + tables. They had a fish pond and a large red grab-bag, both of + which took in quite a sum of money; and I am sure these little + workers must have felt very proud, and well repaid for any + self-denial they had practiced, when they handed in to our + treasurer the large sum you see acknowledged to-day. Now don't you + think it would be a good plan if all the boys and girls who are + well-wishers of our Fund--and I am sure they are many--would work + hard this summer, while away in the country, or at home, and try + and make the amount up to $1500? That would be just half the amount + needed, and how fast we could go on next winter! You would have to + raise $345.56, and that is not such a large sum among a great many. + Some, like these four little New York girls, could hold a fair or + festival at some of the summer resorts; others could pick and sell + berries. There are many ways in which the little hands and feet + could earn the pennies for our fund. Do not be disheartened at + small results, but remember that every effort you make, if in + earnest, helps both yourselves and the Cot fund. + + I wonder if some of you are not curious to know where your money + goes while waiting for the rest of the $3000. If any of you have + ever gone in the Sixth Avenue cars, New York, past Waverley Place, + you may have observed a large building on the southwest corner, + with "Greenwich Bank" upon it in large letters; our treasurer wants + me to tell you that she puts your money there; and, if I am not + mistaken, some of these days you will see in our acknowledgment, + "Interest from Greenwich Bank," which means that the bank pays you + so much money for leaving your money with it. If you will ask your + papas, I am sure they will tell you that it could not be in a + better place. So you see what a good treasurer we have to take care + of our money. + + In saying good-by I must add that I think you have all done very + well so far in our good work. The year will not be up until next + month, and we have passed "the place in the mountains where we can + look back and see one-third of our journey accomplished." + + So to our helpers, + Great and small, + Thanks we send + For one and all. + + AUNT EDNA. + NEW YORK, _June_, 1882. + + + * * * * * + + ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. + + As this is one of the large cities in the Union, I thought if no + one else would sustain its credit I would. On the 5th of May we had + a big hail-storm. In 1872 we had a hall-storm when the hail was + about the size of a hazel-nut; but in this one the smallest stones + I saw were that size. Most of them, however, were about the size of + walnuts. I saw quite a number as large as a section of an egg, and + one or two almost as large as my fist. Now I am afraid you will + think that I have exaggerated, but it is true. I have heard a + number of persons, including a very old lady, say that they have + seen a number of stones frozen together, but never before such + large single ones. The storm lasted for a full half-hour, hailing + constantly. A great deal of damage was done to churches and public + buildings especially. Branches of trees, bushes, and vines were cut + off as smoothly as if done with a knife. One man went out to the + gutter to pick up an extra large hail-stone, when another one hit + him so forcibly on the back of the neck that he fell down on his + hands and knees. I would have sent you one of the stones, but as + such things can not be telegraphed, I could not do so. + + MALCOLM P. + + * * * * * + + BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK. + + I have written one letter before, and have not seen it in the + paper, so I thought I would write again. I am taking HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE for the third year. I like "Toby Tyler" very much, and "Mr. + Stubbs's Brother" still better. I saw some real prairie-dogs not + long ago. They don't look bigger than a good-sized rat. I am nine + years old, but have only been at school a year, as I have always + been sick. I am in the second grade, and study arithmetic, reading, + language, and spelling. Shall be promoted next term. + + I have a little brother named Frankie. He is seven years old. Mamma + and he and I live with grandpa, as our papa is dead. Frankie has a + cat which had four kittens. They are all sorts of colors. I wish I + could send you their pictures. They live in my old baby carriage. I + made a little tent, not big enough to get under, that I could take + down and put up as many times as I had a mind to, and to-day I + broke it. Jumbo, that you have told us about, is coming here in + August. I hope I shall see him. When I do, I'll write and tell you + what I think of him. I just love him now. I can't think of any + more. Good-by. + + EDDIE F. + +Those little kittens are well off. Living in a baby carriage! Think of +such luxury! Do they have an afghan over them when they are chilly? + +It is fun to make a tent large enough to accommodate two or