diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/64422-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/64422-0.txt | 3309 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 3309 deletions
diff --git a/old/64422-0.txt b/old/64422-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8de123b..0000000 --- a/old/64422-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3309 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Shining Hours, by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Shining Hours - -Author: Anonymous - -Release Date: January 30, 2021 [eBook #64422] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Richard Tonsing, Juliet Sutherland, and the Online - Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHINING HOURS *** - - - - -[Illustration: Shining Hours] - - Shining Hours - - -[Illustration: COME AND PLAY.] - - - - - COME AND PLAY! - - - Play-ful kit-tens! see them spring-ing - Light-ly up my fa-vor-ite tree; - Now they spy the ham-mock swing-ing— - In they scram-ble-one, two, three. - - For a while they sit de-mure-ly, - In a dain-ty fluffy row, - Then they gaze a-bout—why sure-ly, - There stands pa-tient Spot be-low. - - “Come!” I fan-cy they are say-ing; - “See, it is not far to climb: - ’Mid the branch-es i-dly sway-ing, - We are hav-ing such a time! - - “You shall have a wel-come hear-ty - Here with-in the leaf-y shade. - What! you will not join our par-ty? - Sil-ly pup, you are a-fraid!” - - But a meek re-proach is ly-ing - In those eyes so brown and large; - One can al-most hear him cry-ing, - “I have mas-ter’s stick in charge!” - - Pret-ty, mirth-ful, sau-cy crea-tures— - Let them play their mer-ry part! - How can their light kit-ten-na-tures - Un-der-stand his faith-ful heart? - -That night Edith insisted on taking the old idol to bed with her as of -old. Aunt Bell over-heard her talking to it. - -“I love you bushels. You are the beautifulest dolly in all the world. -And I don’t care if you haven’t dot two arms, and fine clothes, and a -parasol. You’ve dot me, and I’ve dot you, and we’ll just do on loving -each other. Dat new dolly can sit in the parlor, but you’se my every day -chum.” - -Edith showed the new dolly to all her friends, but wouldn’t play with it -for many days. Like a genuine little woman, she wanted to be loyal to -her first love. - - - - - IN THE MEADOW. - - - Little girlie in the meadow, - Do you love to pick the flowers? - Do you love to sing and chatter, - Through the bright and sunny hours? - - Pretty maiden in the meadow, - Do you love to dream and sigh? - Do you love to build bright castles - In the air, yet know not why? - - Kind old doggie in the meadow, - Do you love to laze and think? - Do you love to catch the snappers, - While at them you wink and blink? - - Little girlie, pretty maiden, - Kind old doggie—three good friends— - Love the sunshine, dreams, and flowers, - All joy that summer days attends. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - - A PUZZLED CAT. - - -Teheran, the Persian cat, was dozing on a rug in the hall. Suddenly her -hair stood on end, and her tail grew large. What-ever was that thing -coming down-stairs? She had opened her eyes just in time to see at the -head of the long flight of stairs some strange animal, with great eyes -and long sharp teeth. To her horror, it slid quickly down stairs, -directly toward her. - -It did not take her long to run from the mat and dodge the -fierce-looking animal. She turned to look, and there lay the four footed -beast, just where she had lain. What could he be, and what was he doing -in that house? There he lay quietly. Could he be asleep? Pussy-like, she -crawled toward him, ready to spring if he stirred. She walked round him -with her back up. No, he wasn’t asleep. His eyes were wide open. Was he -lying in wait, ready to spring at her? - -Round and round him she walked. Not an ear did he raise, not a whisker -did he twitch, not an eyelid did he wink. What a curious fellow! - -Had he died of heart disease coming down-stairs so fast? Her eyes opened -wider. She pricked up her ears to listen. Not a breath could she hear. -Poor fellow, he must be dead. - -She grew bolder. She played with his paws, and she pulled his tail. She -brushed by his side. How queer! No fat, no bones! She put one paw on his -back, two paws, three paws, all four paws. How flat! no heart, no -stomach, no insides at all. She sat down on him to think. What was he? - -Many a day she thought about him; many a time she played with him; many -an hour she watched him. But a puzzled cat she always remained. - - - - - ON THE BEACH. - - -This little girl has come with her mamma from the noisy city, Paris. She -has a shrimping net in her hand, and thinks she can catch shrimps. - -The fish-wife is surprised to see a little girl in such fine clothes on -the beach. The little girl is curious about the fish-wife. Do you wish -to know what they are talking about? Listen! - -“Êtes vous de Paris?” - -“Oui.” - -[Illustration] - -“Combien y a-t-il de temps que vous êtes ici?” - -“Il n’y a que trois jours.” - -Do you understand? You do if you are studying French. They both talk -French although they are dressed so differently. The little girl is very -much interested in the funny dress of the fish-wife. The fish-wife is -very much pleased with the pretty dress of the little girl. She says -under her breath “Qu’elle est jolie!” - -They look each other over from top to toe, and talk awhile. Then the -fish-wife goes back to her work. The little girl pokes the shrimping-net -into the water and tries to catch the shrimps. - - - - - DOROTHY’S CALL. - - -Dorothy was wandering about the house, wondering what to do. She strayed -into Grandma’s room. On the bureau lay Grandmas’s cap. Dorothy tried it -on, and thought she looked very like Grandma. There lay a pair of -spectacles. She tried those on too. - -Suddenly a scheme came into her wise little head. She went to Grandmas’s -closet, found one of her dress skirts, and put on that. Grandma was a -short woman, and Dorothy was a pretty big girl for her age, still the -skirt was a trifle long in front. Grandma didn’t wear short sleeves and -high-necked aprons. Grandma’s black shawl was just the thing to cover -them up, Dorothy thought, as she fastened it with Grandma’s big pin. - -[Illustration: DOROTHY.] - -She walked quietly into the hall. Quietly, because she wasn’t sure that -Grandma would be pleased. She couldn’t see through the spectacles. She -clung to the bannisters, or down the whole flight of stairs she would -have gone at one step. Shoving the glasses to the end of her nose, she -went on her way. Around the corner lived a poor old lady that Grandma -sometimes called on. Dorothy walked to her door and knocked. The old -lady came to the door. - -“Good morning, Mrs. Johns!” said Dorothy. - -“Good morning,” answered Mrs. Johns, looking at her caller curiously. -“Come in, wont you, and sit down? I don’t just recall you, though you do -seem familiar.” - -“My name is Swinton,” said Dorothy. (So it was and so was her -Grandmother's). - -“Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Swinton? You must excuse me for not knowing -you. I’m getting hard o’hearing, and my eyes aren’t as good as they were -once. And how are you?” - -“I have a little rheumatiz, and sometimes a ‘stick’ in my back,” -answered Dorothy. - -“Your voice doesn’t sound natural, but perhaps it’s my ears. Does your -throat trouble you?” - -“Oh no!” said Dorothy, growing nervous. “I guess I better be going.” - -“Going! Why you’ve just come.” - -But Dorothy hurried away, rather quickly for an old lady. - -“Well I never!” muttered Mrs. Johns. “She must be going out of her mind, -she acted so queer. The rheumatiz must be in her brain. She walked too -fast to have it in her legs.” - -Grandma was surprised to see Dorothy coming into the house, dressed in -her clothes. She couldn’t help smiling while Dorothy told her all about -her call. - -“And Grandma,” said Dorothy, “she didn’t find out that I was only -myself, and not yourself at all!” - - - - - FIDO’S PUPPIES. - - -Fido was the proud mother of four puppies. They were born in a clothes -basket. While they were very young they did not offer to leave their -warm bed. They snuggled close to their mother, and when she went off for -a walk they cuddled together. - -[Illustration] - -They soon became venturesome, like most dogs and boys. Two were -particularly so. They jumped over-board to go on a tour of inspection, -the mother’s sharp eyes following. - -The third, not quite so bold, just leaned over the edge of the basket. -He leaned too far, and out he tumbled, and then tried to climb back. The -fourth was too lazy to move, and kept under cover. - -[Illustration] - -Dear, big, old Colonel eyed curiously these fat, faltering, four-legged -new-comers. And the new-comers eyed him. They sat in judgment over his -tail as it lay on the ground. They never thought of its being a tail. -They only knew one kind, like theirs and their mother’s. - -While they were thinking, the Colonel raised this bushy tail. It struck -one under the jaw, making him turn a back somersault; it rolled the -other puppy over. They were very much surprised, and waddled back to the -basket as fast as their weak legs could carry them. The Colonel smiled. - -These two dogs grew bolder as they grew older. Once, when their mother -was away, they went on another inspecting tour, taking the most timid -puppy with them. - -They jumped up the front steps of their masters house. Seeing the front -door open, they decided to call. They did not know that the proper way -was to ring the bell and hand in cards. They simply walked in and found -their way to the parlor. What fine curtains to roll on! What beautiful -lace to tear! What gay cords and tassels to pull! Such a lark! - -That which attracted them most was a mat made of a wolf’s skin and head. -At first they were afraid, but seeing he did not injure them, they -pulled him about at a great rate. They were having such a good time, -they made some noise. - -The maid surprised them, and stopped their little game by appearing with -a whip. The puppies went out the front door faster than callers usually -go; and they never so much as said good-afternoon. - - - - - DOLLY’S LULLABY. - - -[Illustration] - - Dolly darling, now don’t cry, - Here’s your cradle right close by, - In my arms you’ll safely keep, - Close your eyes and go to sleep. - - - - - THE BIRDIES. - - - Dear little birdies, come in from the cold. - Don’t be so ’fraid of us. Try to be bold. - Doggie won’t hurt you; he loves little birds; - He minds when I speak, for he understands words. - - Dear little birdies, come in for this bread. - Why do you hop away, why turn your head? - Here in my hand is the bread, all for you. - Taste it, and see if my words are not true. - - Dear little birdies, come in from the snow. - You will be frozen. Just hear the wind blow! - Hop on the window-sill; hop right along; - Eat of this bread, and then chirp us a song. - - Dear little birdies, come in or you’ll freeze. - With snow in the garden, and ice on the trees, - Surely you cannot, though trying your best, - Find any breakfast or feather your nest. - - - - - THE HISTORY LESSON. - - -Kate was trying to learn her history lesson. She thought she never could -learn the names of all the Presidents of the United States, and recite -them in their order. Her eyes would stray to the story books. Her mind -would wander to “Lady Constance,” who had her right hand cut off to save -the life of her dear husband. And to Cinderella and her lost slipper. -And to the Prince who found it and married her. In fact she could think -of everything except the Presidents of the United States. - -While she was wasting her time, Cousin Anna came in to call. - -“What makes you look so cross, Kate?” Cousin Anna asked. - -“I can’t get my lesson,” lamented Kate. - -“What is your lesson about?” asked the cousin. - -“All the Presidents, and I get so mixed up.” - -“Have you the list in rhyme?” asked Anna. - -“No, Cousin Anna. I never saw it,” said Kate. - -“Oh, you must have that. It is so easy to learn. We used to learn the -English Sovereigns in rhyme. I remember so well our reciting; - - ‘First William, the Norman, - Then William, his son,’ - -“And so on. And now Mrs. Peter has put our Presidents in rhyme; - - ‘First Washington, then Adams, - Next Jefferson we view; - James Madison, Monroe, and then, - John Adams’ son—John Q.’ - -“And so forth. Come home with me and I’ll get you her little book. She -has the important events of each administration all in rhyme, too. For -instance, under Grover Cleveland is: - - ‘Twas after twenty years and four - A Democrat these honors wore; - Cleveland his honest record made, - Though people did not choose free trade,— - Huge labor strikes and feuds arose, - And earthquakes sealed sad Charleston’s woes.’ - -“Under ‘Benjamin Harrison,’ she has: - - ‘Year eighty-nine brought into view - A kinsman of old Tip’canoe; - Another Harrison is chief; - And now—for good, or else for grief— - The tariff and the silver bills, - Divide the people’s votes and wills; - And liquor traffic still defies - The legislation of the wise.’ - -“Don’t you think you could learn this?” - -“Oh, yes! Cousin Anna,” exclaimed Kate. - -Cousin Anna gave the little book to Kate. Kate soon learned the six -short verses, and so knew all the Presidents and in their order. - -She learned, too, all the events in rhyme. - - - - - THE BABY AND TRAY. - - - Tura, lura, lura lay, - Dear little baby in dress array, - Tura, lura, lura lay - Dear little doggie looking gay. - - Tura, lura, lura lay, - Dear little baby wants to play, - Tura, lura, lura lay, - Dear little doggie doesn’t say nay. - - Tura, lura, lura lay - Dear little baby laughs at Tray; - Tura, lura, lura lay - Dear little doggie barks his say. - - Tura, lura, lura lay, - Dear little baby googles “Stay!” - Tura, lura, lura lay, - Dear little doggie wags “Good-day!” - - - - - THE PROOF OF LOVE. - - -Theresa loves her cat very much. How do I know? Theresa was hungry. She -asked for some milk. She sat down on the floor to enjoy it. Her dog sat -down beside her. Frisky, her cat, smelling the milk came and sat in -front of her. Frisky did not move her eyes away from Theresa and her -milk. She looked and purred, and purred and looked. - -Theresa began to feel uncomfortable. She knew Frisky liked milk but so -did she. She felt that Frisky was asking for some as well as she knew -how. Her eyes seemed to say to Theresa, “I’m very fond of milk and I’d -like some of yours very much indeed.” When the milk passed Theresa’s -heart on its way to her stomach her heart said, “Frisky wants some too. -Poor kittie!” - -Theresa put the bowl down and told Frisky to take a taste. Frisky put -her little red tongue into the bowl and began tasting the milk. She kept -on tasting the milk. She didn’t once lift up her head and offer to let -Theresa have the rest. Theresa liked her cat so much she couldn’t bear -to pull the bowl away. Frisky’s tongue went fast and so did the milk. -Frisky lapped up every drop. She was only a cat and did not know she was -selfish. - -Some tears came into Theresa’s eyes when she saw that the milk was all -gone. She did not scold nor complain. Frisky purred, “Thank you.” -Theresa took her in her arms and said, “Nice Frisky!” - -[Illustration] - -Wasn’t this a proof that Theresa loved her cat very much? - - - - - “I CAN STIR IT!” - - -“Please cook, let me stir it.” - -“Och, no, Miss, you couldn’t,” said cook. - -Esther thought she could, but didn’t tease. - -A few hours later Esther came into the kitchen again. On the table was -the same big bowl. In it was the same stuff that cook stirred. Cook was -nowhere to be seen. - -In a jiffy Esther was on a chair with the spoon in her hand. “I _can_ -stir it,” she said to herself in triumph. It was easy enough. She -stirred till she was tired. - -She had been back in the sitting-room awhile when the cook appeared in -great distress. - -“Och, Mrs. Borden, me risins all shpiled; and it wasn’t rats for there’s -a shpoon in it.” Mrs. Borden was going to say, who could it be, when she -spied Esther’s face. It was very red. - -“Esther, child, did you disturb cook’s sponge for her bread?” asked Mrs. -Borden. - -“Mamma, I didn’t see any sponges and bread,” answered Esther, “but I -stirred something in a big bowl. Cook said I couldn’t. I tried, and I -could stir it.” - -Mrs. Borden convinced Esther that it wasn’t wise to touch anything in -the kitchen without cook’s permission. - -Esther told cook she was sorry she had made her so much trouble. - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE ORPHANS. - - -Olive was walking in the yard, when she heard a voice calling her to -come in. She at once obeyed, and was told that a lady wished to see her -in the parlor. This lady spoke to Olive very kindly, asking her if she -would like to go to live with her. Olive, liking the lady’s face and -manner, said she would. - -Olive had lived in this Orphan Asylum several years. She was a very -sad-looking child, and no one had wished before to adopt her. This lady -wished to make some poor child happy, and chose Olive because she seemed -so forlorn. Promising to come for her in a few days, she kissed Olive -good-bye. - -[Illustration] - -Martin was Olive’s brother, and lived in the Asylum too. Their mother -died when they were very young. Irene, the eldest child, tried to help -her father take care of the children and the house, but she was never -very well. She grew weaker and weaker. She used to go off by herself to -cry. She longed for her mother, and wished she could go to her. Her wish -was granted, for she died too. - -[Illustration] - -The father couldn’t look after Martin and Olive, so he put them in the -Orphan Asylum. It wasn’t very long before the father was taken ill, and -had to go to a hospital, where he died. That left Martin and Olive -without father or mother, or anybody in the wide world to love them. - -When Olive told Martin she was going away with a sweet lady, he threw up -his arms and rushed down the garden quite wild-like. Martin was old -enough to realize that his little sister was to be taken away from him, -and he could never be with her any more. It nearly broke his heart even -to think about it. - -Olive began to think too. They cried and they thought, they planned and -they talked. Olive told the matron she couldn’t leave Martin, but the -matron said she must. When the lady came for her, Olive cried very hard, -and asked if she please couldn’t take Martin too, for he wouldn’t have -any little sister at all if she went away. - -Martin came to say good-bye. He and Olive clung to each other. While -they sobbed, the matron scolded and the lady pondered. Finally the lady -asked the matron’s permission to take Martin for a few days’ visit. That -stopped the crying and the scolding, and away the children went in great -glee. - -Martin was such a quiet, good boy, and so happy to be with them, that -the lady and her husband decided to keep both children. Neither they nor -the children ever had any reason to regret it. - -Olive and Martin had had so little fun in their lives, had shed so many -tears, and had known so much about trouble, that they were always -grateful for everything done for them, and tried their best to do right. -They were very unlike the children, who, while always being indulged and -petted, are nevertheless discontented. - - - - - MY DOLLY. - - -[Illustration] - - My Dolly, Polly Angelina Brown, - Has a pretty little bonnet, and a pretty little gown; - A pretty little bonnet - With a lovely feather on it; - Oh, there’s not another like it to be found in all the town! - -[Illustration] - - My dolly, Polly, is a precious little pet; - Her eyes are bright as jewels, and her hair as black as jet; - I hug her, and I kiss her! - And oh, how I should miss her - If she were taken from me! Oh how I should grieve and fret! - -[Illustration] - - My little brother, Charley, says my dolly is “a muff,” - And he calls her other horrid names—though that is bad enough; - And though he’s very clever, - I never, no, I never - Let him handle her or dandle her for boys, you know, are rough. - -[Illustration] - - My dolly’s always smiling; she was never known to frown; - And she looks so very charming in her Sunday hat and gown, - You really ought to see her - To get a good idea - Of the beauty of my dolly, Polly Angelina Brown. - - - - - DON’T ENVY YOUR NEIGHBORS. - - - A FABLE. - -A lean half-starved cur stood curiously regarding a sleek white well-fed -pig, cosily curled up in a nest of nice clean straw. - -“Some folks get all the good things in this world, I think,” grumbled -the cur. “Here is that great fat lazy pig, fed on the best of -everything—peas, potatoes, sweet milk, barley-meal, and I know not what -all—whilst I am kicked and cuffed, and have to pick up a meal anyhow.” - -“Dick!” cried the farmer out of the window. “Be up to-morrow at four -o’clock. We’ll kill the white pig for Saturday’s market; and a roast leg -of pork won’t come amiss for Sunday’s dinner.” - -Next morning the cur was awakened early by strange sounds. “A—h!” said -he, as he shivered in his straw, and sat up to listen; “I see now, they -only fattened up poor piggy for their own sakes. Seeming good fortune -may not be best for us after all. It is better to live poorly in -security than to have all we want, and be in constant danger.” - - - - - “NIBS.” - - -“Dandy, let’s you and me play we’s poor. And we’ve eaten nuffin for -free-seven-’leaven days. And we’ll beg our daily bread from door to -door, in the rain. Poor little boys have to eat, if it does rain. They -don’t have to stay in the house.” - -Nibs is a little boy, who is very tired of staying in the house. Dandy -is his dog. - -“Well have to have a basket to put our daily bread in, and a bumbrell.” - -Dandy wags his tail so hard you can scarcely see it. That is his way of -saying he’ll back Nibs in any scheme to get out doors. - -“Dandy, do you fink poor little boys carry bumbrells? I know one to -match poor boys. Big brover said it was so poor its ribs showed. Come on -Dandy.” - -Here Nibs goes off for a basket and umbrella, Dandy keeping close to his -heels. In some way Nibs and Dandy get out of the house unnoticed. After -Nibs raises the umbrella, he halts a moment, Dandy waiting beside him. -His heart and Dandy’s tail sink at the same moment when a voice is heard -calling: - -“Nibs, what are you about out there?” - -“Dandy and I are just going out for our daily bread,” answers Nibs. - -“You’d better come in for your daily bread, or you may get a daily -something else.” - -“Oh dear!” sighs Nibs. “Dandy, you and I can’t have any fun. We cant -even be poor.” - -[Illustration: NIBS AND DANDY.] - -[Illustration] - - - - - A BATH IN THE SEA. - - -A bath in the sea! How refreshing it is! At first Clarence was afraid, -and would scream with all his might, and he is more timid now than he -will be when he learns how to swim. - -Hazel is not afraid. She does not go far from shore, and enjoys sporting -in the cool soft water. Clarence keeps her busy. The water that is -shallow for Hazel, is deep for him. He is a small boy. - -“Oh! oh! oh!” cries Clarence. “There’s a fish nibbling my toe!” - -“Nonsense!” says Hazel. “A kick and a splash will scare them all away. -Now I will teach you how to swim.” - -“I’m afraid! I’ll drown!” cries Clarence. - -“If you’re afraid, you will. But you must learn not to be afraid. Salt -water is strong and will hold you up. And besides, I am here to take -care of you.” - -So Hazel puts her hand under him and Clarence stretches himself, face -downward, on top of the water. Then he folds his hands together, and -spreads them out again, pushing the water away from him, and using his -feet as paddles, and is quite proud of his success. He wants to learn -how to swim, so that if he should go out in a boat and be thrown -over-board, he could keep his head above water until help came. - -When Clarence comes out of the water he must be well rubbed, and oh, how -his cheeks will glow! Then he must take a run on the shore. - - - - - GOING CRABBING. - - -[Illustration] - -Come, Bob, Tom, Ned, Jack, Jim—all of you. We are going a-crabbing. - -Hooray! hooray! hooray! - -Bob and Tom must carry the nets, and here is twine and bait enough for -all of us. It is a dull day, and the crabs will bite well, I guess. - -What queer shells! Yes. They are periwinkles. Ned will crack them for us -when we get to the creek. Then I will show you how to catch crabs. Here -we are! - - Along the shore now take your stand, - With a bit of fish-line in your hand! - -[Illustration] - -At one end of the fish-line tie on this piece of periwinkle meat. Ugh! -It is not nice I know, but you must not be too nice when you go -crabbing. The boys must look after the girls and see that their lines -are all right. Now—have you plenty of elbow room? Is the bait tied on so -that it cannot get off? Then swing the line and throw it so that the -bait falls well out into the creek. Now wait—and hold on to the other -end of your line. Do you feel a jerk? a pull? Then haul in very slowly, -and be ready with the nets, Bob and Tom. Slip the net under the crab as -soon as it is near the shore. If you do not it will get away. Look! -There is a crab with but one large claw! It broke off the other in -trying to get away. A crab will often lose a claw rather than be taken -in a net. - -See that one dart off under the seaweed! Now we have all that we need. -Let us roll up our lines and go home. Look at John, with a crab fast to -his coat. Oh! what fun we have had! - - - - - PETER’S WORK-SHOP. - - -Peter is fond of tools. He loves to saw and hammer, and to drive