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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58357 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE]
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+VOL. III.--NO. 139. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR
+CENTS.
+
+Tuesday, June 27, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 per
+Year, in Advance.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: UNROLLING THE SCHOONER'S SAILS.]
+
+MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER.[1]
+
+[1] Begun in No. 127, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
+
+BY JAMES OTIS.
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+THE RESULTS OF LONG TRAINING.
+
+
+Mr. Stubbs's brother had been a close observer of all that was going on,
+with a view probably to guarding against another sudden fright such as
+the overture had given him, and the moment Ben commenced to revolve, he
+leaped from the tree, running with full speed toward the whirling
+acrobat.
+
+Toby started to catch him, but the monkey was too quick in his
+movements. Before any one could prevent him, he had caught the revolving
+boy by one leg, and for a few seconds it was difficult to tell which was
+Ben and which the monkey.
+
+Of course such an interruption as that broke up the performance for the
+time being, and Toby was obliged to exert all his authority to
+disentangle the monkey from the performer.
+
+"I knew it wouldn't do to let him be loose," said Toby, in a
+half-apologetic tone. "Now I'll set here, an' hold him while you
+commence over again, Ben."
+
+"Well, now, be sure you hold him," said Ben, seriously, "for I don't
+want him to catch me again when I'm goin' 'round so fast, for it hurts a
+fellow to tumble the way he made me."
+
+Bob offered to help hold the unruly monkey, and when he and Toby had
+taken a firm grip on the collar, the music was started again, and Ben
+recommenced his performance.
+
+This time he got through with it in a highly successful and creditable
+manner; he proved to be a really good acrobat, so far as turning
+hand-springs and standing on his head were concerned, and Toby felt
+certain that this portion of the entertainment would be pleasing.
+
+Bob now went into the ring, and began to sing the "Suwanee River" in a
+manner which he intended should captivate his audience; but he had
+neglected to give the band any orders, and the consequence was that when
+he commenced to sing, Leander began to play "Old Dog Tray," which mixed
+the musical matters considerably.
+
+"You mustn't do that, Leander," Bob said, sharply, after he had done his
+best to sing the band down, and failed in the attempt. "It won't do for
+you to play one thing while I'm tryin' to sing something else. Now you
+be restin' while I'm doin' my part."
+
+Leander was so deeply interested in the enterprise that he was perfectly
+willing to keep on playing without ever thinking of taking a rest; but
+in deference to Bob's wishes he ceased his efforts, although he did
+venture to remark that he noticed particularly, when the real circus was
+there, that the band always played when the clown sang.
+
+Bob got along very well with his portion of the rehearsal after the
+first mistake had been rectified; and when he finished he bowed
+gracefully in response to the applause bestowed upon him.
+
+"Now's the time when you come in, Toby," said Bob; "an' if you'll see
+how you can ride the ponies, Joe'll run around the ring with 'em."
+
+Toby was willing to do his share of the work, and all the more so
+because he could see that Abner, from his cozy seat under the bushes,
+was deeply interested in all that was going on.
+
+Joe got one of the ponies while Toby made his preparations; and after
+the little horse had been led around the circle two or three times to
+show what was expected of him, Toby got on his back. This was Reddy's
+opportunity to act the part of ring-master, and he seized his long whip,
+standing in the centre of the ring in what he believed to be the proper
+attitude.
+
+"Run around with him till I tell you to let go," said Toby, as he tied
+the reins together to form a bridle, and then stood on the pony's back
+as Mr. Castle had taught him to do.
+
+There was so great a difference between the motion of this horse and
+that of the one owned by Mr. Douglass that Toby began to understand it
+might be quite as necessary to train the animal as its rider.
+
+Owing to his lack of practice he was a little clumsy; but after one or
+two attempts he went around the ring standing on one foot almost as well
+as he had done it when with Ella.
+
+The boys, who had never seen Toby ride before, were thoroughly elated by
+the brief exhibition he gave them; and if he had done as they wanted, he
+would have tired both himself and the pony completely.
+
+"I'll practice some, now Abner can come out," said Toby, as he led his
+steed to a spot where he could get more grass, but neglected to fasten
+him; "an' I wouldn't wonder if I could ride two at once, after a little
+while."
+
+His partners in the enterprise were more than delighted with their
+rider, and they already began to believe they should have such a circus
+as would in some points eclipse the real one that had lately visited the
+town.
+
+After the excitement caused by Toby's riding had in a measure died away,
+Ben continued with his feats according to the programme, and then Bob
+commenced his second song.
+
+The audience of partners were listening to it intently, the more because
+it seemed to them that Bob had made a mistake as to the tune, and they
+were anxious to see what he was going to do about it, when the pony Toby
+had been riding suddenly dashed into the ring, with what looked very
+like a boy on his back.
+
+The partners were amazed at this interruption, and Bob continued to
+sound the note he was wrestling with when he first saw the pony coming
+toward him, until it ended almost in a shriek.
+
+"Who is it?" cried Joe, as the pony dashed across the pasture, urged to
+full speed by its rider, and in an instant more all saw a long curling
+tail, which showed unmistakably who the culprit was.
+
+"It's Mr. Stubbs's brother!" cried Toby, in alarm, "and how shall we
+catch him?"
+
+It was indeed the monkey, and during the next ten minutes it seemed to
+the boys that they ran over every square foot of that pasture, scaring
+the cows, and tiring themselves, until the frightened little horse was
+penned up in one corner, and his disagreeable rider was taken from him.
+
+This last act of the rehearsal had occupied so much time, and the monkey
+was making himself so troublesome, that Toby decided to go home, the
+others promising to come to Uncle Daniel's barn that afternoon, when
+Reddy was to explain how the tent was to be procured--a matter which up
+to this time he had kept a profound secret from all but Bob.
+
+Short as the time spent at the rehearsal seemed to the boys, it was
+considerably too long for one in Abner's weak condition, as was evident
+from his face when Aunt Olive came to the door to help him out of the
+carriage.
+
+He seemed thoroughly exhausted, and as soon as he got into the house,
+asked to be allowed to lie down--a confession of weakness that gave Aunt
+Olive a great deal of uneasiness, because she considered herself in a
+great measure responsible for the ride and its results, as she had urged
+Abner to go before the doctor's advice had been heard in the matter.
+
+Toby's fears regarding the invalid were always reflections of Aunt
+Olive's; but when he saw Abner go to sleep so quickly, he thought she
+was alarmed without cause, and believed his friend would be quite
+himself as soon as he should awaken.
+
+Dinner-time came and passed, and Abner was still sleeping sweetly.
+Therefore Toby could see no reason why he should not join his partners,
+whom he saw going into the barn before dinner was over.
+
+"The boys have come up to see 'bout the tent," he said to Aunt Olive,
+"an' I'm goin' out to the barn, where they're waitin' for me. Will you
+call me when Abner wakes up?"
+
+Aunt Olive promised that he should be informed as soon as the sick boy
+could see him, and Toby joined his partners with never a fear but that
+Abner would soon be able to participate in all his sports.
+
+That the boys had come to Uncle Daniel's barn on very serious business
+was evident from their faces, and the two large packages they brought.
+
+Two rolls of what looked to be sail-cloth were lying on the barn floor,
+and around them Bob, Reddy, Joe, Ben, and Leander were seated, with a
+look on their faces that was very nearly a troubled one.
+
+"What's them?" asked Toby, in surprise, as he pointed to the bundles.
+
+"The tent," and Reddy gave a big sigh as he spoke.
+
+"What, have you got two?" asked Toby, a look of glad surprise showing
+itself on his face.
+
+Reddy shook his head.
+
+"What's the matter? If there ain't two tents here, what makes the two
+bundles?" And Toby was almost impatient because he could not understand
+the matter.
+
+"Well, you see, this is just how it is," said Reddy, as he began to
+untie the fastenings from the rolls of canvas. "When I told you I could
+get a tent, I'd asked Captain Whetmore to lend me two of the sails what
+he took off his schooner, an' he told me yes."
+
+"An' you've got 'em, haven't you?" and Toby looked meaningly at the
+canvas.
+
+"Yes, we've got 'em," replied Joe; "but now we don't know how to fix
+'em, 'cause you see we've got to put 'em up like a roof, an' we ain't
+got anything for the ends."
+
+Reddy had planned to use each of the sails as a side to the tent,
+fastening them along the top to a ridge-pole; and it had never occurred
+to him, in all the time he had had to think the matter over, that as yet
+he had nothing with which to form the ends.
+
+It was a question that puzzled the boys greatly, and caused their faces
+to grow very long, until Toby said:
+
+"I'll tell you how we can fix one end. We can put it right up against
+the barn, where the little door is, an' then we can have the stalls for
+a dressin'-room."
+
+The faces of the partners lightened at once, and each wondered why he
+had not thought of such a plan.
+
+"An' I'll tell you how we could fix the other end," said Toby, quickly,
+as another happy thought presented itself. "If Mr. Mansfield would lend
+us his big flag, it would jest do it."
+
+"That's the very thing, an' I'll go an' ask him now;" and Bob started
+out of the barn at full speed, while Reddy, now that the important
+question was settled, displayed great alacrity in unrolling his
+treasures.
+
+[TO BE CONTINUED.]
+
+
+
+
+MAX RANDER'S FENCING EXPERIENCE.
+
+BY MATTHEW WHITE, JUN.
+
+
+I don't know whether it was on account of the loss of the eggs or not,
+but mother still continued in poor health, until at last the doctor
+advised her to quit Paris and try country air for a week or two. So
+father went with her to some place with a compound name, leaving Thad
+and me at Mrs. Freemack's. But we hadn't been there long when he wrote
+saying that they had decided to remain away a month at least, and asking
+if I thought we could make the half-day's journey there by ourselves.
+
+Feeling that I was indeed experienced above my years, I replied that of
+course we could, and Mrs. Freemack having bought our tickets for us and
+put us on the cars, we set out in high spirits, for that same kind lady
+had just made each of us a present of a toy sword, with belt and
+scabbard complete, and as the train moved off, leaving us with the
+first-class compartment to ourselves, we foresaw a splendid opportunity
+of practicing the manly art of fencing then and there.
+
+I had lately been reading up on the subject, and had plied Mrs. Freemack
+with so many questions about thrusts, foils, longeing and parrying, that
+I do not wonder she had decided on swords as the most welcome parting
+gifts she could bestow on us. But she hadn't given us any foils, so I
+begged Thad to be careful to thrust only "in fun."
+
+We waited until after the conductor had looked at our tickets from the
+window; then I gave the word, whereupon we both whipped out our
+glistening blades and flourished them about our heads.
+
+"Now parry, Thad," I cried, as I brought my weapon down with a whiz; but
+instead of parrying, he began laying about him like a pirate with his
+cutlass. Of course I couldn't help laughing, although I had to jump
+around pretty lively to protect myself.
