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diff --git a/59586-0.txt b/59586-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c9836e --- /dev/null +++ b/59586-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2062 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59586 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 149. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 +per Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: "TOO HOT!"--DRAWN BY JESSIE SHEPHERD.] + + + + +THE BURIAL OF THE OLD FLAG. + +BY MARY A. BARR. + + + There is not in all the north countrie, + Nor yet on the Humber line, + A town with a prouder record than + Newcastle-upon-the-Tyne. + Roman eagles have kept its walls; + Saxon, and Dane, and Scot + Have left the glamour of noble deeds, + With their names on this fair spot. + From the reign of William Rufus, + The monarchs of every line + Had a grace for loyal Newcastle, + The city upon the Tyne. + + By the Nuns' Gate, and up Pilgrim Street, + What pageants have held their way! + But in seventeen hundred and sixty-three, + One lovely morn in May, + There was a sight in bonnie Newcastle! + Oh, that I had been there! + To hear the call of the trumpeters + Thrilling the clear spring air, + To hear the roar of the cannon, + And the drummer's gathering beat, + And the eager hum of the multitudes + Waiting upon the street. + + Just at noon was a tender hush, + And a funeral march was heard; + With arms reversed and colors tied, + Came the men of the Twenty-third. + And Lennox, their noble leader, bore + The shreds of a faded flag, + The battle-flag of the regiment, + Shot to a glorious rag; + Shot into shreds upon its staff, + Torn in a hundred fights, + From the torrid plains of India + To the cold Canadian heights. + + There was not an inch of bunting left; + How could it float again + Over the faithful regiment + It never had led in vain? + And oh, the hands that had carried it! + It was not cloth and wood; + It stood for a century's heroes, + And was crimson with their blood; + It stood for a century's comrades. + They could not cast it away, + And so with a soldier's honors + They were burying it that day. + + In the famous old North Humber fort, + Where the Roman legions trod, + With the roar of cannon and roll of drums + They laid it under the sod. + But it wasn't a tattered flag alone + They buried with tender pride; + It was every faithful companion + That under the flag had died. + It was honor, courage, and loyalty + That thrilled that mighty throng + Standing bare-headed and silent as + The old flag passed along. + + So when the grasses had covered it, + There was a joyful strain; + And the soldiers, stirred to a noble thought, + Marched proudly home again. + The citizens went to their shops once more, + The collier went to his mine; + The shepherd went to the broomy hills, + And the sailor to the Tyne; + But men and women and children felt + That it had been well to be + Just for an hour or two face to face + With honor and loyalty. + + NOTE.--In May, 1763, the soldiers of the Twenty-third Regiment of + the British army buried with military honors at Newcastle-on-Tyne + the regimental flag, which had been torn to shreds at the battle of + Minden. + + + + +A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. + +BY ALLAN FORMAN. + + +One rainy day, as the children were amusing themselves by ransacking +their uncle Harry's closets, Tom pulled his hand out suddenly from the +back part of a deep drawer, and shouted triumphantly, "Preserves!" at +the same time holding out a large glass jar for inspection. A cry of +disgust followed, for instead of preserves there was nothing in the +bottle but a strange-looking animal floating in some brown liquid. + +"Pah! It's a horrid bug," said Alice, turning up her nose in disgust. + +"'Tain't," contradicted Charlie, regardless of his grammar. "It's a +tarantula." + +"And what is that but a bug?" replied Alice. + +"It's a spider," said Charlie. "You ask Uncle Harry if it isn't." + +In the mean time Tom and Alice had taken the jar over to the desk where +Uncle Harry was writing. + +"What is this, Uncle Harry?" said Alice. + +"It is a tarantula. I brought it home from California with me." + +"I told you so!" exclaimed Charlie, from the closet. + +"It is a kind of spider, and one of the largest that lives in this +country. They don't make webs like ordinary spiders, but dig a hole in +the ground and line it with a sort of silky web like the cocoon of a +silk-worm. Their hole is about six inches deep, and is closed by a funny +little trap-door made of the same silky lining, and covered on the +outside with sticks and gravel so cleverly that one can rarely find a +tarantula's burrow unless you see him going in; and even if you do see +him going in, it is very difficult to get him to come out, as he pulls +his trap-door shut after him, and holds it tight from the inside." + +"If he don't build a web, how does he catch flies and things?" inquired +Charlie. + +"He jumps after them. A lively tarantula can jump from three to five +feet, and when he once catches hold of any kind of a bug or small bird +with those great hairy legs, it has but little chance to get away." + +"Is their bite really so poisonous?" asked Alice, eying the jar rather +timidly, as if she was afraid the terrible insect would get away. + +"That question is a hard one to answer. Some people who have lived in +countries where they are common claim that it is only fatal in a few +cases, while others seem to think it is deadly poison." + +"What are you laughing at, Uncle Harry?" demanded Charlie. + +"I was thinking of the most horrible night I ever experienced," replied +his uncle. "You know," he continued, "while I was in the West I spent +some two weeks camping out in the mountains with a party of four young +men. We had an old cabin, where we slept at night, and we spent our days +delightfully, fishing, hunting, geologizing, and botanizing. We had not +been in camp long before we discovered a tarantula village not far from +our cabin, and we all determined to catch some specimens to take home +with us. At first we had considerable trouble in catching them; they +were so lively and so ugly that we always ended in killing them in +self-defense. At last a brilliant member of the party discovered that by +placing a wide-mouthed bottle over the mouth of the tarantula's burrow, +and then thumping on the ground around it, the animal would crawl out +into the bottle, and the captor could turn the bottle over, clap a piece +of board over the top, and secure his prisoner. As soon as the discovery +was made known, all the old pickle jars were called into requisition, +and as the former occupants of the cabin had left a number, we were soon +lucky, or unlucky, enough to have about twenty-five large specimens. We +covered the jars with bits of shingle, and set them on a shelf which +was nailed to one side of the cabin. Everything went well, and we +determined that as soon as we had leisure we would kill them with +chloroform, and preserve them in spirits as that one is. But one night, +after we had all got comfortably settled for sleep, one of the party +thought that he was thirsty, so rising carefully from his bunk, he +groped his way over to the corner, under the shelf, where the water-pail +stood; he had his drink, and forgetting the existence of the shelf, +raised his head. Crash! down came the rotten old shelf, and down came +the jars with the tarantulas in them. The party heard the fall, and like +one man sprang from their beds and rushed for the door, but before they +had got half-way across the floor they remembered that the tarantulas +were loose, and they stopped; a moment more and it was too late. We were +all afraid to move, for fear that we would put our feet on a tarantula; +so there we stood, as if turned into statues. In a short time our +positions became strained and cramped, but we did not dare to change +them. Our nerves became excited, and we imagined that we could feel them +crawling up our backs and walking over our bare feet. The minutes seemed +lengthened to hours, and the hours seemed months. At last the day began +to break, but we had manufactured curtains out of old newspapers, that +we might sleep undisturbed by the light. Oh, how we bemoaned our +laziness! Finally it grew light enough to see, and we carefully opened +the door and went out. One of the party went back into the cabin and got +our clothes, and after examining them carefully we dressed ourselves." + +"And nobody was bitten?" said Alice, with a sigh of relief. + +"No," replied her uncle, rising from his chair as the supper-bell rang; +"but I don't think I ever was so badly scared before or since." + + + + +PLANTS AND ANIMALS--THEIR DIFFERENCE. + +BY MRS. S. B. HERRICK. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 1_a_.] + +If the question were put to you suddenly, "What is the difference +between a plant and an animal?" how do you think you would answer? Stop +a minute, and think. Do not be satisfied with saying that a plant has +leaves, and an animal has not. Look deeper, and answer more +thoughtfully. There are many plants which have no leaves, nor roots, nor +flowers, and there are some animals which seem to have all these things +(Figs. 1 and 1_a_). In some cases they are so much alike (Figs. 2 and 3) +that it has taken the most careful study to decide whether they are +plants or animals. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--ANIMAL.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--VEGETABLE.] + +Look up into the bright blue sky, and then down at the solid earth +beneath your feet--you do not find any difficulty in telling, without +taking a moment to think, which is sky and which is earth; but if you +are so happy as to live in the wide open country, or near the sea, or on +a lofty hill, look off and off and off until you see only the delicate +blue haze, like smoke, which divides the heavens from the earth. You can +often see the same thing by looking from the upper windows of a high +house. You will find that many and many a time you can not tell which is +earth and which is air. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.] + +Just so it is in the world of nature. You may look at a group of cows +standing under the trees, or watch the merry little grasshoppers +skipping about in the weeds, or catch a bee at his early drink in a +morning-glory bell, and you would laugh if anybody asked you if you +could tell the animal from the plant. But get far enough away from these +common things, and study the animals and plants that need your +microscope to see them, and you would find things so much alike that you +could not tell which was which. Many of these plants have no roots nor +leaves, no flowers nor seed, and many of the animals have no heads nor +legs, no eyes, nor mouths, nor stomachs. In Fig. 4, _a_ is a plant, and +_b_ is an animal. Now how do you suppose anybody knows this? People who +study these things do not _guess_--they _know_. The real difference lies +in what these tiny little creatures do, not at all how they are formed. + +About three-fourths of all the kinds of sea-weed, for instance, are +found to be animal--not one animal, but a colony. The other fourth are +vegetables. All these used to be considered vegetables; so did the +sponge and the coral and the sea-anemones, and they are all now known to +be animals. Every time you play the game of "Twenty Questions" you have +to think and decide whether the particular thing you have chosen is +"animal, vegetable, or mineral." Have you any notion what makes the real +difference between them? + +I imagine that, sooner or later, you will think and say the difference +is that animals can move and plants can not. That will be a very +sensible conclusion if you do come to it, though not a correct one, for +plants do move, some of them very much as animals do; others, and the +greater number, in another way; which all seems very wonderful, and +which I want to talk over next time. + +What makes the real, deep-down difference is this: Plants can live on +mineral matters alone, on earth and water and air, and these things they +can change into their own flesh and blood, their stems and sap and +fruit. Animals can only live on what the plants have already turned from +dead into living material. We need water--that is a mineral--and salt +and air, which are minerals too, if we are to keep alive and well. But +we can not live on these things alone: we should soon die if we had no +food; and all really nourishing food, all that keeps our blood warm and +makes us grow, has once been vegetable. Not one bird, or fish, or +animal, not one single human being, could ever have lived on this earth, +in the air, or in the water, if the plants had not come first, and +prepared the earth for us to live in. + +These are "sure enough" fairies that are forever working their wonders +for us. The roots, like elves, grope down in the earth, and gather its +treasures; the leaves stretch out into the air, and gather its riches, +and out of what they have collected they weave the beautiful flowers and +delicious fruits and golden grain. + +I should like to make very clear just the way they do this: it is very +wonderful and beautiful to study how they work their spells. First, the +root, as we have seen before, with its little helmet, bores its way down +into the earth. If it finds no water or damp earth it soon wilts and +dies, but if it finds a wet place it begins to soak up moisture. Besides +the water, it sucks up all the parts of the earth that are dissolved in +the water. The water it _must_ have, and it will manage to live awhile +on that alone, as Dr. Tanner did, but it can not live so very long. Poor +ground means ground that has little or no plant food in it. + +You know, if you ever did any gardening work, that you can stick a +cutting of geranium or begonia into pure sand that has no nourishment at +all in it, and that if you keep it well watered the cutting will strike +out roots and bear leaves. This is, in fact, the best way to start +cuttings, for mould is a little apt to rot the stem, but the sand +preserves it. After a while the baby plant is tired of doing nothing but +sucking, and cries for some stronger food. Then you must put it into +rich earth, still giving it plenty of water. The roots, like the baby's +stomach, will at first be satisfied with a very milk-and-watery diet, +but after a while it must have a strengthening soup. + +The roots bring the plant a good deal, but the leaves are the principal +feeders. You remember, perhaps, reading about the millions of little +mouths the plant has all over its leaves. These mouths bring both food +to nourish and air to sustain the plant. A fish keeps itself alive by +sucking the water it lives in all the while through its gills. It gets +out of the water whatever it needs--air and some food. The plants are +like fishes; their water is the great ocean of air that lies on the +surface of the earth. They draw it in through their mouths, take out of +it all they need, and then breathe the rest out again. + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.] + +In Fig. 5 you see a piece of a liverwort leaf cut down through the +mouth, and in Fig. 6 another kind, a blue-flag (_l l_, lips; _h h_, +hollow of the mouth). + +Air is a curious mixture. It is a gas made of several gases stirred +together as you stir tea and milk and sugar. One of these gases is +called oxygen (don't be afraid of the hard names); that is what keeps us +alive. I won't give you the name of the next, because it is only used, +like the milk, to weaken the tea. The third is a very disagreeable and +dangerous gas, called _carbonic acid gas_. It is this last that makes +your head ache in a crowded room or car. This is what you hear of every +now and then as _choke-damp_, which suffocates people down in mines and +deep wells. It is this which comes from burning charcoal, and makes it +sure death to burn it in a closed room. There is very little of this +dangerous stuff even in close air. Carbonic acid gas, though so +poisonous, is made up of two things, which are very good and perfectly +harmless when they are separated--carbon and the life-giving oxygen. +Carbon is coal, or something like coal. United together, these two +harmless things make a dreadfully dangerous one, just as innocent +saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal unite to form the deadly gunpowder. + +Now notice how beautifully plants and animals are made to live together +and help each other. Animals breathe in the air, and help themselves to +the oxygen which keeps them alive, but breathe out the deadly carbonic +acid gas. Plants breathing the air separate by some wonderful power of +their own the carbonic acid gas into carbon and oxygen, help themselves +to the carbon, and breathe out the oxygen. What plants consume we throw +away as useless, and what plants breathe out sustains our life. That is +the reason why the country is apt to be so much more healthy than the +city. The air that is poisoned by people and fires becomes purified by +plants. + +Unlike the fairies of the story-book, who do all their good deeds by +night, these little plant fairies work only by the light. The sun is +their master, and his first ray is their call from sleep. They set to +work in a minute, separating the dangerous carbonic acid gas into carbon +and oxygen; and while they use the carbon and grow by it as you do by +your food, they are giving back the sweet pure oxygen to the air. All +day long they are at their good work; but when the sun sinks behind the +hills, they do not need any sunset gun to tell them their time of rest +has come. They drop work at once, and drop their fairy ways; they begin +right away to behave as the animals do--to breathe in oxygen and breathe +out the hateful carbonic acid. That is the reason it is not healthy to +sleep in a room with flowers at night, though they are so good to have +in the daytime. + +We owe our lives to the plants--the food we eat, the pure air we +breathe, as well as much of the rain that falls from heaven. They are +ministering angels, and the loving, tender heavenly Father has appointed +them their work to do--to beautify the earth and purify the air under +the guidance of the glorious sun, which He has created, and which He +keeps in its appointed path. + + + + +THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB.[1] + +[1] Begun in No. 146, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +BY W. L. ALDEN, + +AUTHOR OF "THE MORAL PIRATES," "THE CRUISE OF THE 'GHOST,'" ETC., ETC. + +CHAPTER IV. + + +From the books they had read, Harry and Joe had learned exactly what to +do in case of capsizing under sail, and had often discussed the matter. +"When I capsize," Harry would say, "I shall pull the masts out of her, +and she'll then right of her own accord. Then I shall unship the rudder, +put my hands on the stern-post, and raise myself up so that I can +straddle the deck, and gradually work my way along until I can get into +the cockpit. After that I shall bail her out, step the masts, and sail +on again." Nothing could be easier than to describe this plan while +sitting in a comfortable room on shore, but to carry it out in a rough +sea was a different affair. + +Harry was not at all frightened when he found himself in the water, and +he instantly swam clear of the canoe to avoid becoming entangled in her +rigging. He then proceeded to unship the masts and the rudder, and when +this was done, tried to climb in over the stern. He found that it was +quite impossible. No sooner would he get astride of the stern than the +canoe would roll and throw him into the water again. After half a dozen +attempts he gave it up, and swimming to the side of the canoe, managed +to throw himself across the cockpit. This was the way in which Charley +Smith had climbed into his canoe the day before, and to Harry's great +surprise--for no such method of climbing into a canoe had been mentioned +in any of the books he had read--it proved successful. + +Of course the deck of the canoe was now level with the water, which +washed in and out of her with every sea that struck her. Harry seized +the empty tin can which he used as a bailer, and which was made fast to +one of the timbers of the canoe with a line to prevent it from floating +away, but he could not make any headway in bailing her out. The water +washed into her just as fast as he could throw it out again, and he +began to think that he should have to paddle the canoe ashore full of +water. This would have been hard work, for with so much water in her she +was tremendously heavy and unwieldy; but after getting her head up to +the wind with his paddle, he found that less water washed into her, and +after long and steady work, he succeeded in bailing most of it out. + +[Illustration: NOT SO EASY AS IT LOOKS.] + +Meanwhile Charley, whose help Harry had declined, because he felt so +sure that he could get out of his difficulty by following the plan that +he had learned from books on canoeing, was trying to help Joe. At first +Joe thought it was a good joke to be capsized. His Lord Ross +lateen-sail, with its boom and yard, had floated clear of the canoe of +its own accord, and as the only spar left standing was a mast about two +feet high, she ought to have righted. But Joe had forgotten to lash his +sand-bag to the keelson, and the result was that whenever he touched the +canoe she would roll completely over, and come up on the other side. Joe +could neither climb in over the stern nor throw himself across the deck, +and every attempt he made resulted in securing for him a fresh ducking. +Charley tried to help him by holding on to the capsized canoe, but he +could not keep it right side up; and as Joe soon began to show signs of +becoming exhausted, Charley was about to insist that he should hang on +to the stern of the _Midnight_, and allow himself to be towed ashore, +when Tom in the _Twilight_ arrived on the scene. + +Tom had seen the _Dawn_ and the _Sunshine_ capsize, and was far enough +to leeward to have time to take in his sail before the squall reached +him. It therefore did him no harm, and he paddled up against the wind to +help his friends. It took him some time to reach the _Dawn_, for it blew +so hard that when one blade of the paddle was in the water, he could +hardly force the other blade against the wind. Before the cruise was +over he learned that by turning one blade at right angles to the +other--for the two blades of a paddle are joined together by a ferrule +in the middle--he could paddle against a head-wind with much less labor. + +The _Twilight_, being an undecked "Rice Lake" canoe, could easily carry +two persons, and, with the help of Charley and Tom, Joe climbed into +her. Charley then picked up the floating sail of the _Dawn_, made her +painter fast to his own stern, and started under paddle for the shore. +It was not a light task to tow the water-logged canoe, but both the sea +and the wind helped him, and he landed by the time that the other boys +had got the camp fire started and the coffee nearly ready. + +"Well," said Harry, "I've learned how to get into a canoe to-day. If I'd +stuck to the rule, and tried to get in over the stern, I should be out +in the lake yet." + +"I'm going to write to the London _Field_ and get it to print my new +rule about capsizing," said Joe. + +"What's that?" asked Charley. "To turn somersaults in the water? That +was what you were doing all the time until Tom came up." + +"That was for exercise, and had nothing to do with my rule, which is, +'Always have a fellow in a "Rice Lake" canoe to pick you up.'" + +"All your trouble came from forgetting to lash your ballast bag," +remarked Harry. "I hope it will teach you a lesson." + +"That's a proper remark for a Commodore who wants to enforce +discipline," cried Charley; "but I insist that the trouble came from +carrying too much sail." + +"The sail would have been all right if it hadn't been for the wind," +replied Harry. + +"And the wind wouldn't have done us any harm if we hadn't been on the +lake," added Joe. + +"Boys, attention!" cried Harry. "Captain Charles Smith is hereby +appointed sailing-master of this fleet, and will be obeyed and respected +accordingly, or, at any rate, as much as he can make us obey and respect +him. Anyhow, it will be his duty to tell us how much sail to carry, and +how to manage the canoes under sail." + +"This is the second day of the cruise," remarked Joe, an hour later, as +he crept into his blankets, "and I have been wet but once. There is +something wrong about it, for on our other cruises I was always wet +through once every day. However, I'll hope for the best." + +In the middle of the night Joe had reason to feel more satisfied. It +began to rain. As his rubber blanket was wet, and in that state seemed +hotter than ever, Joe could not sleep under the shelter of it, and, as +on the previous night, went to sleep with nothing over him but his +woollen blanket. His head was underneath the deck, and as the rain began +to fall very gently, it did not awaken him until his blanket was +thoroughly wet. + +He roused himself, and sat up. He was startled to see a figure wrapped +in a rubber blanket sitting on his deck. "Who's there?" he asked, +suddenly. "Sing out, or I'll shoot!" + +"You can't shoot with a jackknife or a tin bailer, so I'm not much +afraid of you," was the reply. + +"Oh, it's you, Tom, is it?" said Joe, much relieved. + +"My canoe's half full of water, so I came out into the rain to get dry." + +"Couldn't you keep the rain out of the canoe with the rubber blanket?" + +"The canoe is fourteen feet long, and hasn't any deck, and the blanket +is six feet long. I had the blanket hung over the paddle, but of course +the rain came in at the ends of the canoe." + +"Well, I'm pretty wet, for I didn't cover my canoe at all. What'll we +do?" + +"Sit here till it lets up, I suppose," replied Tom. "It must stop +raining some time." + +"I've got a better plan than that. Is your rubber blanket dry inside? +Mine isn't." + +"Yes, it's dry enough." + +"Let's put it on the ground to lie on, and use my rubber blanket for a +tent. We can put it over a ridge-pole about two feet from the ground, +and stake the edges down." + +"What will we do for blankets? It's too cold to sleep without them." + +"We can each borrow one from Harry and Charley. They've got two apiece, +and can spare one of them." + +Joe's plan was evidently the only one to be adopted; and so the two boys +pitched their little rubber tent, borrowed two blankets, and crept under +shelter. They were decidedly wet, but they lay close together, and +managed to keep warm. In the morning they woke up, rested and +comfortable, to find a bright sun shining and their clothes dried by the +heat of their bodies. Neither had taken the slightest cold, although +they had run what was undoubtedly a serious risk, in spite of the fact +that one does not easily take cold when camping out. + +As they were enjoying their breakfast, the canoeists naturally talked +over the events of the previous day and night. Harry had been kept +perfectly dry by his canoe tent, one side of which he had left open, so +as to have plenty of fresh air; and Charley had also been well protected +from the rain by his rubber blanket, hung in the usual way over the +paddle, although he had been far too warm to be comfortable. + +"I'm tired of suffocating under that rubber blanket of mine, and I've +invented a new way of covering the canoe at night, which will leave me a +little air to breathe. I'll explain it to you when we camp to-night, +Joe." + +"I'm glad to hear it, for I've made up my mind that I'd rather be rained +on than take a Turkish bath all night long under that suffocating +blanket." + +"Will your new plan work on my canoe?" asked Tom. + +"No; nothing will keep that 'Rice Lake' bath-tub of yours dry in a rain +unless you deck her over." + +"Now that we've had a chance to try our sails, which rig do you like +best, Sailing-master?" asked Harry. + +"That lateen-rig that Joe has," replied Charley. "He can set his sail +and take it in while the rest of us are trying to find our halyards. Did +you see how the whole concern--spars and sail--floated free of the canoe +of their own accord the moment she capsized?" + +"That's so; but then my big balance-lug holds more wind than Joe's +sail." + +"It held too much yesterday. It's a first-rate rig for racing, but it +isn't anything like as handy as the lateen for cruising; neither is my +standing-lug. I tried to get it down in a hurry yesterday, and the +halyards jammed, and I couldn't get it down for two or three minutes." + +"I can get my leg-of-mutton in easy enough," remarked Tom, "but I can't +get the mast out of the step unless the water's perfectly smooth, and I +don't believe I could then without going ashore." + +"Now, Commodore," said Charley, "if you'll give the order to start, I'll +give the order to carry all sail. The breeze is light and the water is +smooth, and we ought to run down to the end of the lake by noon." + +The little fleet made a beautiful appearance as it cruised down the lake +under full sail. The breeze was westerly, which fact enabled the canoes +to carry their after-sails--technically known as "dandies"--to much +advantage. When running directly before the wind the "dandy" is +sometimes a dangerous sail, as it is apt to make the canoe broach to; +but with a wind from any other direction than dead aft it is a very +useful sail. + +The canoes sailed faster than they had sailed the day before, because +there was no rough sea to check their headway. They reached Magog at +noon, and went to look at the dam which crosses the Magog River a few +rods from the lake, and wondered how they were ever to get through the +rapids below it. + +There was a place where the canoes could be lowered one by one over the +breast of the dam, but the rapids, which extended from below the dam for +nearly a quarter of a mile, were very uninviting to a timid canoeist. +The water did not seem to be more than three or four feet deep, but it +was very swift, and full of rocks. "You boys can't never run them rapids +in them boats," said a man who came to look at the canoes. + +The boys did not like to be daunted by their first rapid, and as there +did not seem to be much risk of drowning, they decided to take the +chances of getting the canoes through it safely. Harry gave the order to +lash everything fast in the canoes that could be washed overboard, and +he prepared to lead the way in the _Sunshine_. + +It was magnificent sport shooting down the rapid like an arrow. The +canoes drove through two or three waves which washed the decks. Harry's +and Charley's canoes each struck once while in the rapid, but in each +case only the keel struck the rock, and the current dragged the canoes +safely over it. Every one was delighted with the way his canoe had +acted, and with the skill with which he had avoided this or that rock, +or had discovered the best channel just at the right moment. In their +excitement they let the canoes float gently down the stream, until they +suddenly discovered another rapid at the beginning of a sharp bend in +the river just ahead of them. + +It was nothing like as fierce in appearance as the first rapid, and as +Harry led the way, the others followed close after him, one behind the +other, fancying that they could run the rapid without the least trouble. +Half-way down Harry's canoe struck on a rock, swung broad-side to the +current, and hung there. Tom was so close behind him that he could not +alter his course, and so ran straight into the _Sunshine_ with a +terrible crash. The _Dawn_ and the _Twilight_ instantly followed, and as +the four canoes thus piled together keeled over and spilled their +occupants into the river, it began to look as if the rapid had +determined to make the irreverent young canoeists respect it. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +HOW BILLY WENT UP IN THE WORLD. + +BY ANNETTE NOBLE. + +Part II. + + +It was a spring evening, so very fair that even Billy Knox had taste +enough to be pleased with the robins, the hedges, and the May blossoms. +He was halting on his way home, under the tree into which he had fallen +eight months before. The balloon was not there; its owner had it back +long ago. + +That Billy had a home is to be accounted for in this way: The evening +after Peter, the tailor, took him in to supper, he remained overnight, +and after breakfast he went out and milked the cow. He walked to the +woods and chopped fuel enough for a week. Then he staid to dinner. +During the afternoon he found three cents in what was left of his +trousers pocket, and he put that at once into the family treasury. In +the days that followed he haunted the next town, a larger one than +Langham. Whenever he earned anything he returned with it to the red +house with the sunflowers, where, without any talk about it, he came at +last to consider himself at home. He brought in as much as he ate. He +amused little Ben, and made his life much more exciting. Peter did not +care how long he staid so that he paid his way. + +On this particular evening Billy seemed in the highest spirits. He +leaped up joyously and hung from the branches of the tree. He was +prancing about like a colt, when down the lane came a man, but not +Peter. This time it was Squire Ellery, who owned the house in which +Peter lived. He was a hard-working, quiet-appearing farmer, respected by +everybody. + +"I ain't going to do it," exclaimed the boy, hastily. + +"What are you going to do instead?" asked the man. "Are you going to +grow up a loafer and turn out a tramp?" + +"No; I have got something prime on hand that suits me exactly." + +"What is it?" + +"Well," began Billy, "you know the Annerly Minstrel Troupe, don't you?" + +"Yes, I know of them." + +"They stay in the town all winter, but summers they go travelling around +the country. I have been helping them for nothing lately--odd jobs off +and on--and they like me. Once when the 'end-man' was sick I took his +place at the last minute, and I made so much fun that the manager said +he would take me along this summer and make a crack performer of me. He +will give me some clothes, and when I get valuable to him he will pay me +well. Ain't that something like?" + +"Yes, Billy Knox, it is something like--something like a monkey, more +like a fool--for you to smut your face, to tell silly jokes, to grin and +giggle and dress up in petticoats at night, that you may learn to swear +and drink and gamble by day. That is what it is like exactly." + +The farmer laid his hard hand on the boy's red head, but his voice was +soft as he said, kindly: "Take more time to think it all over, Billy. +Remember, I promise to feed, clothe, and send you to school winters, and +when you get valuable to me I will also pay you wages. Your work will be +hoeing corn and potatoes instead of braying like a donkey or thrumming +on a banjo; but you will respect yourself a good deal more. It will be +better to wash the sweat of honest labor off your face than to be +smearing it into a blackamoor's. I will help you make a man of yourself +if you are only willing and ready, Billy." + +The boy thought of dull days in the fields, with oxen for companions; +then of foot-lights, gay music, and laughter. He rubbed his boots on the +grass and muttered, "Much obliged, Mr. Ellery, but I ain't ready for +_that_, nor willing either, in your way of doing it." + +"Very well; I have said all I am going to say. I shall never ask you +again." + +Billy trudged home rather soberly. He opened the cottage door a little +later, and at his footfall Ben sprang from the pantry and stood +anxiously watching his pockets. Billy knew exactly what it meant. Ben +had gone to the cupboard, "And when he got there the cupboard was bare." +This had often happened of late. Billy pulled out of one pocket a few +slices of bacon, and out of another a tiny paper of tea, saying: +"Granny, I have got you some to-night--tea, granny." + +"Oh yes. When you were in your cradle, I told my husband you would live +to take care of me." + +"She thinks you are father," stuttered Ben, as he got out the +frying-pan. Soon the whole place was filled with the welcome odor of +bacon and tea. Billy cut some bread, and seizing granny's chair, pushed +it to the table. He stared at her while she asked her blessing, and idly +watched the sunbeams in the rusty lace of her old cap. When she opened +her eyes, which were as blue as a baby's, she added, tenderly: "God +bless you, dear. You brought us a good supper." + +It was seldom that she spoke so coherently, but a bit of a prayer often +seemed to clear for a moment her mind, as a precious drop might act in +some unsettled mixture. + +"What if granny should not have any supper some night when I am gone?" +was the thought that rushed into the boy's mind, and into his eyes came +tears. His heart was touched by the thought. What preachers and teachers +and offers of help had never been able to effect, the trustful gratitude +of a feeble little old woman had accomplished. He choked, spluttered, +and pretended he had swallowed the tea the wrong way. Then he did like +unto sinners the world over--he tried to harden his heart again. He +reflected that this was Peter's home and Peter's mother. It was Peter's +business to support his own family. It was Billy's business to rise in +the world. + +After supper he made ready for certain exercises very common in the +cabin of late--exercises which he considered likely to improve him in +his chosen "profession." He pushed granny's chair back into the +chimney-corner, and waited until she dozed before he exclaimed, "Come, +Ben!" + +[Illustration: BILLY AND BEN REHEARSING.] + +Poor Ben! his face grew more mournful than ever. It was no longer any +fun for him, but he patiently consented, and arranged the stage +"properties." He tied on his own and Billy's black masks and their stiff +paper collars, wishing much that his own did not so savagely cut his +poor little ears. He then sat meekly down at the end of the semicircle +of seats, and solemnly got off all the laboriously learned jokes that +his stammering tongue could compass. He surrendered himself to Billy in +a waltz that made every lock of his lint-white hair fly out straight, +and which finally left him breathless under the table legs. + +Well, after Ben had been, with some changes of costume, a giraffe, a +Zulu, a Broadway belle, and a propounder of conundrums, he became so +incapable of being anything else but a tired little boy that Billy +relented, and let him lie on the ragged old lounge. In the quiet that +followed, the older boy's brain began to work upon a question that +worried him much. Should he go on a farm, or should he follow his own +fascinating plan? He waked up Ben, and told, in a most engaging way, of +the wonderful minstrel career which opened before him, and he reported +Squire Ellery's offer, but not his words of disapproval. Now Ben, who +was but eight years old, had his own thoughts, and all the more of them +that he gave so few away in words. + +"If it was me," said little Ben, promptly, if somewhat sleepily, "I +would rather be out in the sunlight making th-th-things gr-gr-grow. +Wheat fields are so pretty, and I like ca-ca-cattle. They always seem to +know me if I co-co-come near them. I never would dance until I got dizzy +if I could help it. I think it is si-si-silly; it ain't being a man." + +Billy gazed at Ben, somewhat surprised. Here were words almost like +Squire Ellery's coming as if they were quoted from out of this +Hop-o'-my-Thumb. + +"Ben," he said, "you don't really know anything about minstrel shows. +Some day I will take you to the regular thing." + +"I would rather stay here and read to granny. I should be afraid." + +"Stay, then, you little coward!" said Billy, roughly. + +Granny dozed and snored softly; the lean cat sprang into Ben's arms, and +they slept peacefully together; while Billy walked the room, and peered +out of the window-panes. He half decided that he would go to the farmer +in the morning. Then he half decided he never would go. At last granny +awoke, and said, "Bring the Book and read good words; we have had enough +of this day." + +Ben would not wake up. He really could not do so after his hard evening +exercises; and when Billy shook him, the cat took Ben's part, and +scratched Billy resentfully. + +"Well, I would as soon read as to hear him stutter over it," said the +older boy, getting the Bible, the cover of which had been bright and +fresh when granny had been so herself. Now it was as nearly out of its +binding as was her soul. + +"'The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back +in the day of battle,'" read Billy, just where he opened the Book. Then +he asked, "Wouldn't they fight?" + +"Able but not willing to do what a body ought to do. I don't remember +about the fighting. Perhaps it was only to endure something. Now I will +go to bed," said granny, forgetting that Billy had read but one verse. + +When he was left alone, he sat and pondered on those children of Ephraim +until Peter tumbled into the house in his usual state. Then he let Ben +sleep on, and he himself helped the tailor to bed, doing it with much +less ceremony than the latter approved of. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: MORNING AND EVENING.--DRAWN BY MARY A. LATHBURY.] + + + + +BADMINTON. + +BY SHERWOOD RYSE. + + +It is first cousin to lawn tennis, and it is so like lawn tennis that +any one would guess that the two games were closely related. Perhaps +most boys and girls would say that Badminton is a slow game, and very +childish; and, compared with lawn tennis, perhaps it is. But although it +is by no means so robust a game, and requires not nearly so much skill +as its cousin, it has many advantages. Lawn tennis is an out-door game, +and demands a great deal of space and the best possible light; otherwise +it gets sulky. Badminton, on the other hand, can put up with a small +space and a moderately good light. Being, as we have said, less robust +than the other game, wind does not agree with it. Nevertheless, in still +weather it can be played out-of-doors, and in-doors in all weathers. + +The small space required is a great advantage that Badminton enjoys. A +large part of the population of this great country lives in city houses, +whose back yards are perhaps fifty feet long and only half as wide. Not +much in the way of games can be done in a city back yard; yet one can +play Badminton there. What if it be planted with posts on which the +laundress stretches her clothes-line? So much the better. We shall want +those posts, if they are conveniently placed, for we have a net to +spread. This should be fastened to the posts so that the top of it is +five feet from the ground, and a net (or a strip of calico) two feet +wide, and as long as the distance between the posts, will be quite large +enough. + +The court may be marked out with whitening or chalk, and should measure +about twenty feet by fifteen on each side of the net. At a distance of +five feet from the net, on each side, the service lines are drawn, and +then the court is complete. + +The implements of the game are merely battledores and shuttlecocks. Very +babyish, you will say. But if you can once overcome your pride, and +condescend to use such playthings, you will find that the game is not +nearly so babyish as you may think it. The battledores should be good +ones, strong and heavy, and strung either with catgut, like a tennis +racket, or with string. The shuttlecock is greatly improved by being +made heavy. Those sold in stores especially for Badminton are already +made heavy enough, but the ordinary toy shuttlecocks require a little, a +very little, melted lead poured into a hole in the cork. As the lead +cools and hardens, the cork closes around it, and holds it tight. + +The rules of Badminton are very much