nails. -Oh, what a noise he makes! He has a room all to himself in the upper -part of the house, and here he spends most of his time on rainy days -when he is out of school. - -It is handy to have such a boy as Peter around, for if a hinge gets -loose, or a piece of board is wanted, there is no need of sending for a -carpenter; Peter will attend to it just as well as the best. - -[Illustration] - -Nellie, Dotty, and Susy, bring him their dolls to mend, and sometimes he -has so much work of this sort to do that his work-shop looks like a -dolls’ hospital. He has a sign upon the wall—“Dolls mended”—and he tries -his best to do his work well, and to keep his tools bright. - -Poor little Dotty was almost broken-hearted when Laura Matilda fell and -broke her arm; but Jessie said “Peter can mend it;” and Dotty took it to -Peter herself for she would not trust the dear doll out of her arms. She -has to sit patiently and wait her turn, just as sick people do in the -hospital, and is comforted by seeing other dolls worse off than poor -Laura Matilda. What if she had broken her neck? or smashed her head? O -that is too dreadful to think of. - -Peter has an order for a bench, and after he has sawed the board the -right length, he will have to use the plane and make it nice and smooth, -and all this takes time. Dotty thinks he is very slow; but there are -some things that cannot be done fast, and “what is worth doing at all is -worth doing well.” Have patience, little Dotty! - -[Illustration] - - - - - UP IN THE BELFRY. - - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - Little girls up in the belfry so high, - Think they have climbed to the edge of the sky. - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - People below look like flies they’re so small; - Laura’s so short she can’t see them at all. - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - Fleecy white clouds o’er their heads, see them float! - Oh, if the girls could have one for a boat! - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - Floating through cloud-land how happy they’d be! - Wonderful things in the heavens they’d see! - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - Rain-bows and sun-beams, the hail, and the snow, - All these the secret of making they’d know. - - Ging! Gong! Ging! Gong! - Tree-tops and clouds they must now leave to go - Down to the earth and the people below. - - - - - THE TIDE. - - -Mildred came over to spend an afternoon with Gertie. Gertie led Mildred -to her favorite spot. It was out on the rocks, away out to the very last -one that could be seen above the water. - -[Illustration] - -Gertie took off her shoes and stockings. Mildred felt too much dressed -up to do that. They sat on the rock, Gertie dangling her feet in the -water. They talked, and they laughed, and they sang: - - “Little fishes in the water, - Who has taught you how to swim? - Has your mother or your father - Shown you how to use each fin? - - “Little fishes in the water, - Who has taught you how to dive? - How to glide, and not to falter, - How to live, and how to thrive?” - -Suddenly Gertie looked toward the shore. The tide was coming in. Already -some of the stepping stones were covered with water. Her stockings and -shoes were gradually being carried away. - -Mildred was frightened. Gertie looked very brave but wasn’t so calm as -she looked. She picked up her soaked shoes and stockings. They started -for the beach. They ran and they jumped. Mildred wasn’t sure footed. She -slipped and she slopped. Her shoes were soon wet. - -The water rose higher and higher. No use in jumping, for the rocks and -stones were now covered. Poor Mildred had to wade through the water with -her new shoes and stockings on her feet. But her shoes were not any -wetter than Gertie’s were in her hand. Mildred’s pretty dress was badly -wet, too. - -Gertie took her visitor to her room to get her clothes dry. She felt -ashamed to think she had forgotten about the tide. She was sorry she had -by her thoughtlessness marred the pleasure of Mildred’s visit. - - - - - DOLLY’S BATH. - - -[Illustration] - - Dolly needs to have a bath - In her little tub, - Where her pretty hands and feet - I will gently rub; - Twist her hair upon her head - So it won’t get wet; - Then the towels and the soap - And the sponge I’ll get. - - There now, Dolly, stand just so; - Very quiet keep; - Though the water in the tub - Is not very deep, - It might make you very ill, - Very pale and thin, - If by any chance, my dear, - You should tumble in. - -[Illustration] - - Where’s my dolly? O dear me! - I told her not to stir! - For oh, you know, all-over baths - Do not agree with her! - And now she is a dreadful sight; - Not fit to hug or kiss! - Oh, dolly dear, how could you serve - Me such a trick as this? - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE LITTLE MOTHER. - - -Lulu’s dolls are so large that you would think they were real flesh and -blood. She likes to have them large, she says, for then she can hug -them, and make it seem as if they were alive. Her doll-baby, Flo, is -just the size of her little sister, Baby May, and it is hard sometimes -to tell which one she has in her arms. - -Lulu is a real little mother girl. She takes the best of care of her -dolls, and fondles them, and talks to them just as if they knew all that -she said. She makes all their clothes, and keeps them in good order, and -it would surprise you to see how well she sews. - -She is gentle and kind in all her ways, but sometimes she has to scold -G. W. and B. F. and stand them in a corner. - -They are such bad boys. Lulu has not made up her mind yet whether she -will call them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, or more fancy -names, but has become so used to G. W. and B. F. that it will be quite -hard for her to make any change. When night comes on Lulu sings her -dolls to sleep, and then puts them in their own little beds where they -rest quietly until daylight. If they were real children, and cried out -in the night with aches, and pains, and bad dreams, what a hard time -Lulu would have! - - - - - THE STOLEN CHILD. - - -This is a sad story, as you might well know. But sad things will take -place now and then, and we cannot help it. It is a story about a little -boy, named Peter. That was to be his name when he grew up, but now -nobody called him anything but Pete. - -Pete had had a bad fall when a little baby and it left him with a weak -back, so that he could not run and romp like the rest of the small boys. -He had toys to play with, but they were not nice or new, and he soon -tired of them. What he wanted most was a doll. Really? Yes. He was -ashamed to let the boys know it for fear they would call him “Sissy,” -but deep down in his heart there was a strong desire for a doll to hug, -and to hold, and to take to bed with him. - -One day a lady came to the house, and somehow she guessed just what kind -of a boy Pete was. Without saying a word, she took a small shawl off a -hook, gave it a fold and a roll, pinned it together and then handed it -over to the small boy. - -[Illustration] - -You should have seen Pete’s face! There was not room on it for the broad -smile that tried to get there, and finally had to break itself all up -into little bits. Oh, how he hugged and loved that doll! and he soon got -so he did not mind being seen on the street with it in his arms. There -was no danger of breaking it; and it could sit down bea—u—ti—fully. - -One day Pete thought he would try to climb a lamp-post. He had seen the -other boys do it, and it looked easy, but he would need two hands. So -the doll—Matilda Jane—had to sit down on a stoop near by, and wait until -Pete came back for her. - -Well, it was not long; but when Pete got back to the place where Matilda -Jane was he could not find her. - -She was go——o——o——ne! Somebody had stolen her! - -Pete was heart-broken. He cried, and cried, and cried. He should never -see his own dear Matilda Jane again! And the worst of it was that he -wouldn’t know her if he saw her. Even his mother laughed, and said “Oh, -it was only an old shawl. No great loss!” - -But Pete’s heart was wrapped up in that shawl and that is what makes -this a sad story. He might have other dolls, but none that would take -the place of his Matilda Jane. - - - - - CAUSE FOR THANKFULNESS. - - - Fast asleep, fast asleep, are these dear little girls; - On the pillow are laid their two heads, full of curls, - And of dreams gay and bright: - Their prayers these sweet little maidens have said, - And their stockings hung up at the head of their bed, - To be filled this glad night. - -While they dream their mother sits beside them. While she fills their -stockings with gifts, her heart is filled with praise. Her two little -girls are both alive and well. It is not many weeks since the elder was -very ill. The mother had been very sorrowful at the thought of losing -one of her own dear girls. - -What queer fancies sick people have! This little girl while ill imagined -many things. She thought she was a fairy riding in a little golden -carriage driven by two small white kittens, and that the doctor was a -giant. She told him he was too big to take a drive with her, he would -smash her carriage and kill her kittens. If he would be good, and not -make her swallow such horrid stuff, she would change him into a dear -little Puck, with a green jacket and a lace ruff. - -Sometimes she thought she was an angel flying through the air. She said -she was sitting on a horn of the moon, but would fly off soon to a world -way off out of sight. That made her mother cry. - -Once she very politely asked her father—a very large man—to take a seat -on the mantle-piece, as she thought the room was crowded. And once she -thought she was a clown in a circus, and tried to stand on her head in -bed. - -[Illustration] - -She was very ill; but she got well, however. Now it is Christmas eve. -The mother is happy and thankful because there are two little girls -instead of one. - - - - - PLATO’S SOLILOQUY. - - -Do I look like a happy dog? Do I look like a handsome dog? Do I look -like a respectable dog? Is this what the other dogs call fun? - -My master is a very kind man. He has brought me up well. I knew he did -not like his dogs to stay out all night, nor wander off at any time with -vulgar dogs. I had over-heard dogs talking about the fun they had when -off together. I had been invited a number of times to join them. I had -always refused until last night. Then I made up my mind I was going to -have some fun too. So quietly slipping away, I ran around the corner and -off with the dogs. - -Fun? Yes, we did have fun, though an uneasy sneaky feeling would come -over me at times to interfere with my happiness. Fun? Yes, but it ended -in a fight! Fun? Yes, we did have fun, but I’m not having any now! - -One eye nearly gone, one ear half chewed off, a hole in my cheek, a hump -on my leg, my master in sorrow, and I in disgrace, to say nothing of -aches and of pains. It will be some time before I get my good looks back -again, or my usual fine gait. Three-legged and one-eyed! Ugh! - -Fun? Yes! But if any dog imagines that I think it pays, he is very much -mistaken. When I let myself down again to go off with vulgar dogs, no -matter what the fun, may I be locked in the asylum for foolish and -insane dogs!! - -[Illustration: PLATO.] - - - - - THE KING’S DAUGHTER. - - -She does not look like a Princess, with her plain fur cap and cape, and -driving her own sleigh. Yet a daughter of the King she is. - -If you could look under the fur robe, you would find a doll’s carriage, -and in it two dolls all dressed for a drive. You would find a doll’s -bed, with pillows, blankets, mattress and spread. You would find a pair -of skates, a sled, some mittens, handkerchiefs, caps, and hoods; and a -basket of candles, spangles, and small toys for a tree. - -This “King’s Daughter” did not pay for them all. She is only one of a -circle of Daughters. They saved their money, they bought the toys, they -made the clothes, and they dressed the dolls, not for themselves, not -for their own little brothers and sisters, but for a family of children -who but for them would have no presents at all. Their father is poor and -ill, and their mother earns but little. - -It is the day before Christmas. This King’s Daughter is taking these -things to the home of those poor children. The other Daughters will meet -her there, to trim a tree they have ordered. The poor mother will help -them, forgetting her sorrows for a while. The sick father will smile as -he looks on. This will be his last Christmas-tree on earth, as he can -not live much longer. He is very glad the King has sent his daughters to -do for the children what he is not able to do for them himself. - -[Illustration] - -On Christmas day will come a basket, full of good things to eat, which -these same