+
+However, I soon made him comprehend that he must obey the rules and
+stand more on the defensive, and then we sat down to rest a minute
+before making a fresh start.
+
+"Now, ready again!" I exclaimed; and this time things went a little more
+artistically, although the noise our blades made as they clashed
+together reminded me strongly of father and the carving-knife just
+before dinner at home.
+
+Presently we both began to grow excited, and suddenly, to avoid one of
+my thrusts, Thad jumped up on the seat behind him. Quick as thought I
+sprang up on the other, and then we fought in gallant style across the
+chasm, which to our vivid imaginations ran red with blood or white with
+foaming floods. We quite forgot where we were, and shouted and danced
+about like a couple of Zulus.
+
+On a sudden, ker-chink went my sword right through a little piece of
+looking-glass, shaped like a triangle, and set in the cushions just
+behind Thad.
+
+"Now you've done it!" he cried, jumping to the floor to escape the
+falling fragments.
+
+"Oh, pshaw!" I returned, "it won't take much to pay for that. I don't
+see what use such a little bit of a mirror is, anyway. But, hello! what
+are we stopping here for, I wonder?" for the train was gradually slowing
+down, and finally came to a stand-still in the open country.
+
+Meanwhile, I began calculating how much such a piece of glass as I had
+broken ought to cost, and had just decided on two francs (forty cents),
+when the guard appeared at the window again, looked in, then pulled open
+the door with a jerk, sprang into the compartment, and pointing to the
+broken glass with one hand, seized me with the other, and then--but of
+course that was all I could understand.
+
+However, I wasn't a bit frightened, although I wondered how he had found
+out about it so soon. Simply putting my hand in my pocket, I pulled out
+two francs and offered them to him. But instead of taking them with a
+polite "merci," as I had expected, he swept them to the floor; then
+lifting me in no very gentle fashion on to the seat, he planted me
+squarely in front of a small placard fastened just below where the
+mirror had been, and which I had never taken the trouble to read before,
+supposing it to be all in French. It was printed in French, German, and
+English, and announced that if, in a case of necessity, the presence of
+the guard was required, the glass was to be broken and a cord pulled
+inside. Should this be done, however, it went on to state, without good
+and sufficient reason, a fine would be imposed, the amount of which far
+exceeded the sum of money I had with me.
+
+I understood it all now; my sword had not only broken the glass, but
+caught in the ring attached to the alarm-rope, thus causing the stoppage
+of the whole train, and my present predicament.
+
+What was to be done? I was not able to pay out that which I did not
+possess, explain matters I could not, and meantime the conductor
+continued to storm and rage, curious passengers began to gather about
+the open door, and Thad grew pale with fright.
+
+Suddenly I thought of a possible way out of the scrape, and heroically
+determined to make the necessary sacrifice. Drawing forth my precious
+watch, I handed it to the guard.
+
+He smiled and nodded as he took it, and the next moment the train
+started on again. But there was no more fencing for us that day, and I
+sat gazing drearily out of the window, in grief for my lost time-piece,
+nearly all the rest of the journey.
+
+Father said afterward that it served me right, and would teach me there
+was a place for everything; but before we left France he redeemed my
+watch for me.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE FIRST MUSIC LESSON.]
+
+
+
+
+A LITTLE DUKE.
+
+BY ELIZABETH ABERCROMBIE.
+
+
+In the beautiful old Abbey of Westminster, London, among the tombs of
+illustrious men and women is a tablet inscribed to "William, Duke of
+Gloucester, the last surviving son of Queen Anne, together with
+seventeen of her other infant children."
+
+This little boy was born in 1689, and great were the rejoicings thereat.
+His sponsors were King William and Queen Mary themselves; for having no
+children of their own, this royal couple looked upon this baby nephew as
+the future heir of all their greatness.
+
+It is no slight thing, however, to be born a royal Prince, and this poor
+child, owing to ill health, had but a sorry time of it from the first.
+When he was five years old he was still supporting himself as he went up
+and down stairs by holding on to people's hands. This his father, burly
+Prince George of Denmark, declared was a shame and disgrace for any heir
+of England. Accordingly his mother, who had a tender heart, with a sigh,
+took her boy apart and tried to reason him out of what was thought to be
+only a stupid habit; but as this did no good, she put a birch rod into
+her husband's hand, and he whipped his son till the little fellow from
+sheer pain was forced into running alone. After that he never asked any
+help when walking, but it seemed, if possible, as though he was oftener
+ill than ever.
+
+So little was understood about disease in those early days that
+sometimes odd reasons were assigned for these attacks of the Prince. It
+had long been the custom of the English court to wear leeks on St.
+David's Day, out of compliment to the Welsh. One of silk and silver had
+been given Gloucester for his hat one year, but not satisfied, he
+insisted on seeing the real thing.
+
+Now his tutor's name was Lewis Jenkins, and as he was a Welshman, Lewis
+was only too happy at the thought of showing off the famous plant of his
+country to his royal charge. A bunch of the harmless leeks was at once
+procured, with which Gloucester amused himself for some time, tying them
+round the masts of a certain toy ship by which he and his boys were
+taught something of the great British fleet. But suddenly he threw
+himself down, and went to sleep.
+
+When he awoke he was terribly ill, and it was many days before he could
+leave his bed. There was a great outcry in the palace, and you may think
+how poor Lewis Jenkins quaked in his shoes, for they said this illness
+was all the fault of the leeks!
+
+Even while Gloucester was in bed, his father's system of education was
+being carried on, and the plays devised by his attendants were intended
+to be instructive as well as amusing.
+
+Ever since he could walk the Duke had been the leader of a little
+company of boy soldiers. These were posted as sentinels at his door,
+tattoos were beat on the drum, while toy fortifications were built by
+his bed, and once there had nearly taken place a _bona-fide_ fight over
+the little prostrate body, not laid down; I fancy, in Prince George's
+rule.
+
+Mrs. Buss, the nurse, was the cause of the quarrel. Wishing to amuse the
+invalid, she sent by an unlucky Mr. Wetherby an automaton representing
+Prince Louis of Baden fighting the Turks. "As the young Duke had given
+up toys since the preceding summer, his masculine attendants started the
+idea that the present was a great affront, and it was forthwith
+sentenced to be torn in pieces--an execution which was instantly
+performed by the Duke's small soldiers." Still not satisfied, however,
+they next declared that Mr. Wetherby himself ought to be punished for
+daring to bring such a thing as a _doll_ to the heir of England.
+
+Wetherby, getting an inkling of how matters stood, ran away, but only to
+be discovered, captured, and brought into the Duke's presence, who
+gravely pronounced his sentence. The unhappy man was then bound hand and
+foot, mounted on a wooden horse, and soused all over with water from
+enormous syringes and squirts. When nearly half drowned, he was again
+drawn on his horse into the royal bedroom, and I am sorry to find it on
+record that the young tyrant enjoyed the sight of the man's sorrowful
+condition immensely.
+
+Still this little boy often showed great kindness of heart. Like most
+mothers the Princess Anne was anxious that her son should use no vulgar
+expressions in conversation. She was much shocked one day to hear him
+say he was "confounded dry."
+
+"Who taught you those words?" she asked.
+
+"If I say Dick Drury, he will be sent down-stairs," the child whispered
+to one of the court ladies standing by, then added aloud, "I invented
+them myself, mamma."
+
+And so Dick Drury was saved from punishment for once in his life, if no
+more.
+
+"Papa, I wish you and mamma unity, peace, and concord, not for a time,
+but forever," was Gloucester's grave address to his father and mother
+when celebrating one of the anniversaries of their wedding day.
+
+"You made a fine compliment to their Royal Highnesses to-day, sir," said
+Lewis Jenkins, afterward.
+
+"Lewis," earnestly returned the boy, "it was no compliment--it was
+_sincere_."
+
+After the death of Queen Mary, King William on one occasion paid a state
+visit to his little namesake, and was much gratified at being received
+by the child under arms, with all the military honors which a great
+field-marshal would pay to his sovereign.
+
+"Have you any horses yet?" asked the King, by way of opening
+conversation.
+
+"Yes," was the answer, "I have one live one and two dead ones."
+
+"But soldiers always bury their dead horses out of their sight," said
+his Majesty, laughing. That laugh could not be forgotten. The moment his
+visitor had gone, the boy insisted on burying his two _dead_ horses
+(which, of course, were animals of wood) deep down in the ground. This
+was done amidst much pomp and ceremony, after which Gloucester wrote an
+epitaph upon his two poor lamented wooden beasts.
+
+Young as he was, this little Duke seems to have known the value of
+loyalty and truth. Once when a plot was discovered against the King, and
+it was hard to tell who might not be a traitor at heart, Gloucester sent
+an address to his uncle which he made every member of his boy regiment
+and of his household also sign.
+
+"_We your Majesty's subjects will stand by you while we have a drop of
+blood_," ran this loyal address, upon reading which I doubt not King
+William ever after felt perfectly secure and at ease.
+
+A great many stories are told of the battles, sieges, and adventures of
+the Duke and his boys, and the palace must have rung with their shouts.
+Still there was plenty of hard work as well as play.
+
+When Gloucester was seven years old, his tutor, whom he loved, Lewis
+Jenkins, to the great grief of both, was dismissed, and he was placed
+under the charge of a bishop. Four times a year, too, a strict
+examination was held by four learned lords of the realm to make sure
+Bishop Burnet was making his pupil as wise as they thought the future
+King of England ought to be. Poor child! his answers on jurisprudence,
+the Gothic laws, and the feudal system were marvels, we are assured, but
+for all his study, I am afraid he knew really very little about those
+abstruse subjects, while it is saddening to read how all his happy
+sprightliness faded away under this severe course.
+
+While visiting one of the great college libraries in Oxford, I was much
+pleased to discover the quaint and most deliriously funny little
+composition given below. It had grown yellow with age, lying for so many
+years stored away in its glass case, together with many other
+interesting hits of penmanship.
+
+The writing, I am bound to confess, was beautifully clear and good. The
+composition was given both in Latin and English, while the corrections
+by Bishop Burnet could plainly be seen in the margin:
+
+"COMPOSITION OF WILLIAM, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.
+
+     "A Tyrant is a savage hideous beast. Imagine that you saw a certain
+     monster armed on all sides with 500 horns on all sides dreadfull
+     fatned with humane intrails drunken with humane blood this is the
+     fatal mischiefe whom they call a Tyrant.
+
+  "WILLIAM.
+  "_June_ 13, 1700."
+
+The pen of this little scholar was soon after laid aside forever. After
+a short illness of five days, he died, July 30, 1700.
+
+
+
+
+OLD LIGHT'S JOKE.
+
+
+"I say, have your folks got a horse?"