like those of lawn tennis, except +that every stroke must be "volleyed"--that is, the shuttlecock must be +struck before it touches the ground, for of course it will not bound. +The "server" must send his first ball so that if it were to fall to the +ground it would fall _beyond_ the service line of his opponent's court, +and not within it, as in lawn tennis. After the service it may be +returned to any part of the opponent's court, and kept up until one of +the players fails to return it over the net, or hits it so far that it +falls outside of the opponent's court. + +The game is counted in the same manner as in lawn tennis--fifteen, +thirty, forty, game; with deuce and vantage, when the score is forty +all--and the one who first wins six games wins the set. Two, three, or +four persons can play at the same time. + +With good players, it will frequently happen that the shuttlecock will +be kept in the air for several minutes without falling to the ground, +and it is interesting to keep count of the number of times that it is +thus returned over the net. At the same time it must be remembered that +the object of the game is to send the shuttlecock so that the opponent +can _not_ return it; hence it will be contrary to the spirit of the game +to encourage long rallies by purposely sending easy returns. + + + + +RIGHT THROUGH A BARN. + +BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD. + + +"Rube," said Bun Gates, when they came together one day after breakfast, +"did you hear about Squire Cudworth's new barn?" + +"Guess there isn't anything more to hear about it. Folks didn't talk of +anything else while he was putting it up. Father said it would hold +horses enough to run a livery-stable." + +"That isn't it. I heard all about it at breakfast. The railroad's goin' +to run right through it." + +"Right through the barn? I wish they'd run it through the academy, if +'twasn't for spoiling the green." + +"It's cut Pop Simmons's orchard right in two, and they've tore away +Widow McCue's pig-pen, spite of all Felix and Biddy could do to stop +'em. Now it's the big barn." + +"Biggest barn there ever was anywhere around here. It's just awful. Did +you ever see a railroad?" + +"Only the streak they've made along where this one's going to come. I'll +tell you what father said, though." + +"What did he say, Bun?" + +"He said it was one of old Squire Cudworth's jokes. There was a quarrel +between him, and the railroad, and so he put the barn there to keep it +from coming through." + +"It won't do it, Bun. A railroad'll go right through a hill and not half +try." + +"Come on, Rube, we'll be late; but father says he guesses the railroad +didn't make anything very heavy out of the Squire's joke." + +When the class in arithmetic was called up that fore-noon, Bun Gates and +Rube Hollenhouser went down to the foot of it, one after the other, for +the first time that academy term. When they got there and could have a +good look at each other's slates, they each knew what sort of a picture +the other could make of Squire Cudworth's big barn, with something full +of fire and smoke and steam smashing into it at both ends. + +The afternoon wore away, a little at a time, until it was all gone, but +every boy they knew had heard of what was coming to Squire Cudworth's +barn by that time, and at least a dozen of them wanted to go and have a +look at it. + +Squire Cudworth was standing at the corner of the barn, a very large, +fat, rosy-faced man, with his hands in his pockets, and he looked as if +he were waiting for something. He chuckled all over, and they could hear +him jingle the money in his pockets as he recognized the boys. + +"That's the railroad, boys. Them's the ties, and some call 'em sleepers. +The rails are glued down on 'em. You'll see some men come along pretty +soon with great bundles of iron rails in one hand and pots of glue in +the other. They're 'most here now. By to-morrer night that barn of mine +won't be a safe place for hosses. It's awful, boys--jest awful!" + +"How do you s'pose they'll get through the barn?" asked Bun. + +"Can't say. I've kep' 'em off long as I could. That's what I'm here for +now. We don't need any railroad in Prome Centre. That's what I told 'em. +If they'd only dig the creek out good and deep, so it would be of some +use. They wouldn't, though, and I might as well have built my barn right +in the middle of the creek." + +Every boy in the crowd was listening to him, but not one of them could +see what there was in it all that made the old Squire chuckle so. Three +or four asked, + +"Does it go through on Friday?" + +"Day after to-morrer, boys. I shall be out of breath by that time. Have +to go home and go to bed, and put all my hosses in the old barn up on +the hill. You'd all better be here then. Tell all the other boys. Have +'em all come." Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle, and the bunches of keys and +the small change jingled merrily, as if the Squire were making fun of +the railroad, or the boys, or of his misfortunes. + +"We'll all be here," said Rube. "Boys, there'll be something worth +seeing, sure's you live." + +They were most of them at one place or another along the track before +school next morning, and at the noon recess they compared notes of the +matters they had seen--men spiking down rails with big hammers, for +instance, instead of glue-pots. It was a great time for a lot of boys +who had never seen anything of the kind before, and Rube Hollenhouser +stirred up their envy a little. He said: + +"Dolf Zimmerman's been on a railroad. He told me all about it. There was +an accident, too, and he'd have been killed as dead as a hammer if he'd +been there." + +"Dolf Zimmerman!" exclaimed a fellow who lived away at the upper end of +the village. "Who cares for him? He's travelled, that's all. This +railroad of ours is going to run right through Cudworth's barn. I guess +he wouldn't want to be riding on it just then." + +There was a general agreement with that opinion, but the boys who lived +at places below Zimmerman's store all found an errand in there before +the day was over. Some of them only bought a cent's worth of something, +and looked at Dolf, but three or four asked him questions right out, and +it was Felix McCue who got the most out of him. The Widow McCue never +traded at Zimmerman's, and it was a bold thing for Felix to walk in and +ask of Dolf over the counter, + +"What's the price of yer bist Jayvy coffee?" + +"Thirty-five cents a pound." + +"That's what I wanted to know. Do yiz think it'll be any chaper after +the railroad gits through the barrn?" + +"Oh, you get eout! You don't want any coffee." + +"Don't I, thin? I don't belave ye know any more about a railroad than I +do meself. Come on, b'yes. He's been humbuggin' ye." + +Rube Hollenhouser afterward stood up manfully for Dolf Zimmerman's +reputation as a traveller, and all the cows in Prome Centre went to +their pastures very early the next morning. That was Friday, and it was +to be the last day of the mortal life of Squire Cudworth's big barn, and +there were a good many older people, as well as very young ones, who +were willing to hurry through their breakfasts, and walk over to see +what the Squire was going to do about it. Everybody knew more or less +about the quarrel between him and the railway company, and there was not +a doubt in the minds of his fellow-citizens but what he had beaten the +corporation in every point but the one of keeping his barn. + +There he was, when Rube and Bun and little Jeff Gates, and a crowd of +other boys and their brothers and sisters, and some of their fathers and +mothers and aunts and uncles, began to swarm around and look at him. +There was the Squire, indeed, and his face was redder than ever, and Bun +Gates remarked, + +"I say, Rube, how he does jingle!" + +"Yes, but haven't they made that railroad jingle? They've nailed down +the rails 'most up to the stable-door on each side. If an engine should +come now, it could run its nose against the barn." + +"They've got to do it, Rube. They've got to smash it right through." + +"I say, Bun, the stable's full of men. They're working at something. +Hear 'em hammer?" + +"There's another lot around outside. See 'em?" + +"Hear 'em in the barn! Wonder 'f they'd let us in." + +"Guess not. I don't want to go in, neither. Hey! What's that?" + +Every face in the gathering crowd was suddenly turned toward the north, +as if one pull had fetched them all around at the same instant. Not that +they saw anything, but that the deafest man among them could hear the +whistle of the coming locomotive. It would be the first of its kind ever +seen in Prome Centre, and now it was gathering itself, they all knew, +for a rush down that track at Squire Cudworth's barn. + +More boys were coming, and they all asked questions the moment they +could get their breaths after they reached the crowd and had one look at +the barn. It was there yet, and so was the Squire, but there had been +another awful whistle, up north, beyond Pop Simmons's orchard. + +"Rube," said Bun, "those fellows are just a-jerking that stable out of +its boots. They're h'isting the roof off now." + +"Hear 'em hammering inside? There's something going on. Don't they just +swarm, though, and can't they work!" + +It was a simple fact that the railway company had sent a good many men +to take care of the last obstacle in its way, and Squire Cudworth's joke +lasted to the very end. He began to grow redder and redder in the face. +Then he jingled more than ever for a minute, and then he stopped +jingling altogether, for just then it seemed as if the whole side of the +stable was stripped off at a push or two. The roof was already off. One +minute more and the ends were gone, doors and all, and a well-dressed, +gentlemanly person stepped out along the track. + +"Boys!" shouted Rube. "There's the railroad now. Inside the stable." + +"If they haven't put down a track right where the floor was!" said Bun. + +There sounded another tremendous shriek from beyond the orchard, and a +cloud of smoke and steam began to move along over the tree-tops. + +"Here she comes, boys!" + +"She's a-coming! She's a coming!" + +"Hark, Rube," said Bun. "What's that man saying to Squire Cudworth?" + +They heard him, and he said it very politely. + +"Quick work, eh, Mr. Cudworth?" + +"Sharp. Far as you've gone. Think you'll get the whole of it off +to-day?" + +"Off? Oh no. Don't you see? We're making a station-house out of the main +barn. Just the thing. Set it up a little higher; that's all. Quite a +saving of money to the company." + +"Bun," said Rube, "did you ever see old Squire Cudworth look so angry as +he does now? Guess they must have got the joke on him somehow." + +"It'll make him sick if they have." + +"Hey! She's 'most got here!" + +They were all holding their breaths for the next minute or so, for there +was the first locomotive they had ever seen outside of a picture, and it +was whistling and coughing and ringing its bell and backing and starting +and