girls have provided. These girls by saving their money have -had less candy to eat, fewer trinkets to wear, and perhaps a little less -fun. But think of the comfort and happiness they will give to those poor -children, that sad mother, that sick father! - -Are you a daughter of the King? - - - - - GETTING READY FOR BED. - - -Allan thought it was time he learned to get himself ready for bed. He -wished to be a man as soon as possible. That, he thought, would be one -way to grow manly. So he kissed everybody good-night and went upstairs -to bed all alone. - -No, not exactly alone, for Toodles went with him. Allan did not admit it -to anybody, but he really was very much obliged to Toodles, as he was a -great deal of company. - -“Now Toodles, you watch me undress, and see if I don’t know how!” And -Toodles watched. - -“You see that, Toodles?” asked Allan as he put out one foot with a -stocking on it. “That is where I keep some of my pigs.” - -“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles. - -“Sure!” said Allan. “You can’t see them, for they are all covered up; -but they are there. Now, look!” Allan jerked off the stocking and -wiggled his toes before Toodles’ very nose. “See, five of them!” - -“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles. - -“And here’s where I keep all the others!” said Allan as he held up the -other stockinged foot. “See them?” Off went that stocking. “Are they not -nice little pigs? There’s the one that went to market, and there’s the -one that said, ‘squeak, squeak.’” Allan poked his bare foot into -Toodles’ ribs and wiggled his toes in his fur. - -[Illustration] - -“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles. - -Allan got his clothes off, but found it hard to get his nightgown on. -His hands would go into the legs of the gown. His feet would go into the -arms of the gown. He and the gown got all tangled up. Toodles couldn’t -help him. He could only encourage him by saying “Pur-r-r, pur-r-r.” - -Mamma came up and straightened him out, and buttoned his gown behind. - -Then Allan said his prayers, asking God to “bless everybody and -Toodles.” - - - - - A BOY. - - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy wakens, our trials begin. - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy dallies, there’s mischief within. - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy dresses, he makes a great din. - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy washes, he half rubs his skin. - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy frolics, to imps he’s akin. - - Tickle your chin! Tickle your chin! - When a boy loves us, our hearts he can win. - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE LITTLE SAIL-BOAT. - - -[Illustration] - -James had a present of a big Jack-knife, and oh, how proud he was of it! -He whistled all day long, and at last made himself a nice boat, with -bowsprit, mast, and sail, all complete. James called his boat the -“Arrow,” for it would fly so swiftly when the wind was right. O how it -would go! - -James had a sister Ella, near his own age, who was very fond of her -brother, and proud of the boat that he had made. The two always played -nicely together, and were never known to quarrel. James liked to please -Ella, and Ella liked to please James, so both were happy. - -There was nothing James and Ella enjoyed more than wading in the shallow -water and guiding the little sail-boat—their newest toy. Ella called -James—“Captain”; and James called Ella—“Mate,” and as James wore a -sailor-suit he felt quite like a sea-faring man. - -James was careful not to let his little boat get out into deep water, -for it had cost him a great deal of time and trouble to make it, and he -did not care to lose it. But one calm day the Captain and Mate had gone -for a drive, leaving the sail-boat in what they thought was a safe -place. While they were gone, a stiff breeze came up and blew the little -boat away from the shore, and it sailed, and sailed far out of sight. -Wasn’t that too bad? - - - - - IF I ONLY HAD WINGS! - - - If I only had wings, now I’m tired of play, - How nice it would be to go sailing away! - The sky is so blue and the clouds are so bright, - I should never be weary from morning till night. - - You dear little bird on the top of the tree, - I am sure you’re as happy as happy can be; - With your little wings you can fly very high, - But with large ones I think I could get to the sky. - - There are many things there which I’m longing to know: - Those clouds look like mountains all covered with snow; - Oh, if we had wings could we go there and play, - And tumble about as we do in the hay? - - And where do the stars go as soon as it’s light? - And why do they twinkle the whole of the night? - Do they talk to each other when no one can hear? - And do they feel sad when the moon isn’t there? - - If that butterfly now to a fairy would turn, - Perhaps she would help me these secrets to learn; - Such beautiful sights and such wonderful things - I would quickly find out if I only had wings. - -[Illustration] - - - - - AFTERNOON TEA. - - -I have three dolls. Their names are Blanche Amelia, Capitola, and John -Henry. Blanche Amelia and Capitola are very well-behaved, but John Henry -gives me a world of trouble. I thought it would be nice to have a -boy-doll. But it is not. He is a great care. - -When I dress up Blanche Amelia and Capitola in their best clothes, they -seem to know that they must act like ladies, and I am never ashamed of -them. - -I love to make believe; don’t you? - -Mamma and my sister Belle go out to afternoon teas and receptions, and -when they come home I hear them tell how this one looked, and what that -one did, and what the other one said, and what they all wore, and oh! -how I do enjoy it. - -Then I have an afternoon tea for my dolls. I have my own set of dishes, -and my own tea-tray, and I pass the cups around to them just as if they -were real folks. - -Blanche Amelia and Capitola sit up and behave their best, but John Henry -will put his arms on the table, although I have told him it is not nice -to do so. - -When I play afternoon tea I have to eat all the goodies myself, and -drink all the warm milk, which I call tea, and when the play is over I -am ever so tired. But not a bit hungry. Oh, no! - - - - - HOW ELMER WAS LET ALONE. - - -[Illustration] - -“I just wish I could be let alone for a while,” said Elmer Green. “I am -tired, and I don’t want to do anything for any body.” - -“Tired” was another name for “cross,” and to tell you the truth this was -one of Elmer’s real cross days. He got up cross, and he would stay cross -for some time. He always did. It was of no use to try to please him. It -could not be done. So he took a book and went off by himself, but was -not gone long before he came back for his top. He spun that for a while; -then he got out his toys; then he counted his marbles; then he thought -he would pick some cherries, but there was no one to go with him, and -there was no fun in going alone. - -What should he do? He wanted to be amused, and didn’t know how to amuse -himself. - -Presently he came into the room where his mother was, and stood around -hoping she would ask him to do something for her. But she did not. She -had a great deal to do, and needed help, but she would not call on -Elmer. It made him feel as if he was of no use to any one. - -“Mother,” he said at last, “what can I do?” - -“Please yourself,” was the quick reply. - -That was what Elmer had been trying to do, but with poor success. He -hung his head, and felt as cross as a bear. As he sat in a corner, his -mother took up the pail to go out to the well. Elmer seized the pail out -of her hand and drew the water. He began to feel better. Then he looked -around to see what else he could do. He did not wait to be asked. The -more he did, the more he felt like doing. He had found out that it was -not nice to be let alone; and he also found out that he pleased himself -most by trying to please others. - - - - - BY THE MILL-POND. - - -Come, let us sit down under the shade of this big tree. - -How its branches reach over, and dip down into the water. It is like a -great umbrella. It is an old tree. See how thick the trunk is. It is -nice to sit in its shade on such a warm day. We will ask the miller to -give us some corn, and we will feed the ducks. There are five of -them—white as snow, and with bright yellow bills and legs. - -Here they come!—one, two, three, four, five. Let us name them. Ala, Ela, -Ila, Ola, Ula. The names sound very much alike, but that will make no -difference to them. And if you call one the others are sure to follow. - -Quack—quack—quack—quack—quack! - -They know what we are sitting here for, and they are in haste to be fed. -They are always hungry. - -Now throw the corn out, where the water is deep. See the ducks dive for -it! That one is standing on its head. How queer it looks, with its -yellow legs kicking up on top of the water. Over goes that one! Heels -over head! The ducks don’t mind. Now let them quack, quack for a while. -Soon they will sail off to their pet feeding-ground, where the earth is -moist and there are soft grasses. - -[Illustration] - -Look! look! What is the matter? A big turtle has seized one of the ducks -by the leg. It cannot get away. Isn’t that too bad! Now there are only -four white ducks on the mill-pond. - - - - - MRS. BRUIN AND HER CUBS. - - -One afternoon Mrs. Bruin was obliged to leave her cubs alone. She -cautioned them not to go far from their cave while she was away. - -They had their usual play together, rolling and tumbling and chasing -each other. They ran farther and farther away from the cave, as no -mother was there to call them back. They ran around trees and scrambled -over logs; they climbed over rocks and stepped into bogs. Growing tired, -they turned to go to their cave to rest. - -Where was it? - -They looked into one cave. That was not theirs. They looked into another -cave. That was not theirs. They poked their noses into hollow trees, -they sniffed around between the rocks. Had their cave moved away! Oh! -where were they! No home! No mother! - -Oh dear! Frightened nearly to death, these young cubs took to their -heels. They did not know which way to go, but they ran. Splash! Splash! -Into a stream that he didn’t see, tumbled one little cub. Such a howling -as was set up, by the other little cub. And the howling was not in vain. -It had a very familiar tone to Mrs. Bruin, who was walking home that -way. - -She hurried to the spot from which it came. She saw at once the plight -of the cubs, and that they were her very own babies. She made a dash for -the little one struggling in the water and pulled him out by the nape of -the neck. Mrs. Bruin shook him pretty hard, perhaps to shake off the -water, and perhaps to punish him a little. She was very much surprised -to find them in this part of the woods all alone by themselves. She -marched them off to their home. The walk was an instructive but not a -jolly one. - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE BUNNY. - - -Box and Cox were twins. Griswold, their little master, was very fond of -them. The dogs and the boy were always together. - -Griswold let them play with some of his toys, but not with any they -could hurt. Somebody gave Griswold a new toy-rabbit which he kept safely -away from the dogs, except once. Then he left it on the floor while he -went out to see a boy passing by. - -Box examined the bunny, nosing and pawing it all over. Cox tried to get -his nose or a paw on it, but Box kept him off. Suddenly, while Box was -looking up, Cox grabbed bunny by the back and started to run. Box as -soon as he could collect his wits ran too. Such a race! Over the toys, -down the steps, out in the yard, around the house, they chased and they -raced. - -Cox held the bunny fast in his mouth, and kept the lead for a long time. -Box finally got near enough to catch the bunny’s head in his mouth. Then -came the tug of war. Cox pulled one way, Box the other. Cox tried to -shake Box off, Box tried to shake Cox off. Cox growled, Box growled. - -Griswold, coming back to his playthings, missed the dogs and the bunny, -and feared something was wrong. Hearing some growls, he went to look for -the dogs. His heart came into his mouth as he saw them jerking his bunny -with all their might. - -He got to them just in time to see poor bunny come apart. And he came -apart so suddenly that Box, with the head in his mouth, keeled over one -way, and Cox, still holding the back, keeled over the other way. This -ending surprised them. Each dog sat down to think and to pant. - -Griswold sat down to think and to cry. Griswold’s mother came to the -rescue. She gathered up the remains of the rabbit, whipped Box and Cox, -and consoled Griswold. She said the bunny’s head could be plastered on; -but his expression would never be quite the same, for one eye was -knocked in, and one ear was gone. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - - TOWZER’S FUN. - - -Tiger, Towzer, and Tip, although the pets of one household, were often -jealous of one another. - -Towzer and Tip were sometimes friendly from sympathy. Towzer was chained -up and couldn’t run away, Tip had had his wings clipped and couldn’t fly -away, while Tiger, the sly cat, was free to go his way. - -Tiger took his after-dinner nap on top of the large square post near his -kennel. One day, while he was resting up there, Tip examined the bones -on his dinner plate. Tiger, lying on the steps, saw Tip picking the -bones. He loved to tease Tip by springing at him, and Towzer loved to -tease Tiger. Towzer thought he saw a chance for some fun. - -Tip fastened his eyes on the bone; Tiger fastened his eyes on Tip; and -Towzer fastened his eyes on Tiger. Tip picked the bone; Tiger tip-toed -over the ground; Towzer wagged his stub of a tail. - -“Caw-caw, meow-ow, bow-wow!” What a row! Towzer, Tiger and Tip all in a -heap, clawing, scratching, and tumbling one over the other. - -“Caw-caw, meow-ow, bow-wow!” What a row! Feathers and fur! Claws and -paws! - -“Sis-cat!” said a voice. - -And they “scatted.” There sat Towzer in front of his kennel, looking as -though nothing had happened. Tiger and Tip were nowhere to be seen. By -the contented wag of his stub of a tail, Towzer showed he had had some -fun. He winked and he blinked as he glanced at some fur and a feather or -two at his feet. - -[Illustration] - - - - - HIS FIRST CIGAR. - - -“Please, mister, give me a cigar!” - -The request was made by Tolomeo, but was not granted by the person -addressed. Tolomeo had seen men smoking. They seemed to enjoy it. He -wished to smoke too. His income as a news-boy was not large enough to -buy cigars, so he had never smoked. - -While he was wishing for a cigar, he saw a man throw away the one he was -smoking. It was quite a large piece, and Tolomeo ran for it. He felt -very grand as he thrust one thumb into his trousers and held the cigar -just as he had seen men hold theirs. He drew the smoke into his mouth, -then let it out, trying to form little rings. He did not know how, -exactly, but he tried to learn, feeling like a big man. - -His attention was presently called from his smoking to a queer feeling -in his mouth and stomach. There was trouble all along the line between -the two, and Tolomeo was miserable. The stump of the cigar was -forgotten. He only knew about his dreadful feelings. - -“Hello, old fellow, what’s the matter?” A voice in his ears and a thump -on his back, showed the presence of a friend. - -“I’m sick!” - -“Seems to me I smell smoke. I say Tolomeo have you been making a chimney -of yourself?” - -Tolomeo did not answer. - -“That’s what’s the matter; you’ve been smoking.” - -“I guess smoking don’t make fellows sick.” - -“Don’t it though. Tried it before?” - -“I can’t say, I have.” - -“Ha-ha, ha-ha” laughed the friend. - -“Keep quiet will you. Men wouldn’t smoke if it made them feel as I do.” - -“Don’t you make a mistake. Most of them have just such a time at first.” - -Tolomeo was amazed. He wondered how anybody could get enough fun out of -smoking to pay for such bad feelings. He didn’t try again although he -was told if he smoked often enough he would feel all right. “What’s the -use any way?” he said. “If I grew to like smoking, I’d buy cigars and -have less money for clothes than I have now. Besides I want to save -enough to go to the ball-game. I want my money for lots of things more -fun than smoking.” - - - - - PRUDENT PUSS. - - - Bold Joe and Jim, and terrier Tim, - Went out to chase their prey; - They chased her hard across the yard, - And then she got away. - - The ducks in vain expressed disdain - Of Pussy’s coward flight; - They were three to one, so she chose to run, - And I think she did quite right. - - The dogs outside implored, defied; - Puss answered not a word; - When they’d gone in despair, she came out of her lair, - And laughed in her sleeve and purred. - -[Illustration] - - - - - FLOY’S PICTURE. - - -They were arranging the holly to trim the parlors for Christmas. - -“Mamma, may I put a big bunch over Floy’s picture?” asked Eloise. - -“Certainly, my dear, I was just thinking about it myself.” - -The mother’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke. Eloise climbed the -step-ladder carefully and placed a beautiful branch of holly over the -picture. Then she sat down on the top of the ladder. She could not visit -with Floy, for Floy had gone to heaven. This picture was so like her -that to sit near it was something like sitting by Floy herself. She -imagined Floy’s smile grew sweeter and sweeter. - -“I’m very lonely without you,” she said to the picture. “I haven’t any -little sister to play with now. I wish you could put your arms around my -neck and hug me as you used to. I wish you could come down from heaven -once in a while any way, so we could have some more good times together; -so we could play with our dolls, or look at our picture books, or romp. -Your Cinderella is just where you left her. She doesn’t have anybody to -play with. I don’t play with her much because it makes me cry. I don’t -play with my Maleen much neither. I let her sit beside Cinderella to -comfort her. Jennie came over the other day to play and broke one of -your dishes. It made me cry, and Mamma too, so I put your dishes all -away in a box. Mamma has put all your clothes away too. She is going to -give them to some poor woman who has a little girl about as big as you, -because you’ll never need them any more. I suppose you have wings now. -Do you ever fly down to earth, and can you see me? I can’t see you; I -wish I could.” - -[Illustration: ELOISE.] - -“Eloise, I want the ladder!” shouted Carl. - -Eloise laid her face against the picture and said, “Good night, little -sister, I wish you could kiss me. You won’t forget to love me, will -you?” - -The picture seemed to smile sweeter than ever. Eloise climbed down the -ladder, feeling that heaven could not be far away as dear little Floy -seemed so near. - -[Illustration] - - - - - DOBBIN’S CHRISTMAS DINNER. - - - Now after this dinner of oats and of hay, - I’ll feel like a colt that is frisky and gay. - A horse they call handsome am I, and not old, - But many a time I’ve been bought and then sold. - - My heels would go up, and my head would go down; - The young men would laugh and the old men would frown; - When bars I jumped over, the women would run; - The boys called it tricky, but I called it fun. - - The mistress I now have is gentle and fair; - She always will give me the very best care; - I ought not to be frisky, her peace to destroy, - But a horse is as risky, alas, as a boy. - - The dogs and the ducklings, the pretty white doves, - Are cared for by Horace, whom each of us loves. - Our mistress and master, and other friends dear, - We wish a bright Christmas and jolly New Year. - - - - - “UNEARTHED.” - - -The master’s three dogs were privileged to come into the house. One day -when they entered they knew at once there was something new in the -house, though nobody said so, and nothing was seen. Dogs are very wise -about some things. - -These dogs were sure they were right, and they meant to prove it by -finding this new thing. They smelled of the chairs and the floor, and -trotted about through the house. In less time than could you or I, they -found the door that led to the room that contained the box that held the -new thing they were in search of. They pushed open the door; they walked -in; they looked at the box; they wagged their tails. By their manner, -one knew they were thinking, “I told you so! Our noses are better than -some people’s brains.” - -The box was large; the cover was off. Nothing could be seen except a lot -of paper, but they knew there was something there besides paper. They -smelled of the paper, they smelled of the box. The odor excited their -nerves. They could stand it no longer. They tore off the paper and threw -it about. - -One grew so excited he jumped in the box. His legs went round something, -he couldn’t tell what. It seemed like a creature that he must drag out. -He pulled with all his might, when up from the box there rose, like a -ghost, the head of a fox. His eyes were wide open and so was his mouth, -his ears stood straight and his tongue hung out. Such barking and -jumping! Trip couldn’t let go, for then the fox at once dropped below. - -[Illustration] - -And this was their plight when the master walked in. All were surprised. -The master looked queer. Scold them he wouldn’t; in fact he felt proud. -His dogs, without bidding, had “unearthed” the fox. - - - - - THE LITTLE TEACHER. - - -“Now, Pussy-diddle, you have eaten your dinner and it’s time you were -taught how to spell. And Doggie-dibble, you have taken your recess, it -is time you were taught how to read. Come, Pussy-diddle, spell ‘purr.’” - -“Pur-r-r-r.” - -“That isn’t the way to spell ‘purr;’ you have put in too many r’s. Try -again.” “Pur-r-r, meow!” - -“I didn’t ask you to spell ‘meow.’ Put down your paw and sit up -straight. Now try once more to spell ‘purr.’” - -“Pur-r!” - -“That is right. Come here, Doggie-dibble, and sit by my side and look at -this paper with me. Here’s a page of very fine ladies, and a page of -beautiful birds. Oh, here is the lesson for you. Turn your head this -way, Doggie-dibble, you surely can tell about this. You mustn’t read to -yourself, Doggie-dibble, ’cause then I can’t tell when you are wrong. -Now, sir read aloud.” - -“Bow-wow!” - -“He is a bow-wow, that is right. Go on.” - -“Wow-wow!” - -“Good dog! Now, Pussy-diddle, you have learned your lessons for to-day, -and so have you, Doggie-dibble, and now you may both go to play.” - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE HUNGRY DOGS. - - -“We can’t stand it much longer.” - -“That is so. We are pretty thin now.” - -“I should say so. Look at my sides. You can see my ribs so plainly -anybody would suppose I had buried all my old bones there, instead of in -the ground.” - -“I don’t suppose master means to starve us.” - -“Probably not. But that thought does not fill the hole in my stomach. -We’ve not had a square meal for three days.” - -As Zip and Jerry were talking, the master came in to prepare his meal. -He lived alone with his two dogs. He was a good master, but was inclined -to be stingy, and was growing worse. Zip and Jerry lay close together to -sympathize. - -They watched the master put the bread and meat on the table. They saw -him begin to eat. They could hardly stand it, they had such queer -feelings about their ribs. - -The master left the room a minute. Zip and Jerry looked into each -other’s eyes, as much as to say, “We’ll have to do it.” They arose, -walked to the table, and tried to help themselves. They did not get many -mouthfuls, for the tablecloth slipped, and everything else came down -with a crash and a crack. The master hurried back, and in great rage -stamped his feet and clinched his fists. - -Zip was so frightened he turned to run, but Jerry, with his tail between -his legs, stood his ground. He raised his head and barked. - -“What are you about you rascals?” - -“Bow-wow!” - -“Don’t you know any better than to do such a thing?” - -“Bow-wow, bow-wow!” - -“Crack my plates and make such a mess!” - -“Bow-wow-wow, bow-wow-wow.” - -“What do you mean by barking?” - -Jerry whined and tried to wag his fallen tail. He tried to explain as -well as he could in dog language. He wished to say, “You wouldn’t give -us enough to eat, and we were so hungry we had to help ourselves.” - -The master sat down to think. His dogs had never done such a thing -before. Perhaps they were hungry. He remembered that he hadn’t over-fed -them for some time, and that very day they had asked for food and he had -forgotten to give it. Although he was still pretty angry about his -broken dishes, he felt a little ashamed of himself. After that day, he -gave his dogs better food, and enough of it. - - - - - THE LITTLE PEDDLER. - - -This fine-looking boy is going home from his work. His mother is poor. -He helps her by selling on the streets the buns that she makes. He calls -to the passers-by that he has buns to sell, “Fresh buns! Fresh buns!” - -He makes the most money at the railway stations. He goes to the trains -and asks the passengers to buy. “Fresh buns! Fresh buns!” They like to -buy of him, because he has such a pleasant face and manners, and is -always so clean. He sells many more buns than he would if his hands or -clothes, or baskets were soiled. He sells many more than he would if he -looked cross and was crabbed. - -[Illustration] - -You can see that his baskets are empty. He has sold every bun that he -had; now he is taking home to his mother all the money he received for -the buns. He is a great comfort to his