+
+"Yes, we have, and I'm a-going to lead him down to water by-and-by."
+
+"Is it your own horse?"
+
+"Yes, he is. We've had him ever so long. His name's Lightning. What's
+your name?"
+
+"Johnny Craddock; and I heard your mother call you Peter, when she said
+what she'd do if you went away from the gate before dinner was ready."
+
+"That's only because we've just come. She won't be afraid about me after
+I get used to it."
+
+"There's lots of nice boys around here. Me and Joe Somers and Put Medill
+and a whole crowd. Some of us have got horses. We've got four, but they
+belong to old Squire Potter, and he keeps 'em. Some day you may go with
+me and see 'em."
+
+A clear ringing voice sounded across the village street just then:
+"Johnny!--Johnny Craddock!"
+
+"Guess your mother wants you. It's dinner-time."
+
+Johnny knew it, but he left a promise behind him, as he darted away,
+that he would come back after dinner and see Pete Burrows ride Lightning
+down to the river to water. The arrival of a new boy was a great event
+in Ridgeville, and his new neighbors were as eager to make his
+acquaintance as they had been shy about coming too near the house while
+the furniture was unloading and being carried in.
+
+Johnny Craddock and two others were pretending to play jackstones in the
+grass near the big gate when Pete Burrows at last came out through the
+lane from the barn, with Lightning, at the end of a halter, behind him.
+
+"Ain't he a big one?"
+
+"He's blind of one eye."
+
+"Can he go?"
+
+"He's the biggest kind of a hoss," remarked Pete, proudly, "and when
+he's brushed up he's pretty nigh red."
+
+"Did you ever ride him?" asked Put Medill, doubtfully.
+
+"Ride him? I'll show you."
+
+He led his big, raw-boned, one-eyed sorrel wonder right alongside of the
+fence, and in another moment he was mounted.
+
+"There! He's as gentle as--"
+
+"I say, will he carry double?"
+
+"Of course he will. I've seen him carry three, and he didn't care any
+more what they weighed--"
+
+That was almost enough, and boy after boy gathered courage to follow
+Johnny Craddock, for Lightning really seemed to take no notice whatever
+of his increasing burden. He shook his ears a little when Joe Somers dug
+his bare heels into him, and then he walked calmly away from the fence.
+He could see the wide, shallow river spreading out above the bridge, and
+knew very well what was expected of him.
+
+The four boys clung tight to each other at first, for they were on a
+very high horse as well as a strange one, but before they reached the
+bridge they had gathered courage enough to "hurrah" two at a time, and
+to answer questions other fellows asked them from the sidewalk.
+
+"Stop him, won't you?" shouted Put Medill, as Lightning's big feet began
+to splash in the water. "I want to get down."
+
+Pete might have tried, if the halter had been in his hand, but the
+lowering of the great heavy sorrel head toward the cool surface below
+had jerked the strap from his grasp, and Lightning was a free horse. He
+was free, and he had at once determined not to do his after-dinner
+drinking just there at the river's edge. There was more and deeper water
+further on, and it might be better.
+
+Four half-grown boys will fill up the back of any one horse pretty well,
+however large he may be, and there was not room for any more. When his
+head was down, there did not seem to be quite enough, and a good push
+would have sent Pete Burrows down the animal's neck; that is, if the two
+handfulls of sorrel mane he was grasping should come out.
+
+There were boys on the bridge now, and others along-shore, and they were
+all making remarks, and more were coming, besides three men, and old
+Grandmother Medill, and Mrs. Craddock, and all three of Joe Somers's
+aunts, who lived with his mother, and kept the milliner shop.
+
+[Illustration: "LIGHTNING WALKED STRAIGHT AHEAD."]
+
+Lightning walked straight ahead until the water arose above his knees.
+Horses were driven through the river right there every day, and he knew
+there was no danger of his getting drowned; but it was a green-head fly
+that stung him and made him shiver. It seemed to the boys they were
+going to be shivered off into the water, and they all dug their heels in
+hard and shouted, not very loud, "Hold on!"
+
+That was pretty nearly in the middle, and Lightning had taken three long
+drinks and a short one, but his halter was as far out of reach as ever.
+
+"He'll go across," said Joe Somers, "and we can get off."
+
+"Perhaps he'll turn back," said Put Medill; but Pete Burrows knew
+better, for he could see which way Lightning turned his head.
+
+"He's going up stream. Oh dear!"
+
+That was precisely what he began to do, and before he had gone a rod he
+stumbled dreadfully over a stone on the bottom, and the boys on the
+bridge gave a shout, and Johnny Craddock could hear his mother calling
+him to "come right back this minute."
+
+Grandmother Medill said something too, and so did Joe Somers's three
+aunts; but old Lightning had only just settled in Ridgeville, and was
+not acquainted with either of them. He stumbled right along into still
+deeper water, and his four riders clung to him and to each other
+desperately.
+
+"There's the island!" gasped Johnny Craddock. "It's awful deep and swift
+both sides of that."
+
+A long, low, bushy affair was the island, and the water poured all over
+it in flood times; but it was dry now, and the grass had a fresh, green,
+inviting look to the eyes of Lightning. He had been drinking, and he
+would now eat. He made straight for the island, and his load held on
+until he got there.
+
+They did not utter a sound while he was pulling his feet out of the mud
+at the shore, but the moment he was high and dry among the grass and
+bushes, boy after boy came sliding down, until Lightning's long back was
+bare again.
+
+"Here we are! Hurrah!"
+
+Three of those boys had been born and brought up in Ridgeville, but not
+one of them had ever before been to that island on horseback.
+
+There was something almost grand about it until Mrs. Craddock and the
+rest gathered on the river-bank, within very easy speaking distance, and
+began to tell what they thought of the performance. There were at least
+six distinct voices telling Peter Burrows to catch his horse, and bring
+to the shore the three poor fellows upon whom he had played that wicked
+trick.
+
+Poor Pete! Just at that moment old Lightning had discovered that all the
+grass on the island was coarse, hard, speary bunch-grass and
+swamp-grass, unfit for a horse like himself. He turned willingly away
+from it, and before a grasp could be made at his halter, he was pulling
+his feet out of the shore mud again, as he waded away from the island
+into the river.
+
+He walked about half-way across, and then stood still, in pretty deep
+water. He looked at the island and the boys, and then he looked at the
+bank and the young and old ladies, and he put out his long neck, with a
+loud whinny.
+
+"Hear him!" exclaimed Pete. "That's his way of laughing. It's an awful
+joke on us. Can we ever get ashore?"
+
+"Get ashore?" said Johnny Craddock, looking very miserable. "My mother's
+going for Jones's boat now. She'll be here less 'n no time."
+
+Old Lightning stumbled on, over the stones and through the water, and he
+reached the bank just in time for Mrs. Burrows to take him by the
+halter. She did not lead him away at once, for she wanted to see if
+there would be any room in Mr. Jones's boat for the boys. It looked as
+if there would not, for all the women were in it, and so was little Vic
+Doubleday, shoving from the stern with a pole. One old horse had carried
+the boys to the island, but it took a boat and a mother and a
+grandmother and three aunts and a second cousin to bring them away from
+it.
+
+When Pete Burrows came at last, and his mother gave him the end of the
+halter, she said to him:
+
+"Pete, did you let any of those Ridgeville boys know how scared you
+was?"
+
+"No, ma'am, I wasn't scared."
+
+"That's right, Pete. I wasn't, either, and all those women were. I'll
+settle with you when we get to the house. Go right along now. Not one of
+'em shall say a word to you. Put Lightning in the stable, and come to
+me."
+
+
+
+
+CAPTAIN ORTIS[2]
+
+[2] Motley's _History of the United Netherlands_.
+
+BY MARY A. BARR.
+
+
+  Rich was the city of Antwerp, richer than can be told--
+  Full of precious things from the East; full of silver and gold;
+  Full of merchants like princes, and of burghers bold and free,
+  Ready to fight for their faith and rights, proud of their liberty.
+
+  Alva took it for Philip of Spain with a wild fanatic band--
+  Hungry, desperate, cruel men, each fighting for his own hand;
+  For Alva had vowed, when Antwerp fell, each captain in his host
+  Should have for plunder whatever thing he thought would please him most.
+
+  Antwerp went down in fire and blood. Each captain, as he pleased,
+  Palace, or guild, or store, or gold for his own profit seized.
+  Then Captain Caspar Ortis spoke, "Duke Alva, for my share
+  I choose the city prison, and for nothing else I care."
+
+  The prison was full of patriots, of felons of every kind,
+  Of wealthy burgomasters who had dared to speak their mind,
+  Of heretics to Rome's high Church; and monks and priests cried out,
+  "These prisoners are the Pope's and King's: take care what you're
+      about."
+
+  But Alva coldly made reply: "Ortis shall have his way;
+  He is my soldier, and his sword good work has done to-day.
+  Antwerp is mine; and what care I for Pope, or King, or Cortes?
+  I keep my word--the city prison belongs to Captain Ortis.
+
+  "If 'tis his whim these heretics to burn, that is his right;
+  You would have done the same, I know. Go quickly from my sight."
+  Then Ortis flung the prison gates as wide as they could be;
+  "Jailer," he said, "loose every bond, and set the prisoners free."
+
+  Then forth from rack and torture rooms, from darkness and from pain,
+  They trooped into the prison-yard--they saw the light again--
+  Women and children, rich and poor, young men and burghers old.
+  Said Ortis, "Who for liberty can measure me their gold?"
+
+  The wealthy gave him there their bond; they gave it cheerfully.
+  Unto the poor he only said, "Go forth; you too are free."
+  The women wept about his knees, the pale sick children feared,
+  And Ortis grimly smiled on them, and chewed his long black beard.
+
+  But not in all of Alva's host was captain, young or old,
+  Who for his share of plunder won such honor and such gold.
+  The ransom fees rolled up and up--he scarce their sum could count--
+  And not one thaler was grudged gold, whatever the amount.
+
+  Perhaps you think a hero should have set his prisoners free
+  Without a claim of any kind, without a ransom fee;
+  But good is good, however small; and in those wild dark days
+  His deed was thought most merciful, and worthy of all praise.
+
+  And, it is said, in after-years, when all his gold was spent,
+  He was with Antwerp's booty roll above all else content,
+  And that when old and weak he kept one single memory--
+  "Jailer, bring forth your prisoners, and let the poor go free."
+
+
+
+
+PERIL AND PRIVATION.
+
+BY JAMES PAYN.
+
+WAGER ISLAND.
+
+Part I.
+
+
+In 1740 the English fitted out a fleet against the Spaniards, among
+which was the _Wager_, an old East India-man that had been transformed
+into a man-of-war.