doing everything but dance, right through where Squire Cudworth's +stable had been. + +"Rube, they're not going to pull down any more of the barn." + +"Tell you what, though, they never'd have got through the way they did +if they hadn't laid some track inside and knocked the doors down." + +"Course they wouldn't. I say, old Squire Cudworth's going home." + +"Hear the 'cademy bell! Did you know it was nine o'clock? What'll we say +to Miss Eccles?" + +"I don't care so much, Rube. She won't get a roomful till this crowd +gets there. There's about as many girls as boys." + +"Black marks all 'round. She's seen a railroad before, or she'd have +been here herself. I ain't so sorry as I was about that barn. Do you +know what's a station-house?" + +"I guess I do, but we'd better stop after school and ask Dolf +Zimmerman." + +At the supper table that evening, Bun Gates heard his father say to his +mother: "Squire Cudworth? Oh yes, he got a good price for his barn. What +made him sick was the railway superintendent thanking him for building +them so nice a station-house, just where they wanted it. He tried to +laugh, but he couldn't, and everybody else did." + + + + +[Illustration: "GOOD-MORNING!"] + + + + +AN UNDER-GROUND ESCAPE. + +BY W. W. FENN. + + +Snap, my little fox-terrier, was the most affectionate and devoted dog I +ever remember. It mattered not where I went, he was sure to be close to +my heels, and the thicker the crowd, the closer he kept to them. For the +three years that I lived in London, in all our wanderings I never once +missed him or had any trouble with him. + +As far as possible, dogs are prohibited from travelling on the +under-ground railway; but as I had constantly to travel by it from +King's Cross to Paddington, and Snap's habit of keeping close being well +known to the officials, they winked at his accompanying me. + +On a certain afternoon, being, as usual, on my way to Paddington, and a +train being due at King's Cross, I made a rush for it, and reached the +platform just as a train was coming into the station. + +Jumping into a compartment, I looked to see if the dog was with me, but +to my dismay, as a porter slammed the door and the train began to move, +I observed Snap on the platform, running wildly up and down looking for +me. Suddenly he saw me at the window, but it was too late; and as we +entered the darkness of the tunnel, I heard him give a despairing bark. + +I felt angry with myself for not looking after him more carefully, and +resolved to get out at the next station and go back for him. But how had +he missed me? I could not understand it, for he had never done such a +thing before. Five minutes brought us to Gower Street, and a train then +due took me back in another five minutes to where I had started from. + +"Have you seen my dog?" I asked of a porter there who knew me. + +"Your dog, sir?" answered the man. "Oh yes, to be sure. You left him +behind, didn't you? Well, as the train went into the tunnel, I saw him +jump from the platform and follow it." + +"What!" I said; "he wasn't following it when we reached Gower Street." + +"Wasn't he? Then I expect he's still in the tunnel. The train went too +fast for him to keep up with it." + +"He'll be run over!" I exclaimed, very nervous for Snap's safety. + +"Tell you what, sir. I'll go and get permission, if you like, from the +inspector to take a lantern and see if we can find him." + +I thanked the man, and he started off to get the necessary permission, +which the inspector gave, after saying something about people having no +right to bring dogs into the station. Together the man and I then went +into the tunnel. + +The unaccustomed darkness, to say nothing of the perils of such an +expedition, inspired me with considerable dread, and I kept tight hold +of my guide's arm. When we had advanced some two or three hundred yards +along the under-ground highway, or rather "low" way, the lights of an +up-train became visible. As it went by and we stood still for a minute, +the roar and rattle were not calculated to dispel my nervousness. They +were terrible--deafening. Immediately it had passed, the porter cried +out, + +"Look there, sir--look; there he goes!" + +He was pointing toward the red danger light at the tail of the receding +train, and there, sure enough, was Snap scampering after it at a pace +which no one could have given a fox-terrier credit for. I began to call +and whistle as loudly as I could, but my voice was drowned by the +hissing whir and rattle going on. Just then another engine hove in sight +on our line of rails, and we had rapidly to step back into one of the +recesses, or man-holes, as I believe they are called. When this second +train had shot past us, there again, to our astonishment, was Snap +galloping after it. He had not observed us, of course. We then walked on +some little way further along the tunnel, and in a minute another +up-train passed us, and there once more was the dog behind it. + +"How ridiculous," I cried, "and yet how painful, to see the poor little +beast tearing to and fro for dear life in this way! He will surely be +run over before long." + +But the reason was obvious: he could not keep up with the speed of the +train, and by the time it had distanced him, another probably passed in +the opposite direction, when, confused by the noise and turmoil, he +turned immediately and pursued that. It seemed to me simply marvellous +that he had escaped the wheels even so far in these agonizing efforts to +find me. + +As the lights of the next engine came in view, I resolved to give the +last carriage just time to pass, and then to rush out, and, if possible, +to intercept my poor pet, for I expected him again to return with that. +I was not mistaken, and as I slipped from the man-hole in front of the +dog, the porter held his lantern so that its light fell full upon my +form. Snap instantly recognized, me, and with one bound and a breathless +yelp landed on my breast, and clasping me tightly round the neck with +his two fore-legs as if they had been the arms of a loving child, he +rubbed his wet nose excitedly against my face. Terrified well-nigh unto +death, gasping and exhausted, and all the time uttering a plaintive +little wail of delight, he lay almost motionless in this position for +several minutes, while his affectionate heart beat like a small +sledge-hammer against mine. This simple but intense demonstration of +canine devotion, in the gloomy depths of the under-ground, with only the +faint rays of the porter's lamp to illuminate the scene, was very +touching. + +"You have got a noble little chap there, sir," said the man, as he led +the way cautiously back to the platform. "He was worth a bit of trouble +to find, and no mistake." + +"Quite true, my friend," I answered, "and I'll take good care for the +future to pop him under my arm when I travel on the Metropolitan Railway +again." + +"I reckon he won't give ye the chance, sir," said the man. "I know a bit +about dogs, and I shouldn't wonder if he fights shy of the stations +altogether after this." + +The man was right, for never since that day have I been able to induce +Snap to come within yards of the head of the railway station stairs. +Coax and cajole him as I will, he always resists. He looks up at me with +such a pitiful expression, as much as to say, "Why, you wouldn't risk +losing me again, would you?" That I have at last conceded the point to +him you will readily understand, for I need hardly add that if I had a +strong regard for my dog before, it has grown into a real and strong +affection now. + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE BEAUTIFUL LAND OF NOD. + +BY ELLA WHEELER. + + + Come, cuddle your head on my shoulder, dear-- + Your head like the golden-rod-- + And we will go sailing away from here + To the beautiful Land of Nod. + Away from life's worry and hurry and flurry, + Away from earth's shadows and gloom, + We will float off together to a world of fair weather, + Where blossoms are always in bloom. + Just shut up your eyes and fold your hands-- + Your hands like the leaves of a rose-- + And we will go sailing to those fair lands + That never an atlas shows. + On the north and west they are bounded by rest, + On the south and the east by dreams. + + 'Tis the country ideal where nothing is real, + But everything only _seems_. + Just drop down the curtain of your dear eyes-- + Your eyes like the bright bluebell-- + And we will sail out under star-lit skies + To the land where the fairies dwell. + Down the river of sleep our bark shall sweep + Till it reaches that magical isle + Which no man has seen, but where all have been, + And there we will pause awhile. + I will croon you a song as we float along + To that shore that is blessed of God. + Then, ho! for that fair land, we're off for that rare land, + The beautiful Land of Nod! + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + + BEAUCLERC, FLORIDA. + + I want to tell you about a visit to Mayport, at the mouth of the + St. John's River. My brother and I left here at two o'clock on a + hot day in July, on the steamer _Pastime_. Arriving at Jacksonville + at three, we had an hour to wait, but at four we stepped on board + the _Water Lily_, and were soon on our way. We sat on deck, + enjoying the sail. At half-past six we reached Mayport, where we + met mamma. + + Early the next morning I took a dip in the river, as I have learned + to swim. It is easier to swim in salt-water than in fresh. The + ocean is only two miles from Mayport, and we picked up on the beach + quantities of sea-weed and shells. My brother found a beautiful + jelly-fish washed far up on the shore. + + They are building a great jetty here, but it will not be done for + ten years. Immense granite blocks are brought from New York for the + purpose. There were several kinds, all glittering with streaks of + mica. When the jetty is finished it will be fourteen or fifteen + feet high, or above high-water mark. It will then be cemented all + over the top and sides. The channel is nearly in the middle, and + about two hundred yards wide. The intention is to confine the water + inside, and let it flow only through the channel. Mattresses of log + and brush are first sunk, and then stones are placed in layers on + top of them. + + F. C. S. + +The orange blossoms came safely. I fear the magnolia seeds of which you +speak in your postscript would not thrive and germinate in the cold +Northern climate. Your description of the jetty, or projecting pier, +which you saw building shows that you go about with your bright eyes +wide open. + + * * * * * + + TURIN, NEW YORK. + + I do not now go to school, as it is vacation, but school commences + the 1st of September. I take music and painting lessons. I have + painted but one picture, as I have taken only a few lessons yet. I + went to Lyon's Falls yesterday. There was a large picnic there from + Utica. The falls are very pretty, and there is a story about them + that a long time ago an Indian was chasing a white man, and when + they came to the edge of the falls, or just above (there is just + above them quite a narrow place), the white man leaped over, but + the Indian did not dare to follow. I did not like the way "Toby + Tyler" ended, and I do not like the way "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" ends + either. + + L. S. R. + + P.S.