three boys. +I think, if I were there, I could help you make one with two or three +poles, and a couple of old shawls or table-covers. Suppose you ask mamma +to help you do this? + + * * * * * + + FOREST, TEXAS. + + I am a little girl twelve years old, and live in the country. I + have a kind uncle who sends me YOUNG PEOPLE. We have had plenty of + strawberries this spring. I go to school, and am in Coins and + Currency, and at play-time I have fine times playing croquet. We + have a mocking-bird building in the garden. It sings all day. We + had a fish-fry not long ago, and had as many fish as we wanted. It + has been a very rainy season. I have a great many pretty flowers; + the gladiolus is opening now. I am so glad when HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE comes. I like the story of "Talking Leaves" better than any + other one. + + NINA M. + +We planted our gladiolus bulbs the morning that Nina's letter arrived; +but the season is earlier in her Southern home than it is with us. Have +you magnolia-trees and pomegranate-bushes in your garden, Nina? How +charming it must be to hear the songs of the mocking-bird all day long! + + * * * * * + + NORWICH, CONNECTICUT. + + I must tell you about my pet which my uncle Frank brought me from + California. It was a dear little horned toad. It was very + affectionate, and had a soft yellow breast and two horns, one on + each side of its head. I kept it in a big box of sand, and uncle + called it Cutey, it was so cute. One day it was very cold, and + Cutey shivered so I covered him up in the box, and put him on the + register; then I went off, and forgot my poor little toad. When I + came back my toad was dead, and I cried very hard, for I felt + naughty to have forgotten my pet. I have some more pets, and some + time I will tell you about them; but I am afraid this is too long. + + SUSIE. + +What a pity it was, dear, that you forgot your pet! No wonder you cried. +I am sure you will never again forget one of the little creatures, which +are dependent on you for their comfort. + + * * * * * + + BRISTOL, ENGLAND. + + I have a very kind cousin who lives in Brooklyn, and sends me YOUNG + PEOPLE. I am eight years old. I am very fond of reading the letters + of children so many miles away from each other, and of hearing + about their pets. I have a green parrot, but he is very spiteful. + We have a gray cat, and if we stay upstairs beyond our time in the + morning, she comes up and sits outside the door, and keeps mewing + until I come out and speak to her. I have two sisters, one five, + the other three. I have been learning to play the piano eighteen + months; also my sister Lillie. We play several duets, and many + pieces. I have to practice every evening, and then I have a good + read from YOUNG PEOPLE. I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Tim + and Tip," and "All-hallow Eve" very much indeed, and I am very much + interested in "The Talking Leaves." My papa I have not seen in + nearly four years. He is out in China. He was wrecked last July. He + was chief officer of the _Anne S. Hall_, of Boston, which was lost + in a typhoon. All hands were saved in a boat. I shall be very glad + when I see him. I have been two years at school. I went to a + pic-nic party to Lea Woods. We went through Nightingale Valley, and + were really tired when we got to the top. The woods looked lovely + with bluebells and violets. The primroses seemed to be all picked. + + PERCY T. + +Well, Percy, I wish I were so near that I could tell whether you and +your little sister keep time in your duets. You must practice very +diligently, so that your music will delight your papa when he comes home +again. How much you must love him, all the more fondly because he was in +such peril on the ocean! I hope he will reach his children in safety. + +Nightingale Valley is a beautiful name for a wood. + + * * * * * + + BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. + + I want to tell you about our cat, whose name is Miss Moll; my + little brother named her, and he is three years old. Miss Moll + trots all over the house, and when she wants to go out, she stands + by the door and mews. When she wants to come in, she scratches at + the door. She will lie down on her back, and play with any one's + hand, although she is a middle-aged cat. + + We also have a dog, but he does not amount to much, except that he + is a good watch-dog, and he belonged to my brother, who is now + dead. + + I go to the public school, where I received a prize for writing and + composition. (They don't give prizes as a general thing.) This is + my first letter. + + GRACE I. T. + +I am glad you were the fortunate little winner of a prize. + + * * * * * + + FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND. + + As I have seen no letter from here, I thought I would write, and + maybe you would publish it. I am a little girl eleven years old. I + live in the country near Frederick city. I have a dear little + brother; his name is