mother. Every little boy can be -that, but I am afraid there are some little boys who are not. - - - - - URSULA AND HER DOVES. - - -The doves are not afraid of Ursula. They know she loves them, for she -feeds them every day, and is always kind. - -Do you see that one at her feet? He is looking up into her face. He -wishes to stand on her hand and eat from it; but one dove already covers -her hand, and there is not room for another. - -The dove that has just taken a drink from the water-lily bowl is looking -at her too. He will hop on to her shoulder pretty soon. He knows she -often has a little piece of bread in her mouth, and if he gives her a -kiss—the kind doves give—he will find a bit of bread in his bill. - -Sometimes a dove will fly to the top of Ursula’s head and peck at her -hair. That is their way of giving love-pats. They stay near her as long -as they can. When she leaves them, they fly to their dove-cots. - -When they hear her voice in the garden, they fly to her, even if she -does not call. And whenever she calls they always come. If Ursula were -not kind and good to them, the doves would not love her. - -[Illustration] - - - - - EVA’S PEACH TREE. - - -[Illustration] - -One day Eva was eating a nice ripe peach. She thought she would plant -the stone in a flower-pot and see what would come of it. Fred filled the -pot with nice soft earth, and Eva kept it in a warm place all winter. -Once in a while she would dig up the stone to see how it looked, and one -day she found the stone split in two and a root starting from it. Oh, -how pleased she was! and how eagerly she watched for the first green -shoot to push its way through the soil! - -In a month or two the peach-tree had grown quite tall, and when warm -weather came Fred told Eva he would set it out of doors, for there was -not room for it in the flower-pot. It would never be a tree if it had -not space to spread its roots. - -Fred made a lovely place for it in the garden. He marked out a circle, -and edged it with pretty conch shells. Then he took his trowel, and dug -a deep hole in the centre of this plot in which he put Eva’s peach tree. -Then he packed the earth around its roots, and raked the ground -smoothly, and sprinkled it with water from his watering-pot. - -Inside the conch-shells Fred will set out a row of plants, and do his -best to make them and the peach-tree thrive. - -Eva has promised that Fred shall have the first ripe peach that she -finds on her tree, for he is good and kind to her, and she loves him -very dearly. But she will have to wait some time yet, for the tree is -too young to bear fruit. - - - - - JAMIE’S COMFORTERS. - - -“Ma-a-a-ow! Ma-a-ow!” - -“What’s that?” asked Donna. - -“Why it sounds very much like my little brother crying,” answered June. - -“I wonder what’s the matter with him.” - -“Ma-a-a-ow! Ma-a-a-ow!” - -Both the girls ran fast, thinking he must be very much hurt from the -noise he made. They soon found him, and did not have to ask what the -matter was. His knees and one hand were covered with dirt. - -“I fa-a-a-alled dow-ow-own!” cried Jamie. - -“Don’t cry, Jamie dear,” said June as she put her arms around him. - -“It’s too bad, but never mind,” said Donna as she kissed him. - -“Ma-a-a-ow! ma-a-a-ow!” - -The girls brushed off the dirt and wiped away the tears, but still he -cried “Ma-a-a-ow.” - -“I wouldn’t cry any more,” urged the girls, for they found that he -wasn’t hurt. But he did cry more, and I’ll tell you why if you won’t -tell. I think he was afraid that if he stopped crying, they would stop -kissing and petting. - -[Illustration] - - - - - NETTIE’S PLANS. - - -[Illustration] - - Dear Mamma is going to have company; - A lady is coming to-day; - And now she is out in the garden, - Picking a great big bouquet. - - The lady has two little children, - A nice little girl and a boy; - She wrote us the boy’s name was William, - Her daughter, she said, was called Joy. - - And I, too, am picking some flowers, - So both of the children can see - How nicely I’ve trimmed up my play-house; - Their visit, of course, is to me. - - The girl she can play with my dollies; - There’s one that could once shut her eyes, - But now the poor thing hasn’t any, - So she can’t shut them up though she tries. - - Then William can play with the dolly - That has only one leg and no head, - For surely he can’t hurt _her_ any— - Boys break things so, somebody said. - - They’ll play with my dishes and sea-shells, - My wagon and rocking-horse too, - Perhaps smash them or lose them; Mamma says - Polite I must be if they do. - - I guess I’ve enough of the flowers; - Now into the house I will run, - To see that my things are all ready— - Oh, I’m sure we shall have lots of fun! - - - - - A FUNNY LITTLE FROG. - - -[Illustration] - - Once a little Frog - Sat a-croaking on a log, - Oh, a very funny frog was he! - For he longed to be a tar - And go journeying afar, - Seeing wonders on the deep blue sea. - -[Illustration] - - One night—oh, it was dark!— - A bit of birchen bark - Went a-drifting slowly down the stream; - And in this light canoe - Lay the little froggie, who - Imagined he was floating through a dream. - -[Illustration] - - But my! when he awoke, - His astonishment he spoke - In language that all froggies understand; - His mouth he opened wide - And he cried, and cried, and cried, - Although he wasn’t out of sight of land. - -[Illustration] - - The journey soon was o’er, - And the froggie jumped ashore, - As happy and as frisky as could be; - And on a mossy log, - Sits that now contented frog, - And never, never, wants to go to sea! - - - - - THE PLAYTHINGS. - - -An old German woman came to stay at the mill, and she used to tell Patty -and Susan about the children in Germany. - -She said, “I knew a little girl called Lina, and a boy named Carl; and -on Christmas Eve their mother had a fine Christmas-tree, with gold and -silver balls, and sugar cherries, and all kinds of pretty things hanging -on its branches. It was lighted up with a hundred tiny wax tapers, so -that there was quite a blaze in the room; and on the table beside it -were many presents for all the people in the house, and a great number -of playthings for Carl and Lina. - -“They were just the toys they wished for most. Carl had a donkey on -wheels, and a whip, and Lina a doll, with a box of clothes, and also a -set of tea things. - -“They were very happy children, and never quarreled, but lent each other -their toys. It was very pleasant to see them playing together, for they -were so kind and obliging. - -“Their mother had taught them a little verse, which she told them to say -over every day; it was— - - ‘Be to others kind and true, - As you’d have others be to you.’” - -The old German woman had a picture of Carl and Lina, which she showed to -Patty and Susan. In it was Lina with her doll, and Carl putting a basket -on his donkey. - -[Illustration: LINA AND CARL.] - - - - - GRANDMAMMA’S SERMON. - - -“O-o-h, o-o-h, my hand! my hand!” - -“What is the matter, Bessie?” - -“Grandmamma, Kitty has scratched me so dreadfully. Cross old thing, I -hate her.” - -“Fy, fy, Bessie. Only this morning I heard you say that you loved her -better than anything in the world.” - -“Yes, but she was good then. Just listen, grandmamma. I wanted Amanda -Malvina to take a ride, so I just tied Kitty in front of her carriage -for a horse, and what should she do, but kick Amanda out, and when I -gave her a little tap, she clawed me.” - -“But, my dear, didn’t you set the example by giving the first blow? Poor -Kitty isn’t a Christian, you know.” - -“Am I a Christian, grandmamma?” - -“I hope so, little one. Have you forgotten the verse you said at prayers -this morning, about forgiving your enemies, and those that ‘despitefully -use you’?” - -Bessie sat very still for five minutes. - -“Grandmamma,” said she, “I think I’ll make up with Kitty.” - -Half an hour after, grandmamma smiled as she saw through the open window -a perfect picture of a happy family. Bessie, Amanda Malvina, and Kitty, -swinging in the hammock together. War was ended. Peace declared. - -[Illustration: A TERRIBLE SCRATCHER.] - - - - - STOP THIEF. - - -I must tell you about my cat Posy, and the sound drubbing she got the -other day. Miss Posy had eaten a hearty breakfast, but, like a little -glutton, wanted more. What should she do, but go into the garden and -seat herself near a peach tree, in which there was a marten-box. The -birds were busy feeding their little ones, and as long as they were -about, Posy hid under a rose-bush, but soon the old birds flew away, and -then was her chance. Looking around to see if anybody was on the watch, -she crept up the tree. - -Jumping on the top of the box, she put her paw into the hole to feel for -a young bird. Suddenly there was the greatest chatter I ever heard—the -old birds had come back and caught the thief. But they could not make -pussy stir. Then the father bird flew to a big marten-box on the top of -the stable, and in a few moments came back with all the other martens. -They pounced upon Posy, and pecked her until she was glad to run down -the tree and hide under my skirt. - -I don’t think she will want a bird lunch again very soon. If she does, I -think she will go without it rather than venture again to the martens’ -home. But kitty only did what bad boys often do, who know the difference -between right and wrong. - -[Illustration: MISS POSY.] - - - - - VISIT TO DAME TRUMAN. - - -“Ted,” said Katie, from her little bed in the dimly lighted nursery, -“this time to-morrow night, we’ll be at Poplar Grove.” - -Ted and Katie did not reach their papa’s plantation until very late the -following day, and were so tired from their journey that they went -straight to bed. The next morning, they crept down stairs to see if -their pony had grown any, and if Dash, the big Newfoundland, would know -them. - -After breakfast, Mrs. Barton let Ted and Katie go to see Dame Truman, a -nice old woman who had taken care of Mrs. Barton when she was a baby. -When they got to the cottage, they softly pushed open the door, and -peeped in. - -“Law, if it ain’t my blessed chicks, come to see their old Granny,” -cried Dame Truman, hugging and kissing them. - -“Now, my little dears,” said she, “I’ve got something pretty to show -you.” - -Taking up a pan of dough, she went to the door, and scattered some of it -on the ground. - -“Quack, quack, quack,” was heard, and up waddled an old duck with four -young ones. - -They looked just like balls of yellow worsted, and Katie wanted to take -up one of the soft little things, only she felt afraid of the old -mother. They were overjoyed when Dame Truman said that the little ducks -were for them. - -“I shall call mine Cowslip and Buttercup,” said Katie, “they are so -yellow.” - -“I’ll name mine Napoleon and Wellington,” answered Ted, “and I know -they’ll be good fighters.” - -[Illustration: FEEDING THE DUCKS.] - - - - - JENNY, - - - MY LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. - - Granny lives across the moor; - Granny’s old and granny’s poor, - Scarce can cross her cottage door, - But she has sweet Jenny. - - Little maid with tender eyes, - Softly blue as summer skies, - Golden locks a queen might prize - Crown her, fairest Jenny. - - When the birds at early dawn - Chirp a welcome to the morn, - Glad the darksome night has gone, - Swift uprises Jenny. - - With a kiss and fond caress, - Helps the poor old dame to dress, - Gently smoothing each white tress— - Blessings on sweet Jenny, - - As she passes with her flowers, - Gathered fresh from woodland bowers, - Dewy bright with summer showers, - Fresh and pure as Jenny. - - For granny’s sake she gayly hies, - And to the market bears her prize, - Where, “Please to buy my flowers,” she cries, - “Oh, please to buy of Jenny.” - -[Illustration] - - - - - TO A BIRD. - - - The little bird upon the tree - Has nothing now to say to me; - He does not meet me with a song, - But, silent as I pass along, - He turns his head, as he would say, - “It is too cold to sing to-day.” - - And I would say, but have no words - To talk with little bits of birds— - “If you’ll come round to-morrow morn, - When I give my young chicks their corn, - I’ll put some seeds and crumbs of bread - For you upon the chickens’ shed. - - “And perhaps you will. I’ll look to see - If you are sitting in the tree; - And if you are, I will not stay, - But leave the crumbs and go away; - You’d think, if I stayed by the rail, - I’d salt to put upon your tail. - - “And if you saw the cage I’ve made, - I think you would not be afraid; - But I’ve a bigger bird, you see, - That whistles tunes all day for me. - So if you think you’d like the bread, - I’ll leave it for you on the shed.” - -[Illustration: WHISTLING A TUNE.] - - - - - THE LITTLE HIGHLANDER’S BIRTHDAY. - - -When Henry’s birthday came, he put a garland of red roses around -Malcom’s neck. Malcom was