+
+In those days there were no iron-plated vessels, and the main difference
+between traders and ships of war lay in their guns. But the _Wager_ was
+not a good ship, to begin with, and was now laden and encumbered with
+every description of military stores. Moreover, her crew consisted
+chiefly of "pressed men"--men who, having just returned from long
+voyages on their own account, had been seized, perhaps just as they
+reached their native land, and made men-of-war's men against their will,
+as was then the custom.
+
+In England and America we should think the system employed by other
+nations of compelling men to become soldiers, their lot being decided by
+a number drawn from an urn, most intolerable; but the old system of
+"pressing" for the navy was far worse. Going to sea was not then looked
+upon as now as an honorable profession, with its compensations and
+pleasures, and not more difficult and dangerous than many another way in
+which the poor man has to earn his living. A sea-faring life, owing to
+the miserable equipment of the ships and the insolence and brutality of
+the officers, was considered by many a lot to which death was almost
+preferable. To obtain sailors for merchant vessels was so difficult that
+gangs of men were sent out who would overpower and seize any able-bodied
+man they might find in the streets, carrying him aboard a vessel at
+night, and keeping him in confinement until away from land, when he
+would be released and compelled to do his share in managing the vessel.
+Any attempt at remonstrance would be promptly quelled by blows and
+injuries of a fouler character.
+
+It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that among the crew of the
+_Wager_, made up as it was in this way, a spirit of insubordination and
+a hatred of authority existed. This will explain many things that
+happened on this unhappy voyage that would otherwise be hard to believe.
+
+The vessel had always difficulty in keeping up with the rest of the
+squadron; and meeting with a gale on the 7th of April, was so greatly
+shattered and disabled that she lost sight of her sister ships
+altogether, and could obtain no help from them. The place of rendezvous
+was the island of Socoro; but the weather was too bad to take an
+observation, as it is called, whereby to judge of her position. There
+were no charts on board of the neighborhood whither she had been driven,
+but an "abundance of weeds and the flight of certain birds" indicated
+her approach toward land of some sort.
+
+The gale by this time had reduced the vessel to a mere wreck, and every
+endeavor was made to keep her from going ashore. It was difficult enough
+to set the top-sails, since "it was so extremely dark that the people
+could not see the length of the ship, and no sooner had it been
+accomplished than the wind blew them from the yards."
+
+At four in the morning of the 14th, though she had her head to the west,
+and was therefore standing off shore, the _Wager_ struck violently on a
+hidden rock. It helps us to picture the force of waves in storm to learn
+that the people on board at first took this concussion for the mere
+striking of a heavy sea. But the next minute the ship was laid on her
+beam ends, and the sea made a fair breach in her.
+
+The consequence of this was an almost universal panic. Those who were
+not drowned in their berths rushed up on deck, and many appeared
+deprived of reason. One man, armed with a cutlass, struck at every one
+about him, and had to be knocked overboard, and another, "though one of
+the bravest men on board," was so dismayed by the terrible aspect of the
+breakers that he tried to throw himself over the rails of the
+quarter-deck. Others abandoned themselves to sullen despair, and were
+carried to and fro, with every shock of the ship, like inanimate logs.
+
+The man at the wheel, however, kept his station, though both rudder and
+tiller were gone, and Mr. Jones, the mate, cried out, in order to
+encourage the crew: "What, my men, did you never see a ship among
+breakers before? Come, lend a hand; here's a sheet, and here's a brace;
+lay hold. We shall bring her near enough land yet to save our lives."
+This was the more creditable in him, as he knew what "breakers" were,
+and had a firm conviction in his own mind, as he afterward confessed,
+that nothing short of a miracle could save them.
+
+But the ship drove on, and contrived to strike just between two large
+rocks. One of them partially sheltered her from the beating of the sea,
+which nevertheless threatened every minute to rend her to pieces.
+
+As soon as day dawned, the barge, the cutter, and the yawl were
+launched, though with the greatest difficulty, and so "many leaped into
+the first that she was greatly overloaded." The bonds of discipline, it
+will thus be seen, were already relaxed; nor must the saying of the
+Captain, that "he would be the last man to leave the ship," be set down
+as very heroic, for Captain Cheap had recently dislocated his shoulder,
+and would have found getting into a boat a very difficult job indeed. Of
+all those in authority with whom we have to deal in these scenes of
+peril and privation, Captain Cheap, of the _Wager_, was, I think, the
+most selfish and incompetent. At the same time, as will be seen in the
+sequel, he had plenty of courage. Even on the present occasion, as
+Midshipman Byron witnesses, the Captain issued his orders "with as much
+calmness as ever he had done during the former part of the voyage."
+
+But only a very few obeyed him. Many of those who had not gone in the
+boats "broke open every box and chest they could reach, stove in the
+heads of the casks of wine and brandy," and got so helplessly
+intoxicated that "they were drowned on board, and lay floating about the
+decks for days afterward."
+
+Those who had reached land in the boats, the number amounting in all to
+no less than 140 persons, had but little to congratulate themselves
+upon. Whichever way they looked, horror and desolation presented
+themselves: on one side the wreck, containing all they had to subsist
+upon; on the other, bleak and barren rocks. They found, however, a
+deserted Indian hut, into which they crowded for shelter from the storm
+which still raged.
+
+In the morning the pangs of hunger seized them. Most of them had fasted
+for forty-eight hours, yet only three pounds of biscuit dust had been
+brought ashore with them, while all the land afforded had been a single
+sea-gull and a handful of wild celery. These they made into a kind of
+soup, which, little as it was among so many, caused the most violent
+sickness and swooning. The biscuit dust had been put into a tobacco bag
+which had not been entirely cleaned out, and thus the whole party was
+very nearly poisoned to death.
+
+The Captain and officers had now come on shore, but many of the crew had
+refused to do so. The storm continuing worse than ever, however, they
+got frightened, and since the boats could not be got out to them
+immediately "they fired one of the quarter-deck guns at the hut" as a
+gentle reminder.
+
+The men on land occupied a rocky promontory so exceedingly steep that
+they were obliged to cut steps to ascend and descend it, which they
+called--not inaptly--Mount Misery. The knowledge that their comrades
+were in a state of open mutiny did not tend to raise their spirits. They
+would have been willing enough, perhaps, to leave them to their fate,
+but for the necessity of getting provisions.
+
+[Illustration: WITH ONE BLOW CAPTAIN CHEAP FELLED HIM TO THE GROUND.]
+
+When at last they were brought to land, they presented an extraordinary
+appearance. They were armed to the teeth, and only by the resolution of
+the officers, who "held loaded pistols to their breasts," could they be
+induced to give up their weapons. They had rifled the chests in the
+cabins, and put the laced clothes they found in them over their own
+greasy raiment, and the boatswain, their ring-leader, was rigged out in
+the most splendid attire. One is glad to read that, without respect to
+the figure he made, Captain Cheap felled him to the ground with his
+cane, and for a few hours order was restored.
+
+As the hut could only hold a few people, the cutter was turned keel
+upward, and fixed on props, which made a very tolerable habitation. But
+food was still so scarce, though the scanty provisions from the ship had
+been hoarded with great frugality, that the men were glad to eat the
+carrion crows that preyed on the corpses from the wreck, which every
+tide cast on shore.
+
+The ship was now under water, except the quarter-deck and part of the
+forecastle, and all that was procurable from it had to be drawn up by
+large hooks--"an occupation much obstructed by the bodies floating
+between-decks."
+
+It was not until the 25th of May (eleven days after the shipwreck) that
+provisions began to be regularly issued from the store tent, which was
+guarded by the officers night and day. On the 28th, three canoes with
+Indians came alongside the wreck, and from them they purchased "a dog or
+two and some very fine mussels."
+
+The language of these men was utterly unintelligible: their clothing was
+composed of skins and feathers, and they had evidently never seen a
+white man before. But the castaways contrived to ascertain from them
+that they were on some island on the coast of Patagonia, about three
+hundred miles north of the Straits of Magellan.
+
+[TO BE CONTINUED.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THESE MY LITTLE ONES.
+
+BY MONA NOEL PATON.
+
+II.
+
+
+When young Master Dreamer came out of the store, three radiant faces
+almost paid him for his self-denial.
+
+"Oh, Nellie!" whispered Bill, trembling with delight.
+
+"God bless him!" said Nellie.
+
+"What shall we buy?" said Bill. "This will buy heaps."
+
+"Billy," said Nell, "don't let us buy candies. They would soon be gone.
+Let us buy something to amuse Bab when we are away at school."
+
+Poor Billy sighed. It was hard to leave the tempting window. But he was
+not selfish.
+
+"Shall we buy a dog?" said he.
+
+"No. Mother says they eat too much. Besides, it would run away."
+
+"Rabbits?"
+
+"No; we could not keep them in the room. What do you say to a bird?"
+
+"The very thing!" cried Bill. "Let's go to the bird man's, and see what
+we can get."
+
+Off they started, Bab trotting along bravely.
+
+An hour later, as night was falling, up the dark stair of Nellie's home
+came three pairs of eager feet. Mother came to the door to meet the
+children.
+
+"How late you are, dears!" she said. "I was beginning to be anxious
+about you."
+
+"Mother! mother!--look! look!" was all the answer she received; and a
+poor rumpled pigeon was pressed so close to her face that she could
+hardly see it.
+
+And then the tired mother heard the story of the wonderful
+afternoon--how kind the little gentleman had been, how grim and cross
+the bird man, at first ordering them away without listening to them,
+then refusing to sell them anything for a shilling, and finally giving
+them this darling pigeon that he thought was going to die, and giving
+them back their shilling too. There it was, smooth and shining, and
+Nellie held it out for mother to see.
+
+Before one of the little ones would taste a bite of food, the pigeon had
+to be fed and warmed. A basket was filled with soft rags, and set near
+the fire, and in it the sick bird was placed. Then it was fed with
+delightful bread and milk, each child sparing a part of its own supper.
+Its bright eyes watched the children go to bed, and before they went
+there was a prayer softly breathed, in which the little gentleman was
+not forgotten, nor yet the rough bird man.
+
+Long before it wanted to be, the next morning, the pigeon was awakened
+by tender caresses, and fed before they so much as looked at their own
+breakfast. Certainly it looked better. The shilling was put carefully
+away to buy its food. When Nellie and Bill, after a last loving glance,
+had gone to school, Bab sat down by it on the hearth.
+
+"Oh, pigeon, pigeon," she whispered, "do live! I love you so! I do love
+you so! Oh, pigeon, live!"
+
+The pigeon did live. It was drooping for just what the children gave
+it--a little love. Day by day it grew bigger and stronger. Soon it would
+hop all over the room, perch on Bab's head, and eat its dinner from her
+plate. When spring came, and the days grew warm, the window was always
+left open, only a little bit, lest Bab should fall out, but still enough
+to let the pigeon hop in and out at its own sweet will.
+
+When summer came, though it was much nicer than winter, the close air of
+the court made poor Bab feel quite ill in the hot mornings. In the
+afternoons her brother and sister would take her far away on a long walk
+to the sweet grassy meadows outside the old city walls. They had found
+out now where their "little gentry" lived; and the great pleasure of the
+day was in returning from the meadow, and peeping in at the beautiful
+garden where the two happy children seemed to spend their whole time in
+play.
+
+The grass in this garden was often quite white with daisies, and the
+poor children used to stretch through and try to gather a few, but they
+were almost always just out of their reach.
+
+One very hot afternoon they were coming home through the square rather
+tired. There seemed to be something wrong with Bab. She was cross and
+languid. She cried when Nellie's hand could not reach the daisies.
+
+"Hush, hush, dear; the little master will hear you," whispered Nellie,
+while Bill stretched in his arm, and succeeded at last in getting one of
+the coveted flowers. The little master had heard and seen. He came up to
+them, and asked, shyly,
+
+"Do you want some daisies?"
+
+"If you please, sir," said Bill and Nellie, in a breath.
+
+In a moment the little fellow was down on his knees among the daisies
+gathering busily.
+
+"I would 'ike to gaver some myse'f," said Bab to Nellie.
+
+The little boy looked up and paused. His companions were at play not far
+distant. He looked half afraid.
+
+"Nellie, me s'ould 'ike to gaver some myse'f," whimpered the tiny voice.
+
+He hesitated no longer, but sprang up. "Come to the gate, and I'll let
+you in," he said, in a low voice; and then added, "but you must go out
+again as soon as she has got some."
+
+The next minute Bab was down in the soft, sweet grass, gathering the
+daisies with both little hands.
+
+"Master Dreamer" did not seem very comfortable, however, and watched his
+play-fellows cautiously. All at once two of them stopped their game, and
+came running up.
+
+"Go out! go out!" cried Dreamer, eagerly, "or they'll hurt you."
+
+But already the rude boys were upon them.
+
+"Turn them out! turn them out!" they shouted, and one of them caught
+Bill by the shoulder, while the others began roughly to hustle Nellie
+and poor, wondering Bab. This our little gentleman could not stand.
+Wildly he hit out right and left, keeping between Nellie with Bab in her
+arms and her two cowardly assailants, until they and Bill were safe
+outside the gate. Then he shut it, and stood with his back against it.
+
+The other boys were very indignant, and many a buffet poor Dreamer got.
+
+The last the three children saw of him, as they turned out of the
+square, he was lying on the grass, crying bitterly, his little sister
+standing beside him, crying too.
+
+"You baby!" sneered one of the boys, "blubbering because you got hit!"
+
+"I'm not crying because I got hit," shouted Dreamer, springing up, his
+face all burning. "I'm crying to think that boys calling themselves
+gentlemen should have behaved in such a way to those poor children."
+
+"Cads have no right in the garden."
+
+"Then the sooner you get out the better," retorted the little champion,
+for which observation the enemy was upon him again.
+
+Poor Bill and his sisters felt very sorrowful at the trouble they had
+brought their dear little friend into.
+
+"Oh, mother!" they cried; "to think it was all for us!"
+
+"Depend upon it, my darlings," said the wise mother, "that is his
+greatest comfort. He is all the happier for it now."
+
+Something was very wrong indeed with little Bab next morning. When her
+mother bent over her to give her the parting kiss, she opened her eyes,
+stared wildly upward, and uttered a scream of terror.
+
+"Go away! go away! You hit the little boy!"
+
+Poor little Bab was very ill. Fever had broken out in the close court.
+Her mother sent Bill for the dispensary doctor, and Nellie to tell her
+employers that she could not work for them that day. When the doctor
+came, he confirmed her fears. Bab had the fever. Oh, the agony of the
+next few days! The once merry voice rang out full of trouble. Constantly
+one weary cry came from the dark, cracked lips:
+
+"Why won't you let Bab in to gaver f'owers? Why are the great gates
+always shut? My daisies! my daisies!"
+
+"Nellie," said Bill, one evening, "wouldn't it make Bab better if we
+should go to the square and ask him and the little lady to gather some
+daisies, and kiss them, and give them to us for Bab?"
+
+Nellie thought it would. Early the next morning, which was Saturday,
+they set off without saying a word to their mother. They were so early
+that they had to wait a long time in the square before the boy appeared.
+At last the door of the house flew open, a hoop came bounding down the
+steps, and after it shot a boy, the baby behind him, in a new dress,
+with a doll clasped in her arms.
+
+It was the baby who first noticed the waiting children.
+
+"Dere's de children we gived de daisies to," she said, going up to the
+railing. "Does you want some flowers, now?" she asked, throwing down her
+doll and dropping on her knees to pick them.
+
+"Where's de baby?" she demanded presently, pausing in her diligent
+task.
+
+"She's very ill. That's why we came for flowers," said Nellie, sadly.
+
+"Has her a sore froat?"
+
+"No, it's the fever."
+
+"Brozer, brozer, come quick and gazzer flowers. De ittle baby has dot de
+fever!"
+
+Brozer came.
+
+"Is she very ill?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," said poor Bill, "she's near dead, and we thought perhaps if you
+would gather some flowers and kiss them, and wish Bab better, perhaps
+she would get better. For she does love you so!"
+
+Suddenly Baby dropped the daisies on the grass, clasped her hands, and
+said, in a loud clear voice,
+
+"O Dod! dear Dod! make Bab better, p'ease." And then with a satisfied
+nod, as if to say. "That's settled," she set to work again.
+
+Dreamer gathered busily, and said never a word.
+
+"Will that be enough?" he inquired, after a while, holding out a great
+ball of white stars.
+
+"Oh, quite, quite. Now would you mind kissing it?" said Nell, eagerly.
+
+"That will do no good."
+
+"Oh yes, it will!" Nellie insisted, and so, blushing scarlet, he kissed
+the flowers, saying gravely, "May she soon be better!"
+
+Baby did the same, crowding into Bill's hand the daisy heads she had
+plucked. Then, before he knew what she was about, she thrust her sunny
+face through the bars and kissed him on the lips.
+
+"Take 'at to de baby," was all she had time to say, when her brother
+caught her in his arms and drew her back.
+
+"Oh, Baby! Baby! you silly, silly girl," he cried. "You may have caught
+the fever," he exclaimed, his eyes full of fear. And then, moved by a
+strange wild hope that he might be able to take the infection from her,
+he kissed her slowly.
+
+"Please, sir," said Nellie, "the doctor says it isn't infectious."
+
+His face cleared.
+
+"Thank you," he said. "Come again when little Bab is better." And so
+they parted.
+
+When again they crept softly up the rickety stair, their sister lay upon
+the bed, her tiny hands folded, her eyes closed, her lips parted in a
+smile. By her side sat the worn-out mother, her head on Bab's pillow.
+Both were fast asleep.
+
+They laid the flowers on the bed, and very gently Bill just touched
+Bab's face and gave her the baby's kiss.
+
+They seated themselves on the window-sill beside the pigeon, which had
+been a little bit neglected in their anxiety, and waited a long, long
+time. An hour must have passed, and Nellie was the only watcher, for
+Bill too fell asleep. At last Bab stirred a little. Slowly her wee hands
+moved until they touched the daisies.
+
+"Who sent 'em?" she whispered.
+
+"The little master," said Nellie, "and the baby, and they asked God to
+let you stay and get well, and He said yes."
+
+"'Es," said Bab, "Dod said 'es."
+
+From that hour she began to grow stronger. Every day Nellie and Bill
+went to the garden again, and Dreamer and his sister gathered daisies
+and sent them to Bab.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"It was us!" suddenly shouted Baby. "Us was werry nice!" remarked the
+little lady, with great satisfaction.
+
+But Donald was crying.
+
+Auntie laid her hand on his head.
+
+"You were right, dear, when you said you were sure the pigeon came for
+something. He came to you with a message from the God of little
+children, who says, 'Whatsoever ye have done unto one of the least of
+these, ye have done it unto Me.'"
+
+
+
+
+SAVED BY AN ALBATROSS.
+
+
+The following story is another example of the truth that is stranger
+than fiction:
+
+During a voyage made by the bark _Gladstone_ from London to Sydney, in
+Australia, on the 22d of October, while the vessel was in latitude
+forty-two degrees south, and longitude ninety degrees east, a seaman
+fell overboard from the starboard gangway. The bark was scudding along
+with a rough sea and moderate wind, but on the alarm of "Man overboard"
+being given, she was rounded to, and the starboard life-boat was
+lowered, manned by the chief officer and four men.
+
+A search for the unfortunate man was made, but owing to the roughness of
+the sea he could not be discovered, but the boat steered to the spot
+where he was last seen. Here they found him floating, but exhausted,
+clinging for bare life to the legs and wings of a huge albatross.
+
+The bird had swooped down on the man while the latter was struggling
+with the waves, and attempted to peck him with his powerful beak. Twice
+the bird attacked his prey unsuccessfully, being beaten off by the
+desperate sailor battling with two enemies--the water and the
+albatross--both greedy and insatiable. For the third time the huge white
+form of the bird hovered over the seaman preparatory to a final swoop.
+
+The bird, eager for its meal, fanned its victim with its wide-spread
+wings. Suddenly it occurred to him that the huge form so close to his
+face might become his involuntary rescuer. Quick as thought he reached
+up and seized the bird, which he proceeded to strangle with all his
+might. The huge creature struggled with wings and paddles to free
+itself.
+
+In the contest the sailor was beaten black and blue, and cruelly
+lacerated, but he held his own, and slowly the bird quivered and died.
+The carcass floated lightly on the waves, its feathers forming a support
+for the exhausted man, who had so narrowly escaped a lingering death.
+
+But another danger awaited him. He was not much of a swimmer, and the
+excitement of the extraordinary conflict began to tell upon him. He was
+faint and grew giddy. But with one arm around the albatross's body under
+the wings, and a hand clutching the bird's feet, the sailor awaited his
+chance of rescue. Presently he heard his comrades shout from the boat,
+and in a few minutes more was safe on board the bark, though a good deal
+shaken and exhausted.
+
+
+
+
+PREPARING FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.
+
+BY A. W. ROBERTS.
+
+
+Fourth of July is coming, boys, and we must do something to celebrate
+the anniversary of the glorious Declaration of Independence.
+
+Let us see if we can not plan something that will be better and
+pleasanter than setting off fire-crackers, firing pistols, guns, and toy
+cannons. All these things make a hideous racket, which annoys sick and
+delicate persons, to say nothing of the serious accidents that have so
+often turned the great national holiday into a day of pain and sorrow
+for many a boy who started out in the morning to have a good time, and
+ended before night with bandaged hands and aching heads. It will be much
+better for you to be content with seeing the public display of
+fire-works which will take place in almost every village, managed by men
+who are used to handling these dangerous articles, than to run the risk
+of losing an eye or a hand in the reckless use of explosive toys.
+
+There are many pleasant ways in which you can celebrate the Fourth
+without any danger. There is no reason why you shouldn't have a supply
+of lanterns for one thing, and make the woods and lawns and the inside
+and outside of your houses just as bright as possible. I am going to
+have a great illumination. My lanterns were all finished up a week ago,
+and now I am going to tell you just how I made them, so that if you like
+you can have as many and as great a variety as are now piled up in one
+corner of my room all ready for the evening of the glorious Fourth.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
+
+My first lantern (Fig. 1) is made out of a Chicago corned-beef can, of
+which I procured a number from our grocery man. Having thoroughly washed
+them out with hot water and soda, I took them to a friendly tinsmith,
+who cut out from the sides the squares, circles, and ellipses. Over
+these I pasted red, white, and blue tissue-paper, while, to make the
+lantern still more luminous, holes were punched through the tin sides in
+various designs. This lantern can be either suspended with wires, or
+stood on window-sills, balconies, etc.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
+
+My next lantern (Fig. 2) is an imitation of the Chinese "bucket"
+lantern. The top consists of a strip of pasteboard one inch in breadth,
+the ends of which are sewed together, thus forming a circle, with a
+diameter of about seven inches. The bottom consists of a circular piece
+of pasteboard. The body of the lantern is composed of one piece of
+tissue-paper, either red, white, or blue in color, which is pasted to
+the top band and to the circular bottom piece. The lantern is suspended
+by means of three pieces of stout thread or fine wire as shown in the
+illustration.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 3.]
+
+Fig. 3 is a folding lantern made of three pieces of pasteboard of
+uniform size, on which designs in stars, shields, squares, and circles
+are drawn previous to cutting them out with a chisel and scissors. The
+small circles or holes shown in the illustration are burned through the
+pasteboard with a red-hot wire or poker. Red, white, and blue
+tissue-paper is pasted on the inside to produce the colored effects. The
+sides of pasteboard are fastened together on the inside with strips of
+silk, muslin, or calico by means of glue. The bottom of the lantern
+consists of a triangular piece of pasteboard, A, which is fastened to
+the bottom of the middle square, B, also by means of a strip of silk. At
+the corners, C, C, C, C, C, small holes are made with a very coarse
+darning-needle. The three square sides of pasteboard when brought
+together form a triangle equal to that of the bottom piece, B. Fine wire
+or coarse thread is then passed through the holes, C, C, C, C, C, and
+tied. The result is a very light and showy lantern of triangular form,
+which can be suspended by fine wire or thread. The advantage of this
+lantern over others is that after using it it can be untied, folded
+together, and packed away until the next Fourth arrives. The can lantern
+can also be used for many years by re-covering it with tissue-paper when
+necessary, thus saving expense and trouble.
+
+In making designs for lanterns always have them bold and strong. The
+effects will then be satisfactory, whereas fine and finicky work on a
+lantern is all lost when viewed from a short distance.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 4.]
+
+What bothered me most in my lantern venture was to obtain holders for
+the candles that would not take fire when the candles burned down, and
+thus endanger the wood-work round about. At last I hit upon three styles
+of home-made fire-proof candle-holders. The first is shown in Fig. 4. It
+consists of a raw potato cut into square slices three-quarters of an
+inch thick. These are bevelled at the sides as shown in the figure.
+Half-way through the centre of the slice a hole is bored, into which the
+candle is inserted. This holder is fastened to the bottom of the lantern
+by means of pins, which are driven through the sides of the potato and
+into the pasteboard.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 5.]
+
+Fig. 5 consists of three thicknesses of tin-foil, formed on a piece of
+wood of the same diameter as that of the candle. To form the end of the
+holder the tin-foil is solidly twisted together to the extent of an
+inch. When using this holder a hole is bored into the bottom of the
+lantern, through which the twisted end of the holder is passed and
+clinched on the under side.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 6.]
+
+Fig. 6 is made of a strip of thin tin or sheet-lead, the ends of which,
+when brought together, form a circle. The two square projections on the
+bottom of the strip are passed into two slots in the bottom of the
+lantern, and bent back so as to fasten the holder securely. The price of
+adamantine candles in New York city that will burn three hours is three
+dollars per hundred. All the illuminating material above described is
+very inexpensive, and more effective than the imported Chinese lanterns.
+The fun of making them, the lessons learned in utilizing and putting
+together various materials, the combining of colors in various designs,
+more than repay one for all the trouble.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 7.]
+
+In a previous number of YOUNG PEOPLE something was told you about gas
+balloons. They involve the use of chemicals. To my mind, the hot-air
+balloon is a great deal better and less expensive to manage. Make your
+balloons after the manner described in the article in No. 136. Now comes
+the business of inflating them. There are some difficulties to contend
+with, but with a little care you will be successful. The following is
+the best method according to my experience. Secure a short piece of old
+stove-pipe, and place the lower end on two bricks (Fig. 7), a space
+being left between them which is to answer as a draught-hole. The back
+and sides are then built up with bricks to prevent its falling. A fire
+is kindled in the stove-pipe, which is then filled with charcoal to
+one-third of its depth. As soon as the bottom of the pipe becomes
+red-hot, the mouth of the balloon is held over the top of the pipe so as
+to allow the hot air and gas to pass into and inflate it.
+
+[Illustration: Fig. 8.]
+
+In balloons bought at stores the fire-ball is fastened where the fine
+wires intersect one another at the mouth of the balloon (Fig. 8). When
+inflating the balloon by means of the stove-pipe, the fire-ball will
+have to be removed, as otherwise it would be destroyed when holding the
+mouth of the balloon over the top of the pipe. After removing the ball,
+fasten it on a thin wire hook so that the instant the balloon is
+inflated the fire-ball can be lit and hooked on to its position in the
+centre of the mouth of the balloon (Fig. 8). By this means the balloon
+will remain inflated at least one half-hour longer, and will travel many
+miles further than when relying entirely for a supply of hot air from
+the fire-ball alone.
+
+When sending off a fire-balloon at night, the hook must be shortened up
+close to the mouth of the balloon, so that the entire body of the
+balloon is illuminated; for daylight effect the hook is made longer, as
+shown in the picture. The best material for making the fire-ball is
+cotton batting saturated with a solution of two-thirds alcohol and
+one-third turpentine. It is a good plan to attach a postal card on which
+your address is written, and a request to the finder of the balloon that
+he will mail the card back to you with a memorandum on it where and at
+what time the balloon arrived. In this way you will know exactly how
+many miles and at what rate of speed your balloon has travelled.
+
+
+
+
+GRANDFATHER KNITTING.
+
+BY S. S. CONANT.
+
+
+  Lie quietly, baby grandson, while mother dear is away;
+  Out in the beautiful meadow she's raking the new-mown hay.
+  It's long since I went with the mowers, because I am growing old,
+  And they leave me at home with my knitting, and give me baby to hold.
+
+  It seems but yesterday, baby, that I was strong and hale,
+  And not a comrade could lead me at swinging the scythe or flail;
+  To wrestle or dance I was always the first upon the ground,
+  And there was not a swifter runner in all the country round.
+
+  But now I am hardly able to totter across the floor:
+  And instead of mowing the meadow, I sun myself at the door.
+  When I remember my manhood, it's hard to be reconciled
+  To sit at home with my knitting, and tending a little child.
+
+  And yet we are comrades, baby: at the door of this life you lie,
+  And I at the door am waiting of life beyond the sky.
+  To a brave and hearty manhood your infant frame will grow,
+  And young again I shall waken in the Land to which I go!
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: A GREENWOOD SCENE.]
+
+
+  Who so light of heart as we,
+  Dancing in the greenwood free,
+  Tripping, skipping, to and fro,
+  Laughing, gliding, heel and toe?
+  Mag and Robin, Jack and Nell,
+  Don't you think we polka well?
+
+  Merry Roger blows a horn,
+  And upon the breezes borne
+  Sounds the summons, "Come and share
+  Fun within the greenwood fair."
+  All the family are here:
+  Father, mother, baby dear.
+  Who so light of heart as we
+  Dancing 'neath the greenwood tree?
+
+
+
+
+OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.
+
+
+  "Green gravel, green gravel, how green the grass grows!"
+
+A ring of little boys and girls were singing this the other evening,
+their hands joined, and their faces flushed with the merry exercise. A
+lady who was looking at them said to the Postmistress:
+
+"Dear me, that sight takes me a long way back into the past. Fifty years
+ago I used to sing that song with my little brothers and sisters, and we
+played just as those children do. It seems like yesterday."
+
+Green gravel! The Postmistress understands why the grass is said to be
+green. It has been just as bright and soft as it now is every summer
+that she can remember, but she never saw green gravel. Did you?
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  SEARGEANT BLUFFS, IOWA.
+
+     My papa made me a present of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. I enjoy the
+     stories very much, and especially the letters. My mamma taught me
+     to sew my papers before reading them. I am a little girl eight
+     years old. I go to school, and have four studies--arithmetic,
+     geography, reading, and spelling. I have taken one term in music
+     lessons. I am learning how to do fancy-work. The first work I did
+     was a motto, and now I am making a toilet set for my room. It is
+     made of white honeycomb canvas, and worked with blue worsted. I
+     also do many little things to help my mamma. My pets are a
+     canary-bird named Fritz, who sings very sweetly, a tabby cat, and a
+     little baby brother, the sweetest of all. His name is Arthur. He
+     has learned lots of cunning things. I will tell you some of them.
+     He can tell all the animals on his blocks, and pat-i-cake, and
+     knock at the door, and lift up the latch. He is a year and a half
+     old.
+
+  CLARA A. H.
+
+Kiss Arthur for me, please. Tell mamma the Postmistress thinks little
+Clara must be a clever little helper.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.
+
+     We came here from Vermont because papa was sick, and we have been
+     in Colorado about two years. We can see a good many mountains from
+     this place. Pike's Peak is the highest, and Cameron's Cone is a
+     mountain next to Pike's Peak. There is also a mountain called Mount
+     Garfield, which was named for President Garfield soon after he was
+     shot.
+
+     I have three little boats, and I sail them in the irrigating
+     ditches. I haven't any pets, but am trying to tame some gophers
+     which live under a little store-house on our grounds. They are
+     something like chipmunks, but not so pretty. Sometimes we see and
+     hear a robin, and it makes us very happy, because it seems like
+     home; and when I am gathering flowers I now and then find a
+     dandelion, and we are all glad to see it, for the same reason. We
+     find beautiful flowers here; lupins are the most common just now,
+     and there are some flowers much like the buttercups we used to see
+     at home.