Charley. He is a little naughty sometimes, + though. Charley has three dogs--their names are Sport, Jack, and + Butty--and he has a very pretty Alderney calf, also ducks and + chickens. He is very kind to them. My aunt Kate gave me YOUNG + PEOPLE for a Christmas gift. I like it very much. I have twelve + little cousins; we go to school together, and have very nice times. + I send my love to you, Mrs. Postmistress, and to all the little + girls and boys. + + E. K. H. + + * * * * * + +Exchanges are inserted without charge, but they must be brief. First +name what you have, and then state what you wish in return. Give your +address plainly, and in full, town, county, and State. Please write with +black ink. + + * * * * * + +C. Y. P. R. U. + +THE RAINBOW.--When the summer shower is passing away, and while the +thunder is still rolling among the hills, we have often seen the +rainbow. Every one admires the beautiful arch which spans the sky. It is +caused by the striking of the sun's rays upon the drops of water as they +fall from the clouds. These rays are twice refracted and once reflected +as they meet the transparent drops. If you look in the dictionary, you +will find that refracted means bent suddenly, and reflected means thrown +back. The colors of the rainbow are seven in number, and appear in the +following order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. +The tints are most vivid when the background of clouds is darkest and +the drops of rain fall closest. The continual falling of the rain while +the sun shines produces a new rainbow every moment; and a curious thing +is that as each spectator sees it from a particular point of view, +strictly speaking no two persons see precisely the same rainbow. A +peculiar sacredness is attached to our thoughts of the rainbow on +account of the mention made of it in Genesis, when, after the deluge, +Noah saw its arch in the sky. How glad he must have been to view the sun +once more! Then God said, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be +for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." The story of the +rainbow, as the Bible tells it, is to be found in Genesis, ninth +chapter, from the eighth to the seventeenth verses. + + * * * * * + +HATTIE C.--You are needlessly distressed at what you call your lack of +conversational powers. It is true that some people have the gift of +talking with ease, and that they are not embarrassed in the presence of +others. But any person of ordinary intelligence may learn to talk +brightly and pleasingly by simply taking pains to learn how. In the +first place, try to forget yourself. Do not fancy when you open your +lips that the lady opposite you on the sofa, or your neighbor at the +dinner table, is criticising or making fun of you. Well-bred and kindly +mannered people never do so. Have, in the second place, an idea of what +you wish to say. In the third and last place, be sure to tell your story +or give your opinion in the simplest language you can command. Never use +slang. To be a good listener is as great an accomplishment as to be a +bright talker. A young lady who listens intelligently, and with sympathy +in her looks, giving now and then a brief reply or a turn to the talk, +but not trying to lead it, or to be at all conspicuous, is sure of being +popular. Find out what your friends are interested in, and help them to +talk on their special subjects. Do not worry about the impression you +are making when in society, but let your great aim be to make the place +where you are as cheerful as possible. + + * * * * * + +We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week to Mr. +Charles Barnard's article, "Wave and Sand," and to "The Boyhood of +William Chambers." The girls will be pleased with Mrs. Dewing's pretty +and artistic design for "A Kettle-Holder." + + * * * * * + +YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT. + +Contributions received for Young People's Cot, in Holy Innocent's Ward, +St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street: + + Henry and John Goeltz, $2; Kerfoot W. Daly, Gibsonton, $1; Mamie + Tilton, Fort Riley, Kan., $1; Easter gifts from Charles Frederick + Fletcher, $1, Theodora Carter, $1, Maud Metcalf, 75c., Ruth + Metcalf, 75c., and Mary Aiken Metcalf, 50c., Auburndale, Mass., + total, $4; Dora's Easter Offering, New York, $1; Lucy, Frank, and + Willie Green, Upper Alton, Ill., 25c.; "Little Margaret," June 4, + In Memoriam, $100; Teddie and Willie McVickar, New York, $20; Ethel + Hurst, New York, 75c.; Virgie McLain, Nassau, N. P., $1.25; Annie + and Edith Van Kuran, Clinton, Iowa, 50c.; Lena Matthews, Olean, + N. Y., $1: Oliver T. Clough, Junction, Iowa, $1; In Memoriam, + Herbert Stockwell Day, $50; Ethel Ransom, 25c.; Elise Hurst, New + York, 25c.; Teddie McVickar, New York, 25c.; Lulu Lyon, $1; Frank + M. Hartshorn, in memory of two little brothers, $1; Emily Chauncey, + 30c.; Isabelle Lacey, $10; Teddie McVickar, New York, 50c.; + proceeds of a fair held in Zion Church