--Will you please tell me what Wiggles mean? + +Wiggles are lines forming portions of the _outlines_ of pictures. When a +new Wiggle is given, it is a line which forms part of the outline of a +picture already drawn by our artist. Those who try to solve the Wiggle +problem draw a picture containing this line. Sometimes a little girl or +boy happens to draw a picture which closely resembles the one which was +the artist's idea when he drew the Wiggle which all are attempting. + +We must ask Mr. Otis to make his next story end so happily that you and +the other little women who complain of him will be pleased and +satisfied. But we think that both stories conclude in a very natural +way. + + * * * * * + + FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I am five years old. My birthday was the 28th of May. I live on a + farm in summer, and have nice times blueberrying and playing in the + sand-heap which is near the house. My sister picked two quarts of + berries the other day. My papa goes to Boston every morning, and + comes home at night. Wednesday nights he brings home YOUNG PEOPLE, + and I am very glad to see it. I like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" very + much, and I think it was too bad the monkey ran away. My sister is + writing this for me, because I can only print. I have two sisters, + and they go to school a mile and a half from here. It is very dry + here, and a great many things are dying. + + PHILIP SIDNEY W. + + * * * * * + + CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. + + I have no pets to tell about, not even a kitty, for my mamma + dislikes both dogs and cats, and is afraid they may become mad, so + she will not let us have them in the house. I suppose she knows + best, because she is so much older and wiser than we children, but + we can't help feeling a little bit sorry. We once had a pretty + little yellow canary, but my uncle Horace took it to visit his + canary and to help it build a nest. His cross old bird pecked off + all our little pet's feathers, and it died. I suppose the old bird + was jealous because ours could sing so well, and just killed it as + Cain killed Abel. Though we have no birds or pets of any kind in + our house, I am glad there are plenty of animals in Lincoln Park, + and lots of birds there in the trees. Cruel boys sometimes frighten + these birds and rob their nests. Can anything be more wicked than + this conduct in boys? A great many sparrows make their home in some + Virginia creepers that cover the front of our house. On Sunday last + there was a great commotion in the vines, and we found after a + while that it came from some old sparrows which were trying to make + their young ones go out of the nest and earn their own living. + By-and-by the young sparrows fluttered out of the vines to some + trees near by, and then the noise stopped--and so must my writing, + or you will think my letter too long to print. + + CECILIA A. B. M. + + * * * * * + +Such letters as the one which follows are received with peculiar +pleasure by the publishers of YOUNG PEOPLE: + + OHIO STATE LIBRARY, COLUMBUS, OHIO. + + Though HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE is intended for that class of persons + only, yet I trust it will not be unseemly for one of "older growth" + to give expression to the entertainment and instruction derived + from its pages. My interest, from the issue of the first number, + continues as zealous as that of any boy or girl who anxiously + awaits the coming chapters of "Mr. Stubbs's Brother." Not only are + its serials intensely interesting, but each issue imparts also much + useful knowledge. No greater or better source of instruction and + amusement can be introduced in the family circle. + + Wishing you continued success in this pioneer of children's + literature. + + I remain very respectfully yours, + + MARY C. HARBAUGH. + Assistant Librarian. + + * * * * * + + I want to tell you how much pleasure I get from your paper. I am + twelve years old, and live on a homestead. I have no brother nor + sister. I go two miles to Sunday-school, and papa teaches me at + home. I help papa on the claim, picket the stock and water them + twice a day, seven head of them. I shoot with a rifle or shot-gun, + and kill plenty of duck, but have not hit a wolf or antelope yet. + If the buffalo were as plenty as their bones are, I would have a + splendid time. + + I like all the articles in our YOUNG PEOPLE, but don't know how to + wait for the continued stories. Sometimes I get more circus than + Toby Tyler does. I ride the old cow or an ox, have a dog that + understands a good deal of English, and like to work with my papa. + + I will send agates or petrifactions, for 2 ounces of maple-seeds, + or beech-nuts, or basswood-seeds, or for 1 ounce of barberry-seeds. + Seeds to be sound, and fit for planting. I want a few pine-seeds, + for minerals. + + I ought to say that my HARPER's is a Christmas present, and it + makes my Christmas last one year. + + DANNIE D. SHARP. + Olivet, Hutchinson Co., Dakota. + + * * * * * + + OLNEY FARM, HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND. + + I am a little boy ten years old. I have a very little pony, about + the size of a sheep, and it is perfectly white. I also have a + kitten and squirrels. I have three brothers, and this summer they + have all gone to Europe. My brother John has left me his pug Scamp + to take care of, and that brother has given me HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE for my Christmas gift ever since it began. I have been sick, + and I can hardly wait to hear the stories. + + J. ALEXIS S. + + * * * * * + + ACTON, CANADA. + + I am a little boy seven years old. I was born in New York State, + but we came to Canada to live four years ago. My papa is a + clergyman, and has a parish here in Acton, but when I get to be a + man I am going back to the States to live. I go to school. Please + don't give Toby a new hat; we like him just as he is best. My papa + says we would not know him with a new hat on. My brother Frank and + I have a pet dog and a rabbit. We went on a trip to a beautiful + lake last summer, and one day, when out in a boat fishing, my papa + saw a little black bear come down to the water to get a drink. + + REGINALD P. + +You see, dear, the artist thought just as you did, that Master Toby +Tyler was quite jolly enough in his old hat. + + * * * * * + + TORONTO, CANADA. + + I am a boy ten years old. I like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" very much. + I go to the Upper Canada College; I like it very much. We have five + horses; their names are Jumbo, Billy, his brother Jean, Ted, and + Duke, the largest and gentlest. When the driver goes into the + stall, Duke puts his head on his shoulder. If you give Jumbo an + orange, he will eat it. I like cricket and foot-ball best of all + the games. I am drilling at school; we have a sergeant to drill us. + I like boating and swimming; I can swim pretty well now. I think + fencing is splendid fun. We have a Zoo here. There is a man who + puts his head into the alligator's mouth. Then he goes into the + bear's and panther's cages. There is the largest Russian bear in + the world here. We had no sleighing here last winter, but I went up + to Owen Sound, and had some there in my Christmas holidays. + + ARTHUR V. + + * * * * * + + SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. + + I am a little girl ten years old. On Friday last mamma, papa, and I + left, with some friends, on a trip to Mount Diablo. We started at + eleven o'clock in the morning. Part of the way we went in a + stage-coach, and had four horses. We went to a hotel that had been + shut up for a long time. There were beds, but no bedding. It was + after ten o'clock at night before we went to get dinner, and after + one before we got to bed. We took blankets, as we thought it would + be cold in the mountains, but, instead it was 110° in the shade. We + went to the very top of one of the highest mountains of California. + + NANNIE D. + + * * * * * + + CLAREMONT, MINNESOTA. + + I love to read HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, it is so interesting. I am + nine years old, and have been at school nine terms. I like to go to + school. We have a dog by the name of Watch, I have some doves, and + we have a cat. We have a great many flowers here. We have some up + at school. I like to pick flowers. Do any of the little girls ever + pick lady-slippers? They have a very pretty flower. I have a swing; + it goes up pretty high. I like to swing. My brother put the swing + up. My sister is my teacher this summer. + + GERTRUDE L. G. + +Take care not to swing too high, nor too long at a time. Lady-slippers +are pretty, and are prettily named, too. + + * * * * * + +C. Y. P. R. U. + +WHAT TO READ. + + DEAR POSTMISTRESS,--What books would you read if you were fourteen + years old, had never been away from home, and were very fond of + exciting novels? + + JOHN C. + +It is a great pity that you should have formed a taste for exciting +novels at fourteen, but if I were you, I would overcome it by reading +interesting and entertaining books which are true. Fact is often +stranger and more thrilling than fiction. As you have never been away +from home, why not take up books of travel? You can sit at ease in your +own room, or perched in a crotch of the apple-tree, or half hidden in a +heap of fragrant hay, and go with Miss Bird to Japan, with Arthur Arnold +to Persia, with Miss Cumming to the Feejee Islands, or with Du Chaillu +to the Land of the Midnight Sun. There is hardly an out-of-the-way +corner of our globe to which some brave traveller has not gone, and +while reading the story of adventure or peril which the traveller +relates, you will learn a great deal, and will cure yourself of a love +for that sort of reading which is a mere waste of time. + + * * * * * + +A LITTLE HEROINE.--The Postmistress mentions with honor the name of +Edith Baxter, of New York City. One bright afternoon in August, as the +children at the Avon Beach Hotel, Bath, Long Island, were playing on the +shore and in the surf, a little fellow named Harry Lee, five years old, +followed his companions to a float, on which he stepped without thought +of danger. Seeing them dive from it, he did the same. Presently a cry +was heard that Harry was drowning. Edith Baxter, a fearless little +swimmer, plunged in to the rescue, and as Harry came to the surface for +the third time, she caught and held him by his golden hair, and boldly +struck out for the shore. Help came, and the boy was saved. His grateful +parents and the other guests of the hotel presented Edith with a +beautiful gold watch and chain as a token of their admiration of her +bravery. + + * * * * * + + STAPLETON, NEW YORK. + + DEAR POSTMISTRESS,--Will you kindly suggest some nice game or games + for a party of "grown-ups" on a summer's evening? If possible, I + should like something which can be played outside on the piazza of + a country house. If you will kindly help me, I shall be very much + indebted to you. + + PUZZLED INQUIRER. + +The season for sitting out-doors in the evening is almost over, but +there are many pleasant games which are equally suitable for the veranda +or the parlor. What do you think of this one? A group of friends are +seated together, and one begins by asking the company, "If you had your +choice, which would you be, a dragon-fly or an eel?" The word to be +brought into your answer is _Roses_. + +A bright answer would be this: + + "The dragon-fly at eve reposes + Upon a couch of fragrant roses, + The eel in mud must hide away; + A dragon-fly I'd be to-day." + +Another: Bring in the word _Cobweb_ in reply to the question, "How would +you like to travel in the air?" + +Answer: + + "I confess I should not greatly care + To float like a cobweb in the air." + +The game of Twenty Questions is very entertaining. One of the company +leaves the room, and during his absence the others fix upon a word to be +guessed by him. We will suppose Charley to have gone out. The Electric +Telegraph is chosen as the subject for him to find, and he is recalled. +They then proceed in this way: + + HONORA. We have fixed on a word. Can you guess it? + + CHARLEY. Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral? + + MARY (_who is asked_). Mineral. + + CHARLEY. Can it buy anything? + + ANNA. I think it can; at least I could buy things by means of it. + + CHARLEY. Oh, I guess! I suppose banks can't do without it, Ned, can + they? + + EDWARD. I dare say they find it useful. + + CHARLEY. Anthony, do you ever keep it in your pocket? + + ANTHONY (_laughing_). No; that I don't. + + CHARLEY. Is it ever put in a purse, Fanny? + + FANNY. No indeed; it is _so_ big. + + CHARLEY (_catching at a new idea_). Then I was wrong; it is not + money. Does it cross the sea? + + MARY. Yes. I think it does--that is, I believe it does sometimes. + + CHARLEY. Does it go very quickly? + + HONORA. It _works very, very_ quickly. + + CHARLEY. It works? It does not go, then, of itself? Is it used on + railways? + + HONORA (_laughing_). Yes. + + CHARLEY. Does it pull you along sometimes, Mabel? + + MABEL. No, it does not; but sometimes it causes people to travel. + + CHARLEY. Is it very large? + + ANNA. No; very thin. + + CHARLEY. How long is it? + + FANNY. Sometimes miles long, sometimes very short. I have seen it + not as long as my finger. + + CHARLEY. What can it be? + + ANTHONY. It is a very wonderful thing; it speaks without a voice. + + CHARLEY. Ah! and you can tell the hours by it, can't you? But no, + it _can't_ be a clock, for the face of that is round, and it is not + very thin. I know! I guess! It is the "Electric Telegraph." + Anthony, _you_ have helped me to guess; _you_ must go out. But, + Anna, how could you buy things with it? + + ANNA. I could send an order by it to a shop. + + CHARLEY. And when did Fanny see it not longer than her finger? + + ANNA. She saw a tiny piece of the Atlantic telegraph cable, the + first one which was laid beneath the ocean. Aunt Maria had it set a + charm for her watch. + + Anthony goes out. + + * * * * * + +The attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. is called to an exceedingly +interesting article by Mrs. Sophie B. Herrick, entitled "Plants and +Animals--Their Difference." Both girls and boys will be interested in +the game of "Badminton," described by Sherwood Ryse, as also in Miss +Barr's poem, "The Burial of the Old Flag." + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Christina Limburger, +Annie South, Eddie S. Hequembourg, Samuel H. Molleson, A. Bloomingdale, +Walter P. Knight, Daniel Lindo, Frank Acheson, "Gazetta," Louis Frost, +Lena Van Bosch, Ella E. A., Harry Johnston, Fannie E. Burt, Florence P. +Jones, "Lodestar," Benjamin Lowenthal, Phebe D., A. W. Starboard, Beck +Pierce, Puss Lester, John Tabb, "Count No Account," Olive A. McAdams, +Louisa Mix, Thomas Brown, "Gretchen," Elsie Fisher, Jimmy Towers, and +Eugene Davison. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +CHARADE. + + My first is needed both for man and beast + If they their destined end would best pursue. + My second may describe a kingly feast, + Or tell about a heart both brave and true. + My whole a star-and-spur-stamped coin of gold, + Which, if we learn aright, is now four centuries old. + + J. P. B. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +TWO WORDS WITHIN A WORD. + +1.-- -- seemed to hang heavily, they devised various -- to shorten it. + +2. It is -- -- mean province that I am appointed --. + +3. I see no -- -- such -- society. + +4. I will be ready -- -- as our -- are taken apart and packed. + +5. They were -- -- before the -- of the curtain. + +6. Either -- -- I must give up our --. + +7. It was for abstracting a -- -- rose diamond that he was about to -- +the man. + + J. P. B. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +THREE ENIGMAS. + +1. + + First in sight, not in eye. + Second in yam, not in pie. + Third in four, not in one. + Fourth in laugh, not in pun. + Fifth in catch, not in throw. + Sixth in run, not in grow. + Seventh in short, not in long. + Eighth in glee, not in song. + Whole is a place, whatever its fault, + Where the people who live need never lack salt. + + LOUIS FROST. + +2. + + First in Ida, not in May. + Second in trip, not in play. + Third in wave, not in shore. + Fourth in less, not in more. + Fifth in young, not in old. + My whole is a land of which stories are told. + + IDA P. + +3. + + First in gossip, not in talk. + Second in crayon, not in chalk. + Third in empty, not in full. + Fourth in linen, not in wool. + Fifth in naughty, not in bad. + Sixth in multiply, not in add. + Seventh in pastry, not in pie. + Eighth in weeping, not in sigh. + Ninth in horrid, not in nice. + Whole a land of snow and ice. + + RUSSEL B. B. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +THREE DIAMONDS--(_To Empire City_). + +1.--1. A letter. 2. A vessel. 3. Something good to eat. 4. An animal +which hunts by night. 5. A letter. + +2.--1. In apple. 2. A tree. 3. A book. 4. Something we expect in spring. +5. In cream. + +3.--1. A letter. 2. A droll animal. 3. Part of a girl's dress. 4. A +virtue. 5. A letter. + + GRETCHEN. + + * * * * * + +No. 5. + +BEHEADINGS. + +1. I am a fiction; behead me, and I am capable. + +2. I am a reality; behead me, and I am a deed. + +3. I am a passage; behead me, and I am the whole. + +4. I am a receptacle; behead me, and I am to entreat. + +5. I am a rind; behead me, and I am a fish. + +6. I mean to squeeze; behead me, and I am a measure. + + ELLA E. A. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 146. + +No. 1. + +Vacation Over, Reward of Merit. + +No. 2. + +Suez. + +No. 3. + + E ssen E + L ear N + E ar-rin G + A nabe L + N or A + O me N + R ea D + +No. 4. + +Ned. Done. Bard. I. Elect. + +Benedict Arnold. + +La Plata. Mocha. Ethel. Pence. Ned. + +Cocoa. Pet. + +Health, peace, and competence. + +No. 5. + + R R S + T O E R O W A T E + R O U N D R O B I N S T E A M + E N D B I N E A T + D N M + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._] + + + + +THE MENAGERIE. + +[Illustration: MUSIC] + + + + +[Illustration: SOMETHING LIKE A BITE.] + + * * * * * + +FISHING WITH A LANTERN TRAP. + +A veteran trapper recommends a curious device for fishing at night, +known as the lantern trap. A pine torch or a bull's-eye lantern in the +bow of a boat has long been in use as a means of attracting fish, but an +illuminated bait under water is as novel a mode of fishing as it is +successful. + +The bait is easily made. A piece of stick phosphorus the size of a +hazel-nut is cut into small pieces, and placed in a three-ounce glass +vial half filled with sweet-oil. Care must be taken to cut and handle +the phosphorus under water, as it is a dangerous substance to deal with. +After several hours the phosphorus dissolves in the oil and forms a +thick fluid, which in the dark will give forth a bright glow. + +Having corked the bottle tightly, attach it to a string and drop it +overboard, as in ordinary fishing. The water around it becomes lighted +up, and many fish will be attracted by the unusual brightness. + +Beneath the lantern an ordinary circular net should be let down, and +when the fish are swarming around the light, draw the net up quickly, +and it will go hard with you if you do not bring to the surface a good +haul of fish. + +This is a novel and most ingenious mode of fishing, and though there is +very little sport in it compared with that of angling with a rod and +line, it may be useful when, as frequently happens, fish will not bite, +and the night's supper or the morrow's breakfast must be provided for, +lest the young woods-man go hungry to bed, or awake with a keen appetite +to realize that some hours must elapse before he can have breakfast. + + * * * * * + +NATURAL HISTORY JINGLES.[2] + +[2] From _New Games for Parlor and Lawn_. By GEORGE B. BARTLETT. New +York: Harper & Brothers. (_In Press._) + +This very funny game was first suggested by the metre of the little +nursery rhyme intended to teach children to read. Each of the players is +given one letter of the alphabet in order, and has ten minutes allowed +him in which to choose an animal the name of which begins with the +letter that has been given to him, and to write a verse about it in the +style of the well-known jingle, "A was an archer," etc. When the time +has expired each recites his verse. A few specimen jingles are given +below to show that the verses must be made as grotesque and humorous as +possible, much more attention being given to rhyme than to reason: + + A was a curious old ant-eater, + A very strange and remarkable creetur; + And if of a sudden he wanted to dine, + I should not much care if he took one of mine. + + B is a bison, whose rough, shaggy hide + Is a comfortable thing when you take a sleigh-ride; + But when he is in it, not pleasant to meet + When he tramples the plain with his swift little feet. + + C is a scaly old crocodile, + Who lazily sleeps in the mud of the Nile; + But you never can trust in the strength of his nap, + For if you go near him his great jaws may snap. + + * * * * * + +SOLUTION OF MOON PUZZLE IN No. 147. + +Cut the moon out of the sky, and place it over the end of the fan. Then +you will see inscribed on the fan the word "Taffy," which the little +girl is supposed to be giving to her cousin Gus. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: "DOES POLLY WANT A CRACKER?"] + +[Illustration: "YES; AND POLL'S GOT IT TOO, HASN'T SHE?"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Harper's Young People, September 5, +1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59586 *** |