+
+     My birthday was the 5th of May. I was eight years old. I had some
+     nice presents--_Tom Brown's School-Days_, and a scrap-book made by
+     the directions in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 122, a beautiful
+     two-bladed knife, and a birthday cake with nine candles on it--one
+     for each year, and one to grow on. Mamma took me to Manitou for a
+     birthday treat; and if I did not think it would make my letter too
+     long, I would like to tell you about Manitou. It is right at the
+     foot of Pike's Peak, and there are mineral springs there bubbling
+     up out of stone basins, and wonderful cañons leading into the
+     mountains in every direction, in which beautiful flowers grow, and
+     there is a large cave with more than seventy rooms in it. We pass
+     the famous "Garden of the Gods" in going there.
+
+     I made a cross-word enigma, which I send you. Please print my
+     letter.
+
+  EDWARD DANA S.
+
+I hope you will succeed in taming the gophers. What a delightful
+birthday you had! It will help you to be happy all the year. Perhaps
+some little reader may be puzzled to know what an irrigating ditch
+means. It is a ditch dug for the purpose of holding water which is
+brought to it from some river or lake. By means of little sluice-gates
+this water is turned over the meadows or pastures, which would otherwise
+be dry and parched. In parts of our country where the climate is dry,
+and rain seldom falls, or falls only in what is called the rainy season,
+farmers have to irrigate their ground in this way.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.
+
+     I thought I would write you about our little chickens without a
+     mother; she died when the chickens were ten days old. We put them
+     in a big box with a feather duster, and brought them in by the
+     fire; they all cuddled under the duster, and are doing beautifully,
+     and are growing big and fat. If any boys or girls have young
+     chickens that have lost their mother, they should put them in a
+     warm place with a feather duster. I think YOUNG PEOPLE is lovely.
+
+  JOSIE L. M.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
+
+     I have a pony whose name is Dixie. He eats molasses candy, and
+     follows me around the yard to get it. When a gate is shut tight, he
+     can open it with his teeth. I am eight years old, and mamma is
+     writing this for me, because I am just learning to write.
+
+  ALBERT R.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  MORRISON, ILLINOIS.
+
+     I have just been reading some of the letters in Our Post-office
+     Box, and it came into my head to write one myself, though I am not
+     at all sure it will ever be published. I have always attended a
+     private school until lately, when my dear teacher went to Wisconsin
+     to live, so now I study at home. I enjoy the paper very much,
+     especially the Jimmy Brown stories. Even papa likes to look at the
+     pictures in it. I have no brothers or sisters, but I have a cousin,
+     only a little older than I am, who lives next door to me, and we
+     are almost like sisters. I do want some kind of pet so much, and
+     none of us can think of any except papa, who says I might have a
+     monkey, but I don't know about that. Can you think of some pet
+     suitable for a little girl ten years old?
+
+  KATE E.
+
+Some little girl of Kate's age may answer this question.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  INLAND, OHIO.
+
+     I thought I would write to you and tell you about my pets. I have a
+     Scotch terrier by the name of Cap; he is very black. When he wants
+     to get into the house he will stand on the porch and bark. Then if
+     we do not let him in, he will go to the other door and bump against
+     it. If we do not let him in then, he will go under the house or out
+     to the barn. I have a canary-bird whose name is Dick. He sings
+     every time we sew on the sewing-machine. I am a little girl nine
+     years old. I help mamma to wash the dishes and sweep the floor. I
+     am sewing carpet rags to-day. My brother is writing this letter for
+     me. We all think that "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" is very interesting.
+     "Toby Tyler" was the best juvenile story ever written; that is, if
+     you leave the judging to our family. I hope this is not too long to
+     be printed.
+
+  ARLIN EDITH H.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  PALISADE, NEVADA.
+
+     I am a reader of your paper, and like it very much. I am interested
+     in "Mr. Stubbs's Brother." I read "Toby Tyler" in a book some time
+     ago, and liked it very much. I was glad to find out that "Toby" and
+     "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" were the same, and that I would learn more
+     about the funny boy and his droll experiences.
+
+     I notice that the little girls tell about their pets. All I have
+     are a dear little baby sister, an old cat, and a canary-bird that
+     sings sweetly. One day an accident happened to it; its leg was
+     broken, which made it very sad for a while. I attend school
+     regularly, but our school will close soon, and then the scholars
+     will have fun roaming over the hills for wild flowers. Good-by.
+
+  T. N. M.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The little lovers of puss are numbered by thousands, and every one of
+them will stroke his or her own pet for Rosie's sake after reading this
+pretty story:
+
+     Among the many pets we kept years ago, when living in the country,
+     were a beautiful but rather wild-natured cat and an aviary of
+     doves.
+
+     Judge of the dismay with which we found one morning that Rosie had
+     been shut up all night with these doves, and was even then lying in
+     an inner cage fast asleep in the same nest with two unfledged
+     little birds.
+
+     Of course the first impression was that Rosie had made a supper off
+     some of the inmates of the aviary, but, on counting them, not one
+     was missing, and the involuntary prisoner on being released was
+     found to be ravenously hungry, which made her forbearance in the
+     matter all the more extraordinary, and may well be noted as a
+     wonderful piece of self-denial.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  AUSTEN, TEXAS.
+
+     This is the first year I have been taking your paper, and I like it
+     very much. Our home is called Honeysuckle Glen, because we have so
+     many honeysuckles; our yard is full of them. We have a great many
+     different kinds of birds that are building nests all around in the
+     trees and bushes in the yard. There is an old watering-pot hanging
+     out in the yard in one of the trees, and a pretty little wren has
+     built her nest in it. I am eleven years old, and I have a sweet
+     little sister two years old, with soft golden curls, fair skin, and
+     blue eyes. We have a sweet little canary, and it sings beautifully.
+     I have not the first numbers of "Talking Leaves." I am saving my
+     papers up, as I expect to have them bound some time. The new
+     Capitol building is progressing; it is going to be a grand
+     building. The old Capitol burned down last November, and I saw the
+     fire; it was a beautiful yet sad sight.
+
+  NELLIE B.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A USEFUL GANDER.
+
+In a little village in Germany a gander used to lead a blind old woman
+to church every Sunday, dragging her along and holding her gown in its
+beak. As soon as she was seated in her pew the old fellow walked into
+the church-yard, where he staid until the service was over; then he
+appeared at the door, ready to lead his mistress home. One day a friend
+called on the old lady, and was surprised to find that she had gone out.
+"Oh," said her little grandchild, "there is nothing to fear; the gander
+will take care of her."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE LAMB AND THE PONY.
+
+A curious friendship once existed between a lamb and a pony. The lamb,
+which was purchased by a farmer in England from a passing shepherd, was
+very wild, and grieved at being separated from the flock. It was an odd,
+sturdy-looking creature with a black face. The farmer put it in a meadow
+in company with a cow and a little white pony. The lamb took no notice
+of the cow; but the pony seemed to captivate its heart at once. Wherever
+the one went, the other followed. If people gathered, as was natural, to
+look at the companions, the lamb would slip under the pony and pop out
+its head between his fore or hind legs with an air of perfect security.
+At night it went regularly to the stable, and slept in the manger near
+its favorite. If, as sometimes happened, the pony was taken to draw the
+farmer's wife to market, the lamb bleated pitifully all the time it was
+away, and frisked about joyfully on its return.
+
+One day, to test its love, its owner carried the lamb to a pasture where
+a flock of sheep was grazing. The pony went too. In the course of the
+day the farmer came after the pony, and mounting him, rode homeward.
+Presently he looked behind. Yes, there came the shaggy black-faced lamb,
+forsaking its own kindred, and rushing on its eager legs to overtake its
+adopted friend.
+
+Whether the pony returned this affection we do not know. It neither
+resented it nor appeared weary of it, at all events.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  PARIS HILL, MAINE.
+
+     I am only seven years old, and can not write very well, but I want
+     to tell you how much I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. My grandfather
+     gave it to me for a Christmas present. I read the stories to my
+     mother. I liked "The Little Dolls' Dressmaker" so much! I was sorry
+     when it was finished. My home is in the highest village in Maine,
+     and we can see the White Mountains against the sky in the distance.
+     I do not go to school; my mother teaches me at home. I am afraid I
+     have written too much. Good-by.
+
+  MAYNARD M.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Postmistress thinks that Bessie Alexander has written a very pretty
+story about Carlos and the mermaid. But the story would have been
+prettier still had the little boy come to life again here on earth. Make
+it a rule, dear young contributors, to let your stories end happily. As
+many smiles and as few tears as possible, little dears:
+
+CARLOS AND THE QUEEN SEA-SHELL.
+
+     It was sunset. The last rays of the sun were cast over the placid
+     waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and lit up its surface with its
+     rosy light. In one of the many vessels which traversed its waters
+     was, among the other passengers, a child, a little Italian boy,
+     Carlos Arditi. He was in the care of his uncle, who was taking him
+     to his mother in Italy. Little Carlos then lay peacefully sleeping
+     in his little berth.
+
+     How different was the scene from that which took place two hours
+     later! The wind was blowing a terrific hurricane, and all was
+     confusion on board the ship. The Captain tried in vain to make the
+     sailors hear his commands, and even through the speaking-trumpet it
+     was impossible to hear him above the noise of the tempest. All
+     efforts to save the good ship were useless, and it soon fell on its
+     side, while the wind was blowing with terrific force. Some people
+     were clinging to the ship, while others were struggling in the
+     water, among whom was little Carlos. He had just taken hold on a
+     broken spar, when he saw a beautiful lily-white hand come up out of
+     the water by his side. It took him by the waist, and drew him below
+     the waves. When he was under-water he saw that a lovely mermaid had
+     taken him down to the bottom of the sea.
+
+     "I am the mermaid Queen Sea-shell," said she, in a voice which
+     murmured like a little brook which flows over the pebbles at its
+     bottom. "And," she added, "you are to stay with me, and you shall
+     never return to earth again. You will not find me unkind, and you
+     shall play in my beautiful garden, eat of the delicious fruits, and
+     pick all the flowers which grow there."
+
+     Until this time Carlos had remained silent. Now he said:
+
+     "Oh, dear Queen, I would stay with you, and oh, how happy would I
+     be! but remember the madre watching for her Carlos to come. If I
+     have anything good enough for you to take, take it in return, but I
+     must see the dear madre again."
+
+     "As you say, child," replied the mermaid. "Give me thy voice, and
+     thou shalt go. But first sing."
+
+     Carlos raised his large brown eyes to Sea-shell's face, and began.
+     The childish voice rose sweet and clear, but when the song was
+     finished Sea-shell shook her head.
+
+     "The waves sing as well as that," she said. "But list, child, give
+     me thyself as thou art on earth, and thou shalt go home."
+
+     Carlos did not answer; he only looked up at the sweet face before
+     him. He did not understand her. Suddenly an overpowering drowsiness
+     came over him, and he shut his eyes. When he awoke he was still by
+     Sea-shell, but no longer a mortal child, but a beautiful spirit.
+
+     "Come, Carlos," then said Sea-shell; "you are going home."
+
+     Then she wrapped him in her loving embrace, and carried him far
+     away above the mighty waters, and still farther up among the
+     clouds.
+
+     "Where am I going, dear Queen?" asked Carlos.
+
+     "To your home, child," answered Sea-shell; "and your home to you
+     now, little one, is heaven."
+
+     "But the madre?" he asked, eagerly.
+
+     "The madre will be with you," replied the Queen.
+
+     And the mermaid's promise came true.
+
+  BESSIE ALEXANDER, Philadelphia.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+C. Y. P. R. U.
+
+Most girls are fond of the needle, and enjoy the housekeeping duties
+which fall naturally under womanly care. Here and there, however, we
+find one who prefers to use a hammer and nails, to make boxes, hang
+pictures, and mend broken tables and chairs. There is nothing wrong in
+indulging such tastes, if you have them. In Atlanta, Georgia, there is a
+young lady who practices the art of making shoes. Not long ago a
+gentleman sent his little nephew with a pair of boots to be mended,
+directing him to go to the nearest place. Returning, the child
+astonished his uncle by remarking that "she" said so and so. Then it was
+discovered that there was in the neighborhood a young girl under twenty
+years of age, the daughter of a shoemaker, who daily works at the trade
+herself, not only mending, but making in good style both boots and
+shoes. For several years she has thus been engaged, and has won the
+respect and patronage of a large circle of appreciative families. We
+think this clever young girl deserves great praise.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+TO PUZZLERS.--In sending your puzzles please state whether you wish to
+have your full name, your initials, or your _nom de plume_ appear. Do
+not make puzzles on the names of great and good men who have lately
+died. We can not use the names of Longfellow, Emerson, or Dean Stanley
+in puzzles, acrostics, or enigmas. By doing so we should show a lack of
+proper veneration for the poets and thinkers whose death has made the
+world sorrowful.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+CONSTANT READER.--_The Bazar Book of Decorum_, published at $1 by
+Messrs. Harper & Brothers, is a manual of information on the subject
+which interests you. There is also a valuable book entitled _Social
+Etiquette and Home Culture_, which is published in the "Franklin Square
+Library." Its price is 20 cents, and it touches very pleasantly on most
+points which concern good manners.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Little folks who love to play with the skipping-rope should not try to
+jump too long at a time. "Keeping up" to fifty, sixty, or a hundred
+without resting is violent exercise, and dangerous to health.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week to Part I.
+of Mr. James Payn's description of the terrible scenes that followed the
+wreck of the English ship _Wager_, told under the head of "Peril and
+Privation." The story of "A Little Duke," by Mrs. Elizabeth Abercrombie,
+gives an interesting picture of the life of a royal child in the
+seventeenth century. One of the most remarkable incidents that ever
+occurred in a sea-faring life is told under the head of "Saved by an
+Albatross." What Mr. Roberts has to say about "Preparing for Fourth of
+July" will, we know, set a great many busy fingers to work, the result
+being some very pleasant effects in the way of illumination on the
+evening of the great day.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
+
+No. 1.
+
+TWO WORD SQUARES.
+
+1.--1. A desolate country. 2. To decorate. 3. Compact. 4. A moment. 5.
+One who finishes.
+
+  EMPIRE CITY.
+
+2.--1. A holy person. 2. A marksman. 3. An idea. 4. A drink. 5. A
+ringlet.
+
+  WILL A. METTE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 2.
+
+NUMERICAL CHARADE--(_To Empire City_).
+
+  My 1, 2, 3, 4 is an animal, so I've heard.
+  My 5, 6, 7 is an animal, not a bird.
+  My whole is a kind of cloth; now, mind,
+  In Webster's book its name you will find.
+
+  WILL A. METTE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 3.
+
+NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
+
+  My whole ought to be found in every house, and I am composed of 18
+      letters.
+  My 1, 2, 6, 4 is a musical instrument.
+  My 18, 2, 12, 17, 5 is a bird of prey.
+  My 8, 15, 10 is a pronoun.
+  My 7, 10, 12, 2, 3 is sweet.
+  My 13, 9, 14 is the name of a poet.
+
+  EUREKA.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 4.
+
+DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
+
+1. A Spanish word which means chalk. 2. A girl's name. 3. Permission. 4.
+Creeping vines. 5. A girl's name. 6. A vessel. Primals and finals
+compose the name of a celebrated Roman soldier and conqueror.
+
+  G. E.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 5.
+
+THREE DIAMONDS.
+
+1.--1. A letter. 2. Something that does not like the sun. 3. A kind of
+nut. 4. A period. 5. A letter.
+
+  MARION.
+
+2.--1. A letter. 2. To recline. 3. A journal. 4. To wander. 5. A letter.
+
+3.--1. In spice. 2. Owed. 3. Bright. 4. Conclusion. 5. In youth.
+
+  ROBIN ADAIR.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+No. 6.
+
+BEHEADINGS.
+
+1. I am an article of dress; behead me, and no family should be without
+me.
+
+2. I am what a boy's knife ought to be; behead me, and I am a musical
+instrument.
+
+3. I am a vessel; behead me, and I am part of the human body.
+
+4. I am always to be found in a good dairy; behead me, and I am a
+stationer's measure.
+
+5. I am something useful on the table; behead me, and I am what no boy
+should be at school.
+
+6. I am a wild animal; behead me, and no boat should be without me.
+
+7. I am a motion of the eye; behead me, and I am a useful fluid.
+
+8. I am useful when one wishes to cross a river; behead me, and I am
+part of a mountain.
+
+  ROGER DERBY.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 136.
+
+No. 1.
+
+M-ark. F-rank. E-ben. E-van. O-bed. O-liver. T-heron. O-scar. K-ate.
+M-abel. O-live. G-race.
+
+No. 2.
+
+America.
+
+      P           C
+    C A T       T O M
+  P A R I S   C O M E T
+    T I N       M E N
+      S           T
+
+No. 4.
+
+Chattanooga.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Florence, Mabel, and
+Annie Knight, "North Star," "Little Lizzie," Mary and Helen, Julia,
+Edgar Seeman, Nelse Walton, Imogene Starr, Ella Dana, Maggie Phillips,
+Richard Towers, Robbie and Freddie, "Twin Sisters," Carrie B. Kunkel,
+Carrie V. Latimer. Mabel Sykes, Elvira Urisarri, Francis Arrowsmith,
+Raymond Lincolnton, "Eureka," Harry Johnston, S. Brewster, John
+Trotwood, Viola La Mont, Elsie Dee, Jack Chandler, William Holmes, Tom,
+"Albatross," "Fern Heather," Margaret Lamb, Marion, "A. B. C.," and
+Jacob D. Jais.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COACHING.]
+
+
+
+
+"ROME AND CARTHAGE."
+
+
+This game is very popular with the school-boys of Havana, Cuba. It is a
+very jolly, harmless sport, and would make a good summer pastime for the
+boys of Northern schools when snow-ball fights are out of season.
+
+"Rome and Carthage" is played as follows: The boys are divided into two
+armies, each of which chooses its leader or general. Each side must be
+provided with a banner. The game is played so much in Havana that the
+boys there have handsome flags with "Rome" or "Carthage" worked or
+stamped upon them, but any gay piece of flannel will do. The weapon is a
+soft rubber ball, each soldier being provided with one or more. These
+balls are very soft indeed, and will not hurt even when thrown with
+great force. They cost very little when bought by the quantity. When the
+armies are equipped, the two leaders draw lots to see which side shall
+man the fort. Now in this country a good fort might be made in the open
+field of logs and bushes. In Havana it is generally a platform built in
+the court-yard of the school-house, as nearly all large buildings in
+that city are built with an open square in the centre.
+
+The army who defend the fort plant their banner near the centre in
+front, while the attacking party station themselves about thirty feet
+away, with their banner fastened securely in the ground. Then, at a
+signal from the leaders, the fight begins in earnest, and the rubber
+balls fly through the air in all directions. Whoever catches a ball in
+his hand retains it as captured ammunition, and can return fire with it;
+but if any soldier is so clumsy as to allow himself to be hit, he is
+considered dead, and must immediately leave the ranks.
+
+Ducking and scrambling to avoid the bullets occasion a great deal of
+fun, and require not a little dexterity, while much skill is necessary
+to make true and rapid shots. No wrestling or striking with fists is
+allowed.
+
+Presuming the Carthaginians to be the attacking party, they must make
+great efforts to capture the Roman banner by assault; and if they can
+successfully carry it past a line drawn about ten feet in front of the
+fort, the Romans are conquered, and must yield the fort to the victors
+and take the field themselves. If, on the other hand, the Romans can, by
+making a sortie, capture the Carthaginian colors, or by skillfully
+shooting the invaders save their own standard, they continue in
+possession of the fortification.
+
+The game generally lasts about twenty minutes, although a vigorous
+assault will sometimes decide it much quicker. If in half an hour
+neither party conquers, the armies are called to order, ammunition is
+again equally divided, and the contest renewed. The question of
+superiority is decided, as in many games of chance, by the best two in
+three matches. If an army is proved by continued defeat to be worthless,
+it is disbanded, and a new distribution of soldiers arranged.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE FULL MOON OF COCOA-NUTS.
+
+In Bombay, when the rainy season is over, the fishermen and their wives
+and children gather by hundreds to keep a festival which they call "the
+full moon of cocoa-nuts."
+
+The feast occupies two whole days. The idea which inspires it is that
+the sea is very powerful. The simple-minded people think they ought to
+praise it because it gives them their bread, and so as they stand on
+the shore they beg it to be good to them. They ask it, in caressing
+words, not to be angry or stormy when their little boats shall go out,
+and they tell it they hope it will give them plenty of fish.
+
+Not only the fishermen, but owners of boats and ship-builders, and
+sometimes rich merchants, go to the sea-side to court the favor of grim
+old Neptune. Every person carries a gift of cocoa-nuts. Wading out into
+the surf as far as possible, he flings the rough brown fruit into the
+waves. After the cocoa-nut has been received by the billows, the devout
+finish by offering a crown of flowers. The waters are covered with
+beautiful wreaths and garlands, which are given in thankfulness for past
+favors.
+
+Little does the ocean care for the flowers and the fruit which are
+poured into its depths. But the festival makes the grave men and women
+as eager and happy as children, and when they go home, at the end of the
+second day, they carry with them memories which will make them joyful as
+long as they think of "the full moon of cocoa-nuts."
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: GOING TO SPEND THE SUMMER AT THE SEA-SIDE.]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, June 27, 1882, by Various
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58357 ***