Chapel, Madison Avenue, New + York, April 22, the Lenten work of a club of four little + girls--Helen Manice, Madeline Satterlee, Gertrude Parsons, and + Mamie W. Aldrich--New York, $550; total, $747.30; previously + acknowledged, $406.84; grand total, May 15, 1882, $1154.14. + + E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New St. + + * * * * * + + CLINTON, IOWA. + + We saved fifty cents out of our pocket-money for the Cot, and we + hope it will help a little toward the support of some poor child. + + ANNIE and EDITH VAN KURAN. + + * * * * * + + I have saved these two dollars with my brother. My brother saved + fifty cents, and I saved one dollar and fifty cents. My brother is + seven years old, and I am fourteen. I sent these few pictures + because I think they will please the little ones. My brother and I + will try to send two more dollars. + + HENRY and JOHN GOELTZ. + + * * * * * + + I send you $1 I earned myself feeding chickens and getting up early + in the morning. Mamma said I might do whatever I chose with it. I + am not a very big boy. + + KERFOOT W. DALY. + + * * * * * + + UPPER ALTON, ILLINOIS. + + I have been intending to write to YOUNG PEOPLE for some time. We + all like it so very much. I am so glad Mr. Otis has begun another + story about Toby Tyler. I know it will be splendid. My brother + Frank and I send twenty cents for Young People's Cot, and hope the + Cot will prosper. I am so sorry the trailing arbutus does not grow + here. I have never seen it. But we do have lots of other lovely + wild flowers. We have white, blue, and yellow violets and bluebells + all growing in our yard. I wish I could see the boys and girls that + write to Our Post-office Box. I wish I was able to give some of our + flowers to the poor sick children in the hospitals. + + LUCY L. GREEN. + + P. S.--My brother Willie adds a nickel to our contribution. + + L. L. G. + + * * * * * + + NASSAU, NEW PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS. + + Inclosed you will find $1.25 for Young People's Cot. Once before I + sent you 35 cents. I had a beautiful parrot which died, and to + console me papa gave me $5, so I now send $1.25 out of it. + + VIRGIE MCLAIN. + + * * * * * + + SCHUYLER, NEBRASKA. + + We have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for only a month, but papa sent + and got us all from the January number down. We felt sorry for the + homeless little children, and so we sent them some papers. We have + been saving them up from 1879. There are five of us children, and I + am the next to the oldest. We live in Schuyler, Colfax County, + Nebraska. We have a good many pets, but I will have to wait until + next time to tell you about them. I will have to close now, as it + is about time for school. Good-by. + + MATTIE CLARKSON. + + * * * * * + + OLEAN, NEW YORK. + + I am a little girl nine years old. I send you a dollar for Young + People's Cot, which I earned by helping my mamma. The only pet I + have is a little baby brother. I have got the mumps on both sides. + I go to school, and study geography, grammar, spelling, reading, + writing, drawing, and arithmetic. I must close. Good-by. From + + LENA MATTHEWS. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +BEHEADINGS. + +1. Here is a group of boys. Behead the name of No. 1, and you have an +ancient vessel; of No. 2, and you have something unpleasant; of No. 3, +and you have a nickname; of No. 4, and you see a vehicle; of No. 5, and +you have a useful article of furniture; of No. 6, and you have an organ +of the human body; of No. 7, a beautiful bird; of No. 8, a +disfigurement. + +2. Here are four pretty girls, with very sweet names. Behead the first +name, and you have what the robin did to the cherries; the second, and +you have the name of the earliest martyr; the third, and you have what +bees and butterflies are in summer; the fourth, and you have an exciting +chase. + + SAM WELLER, JUN. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +ENIGMA. + + My first is in apple, but not in prune. + My second in May, but not in June. + My third in seek, but not in find. + My fourth in cross, but not in kind. + My fifth in mice, but not in rat. + My sixth in cape, and also in cap. + My seventh in chair, but not in stool. + My whole is a country you'll learn of in school. + + A BOY OF TEN. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +TWO DIAMONDS. + +1.--1. A letter. 2. A domestic pet. 3. A city in France. 4. A metal. 5. +A letter. + +2.--1. A letter. 2. A nickname. 3. A heavenly wanderer. 4. Human beings. +5. A letter. + + EUREKA. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +NUMERICAL ENIGMA. + + My whole is a noted battle-field, and I contain 11 letters. + My 1, 2, 6, 4 means to speak familiarly. + My 7, 3, 10 is a horse. + My 1, 8, 9, 5 is a water-fowl. + My 11, 2, 6 is an exclamation. + + EMPIRE CITY. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 133. + +No. 1. + + L U N A R R A S P + U S A G E A C M E + N A S A L S M U T + A G A T E P E T S + R E L E T + + F I G V A N + I C E A C E + G E T N E T + +No. 2. + + F irin G + I odid E + C heru B + H awai I + E ndin G + L oung E + +No. 3. + + S + D I C E D + D U E I D E A S A R T + D U C K S S C E P T I C D R O O P + E K E E A T E R T O E + S S I R P + C + + T B E + T I P T E A E N D + T I G E R B E T S Y E N D O W + P E T A S P D O T + R Y W + +No. 4. + +Excelsior. + + * * * * * + +Answer to Enigma on page 134--Handcuff. + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been sent by "Eureka," Annetta D. +Jackson, Pansy V. R., "I. Scycle," Harold S. Chambers, Florence, Mabel, +and Annie Knight, Douglas Fay, Alex Ketchum, John B. Todd, Alice Bolton, +Emma Grace, Fanny and Fleda Cary, Viola, S. T. C. + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._] + + + + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG GENIUS.] + + * * * * * + +GAS BALLOONS. + +Small gas balloons are made of thin sheet India rubber, or gutta percha, +or tissue-paper; larger ones are made of oiled silk. Cut gores of the +material to be used, sufficient in number when fastened together, the +sides of each gore overlapping the gore fastened to it, to form a globe +of the desired size, with pear-shaped ends. Join the gores together so +as to make them completely air-tight. When the heavier materials are +used, they should be sewn together, and then covered with glue or thin +varnish. At the lower end of the balloon insert a tube, and tie all the +narrow tips of the gores firmly round it. Cover all with a solution made +of India rubber dissolved in naphtha and turpentine, and over the +balloon place a net bag that has been previously made of the proper size +and shape. + +The gas with which the balloon is to be filled is made in the following +manner: Put a pound of granulated zinc or iron filings into two quarts +of water in a stone jar, and add gradually a pint of sulphuric acid. +Have a tube of glass or metal run through the bung with which the jar is +corked, and after taking the materials out-of-doors, fill the balloon by +connecting this tube with the tube already placed at its mouth. When the +balloon is filled, tie its neck very tightly, and it will rise into the +air. Common coal gas may be used when it can be obtained. A small car +made of some light material may be attached to the netting which goes +over the balloon. + + * * * * * + +A BALLOON ADVENTURE. + +An exciting balloon adventure was that of Mr. Pendarves Vivian, an +English member of Parliament. With two skilled aeronauts he recently +made an ascent from Southwest London, the start being delayed by +unfavorable weather until 10 P.M. + +They found themselves in a strong current, which in ten minutes had +placed them over North London, the lights below presenting a fairy scene +of indescribable beauty. Though over 1000 feet high, street cries were +distinctly audible. Ascending rapidly to 8000 feet, in an hour they +found themselves passing at a tremendous rate over a flat country +suitable for descending, and they resolved to come down. Gas was let +out, and grappling-irons dropped, when there was a sharp check and +violent jerks, and suddenly they commenced soaring upward at a frightful +pace. + +The rope of the grappling-irons had broken. The danger of so helpless a +position, especially at night, was instantly apparent, and shortly +afterward a renewed descent was made, hoping to run the balloon against +some branches of trees. When this was done, one got out, and the two, +relieved of his weight, were carried upward with extreme velocity to a +height of three miles. + +Half stunned by the shock, some time elapsed before the adventurous +occupants of the balloon again attempted to descend, when, to their +horror, they heard the roaring of the sea immediately below them. +Fortunately they landed upon the beach, and not in the water. They were +eventually rescued unhurt; but Mr. Vivian's experience convinces him +that ballooning can never be of practical utility as a means of +travelling. + + * * * * * + +MAGICAL MUSIC. + +This is a game in which music is made to take a prominent part. On one +of the company volunteering to leave the room, some particular article +agreed upon is hidden. On being recalled, the person, ignorant of the +hiding-place, must commence a diligent search, taking the piano as his +guide. The loud tones will mean that he is very near the object of his +search, and the soft tones that he is far from it. Another method of +playing the same game is for the person who has been out of the room to +try to discover on his return what the remainder of the company desire +him to do. It may be to pick up something from the floor, to take off +his coat, to look at himself in the glass, or anything else as absurd. +The only clew afforded him of solving the riddle must be the loud or +soft tones of the music. + + + + +[Illustration: THE BASE-BALL SEASON--THE "HOME RUN."] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, June 6, 1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58023 *** |