a handsome brown fawn, with a white breast. He -did not stay with the other deer in the park, but had a place fenced off -for his own playground. Henry brought him sugar and sweet cakes, and he -fed from his hand, and followed his little master around like a pet dog. - -Henry lived in Scotland, and his father was the chief of the MacDonald -clan. Upon his birthday, all the tenants, with their wives and children, -came to the castle to dinner. Tables were spread in the great hall, -loaded with good things. Henry, dressed in his Highland dress, stood by -his father’s side, and listened to the speeches made in his honor. -Afterward, there were games played in the park, cricket, wrestling -matches, and shooting with the bow and arrow. Prizes were given to the -boys who showed the most skill. - -While Henry was watching the games, Malcom came and rubbed his nose -against him, as if to say, “Don’t forget me.” But when the bagpipes -began to play, he was frightened, and bounded off amongst the trees. - -As soon as Malcom’s horns grow, he will be turned out with the herd of -deer, but Henry will get the keeper to put a mark upon his pet, so that -he may always know him. - -[Illustration: MALCOM.] - - - - - BABYLAND. - - - Somewhere out by Dreamland, - In the world of sleep, - Lies the land of Infants - Veiled in mystery deep. - - None but babes and angels - Live in that bright place, - Brightened with the sunshine - Of the Father’s face. - - That is why we sometimes - Wail, though not in pain; - Longing for the realms of - Babyland again. - - That is why you see us - Gazing into space, - Catching far-off glimpses - Of our native place. - - Suns are always shining, - Skies are always blue, - And our foster-angels - Send us thence to you. - - But when by our coffins - Tearfully you stand, - Know that we are angels - Back in Babyland; - -[Illustration: BABYLAND.] - - - Far removed from sorrow, - Sin, and shame, and vice, - In the land of Infants, - Earth-named Paradise. - - - - - KEPT IN. - - -Peter would never take the trouble to learn the Multiplication Table. He -always looked at the printed card when he did his sums, until his -teacher caught him at it, and took the card away. Then he fell to making -marks on his slate, and counting on his fingers, but it did no good. -Poor Peter was kept in every day. - -Look at him nearly tearing his hair out over five times seven. If he -finds that hard, what will he do with eight times eight, which you know -is a stumbling-block to all little folks? - -It is recess, and he sits alone in the school-room. He hears through the -open window the merry shouts of the boys. They are playing base ball, -and he knows his side will be beaten without his help—for I am sorry to -say, Peter plays games better than he does sums. - -The tears roll down his cheeks, and he mutters, “I wish arithmetic had -never been heard of.” - -Take heart, Peter, and try again. Such great men as Macaulay and Sir -Walter Scott did not like figures when they were little boys—yet see -what perseverance did for them. - -[Illustration: PETER KEPT IN.] - - - - - ONE DAY OUT: - - - A PLEA FOR THE POOR TOWN CHILDREN. - - “Little town children, say where are you going? - The rain hurries down, and a cold wind is blowing.” - “To school we are trotting, through lane and through street, - Though the rain patters fast, soaking dresses and feet.” - - “Little town children, your faces are thin; - Your footsteps are heavy, your blue eyes are dim.” - “Our small homes are crowded, our parents oft sad; - There is nothing to make us poor young ones feel glad.” - - “Little town children, say what are your pleasures? - Tell what do you do in your holiday leisures?” - “We watch at the window, or play on the stair; - The back-yard is wanted, we cannot go there.” - - “Little town children, and have you not heard - In this bright summer weather the song of a bird?” - “Oh yes, sir; the linnet that frets in its cage, - Or the brown little sparrow, so dingy and sage.” - - “Little town children, have soft April showers - Not nursed for your playthings the sweet summer flowers?” - “Oh yes, sir; for sometimes we linger to greet - The boy who sells wall-flowers out in the street.” - - “Little town children, are God’s skies so blue, - His works and his wonders, all hidden from you?” - “Oh no, sir; for once in the year a whole day - We school-children spend in the country at play. - -[Illustration: ONE DAY OUT.] - - - “Sad little town children no longer we seem - As we frolic about in the meadows so green, - And gather pink daisies or buttercups sweet, - Then with loud heartfelt hymns close the joys of ‘our treat.’ - - “Glad little town children, our voices we raise; - For this one day of pleasure our Father we praise; - The lark springs to heaven, its song like a prayer, - We hope he is taking our thanks with him there!” - - - - - A TINY PET FROM FAR AWAY. - - -This funny little fluffy snowball comes from far-away Mexico, where, -once upon a time, they used to eat dogs, nicely baked. They were -considered “a dainty dish to set before a king;” but they were big, -savage, voiceless brutes, not at all like the pretty mite I have drawn -for you. He can make noise enough, and, if he were alive, would fly at -you, and fancy that you were very frightened. I wonder why it is only -small dogs that are noisy. Your big black fellow, with a head like a -bear, gives a solemn deep-toned growl, but a mite that would go in your -pocket can be heard all over the house. Well, after all, they are only -like children, and like to make a disturbance, I suppose. - -[Illustration: MEXICAN LAP-DOG.] - - - - - PUSSY’S LECTURE. - - - Oh, Pussy, will you tell me why - At all the pretty birds you fly? - The little birds that sing so sweet, - You surely would not catch and eat? - - For you are ever kindly fed - Each day with nicest milk and bread, - And always at my dinner, too, - I save a lovely bit for you. - - At night you sleep so warm and snug - Before the fire upon the rug, - While little birds (as I’ve been told) - Are often perished with the cold. - - All in the bitter frost and snow - They fly so cheerless to and fro. - And scarcely even dare to come - And see if we can spare a crumb. - - Now, Pussy dear, attend to me, - And never, _never_ cruel be; - Oh, do not harm the weak and small, - For that’s not being good at all. - - My dear mamma, so kind and true, - Has often said that we should do - To others as we wish that _they_ - Would do to us from day to day. - -[Illustration: CRUEL PUSSY.] - - - - - LITTLE ANGELICA. - - -Over a hundred years ago, there lived a little girl, named Angelica -Kauffman. She was very fond of drawing, and made pictures of everything -she saw. Her father and mother were poor, but they were so anxious for -her to become a great painter that they moved to Italy to live. Before -she was grown, her mother died, and then she had to take care of her old -father. - -One day, when she was in Venice, a rich English lady gave her an order -to paint a picture of her little girl. This made Angelica’s fortune, for -the lady was so pleased with the young artist that she took her to -London. Everybody there was very kind to her, and she became a famous -painter. One of her best friends was Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great -English artist. - -She was so sweet and pretty that people called her “Miss Angel” instead -of Angelica. When you are older you must read her life, for it makes a -beautiful story. - -[Illustration: LITTLE ANGELICA.] - - - - - MISS GREYTOES AND MR. BEETLE. - - -One morning Miss Kitty Greytoes took a walk in the garden. The sun was -shining, the apple and cherry trees were in bloom, and the air was -filled with the scent of pinks and lilacs. But Miss Greytoes did not -notice these beautiful things. As she tripped along, she said to -herself, “I wonder if that cat-bird has built his nest in the same place -this spring. I dreamed about him last night, so I’ll go and see.” - -Sure enough, when she came to the tree, there was the cat-bird sitting -on a bent limb. Miss Kitty smacked her lips, and was just about to -spring at him, when Whirr! whirr! sung a big beetle, and the cat-bird -flew away. - -“Good morning, Miss Greytoes,” said the beetle, bowing politely. - -“None the better for seeing you, Mr. Beetle,” she replied; “some folks -are forever in the way.” - -“Heigho! Miss Kitty, you’re cross this morning. Didn’t your supper agree -with you? I saw you through the pantry window, last night, stealing -cream. It will do you good to fast to-day. Good-bye.” And away he flew -to tell his friend, the cat-bird, the joke. - -“Meddlesome old thing!” snapped Miss Greytoes, as she trotted off with -her tail in the air. - -[Illustration: THE SURPRISE.] - - - - - THE COMING OF THE SNOW. - - - Down, out of Cloudland, comes the snow, - Like feathers idly floating. - Come, in good earnest, snow, and give - Old earth its winter coating. - Thicker and faster fall the flakes; - The trees and fields are whitening; - And at the nurs’ry window here - The children’s eyes are bright’ning. - - Says Frank—“The witches in the north - Their feather beds are shaking.” - Says Dick—“They must be plucking geese. - This pother to be making. - If only all this snow will lie - Till after school this morning, - I’ll snowball ev’ry one of you; - So now I give fair warning. - - “As Cousin May is fond of balls, - _She_ shall have half a dozen.” - Then loudly laughs the saucy boy, - And merrily his cousin; - The sun, too, smiles from out a cloud, - On Dick in fancy pelting. - What will he do at twelve o’clock? - For see—the snow is melting! - -[Illustration: DICK DISAPPOINTED.] - - - - - GUIDO RENI. - - -In Bologna, an Italian city, there lived an old musician who had a -beautiful little boy. He taught him to sing, and play on the harp, but -Guido loved drawing better than music, and instead of practicing, made -pictures and little figures in clay. - -His father thought this a waste of time, and gave him many whippings, -but nothing could prevent the little fellow from drawing. When his paper -was taken away, he marked on the walls, and after he had filled them, he -drew pictures in the dust. - -But Guido’s good luck came at last. His father gave a concert at the -palace of a great lord, and Guido went with him. He met there a famous -painter, who was so pleased when he saw the boy’s pictures, that he -advised his father to let him be an artist. - -To his great joy Guido was put in a studio, and studied so well, that -when he was thirteen, his master made him teach the other scholars. As -the years went by, he became a wonderful painter, and even kings paid -the highest prices for his pictures. - -The crowning glory of his whole life was his famous painting of Aurora, -on the ceiling of a summer-house of a palace in Rome. - -[Illustration: GUIDO RENI.] - - - - - LAZY MAGGIE. - - -Maggie is carrying her father’s breakfast to him. She was in the middle -of a pleasant dream this morning when her mother came to her little cot, -and said, “Wake up, Maggie, it is almost five o’clock.” - -“Dear me,” yawned Maggie, “what a bother!” And I fear she did not have a -very cheerful face, as she trudged to the wheat field. - -The air was sweet with the smell of clover, the dew-drops sparkled in -the sunshine, and the birds were singing gayly. - -“What is the matter?” said a dew-drop on a white rosebud? - -“I’m so sleepy,” answered Maggie, “and it’s a hard case to have to get -up at five o’clock in the morning.” - -“For shame,” said the dew-drop, “I’ve been at work all night watering -this flower, and presently, the sun will dry me up. If you had come half -an hour later, we shouldn’t have met.” - -“Lazy little girl,” cried a skylark, “I have been flying a mile high -already, and had a nice air bath. Now, I’m going to hunt for my -breakfast.” And away he flew, joyously warbling, - - “The birds are singing in every bush, - At five o’clock in the morning.” - -Maggie heeded the lesson of God’s little teachers, and met her father -with a happy smile. - -[Illustration: LAZY MAGGIE.] - - - - - JANET’S CHARGE. - - -“Janet,” said Mrs. Bruce, “somebody is in the children’s cot at last.” - -“I’m so glad, mamma. Who is it? A boy or girl?” - -“A boy, and one whom you know—Frank Fenton. Yesterday his pony threw -him, and broke his arm. I believe his leg was hurt also. It happened -near the ‘Retreat,’ and he was carried there. When his father arrived, -and found him so comfortable, he let him remain.” - -“What good news! Think, mamma, of Frank Fenton lying in the bed that we -little girls paid for. I wonder if he will like our picture screen.” - -The “Retreat” was a private hospital, and Mrs. Bruce was one of the -managers. Janet and her little friends had fitted up a cot in the -children’s ward, from the proceeds of a fair, which they had held. -Imagine their pleasure, when the first patient proved to be one of their -companions. - -As soon as Frank was better, Janet went to see him every day. She made -an excellent little nurse, and the two had great fun over the screen, -inventing stories to suit the pictures. - -Janet now felt the sweet satisfaction of doing good. “Mamma,” said she, -“when I hear the hymn, ‘A charge to keep I have,’ it reminds me of -Frank. He’s my charge.” - -[Illustration: JANET AND FRANK.] - - - - - GOING TO MEET PAPA. - - -Nurse was sick, so mamma had to take care of Baby Belle. They walked -down the shady lane to meet papa, and Nipo, Baby Belle’s little dog, -given her by her papa on her first birthday, trotted on behind. Baby had -on the lace cap that Aunt Fanny had sent her all the way from New York, -and looked sweet enough to eat. - -“Putty fowers,” said she, spying the daisies and butter-cups. - -“Does Baby want some for papa?” asked mamma. - -“Ess, and butty-tups too.” - -“Doggie, does oo love butter?” and Baby Belle put her fat hand, full of -butter-cups, under Nipo’s nose. Nipo was a good-natured little dog and -loved Baby, so he wagged his tail to say, “Yes.” Then he gave a joyful -bark, and ran off. - -“Papa is coming,” said mamma; “now for a ride,” and she and Baby -followed Nipo. - -At the stile Baby Belle got a dozen kisses from papa, who was on the -lookout for his little daughter, and rode home on papa’s shoulder as -proud as a queen. - -[Illustration: GOING TO MEET PAPA.] - - - - - THE DOLLS’ LUNCH. - - -Annie had been to lunch with her little friend, Katie Heath. All the -dolls were invited, and a merry time they had. It being summer, the -table was spread in the arbor. Katie’s uncle brought her last Christmas -from Japan a beautiful set of dolls’ china. This was arranged on a white -cloth, and the tea tasted very good out of the pretty little tea-pot. -There was also a sponge cake, which Katie had made with her own hands, -for her mamma wished her to be a good housekeeper. After tea and -sandwiches, they had strawberries and cream, to eat with the cake. The -dolls sat at the table, and enjoyed themselves very much—only Mr. -Punchinello, who is such a tease, would make fun of dear little Polly -Primrose’s old-fashioned bonnet. She was used to his nonsense, and would -not have cared, except that Marie de Montfort, Katie’s new doll, had on -her Paris finery. - -Polly looks very sad on her way home, but I think it is because Mr. -Eugene Montmorenci is going to marry Mademoiselle Marie. It was all -arranged after lunch, and the wedding is to be next Tuesday, Annie’s -birthday. - -Cheer up, dear Polly, something very nice is in store for you too. - -[Illustration] - - - - - VAIN MINETTE. - - -I am glad my mistress is out, that I may have the mirror all to myself. - -Well, I am a beauty! though that spiteful cat next door says my face is -streaked. She calls me “Miss Vanity,” but my good looks got me this nice -home, with plenty to eat, and nothing to do. - -This is the way it came about. My mother belonged to a little French boy -named Henri, and being a French cat, she was very clever. One day when I -was a tiny baby, a lady from New York came to stay at the house. My -mother lay on the rug listening to the conversation, but pretending to -be asleep. Henri said to the lady, “My cat has kittens, and one of them -is beautiful.” - -“Ah,” said she, “I wish I could see it.” - -Upon hearing this, my mother trotted down stairs, and brought me up in -her mouth. My, what a shout there was when we appeared! The lady said -she must have the kitten of so wise a cat, and that I was perfectly -lovely. - -She promised Henri to be very good to me, so I was put in a basket, and -brought to New York, where I am much admired, and happy as the day is -long. - -The last thing my mother said to me was, “Beauty is as beauty does.” I -wonder what she meant? - -[Illustration: VAIN MINETTE.] - - - - - MARIE’S FIRST SLIDE. - - -Marie was a little Southern girl, and had never seen a snow-storm. When -she was ten years old, she spent a winter at the North with her cousins. - -One morning she awoke, and looking out of the window, saw something soft -and white falling. - -“Cousin Caroline, run here,” she said; “they must be picking cotton up -in heaven.” - -Her cousin told her that it was snow, and in the afternoon she should go -sleighing. I am sure that Marie will never forget her first sleigh ride. - -But more fun was coming. When the ice became firm, Caroline and her -brothers went to the Park to skate. Marie did not know how to skate, but -Harold said she must have a slide on the ice, and that he would take -good care of her. So Marie was tucked snugly into a sled, with plenty of -robes to keep her warm. - -Edmund played horse and pulled, while Harold did the pushing. - - “One for the money, Two for the show, - Three to make ready, and Four to go,” - -shouted Harold, and away they went like the wind. - -Caroline, and Bébé, Marie’s dog, tried to keep pace with them, but were -soon left far behind. - -Was not Marie lucky to have such kind cousins? - -[Illustration: MARIE’S FIRST SLIDE.] - - - - - THE LAPLANDER. - - -This Laplander looks as if he were sitting for his photograph, though I -don’t expect photographers ever go to such a cold country as his. -Lapland, you know, is in the northern part of Russia, and the people -there dress in furs and skins all the time. - -To go swiftly over the snow, they wear big shoes like the one the man is -holding. These are strapped on the feet, and a Lapland boy skims along -faster than any of you can skate. - -But think of it—he never tasted a peach or a strawberry in his life. In -his cold home only a few small trees and bushes grow. There are no -fruits or vegetables, and the only food is the flesh of the reindeer, -and fish. - -The houses are round huts, with a hole at the top to let the smoke out. - -The Laplander’s fortune is in his reindeer, and his only business, the -care of large herds of them. A little Lapland baby lies in a cradle made -of wood hollowed out and filled with white moss. Pieces of leather are -laced across the top, and the mother fastens the cradle to her back when -she travels. - -Lazy little people who don’t like school, should go to Lapland, for -there, if a boy knows his A, B, C, he is thought very learned. - -[Illustration: THE LAPLANDER.] - - - - - ANNA’S BOUQUET. - - -“What shall we do to-morrow, Charlie?” - -“Suppose we go to the grove and gather flowers.” - -“Yes, we’ll get some for mamma, and then she will tell us fairy tales -about them.” - -The next morning Charlie and Anna spent in the woods. Charlie pulled the -flowers that Anna could not reach, and she carried home a big bunch, -which her mamma put in a vase. There were dandelions, cowslips, -jonquils, and woodbine. - -“Does dandelion mean that the lion is a dandy, mamma?” asked Anna. - -“No, dear, that comes from a French word—_dent-de-lion_—lion’s teeth. -Another flower from the French is the pansy, which means _pensée_, -thought, and the emblem is, Think of me.” - -“Can you tell us anything about the jonquil?” asked Charlie. - -“That flower belongs to the Narcissus family. There is a pretty story -about it. Once there lived a beautiful boy named Narcissus. While -hunting one day, he sat down by a stream to rest, and seeing his face in -the water, fell in love with it. Because he couldn’t get his picture, he -pined away, and the fairies changed him into a flower.” - -“He was a silly fellow,” said Charlie. - -“But if he hadn’t been so,” replied Anna, “there wouldn’t be any nice -story. I love flowers with stories to them.” - -[Illustration: ANNA’S BOUQUET.] - - - - - THE CORK BOAT. - - -My boy Charlie has made a cork boat, and is blowing it about to try and -make it sink, but it is like a life-boat, and will not go over. Did you -ever see a life-boat? and do you know what makes it different from other -boats? or why it is so called? Perhaps you don’t know, so I will tell -you, for all knowledge is pleasant and useful. - -A life-boat is so called because it is useful in saving life. When a -ship is in distress, a life-boat can put off from the shore and reach -the ship, and then come back again laden with the poor people it has -saved from drowning, because it can live in a sea where any other boat -would sink and be lost. - -“Why is this?” you ask. That is just what I am going to explain. So, -stop blowing, Charlie, and come and listen to me. - -A life-boat is lined with cork; in other words, it has a compartment or -inside casing filled in with cork, or sometimes with large thin metal -air-tight tubes; this is done to make it buoyant, that is, able to keep -bounding along the stormy sea instead of sinking to the bottom. For cork -will not sink. Stick a sail to it, and blow as Charlie has done, but you -will not blow it over easily. - -The brave men who man the life-boat must be made safe, too; so they wear -cork jackets, and life-belts filled with cork, and take life-buoys with -them. A life-buoy is a large round casing filled with cork, with a hole -in the middle large enough to slip over a man’s head and shoulders, and -it will keep him from sinking to have one on. - -[Illustration] - - - - - OLD MOLLY HARE. - - -“Don’t be afraid, little girl—it is only Old Molly Hare. I won’t hurt -you.” - -“Oh, Molly, my heart is going pit-a-pat. I was playing that I was in a -jungle, and when you popped your head up, I thought you were a lion. -Where did you come from?” - -“I was sitting behind the fence, and a bad boy threw a stone at me, so I -took to my heels through the wheat. My little ones are waiting for me in -the hollow tree yonder.” - -“Tell me about them. Have they got pretty eyes, and long brown ears like -you, Molly? I never saw a baby hare.” - -“Their eyes are not as pretty as yours, little girl, but they can see -behind and before at once, and their long ears can hear a pin fall.” - -“How nice! I wish I was a hare, Molly.” - -“Better be a little girl. You have a warm house, but we live under the -rocks and fences—and when the snow is on the ground, if we even poke our -noses out, the men and dogs are after us.” - -“Well, I’m going to tell my papa that he mustn’t shoot you. But, Molly, -don’t you get mad sometimes? I heard my grandpapa tell a man that he was -as ‘mad as a March hare.’” - -“That’s only an old saying, my dear. Hark! I hear a gun. Good-bye.” - -[Illustration: OLD MOLLY HARE.] - - - - - THE FIRST RIDE. - - -Nurse and George were standing by the garden gate one fine summer -afternoon. George had been playing in the hay field, making nests in the -sweet hay for himself and nurse. - -And they had tossed the hay about, and thrown it at each other, and had -had a good game of play. - -And now nurse and George were both tired, and they were going into the -house to have some tea. - -Just then, Tom, the carter, passed by, leading one of the horses, and he -said— - -“Will you have a ride, Master Georgey?” - -“I think not,” said nurse. “He has never been on a horse.” - -“He will be quite safe,” said Tom; “Dapple is very steady, and if Master -Georgey will hold tight by the halter, there is no fear of his tumbling -off.” - -“Oh, do let me go!” said George. - -When nurse saw how quiet Dapple was, she let Tom lift Georgey on his -back. Tom stroked the horse’s nose, and said— - -“You will be glad of a rest in the stable, and of your supper.” - -“What does he have for supper, Tom?” asked Georgey. - -“Hay, and some oats,” said Tom. - -“And what does he drink?” - -“Fresh clear water,” said Tom; “horses like to have clean water to -drink.” - -“When I am big,” said George, “I will have a horse of my own, and I will -ride on him every day.” - -[Illustration: GEORGEY’S FIRST RIDE.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. - 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHINING HOURS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for -copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very -easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation -of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project -Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may -do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected -by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark -license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country other than the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where - you are located before using this eBook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that: - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of -the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set -forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, -Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up -to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website -and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without -widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |