text: UFDC Home myUFDC Home | Help | RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS HIDE Front Cover Jack Frost The Brighton cats Billy boy The water dolly The giant watabore The cruise of the Antioch The date and some other palms An adventure with a critic Naylor o' the bowl The ten little dwarfs For the birds Looking the wrong way The yellow cottage A day at Sydenham Old Simon Making a library A cloud-picture Fish-hawks and their nests Bowwow-Curlycur and the wooden... Wood-carving Mieux vaut avoir la moitie d'un... What might have been expected The sacred bean How a tinker wrote a novel Sam Quimby's art summer For very little folks The wonderful river Jack-in-the-pulpit Books for boys and girls The riddle box Back Cover Spine Group Title: St. Nicholas. Title: St. Nicholas. December 1873. ALL VOLUMES CITATION THUMBNAILS PAGE IMAGE ZOOMABLE Full Citation STANDARD VIEW MARC VIEW Permanent Link: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00065513/00003 Material Information Title: St. Nicholas. December 1873. Uniform Title: St. Nicholas Alternate Title: Saint Nicholas Physical Description: 68 v. : ill. ; 25-30 cm. Language: English Creator: Dodge, Mary Mapes, 1830-1905 Publisher: Scribner, Publication Date: December 1873 Subjects Subject: Children's literature Notes General Note: Description based on: Vol. 2, no. 12 (Oct. 1875); title from cover. General Note: Conducted by Mary Mapes Dodge. Record Information Bibliographic ID: UF00065513 Volume ID: VID00003 Source Institution: University of Florida Rights Management: All rights reserved by the source institution and holding location. Resource Identifier: notis - ocm0176oclc - 7405657; (DLC)SF 89099153oclc - (DLC) 2006255186; 55136171 Table of Contents Front Cover Front Cover 1 Front Cover 2 Jack Frost Page 49 The Brighton cats Page 50 Page 51 Billy boy Page 52 The water dolly Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 The giant watabore Page 56 Page 57 The cruise of the Antioch Page 58 Page 59 The date and some other palms Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 An adventure with a critic Page 63 Page 64 Naylor o' the bowl Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 The ten little dwarfs Page 70 Page 71 For the birds Page 72 Page 73 Looking the wrong way Page 74 The yellow cottage Page 74 Page 75 A day at Sydenham Page 76 Old Simon Page 77 Making a library Page 78 A cloud-picture Page 79 Fish-hawks and their nests Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Bowwow-Curlycur and the wooden leg Page 82 Page 83 Wood-carving Page 84 Page 85 Mieux vaut avoir la moitie d'un pain que ne pas avoir de pain Page 86 Page 87 What might have been expected Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 The sacred bean Page 92 How a tinker wrote a novel Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Sam Quimby's art summer Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 For very little folks Page 98 The wonderful river Page 99 Jack-in-the-pulpit Page 100 Page 101 Books for boys and girls Page 102 The riddle box Page 103 Page 104 Page 106 Back Cover Back Cover 1 Back Cover 2 Spine Spine Full Text I No . IV tb mj C-.- ." '. -.'. 'i . ?',-4". - F?;:? ..-..:, ... . .- .., ,- Uk.-:': *. ', .. - , i ;,, - --....,-.,'. s-; *. x- ....- , U rc a ...- o - i : ,. ";'.."~ .; .... , --- -" ; . k@,",... `; . . '. ThBad nLbar "'"-.~.j -. r :..:-. /. ::..L :, .' ..tt,,....::.:4 k : '. 1l ,. o, ' "'l " . ..i i i. . ST. NICHOLAS. VOL. I. DECEMBER, 1873. No. 2. JACK FROST. BY CELIA THAXTER. RUSTILY creak the crickets-Jack Frost came down last night: He slid to the earth on a starbeam, keen and sparkling and bright. He sought in the grass for the crickets with delicate, icy spear, .So sharp and fine and fatal, and he stabbed them far and near: Only a few stout fellows, thawed by the morning sun, Chirrup a mournful echo of by-gone frolic and fun- But yesterday such a rippling chorus ran all over the land, Over the hills and the valleys down to the grey sea-sand! Millions of merry harlequins, skipping and dancing in glee, Cricket and locust and grasshopper, happy as happy could be, Scooping rich caves in ripe apples and feeding on honey and spice, Drunk with the mellow sunshine, nor dreaming of spears "of ice. Was it not enough that the crickets your weapon of power should pierce ? Pray what have you done to the flowers? Jack Frost, you are cruel and fierce, With never a sigh or a whisper you touched them and lo! they exhale Their beautiful lives, they are drooping, their sweet color ebbs, they are pale, They fade and they die! See the pansies yet striving so hard to unfold Their garments of velvety splendor, all Tyrian purple and gold! But how weary they look, and how withered, like handsome court dames, who all night Have danced at the ball till the sunrise struck chill to their hearts with its light. Where hides the wood aster? She vanished as snow-wreaths dissolve in the sun The moment you touched her! Look yonder, where sober and grey as a nun The maple-tree stands that at sunset was blushing as red as the sky: At its foot, glowing scarlet as fire, its robes of magnificence lie. Despoiler! stripping the world as you strip the shivering tree Of color and sound and perfume-scaring the bird and the bee, Turning beauty to ashes-O to join the swift swallows and fly Far away out of sight of your mischief! I give you no welcome, not T! 50 THE BRIGHTON CATS. [DECEMBER, THE. BRIGHTON CATS. BY J. S. STACY. SDID ever you hear of the Brighton cats ? No ? and painting away for dear life on the canvas before Well, that is strange, for they are very famous him. There is always a very queer-looking picture fellows, I assure you. If you were to go to Brigh- on the easel unfinished, and pussy daubs away at ton, in England, you would soon know all about them. They are trained pussies, and they are not only very good actors, but, what is more pleas- ant still, they seem to enjoy their own performances very much. Their master loves them dearly, and every day they jump up on his shoulders, and, rubbing their soft cheeks against his beard, purr gently, as if to say, Ah, master dear, if it were not for you, how stupid we should be You have taught-- tI it when visitors. are by; but when asked whether he did it all or not, he keeps very still, and so does his master. Meantime the two other pussies, whom we must o know as Tib and Miss Moffit, obeying a motion from the master, seat themselves at a table, and begin a lively game at chess. The chessmen stand in proper order at first, and both pussies look at SV_. them with an air of unconcern. Soon Tib moves '-' , wii us everything." Then the master laughs and strokes them, before he sets them at work. At - last his quick command is heard- - Pussies, attention " Down they jump, their eyes flashing, their ears twitching and eager, their very tails saying- "Aye, aye, sir." "Pimpkins, to work " Pimpkins is a painter; that is, he has learned to hold palette brushes and mall stick in one paw, and a brush in the other, which you'll admit is . doing very well for a pussy. With his master's -- help, he is soon in position, perched upon a stool ---- - 1873.] THE BRIGHTON CATS. 51 his man. Then Miss Moffit moves hers. On ton cats carefully copied from photographs that comes Tib again, this time moving two men at once. were taken from life not many weeks ago. The Instantly Moffit moves three. The game now photographs are very sharp and clear, showing grows serious. Moffit's men press so thickly on Tib's that suddenly he gives all of them a shove, and Miss Moffit is check-mated! Then Tib is grand. Leaning his elbows on the table, and tip- ping his head sideways, he looks at Moffit until she fairly glares. After this all the pussies are, perhaps, requested to wash for their master. And they do it, too, in fine style, though, when they are through, Tib and Pimpkins generally squabble for a bath in the tub, while Miss Moffit hangs the clothes on the line to dry. every feature distinctly, with just the least blur at t he tips of the tails, where they wriggled a little. When you think how hard it is for real persons not S' to laugh or to move while having a photograph 'taken, you will understand how wonderful the S',.' Brighton cats are, to be able to stand perfectly quiet in these difficult positions, from the time S' when the photographer takes the brass cap from ,, the front of the camera until he puts it on again, and sets them free. S"They're too wise to be right," said an old apple-woman one day, as she looked at them. -~ "It's onnatural-cuttin' about and actin' like - .---- Christians as they do." --. -- -_ .7_ -_I- .. .. - After work comes play. Miss Moffit and Pimp- kins have a little waltz, and Tib slides down the -- balusters. Sometimes Tib amuses himself by rP 4. drawing the cork from his master's ale bottle. And - then if the foaming ale happens to be unusually lively, it makes a leap for Tib, and Tib rubs his nose with his paw for half an hour afterward. Are they ever naughty? Yes, indeed. But 4, U even then their good master is gentle with them. He never whips them, but simply looks injured, and orders them to "do penance." Poor Tib and Moffit,-for they generally are the naughty ones- i how they hate this But they never think of such a thing as escaping the punishment. No, indeed; =.'., they jump, upon a chair at once, and, shutting their- -- eyes, stand as you see them in the picture, two im- ages of misery, until their master says they may Tib stood on his hind legs at this, and Miss get down. Moffit shook paws with Pimpkins-as well she We have had these pictures of the Brigh- might. 52 THE WATER DOLLY. [DECEMBER, BILLY BOY. s POOR Billy boy was music mad, 0 music mad was he; 7'' And yet he was as blithe a lad As any lad could be- With a hi-de-diddle, Bow and fiddle, Rig-a-me-ho sang he- For Billy was as blithe a lad As any lad could be. ." -" Nobody knows the joy I know, Or sees the sights I see, So play me high, or play me low, My fiddle's enough for me. It takes me here, it takes me there- So play me low or high- It finds me, binds me, anywhere, And lifts me to the sky." I With a hi-de-diddle, S. Bow and fiddle, S -- Rig-a-me-ho sang he- For Billy was as blithe a lad As any lad could be. THE WATER DOLLY. BY SARAH O. JEWETT. THE story begins on a Sunday in the middle of rein tightest, and there was always a sigh of August. Elder Grow had preached long sermons disappointment if the speckled horse went straight both morning and afternoon, and the people looked on; though, to be sure, there were reasons why the wilted and dusty when they came out of church. upper road was to be enjoyed. Mr. Starbird often It was in the country, and only one or two families drove through a brook which the road crossed, and lived very near, and among the last to drive away there were usually some solemn white geese dab- were the Starbirds, Jonah and his wife, and their bling in the mud, which were indignant at being boy and girl. The wagon creaked and rattled, and disturbed. Then there was a very interesting the old speckled horse hung his head, and seemed martin-house on a dingy shoemaker's shop-a little to go slower than ever. It was a long, straight church it was, with belfry and high front steps and sandy road, once in a while going through a clump tall windows, all complete. To-day Mr. Starbird of pines, and nearly all the way you could see the turned the corner very decidedly, saying, I ocean, which was about half a mile away. shouldn't wonder if it was a mite cooler on the beach. There was one place that Prissy, the little girl, Any way, it can't be hotter, and it is near low water. " was always in a hurry to see. It was where another Prissy sat up very straight on her cricket in the road turned off from this, and went down to the front of the wagon, and felt much happier, and beach, and every Sunday that she went to church already a great deal cooler. she hoped her father would go this way, by the Oh, father," said she, "why don't we always shore. Once in a while he did so, so she always go this way ? It would be so much nicer going to watched to see if he would not pull the left hand meeting." 1873.] THE WATER DOLLY. 53 "Now, Prissy," said Mrs. Starbird, I'm afraid back again as fast as they could every time. The you don't set much store by your preaching privi- boats at the moorings were dancing up and down leges;" and then they all laughed, but Prissy did on the waves, and you could hear the roaring of not quite understand why. the great breakers that were dashing against the "Well," said her father, "it is always three- cliffs, and making the beach beyond white with quarters of a mile farther, and sometimes it hap- foam. pens to be high tide, and I don't like jolting over There was not much one could do in the house, the stones; besides, I see enough of the water week- and there were no girls living near whom Prissy days, and Sunday I like to go through the woods." could go to play with. It was cooler on the shore, and they drove into the The rainy day went very slowly. For a while water until the waves nearly came into the wagon, Prissy watched the sandheaps flying about in the and Prissy shouted with delight. When theydrove rain, and her father and Sam, who were doing up on the sand again, she saw a very large sea-egg, something to the cod lines. Finally she picked and Sam jumped down to get it for her. over some beans for her mother. Sam and his "Wouldn't it be nice," said she, "if I could father went down to the fish-houses, and after din- tame a big fish, and make him bring me lovely ner Prissy fell asleep, and that took most of the things out of the sea? afternoon. She couldn't sew, for she had hurt her "Yes," said Sam, "or you might make friends thimble-finger the week before, and it was not quite with a mermaid." well yet. Just before five her father came in and Oh, dear said Prissy, with a sigh, I wish I said it was clearing away. I am going out to oil could see one. You know lots of ships get wrecked the cart wheels and tie up the harness good and every year, and there must be millions of nice strong," said he, "for there will be a master pile of things down at the bottom of the sea, all spoiling sea-weed on the beach to-morrow morning, and I in the salt water. I don't see why the waves can't don't believe I have quite enough yet." just as well bring better things in shore than little Oh !" said Prissy, dancing up and down, won't .broken shells and old good-for-nothing jelly fishes, you let me go with you, father ? You know I didn't and wizzled-up sea-weed, and fish bones, and chips. go last time or time before, and I'll promise not to I think the sea is stingy tease you to come home before you are ready. I'll "I thought you were the girl who loved the sea work just as hard as Sam does. Oh, please do, better than 'most anything," said her mother. I father!" guess you feel cross, and this afternoon's sermon I didn't know it was such a nice thing to go was long. I'm sure the sea gives us a great deal. after kelp," said Mr. Starbird, laughing. "Yes, Where should we get any money if your father you may go, only you will have to get up before couldn't go fishing, or take people sailing ?" light. Put on your worst clothes, because I may Oh, I do love the sea," said Prissy; I was want to send you out swimming after the kelp if only wishing. I don't see, if there is a doll in the there doesn't seem to be much ashore." And the sea-a real nice doll, you know, with nobody to good-natured fisherman pulled his little girl's ears. play with it-why I can't have it." "Like to go with father, don't you ? I'm afraid Soon they were at the end of the beach, by the you aren't going to turn out much of a house- hotel, and then they were not long in getting keeper." home. The next morning just after daybreak they rode Just as they were driving into the yard a little away in the cart; Mr. Starbird and Prissy on the seat, breeze began to blow from the east, and Mr. Star- and Sam standing up behind, drawn by the sleepy bird pointed to a low bank of clouds out on the ho- weather-beaten little horse. It had stopped rain- rizon, and said there would be a storm before morn- ing, and the wind did not blow much; the waves ing, or he knew nothing about weather, were still noisy and the sun was coming up clear It is a little bit cooler," said his wife, "but and bright. They saw some of their neighbors on my I am heated through and through." the way to the sands, and others were already there Prissy put on her old dress, and after supper she when the Starbird cart arrived. For the next two and Sam went out in the dory with their father, to hours Prissy was busy as a beaver picking out the look after the moorings of the sail-boat, and then very largest leaves of the broad, brown, curly-edged they all went to bed early. And sure enough, next kelp. Sometimes she would stop for a minute to morning there was a storm, look at the shells to which the roots often clung, It was not merely a rainy day; the wind was and some of them were very pretty with their pearl more like winter than summer. The waves seemed lining and spots of purple and white where the to be trying to push the pebbles up on shore out of outer brown shell had worn away. Prissy carried their way, but it was no use, for they would rattle ever so many of these high up on the sand to keep, 54 THE WATER DOLLY. [DECEMBER, and often came across a sea-egg, or a striped peb- its cunning little face. Prissy was splashed up to ble or a very smooth one, or a crab's back reddened the very ears, but that would soon dry in the sun, in the sun, and sometimes there was a bit of bright and oh, joy of joys! such a dear doll as it was. crimson sea-weed floating in the water or left on The blue she had seen was its real silk dress, and Prissy had only made believe her dolls wore silk dresses before. And, S... --- as she pulled away the sea-weed that was all tangled around it, she saw it had a prettier china head than any Sshe had ever seen, lovely blue eyes, .. .-- and pink cheeks, and fair yellow hair. 1-' Prissy's Sunday wish had certainly "- "-- come true. What should she wish for -., next ? -l 'J-?- '- -' But she could not waste much time :ix " '2 thinking of that, for she found that the .-i .-i 7 silk dress was made to take off, and S---- there were little buttons and button- _-@ ',= holes, and such pretty white under- clothes, and a pair of striped stockings and cunning blue boots-but those -'- were only painted on. Never mind! the sand. Besides these there seemed to be a re- the salt water would have ruined real ones. There markable harvest of horse-shoe crabs, for at last she was a string of fine blue and gilt beads around her had so many that she took a short vacation so as to neck, and in the pocket of the dress-for there was a give herself time to arrange them in a graceful real pocket-Prissy found such a pretty little hand- circle round the rest of her possessions, by sticking kerchief! Was this truly the same world, and how their sharp tails into the sand. It was great fun to had she ever lived alone without this dolly? Some run into the water a little way after a long strip of kind fish must have wrapped the little lady in the weed that was going out with the wave, and once soft weeds so she could not be broken. Had a as she came splashing back trailing the prize be- thoughtful mermaid dressed her? Perhaps one had hind her, one of the neighbors shouted good- been a little way out, hiding under a big wave on naturedly: "Got a fine lively mate this voyage, Sunday, and had heard what the Starbirds said as haven't ye, Starbird?" they drove home from church. Prissy was just as Nearly all the men in the neighborhood were certain the doll was sent to her as if she had come there with their carts at six o'clock, and there was in a big shell with "Miss Priscilla Starbird" on the a great deal of business going on, for the tide had outside, and two big lobsters for expressmen. turned at five, and when it was high there could be How surprised Mr. Starbird was when Prissy no more work done. The piles of sea-weed upon came running down the beach with the doll in her the rocks grew higher and higher. In the middle hand. Sam was hot and tired and didn't seem to of the day the men would begin loading the carts think it was good for much. I wonder whose it again and carrying them home to the farms. You is?" said he. I s'pose somebody lost it." could see the great brown loads go creaking home Oh, Sam !" said Prissy, she is my own dear with the salt water still shining on the kelp that dolly. I never thought but she was mine. Can't trailed over the sides of the carts. You must ask I keep her? Oh, father !"-and the poor little papa to tell you why the sea-weed is good for the soul sat down and cried. It was such a disappoint- land, or perhaps you already know? ment. But now comes the most exciting part of the There, don't feel so bad, Prissy," said Mr. story. What do you think happened to Prissy? Starbird, consolingly, I wouldn't take on so, dear. Not that she saw a mermaid and was invited to Father 'll get you a first-rate doll the next time he come under the sea and choose out a present for goes to Portsmouth. I suppose this one belongs to herself, but she caught sight of a bit of something some child at the hotel, and we will stop and see bright blue in a snarl of sea-weed, and when she as we go home." And Prissy laid the doll on the took it out of the water, what should it be but a sand beside her, and cried more and more; while doll's dress! Sam, who was particularly cross to-day, said, And the doll's dress had a doll in it! Just as she Such a piece of work about an old wet doll " reached it the wave rolled it over and showed her "Oh," thought Prissy, "I kept thinking she 3873.] THE WATER DOLLY. 55 was my truly own doll, and I was going to make here, but I can find you some bright ribbons. new dresses, and I should have kept all her things Nelly left her out on the rocks, and the tide washed in my best little bit of a trunk that grandma gave her away. I hope you will not be such a careless me. I don't believe any Portsmouth doll will be mamma as that." half so nice, and I shouldn't have been lonesome Haven't you any dolls of your own ?" said Nelly; .any more." "I've six others. This one is Miss Bessie." Wasn't it very hard ? "No," said Prissy, who began to feel very brave But Prissy was an honest little girl, and when and happy. I had one the first of the summer. her father told her he was ready to go, she was. It was only a rag baby, and she was spoiled in the ready too, and had the horse-shoe crabs transplanted rain. Oh, I think you're real good !" And her from the sand into a strip of kelp in which she had eyes grew brighter and brighter. made little holes with a piece of sharp shell, and Dear little soul," said Mrs. Hunt, as she went -, the best shells and stones were piled up in her lap. in, after Mr. Starbird had come back, and they had :She had made up her mind she could not have the gone away; I wish you had seen her hug that doll, and she looked very sad and disappointed. It doll as she turned the corner. I think I never saw was nearly a mile to the hotel, and it seemed longer, a child more happy. It had been so hard for her for the speckled horse's load was very heavy, to think she must give it up. I must find out Prissy hugged the water-dolly very close, and kissed where she lives." her a great many times before they stopped at the You will know that Prissy went home in a most hotel piazza. joyful state of mind. In the afternoon, just as soon Mr. Starbird asked a young man if he knew of as dinner, she went down to the play-house, carry- any child who had lost a doll, but he shook his ing the shells and crabs, and she and the new dolly head. This was encouraging, for he looked like a set up house-keeping. The play-house was in a young man who knew a great deal. Then a boy corner where there was a high rock at the end of a standing near said, "Why, that's Nelly Hunt's fence. There were ledges in the rock that made doll. I'll go and find her." nice shelves, and Sam had roofed it over with some Mr. Starbird went round to see the landlord, to long boards, put from the top of the rock to the arrange about carrying out a fishing party that af- fence, so it was very cozy. There were rows of dif- ternoon, and Prissy felt very shy and lonesome ferent kinds of shells and crab-backs, marvelous waiting there alone on the load of sea-weed. She sea-eggs, and big barnacles by the dozen. Sam had gave the dolly a parting hug, and the tears began rolled in a piece of drift-wood, that had been part to come into her eyes again, of the knee of a ship, and who could want a better In a few minutes a tall, kind-looking lady came sofa ? There was a bit of looking-glass fastened to down stairs and out on the piazza, and a little girl the fence by tacks, and there had been some pic- followed her. Prissy held out the doll without a tures pinned up that Prissy had cut out of a paper, word. It would have been so nice to have her to but these were nearly spoiled by the rain. A sleep with that night, bottle, with a big staring marigold in it, stood "Where in the world did you find her, my on a point of a rock that she called her mantel- dear?" said the lady in the sweetest way-" you piece. Besides these treasures, she had a china are a good little girl to have brought her home. mug, painted red, with Friendship's offering" on What have you been crying about ? Did you wish it in gilt letters. The first thing she did was to go she was yours ?" And she laid her soft white hand down to the shore, where she was busy for some -on Prissy's little sandy sunburnt one. time washing the dolly's clothes, which were very Yes'm," said Prissy; "I did think she was much spotted and crumpled, and full of sand and Going to be my doll, and then father said somebody bits of sea-weed. The silk dress could only be must have lost her. I shouldn't like to be the brushed, her mother told her, and would not other girl, and be afraid she was drowned." be quite clean again; but after all it was quite This was a long speech from our friend, for she grand. usually was afraid of strangers, and particularly the Prissy's "wash" was soon hung out on a bit of a hotel folks. The lady smiled, and stooped to whis- fish-line, stretched near the play-house, and the per to the little girl, who in a minute said, Yes, doll, who had been taking a nap during this time, indeed, mamma," aloud, was waked up by her new mother. The sun "Nelly says she will give you the dolly," said the shone bravely in at the door, and all the shells lady. We are sorry her clothes are spoiled, but glistened. Prissy counted the sails out at sea, and some day, if you will come over, I will give you noticed how near the light-house looked that day; some pieces to make a new dress of. It will have "When I go out there again, you may go, too," said to be either black or white, for I have nothing else she to the doll-" you won't be a bit sea-sick, dear."' 56 THE GIANT WATABORE. (DECEMBER, The water dolly looked happy as if she felt quite liked it so much that she stayed all the rest of at home. Nelly Hunt came over next morning the morning, and came to see Prissy ever with a box of Miss Bessie's" clothes and a paper so many times that summer before she went of candy, and when she saw the play-house she away. ] . THE GIANT WATABORE. A Big Child's Story. BY M. M. D. IN the year no hundred and something and one, sure which, was wonderfully good for something, there lived a mighty giant-a scientific giant, named if applied boiling cold and taken inwardly on soft Watabore. This mighty giant was noted for de- flannel; but his friends assured him the thing vouring information. Not an idea nor an opinion couldn't be done, that no nurse living would under- could come near him, but he would swallow it in- take to apply such a remedy, so he gave it up, stantly. Nothing was too much for him. More though his sufferings were fearful. His mind than once he took in a whole headful of conflicting couldn't lie easy in any position, and as I said be- arguments without choking. The country, for miles fore, his appetite was entirely gone. Serve up around, rang with accounts of his daring and greed. facts, opinions, theories and creeds as daintily as Well, this mighty scientific giant went on in this his friends might, not one could he swallow. way, devouring information and swallowing all sorts They consulted the man in the moon. of creeds and opinions, whether they agreed with Let him take a lecture every other night," said him or not, until at last, as might be supposed, his the man in the moon. system became terribly out of order. His eyes It was a bitter pill; but the giant took it. Every couldn't see straight; his ears deceived him; his other night he swallowed a lecture, but it did not appetite was completely gone; and he grew so thin help him. In fact, he grew worse. There wasn't that his poor body was not an eighth of a mile a point on which his mind could rest comfortably. around. What to do he didn't know. The things Hungrier than ever, it was.useless to offer him any- he had swallowed disordered him to such an ex- thing. Nothing would go down. tent that everything went against him. The world At last, somebody thought of something. soured on his mind. Everything was confusion. Show him an opinion-maker. When at last he decided to call in a first- They brought him one, but it was such a little thing class homceopath-allopath-hydropath-electric-move- that the mighty giant could make nothing out of it. ment-cure physician, he found there was no such "It seems to be some sort of a hop-toad," said he; person to be had. He couldn't even get a plas- "big for a hop-toad, yet smaller than those skipping ter-pill-lotion, though he sent to every shop in things called horses. Fetch me a microscope." the county. And when he attempted to carry out They brought one. Watabore carefully stood his idea of remaining perfectly quiet with active ex- the opinion-maker on his finger and commenced to ercise, he found it wouldn't answer at all. All at examine it. once he remembered that either the telegraphic "Ha !" cried the giant, "what do I see? Can locomotive engine or the steam telegraph, he wasn't it be possible? The opinion-maker is nothing but 1873.] THE GIANT WATABORE. 57 a man! Grind my teeth! but he is at work From that day the giant prospered. His appe- now. The little midget is throwing them off be- tite returned; but, instead of swallowing every fore my very eyes,-all sorts of opinions,-good, opinion he met with, hd either made very cautious bad, and so-so. Some of them worse than so- selections, choosing the good and rejecting the bad, so,-positively poisonous And here have I been, or he prepared his own. He collected the best raw gulping down his wares whole, without examining material he could find for the purpose, and took them. Odd flupps! The world must be full of care to examine his stock very often, so as to these creatures. Fetch me another." throw out all opinions that were not worth keep- So the giant went on, with his microscope, exam- ing. And when he found an opinion very differ- T--?- ---_ ~~~~-~ ------------ ' THE GIANT WATABORE MAKES A DISCOVERY. ining one opinion-maker after another, until he ar- ent from his own, he compared both carefully rived at the very sensible conclusion, that these little and held to the better one. On this diet his appe- creatures might be very useful in their way, but there tite became just what a healthy giant's appetite was no reason why he should let them do all his ought to be, and-that's all I know of the mighty thinking. Opinion-making was a business in which scientific giant Watabore, who lived in the year every one had a right to take part for himself, no hundred and something and one. 58 THE CRUISE OF THE ANTIOCH. [DECEMBER, THE CRUISE OF THE ANTIOCH. BY CYRUS MARTIN, JR. BLESS your dear heart you don't want to go Bible, a fine-tooth comb, and a jar of mince jelly, to sea They always said this to little Jack, but of which last Jack was very fond. You may be the small boy, who rejoiced that his home, at least, sure she added a mother's blessing; and thus sup- had a flavor of the sea about it, was not a bit plied, Jack sailed out of the harbor on the stanch pleased that old Reeler should so chuck him under ship, Antioch; and the last thing he saw was old the chin when he said it. As if I were a hateful Keeler sweeping off Tilden's wharf, just as the little girl," said Jack, angrily. It was a rambling, sun rose. He was at sea at last. tumble-down old town by the sea where he lived. The ship was bound to the North Sea, and Jack, Jack's father, and uncles, and grandfather, and, who soon grew familiar with all the ways and man- for all I know, his grandfather's father and grand- ners of sailor lif6, became the hero of the Antioch. father had been sailors, captains, mates, and When the captain's baby girl fell overboard, who general ploughers of the sea. As the young- but Jack leaped from the main truck, and, gallant- ster idled along the beach, watching the fishing- ly seizing the little maid by the waist, swam to the _. -4--7__Z -. -___- ~- -_% .: _-- , boats putting off for their short voyages, or ship with her. It was Jack who put gunpowder in gazed with a great longing out into the misty blue, the sailors' lobscouse, when they were not looking, where sky and water meet, the sailor-men would and laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks as shake their heads and say, His father and gran'- they tried in vain to eat it, and swore that the cook their were drowned at sea; so'll he be." For Jack was poisoning them. When they were lying in wanted to go to sea more than anything else. Snerdavik, on the Swordland Sea, Jack made a And this is how he went: As he lay on his cot one great name for himself by his whale exploit. He --3 -b, - .. I night, his mother, who had always said that it saw a monstrous bight whale come blowing past would break her heart if he went to sea, came to the Antioch, with a harpoon sticking in his head. : :- :-._=- .-- -'- _=2:-. t:-"<- =. "BLESS YOUR DEAR HEART! YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO SEA."' boats putting off forhim that the good short voyagesAntioch, oras t one bound, he hopped from the ship's rail to gazed th a great longing out into the misty bluego if the sailors' lobscouse whed whale, seized the looking, whee sky and water meet bundle saof things inwould and or rope attached to the arpoon,s ran down his cheeks as shake theirndanna heads handkerchief. There was father and gran'- theyat in return for the it, and swore that the cook other were drowned, a foud at sea; so'llhe be."of rope-yarn, harbor, steered his captive upWhen they were lying indrove wanted to go to sea more than ankets a pocket thing else. Snerdavik, on the Swordland Sea, Jack made where And this is how he went: As he lay on his cot one great name for himself by his whale exploit. He night, his mother, who had always said that it saw a monstrous bightt" whale come blowing past would break her heart if he went to sea, came to the Antioch, with a harpoon sticking in his head. him and told him that the good ship, Antioch, was At one bound, he hopped from the ship's rail to going to sail in an hour, and that he might go if the back of the astonished whale, seized the lanyard, he wished. She put up a bundle of things in a or rope attached to the harpoon, and, waving his bandanna handkerchief. There was a sheet of gin-, hat in return for the cheers from the fleet in the ger-bread, a four-bladed knife, a ball of rope-yarn, harbor, steered his captive up the fiord, and drove a box of dominoes, a pair of blankets, a pocket him ashore, just below the Jotsen Skalder, where i873.] THE CRUISE OF THE ANTIOCH. 59 the huge creature was cut up and made into excel- for nearly six months; then it is night all the rest lent oil. of the year. The Antioch was soon driving down a Passing into the Arctic circle the Antioch was tropical coast where the shore was lined with the locked fast among the icebergs of that frosty region. most delicious fruits and flowers. Mangos, bananas, Time hung heavily on their hands, but Jack was, pine-apples and fragrant nuts loaded the branches, as usual, the life of the crew. The songs he sang, and brilliant flowers of unknown kinds swept down the games he cut up on the ice, and the adventures to the water's edge, and swung dreamily in the "JACK STEERED HIS CAPTIVE UP THE FIORD. he had among the polar bears would astonish you crystal tide But in the tropics you know, storms very much. He had now grown to be quite a man, are sudden and waters are dark too. While Jack for he had been gone from home many years. He gazed with longing on the charming sights on did not once hear from his mother; and though he shore, the black clouds rolled up, the sea rose did not notice it then, he thought afterwards that like a mad, hunted creature, and the blinding it was very queer. glare of the lightning smote his eyes. His stomach But waltzing on the ice with the white bears- reeled and he felt deathly sick; he seized the rig- wild fun as it was-could not always last. The ship going to keep from being washed overboard. On awas melted out of her frosty prison by the long the ship drove hurriedly toward the black lodes summer day; for, in those parts the sun never sets from which the lovely flowers had now gone. The 2- i -_-_ very much. Head now grownto be quite man, are sudden and waters are dark too. While Jack 60 THE DATE AND SOME OTHER PALMS. [DECEMBER, captain seized a rope's end, and cutting him across into his chamber, you must not lie on your back; the bare legs, bawled-" Lay aloft there, you lub- you'll surely have bad dreams if you do." Jack, ber, or I'll break every bone in your body! Terri- very much astonished, and still trembling with fled by such a sudden change in the captain's man- dread of Captain Tarbucket's rope's end, sat up in ner, Jack, bursting into tears, shouted, Mother his little white bed. The cruise of the Antioch mother!" "Well, my darling," said she, coming was over. II_-I--I-____-- o_ P. rZr JACK WALTZING ON THE ICE WITH THE WHITE BEARS. THE DATE AND SOME OTHER PALMS. BY FANNIE R. FEUDGE. DATES, to us merely an occasional luxury, are more beautiful than any floor of costly mosaics. to the A'rab the very "staff of life," just as the For worshipers there are thousands of gay plum- camel is his "ship of the desert." The date .tree, aged birds, flitting from bough to bough, as they one of the large family of fans, is a native of both carol forth their morning and evening songs, their Asia and Africa, and will grow readily in any sandy little bosoms quivering with gladness. soil where the climate is not too cold. It was long The Bedouins, or wild Arabs of the desert, who ago introduced into Spain by the Moors, and a consider it beneath their dignity to sow or plant, or few are still found even in the South of France. cultivate the soil in any way, depend upon gather- But the most extensive date forests are those in ing the date where they can find it growing the Barbary States, where they are sometimes wild; but the Arabs of the plains cultivate it with miles in length. great care and skill, thus improving the size and Growing thus, the trees are very beautiful. Their flavor of the fruit, and largely increasing the yield. towering crests touching each other, they seem like In some varieties they have succeeded in doing an immense natural temple. The walls are formed away with the hard seed, and the so-called seedless of far-reaching vines and creepers that twine grace- dates, being very large and fine, are highly prized. fully about the tall, straight trunks, and the ground When ripe, the date is of a bright golden color, beneath is dotted with tiny wild-flowers that, with fragrant and luscious; and in the dry, hot countries their rainbow tints and bright green foliage, are where palms grow, no better food for morning, '873.] THE DATE AND SOME. OTHER PALMS. 6I noon, or night can be found, while one never his arm-pits, and then, after being passed around wearies of the sweet pulpy fruit, gathered fresh the tree, the two ends are tied together firmly in a from the tree. But the trees do not bear all the knot. The rope is then placed on one of the year round, of course, and so the Arabs make what notches left by the foot-stalk of an old leaf, and the they call date honey, using for this the juice of the man slips that portion which is under his arm-pits ripe fruit, and those who can afford it preserve towards the middle of his back, thus letting his dates fresh through the year, by keeping them in shoulder blades rest thereon ; and then with knees close vessels covered over with this honey, and hands, he grasps firmly the trunk, and raises Wine and spirits are also made from dates by himself a few inches higher. Then holding fast by distillation; but they are sold, for the most part, knees and feet and one hand, with the other he to foreign traders. For the Arabs are exceedingly slips the rope a little higher up the tree, letting it temperate in their habits; and poor and ignorant lodge on another of those horny protuberances, as many of them are, a drunken man is never and so on till the summit is gained. The fruit, found among them. There is still another product growing in dense clusters at the top, is easily of the date-one that is of vast importance to plucked and thrown down when it is reached, and the poor Arabs in their long journeys across the is then caught in a large cloth held at the cor- deserts. This is date-flour, made by drying the ners by four men. ripe fruit in the sun, and afterward grinding it to The general name of the palms, of which there powder. It is then packed in tight sacks, and if are a great many varieties, is derived from the stowed away from the damp will keep for years. Latin falma, a hand, from the fancied resem- This is food in its most compact form, easily carried balance of their quaint, pointed leaves to the human about, and needing no cooking; it has only to be hand. They are all singularly graceful in structure, moistened with a little water, and the meal is ready with tall, straight, branchless trunks, and with for eating. How wisely has the all-loving Father their ever-verdant crowns that seem almost to provided for these sons of a barren soil, suiting his touch the clouds, are beautiful beyond description. mercies to their needs-giving them for their toil- Among the ancients, the palm was the symbol of some journeys the patient, hardy camel, the only victory, and conquerors in the Grecian games were beast of burden that could bear the heat and often crowned with chaplets woven of its young drought of their deserts; and for their own sus- leaves. tenance, the wholesome, nutritious date. In the particulars I have named, all the varieties But it is not alone of the fruit of his precious of palm closely resemble each other; in other tree that the Arab makes use. A pleasant bever- respects each species has its peculiar characteristics. age called palm-wine is drawn from the trunk, by I have already described to you the date, and will tapping, as we tap sugar-maples in this country; now mention a few others. the trunks of the old trees furnish a durable wood The fan palm is found in greatest abundance in for building houses and furniture-the leaves make the warmer portions of South America and the baskets .and hats, and the fibrous portions, when East Indies. It usually grows in groups, and stripped out, make excellent twine, ropes, and fish- lives to the age of a century and a-half. The wild ing lines. Even the stones or "pits" are useful- tribes of Guaraunes, who live near the mouths of the fresh ones for planting, while the dried are turn- the Orinoco, derive their entire sustenance from this ed to account in Egypt for cattle feed, in China tree. They suspend mats made of the stalks of the for making Indian ink, and in Spain for the manu- leaves from stem to stem, and during the long facture of the tooth-powder sold as "ivory-black." rainy season, when the delta is overflowed, they A tree when mature will bear two hundred and reside entirely in the trees; by means of these fifty pounds ofdates in season, and sometimes even mats keeping warm and dry, and. living among more. The gathering is no easy task, as I think their leafy bowers as securely as if they belonged to my boy readers would say after they had tried to the monkey tribe. Their hanging huts are partially scale one of those straight, round trunks, full sixty covered with clay; the fire for cooking is lighted feet high, without a single branch to handle or on the lower story, and the traveler, in sailing along furnish foot-hold, and the entire stem rough with the river by night, sees the flames in long rows, scaly, horn-like protuberances, not pleasant to looking as if suspended in the air.. The fruit of touch with either hands or feet. But these oriental this same tree supplies the food of the inhabitants fruit gatherers are very agile, and have a way of of the huts, the sap makes a pleasant drink, the their own to reach these dizzy heights, and possess blossoms sometimes form an agreeable salad, and themselves of the tantalizing fruit hidden away the pith of the stem contains at certain seasons among those sharp-pointed leaves. First a strong a sort of sage-like meal, with which to vary their rope is passed across the climber's back and under bill of fare. 62 THE DATE AND SOME OTHER PALMS. [DECEMBER, T he .:.:.:.:, c 'ur -m.::'11 .*.F El p li: F ...Ir -_ i_ r:. J. - people -if tl,: i V lI lrrI !', !, ,i r L tI -,t ...:lj,- ropes, h.- r..: nul l a _.i : i :-I,: ml- th .: p.: ,:,,..r [i- - :-- tains an ... r ir. ii. L t.-r r c lr, L II.: lu h : .- ., . toilette-. :, t t I r ri. L h-, .:- TI,: k,., r: rt feet lor. i, .:I i.. ..i l Ir i : .. i ki .. I t need c- .- ,-:. -, .: .. I, rI Lr I r, :,ii' p',: ... I w ish yo., ,-,,, t :,., r- h u ., .i, ,1 h t ,!A, :,._. rh,- t,. l l- b lossoi,-,.: ,, p l:v u ., -.r -- r .:, -! ..1 1,. tur sl. I. : trees o I i.. I I...... rI i 'rr. : 1.. 1-i IIF l I time, ti ni._ tim e, a I., l [r5.'' , .. IS,'.- !t .I! I!: ..r r-u- .t /..l. itary grArI '. -:-, , h. .u i .i_ th I i 1. i which d-- "-":" t 1,c:r ,:, -..l . r tr last or.,: ''1 rll S_ !. ,i i idhdr,... S,:llii I- o f a t At 1 11-1 ll, n 11,-., L ,.l11 _ui. I L'itr'." w after 'l '--'u t*: n ,- l ., I I ,, TX : ll rough .. I .. . .....ra r... .,+ that b .j ,: a i,.: I ,L r.: ,-,r.I.:. L .Iut iIl~.. -. i -. eyes o rl.. -: r r -h l- : I I L i,:i ,,- ri Ii i L i tant li h -h,,,, r,, tl l r .__ Pere t_,.. L 1: .l r[I .. r .., -u rd .- i, : r i t E itI A - that d : i-,! I I r ,i -. ,, :, r l , hI r - priestd, ,-d li i - : Ii .: I... 1....I ...:11 - priests Ir.: ,i .+ ,, ,: t ::. T hi, : 1..... h,-i.: ,:, r leaves -.i ri : I rh.tr H. ,l ,l,--sn r . sacred -, u t --i I ,:., -,, r -0t1.- l I.-- i' .-I p, -t r- , sm oot] ., d .... -, n-i ,, ill_ r,- ih d.: ril : .... 1 , IF, - scribed h h : 1 , r i ,,r ..-" l ..b- I' .El Thi -- - People 1-: . 1i r !L grows ir.i..:r pa ---i ild i i ni 1< p 0 0 -1- nearly I z, il,,i I. i 1 ,,,I .:. I thn it i i : --r n r - -.-- on their ih A Ti,, _,- i nor -., -- even s 1 i. :--l". ii i I i , llsIN s. at each -i ,- : sh ps. I', .-i.l.f 0,:- i 1,, rit I m I T he ,. :: ,:1 r: 1_0 m Jr i : [, , 1 : d I -:,1En:'2' 0 1 ,'1. AI. '. Pr -- them s l l, r r -, '. 1. ing an cc, ,.t : I i, iih ::t .1 ,, -r L-, ., h, ; t .- _ I- ,' , A873.1 AN ADVENTURE WITH A CRITIC. 63 AN ADVENTURE WITH A CRITIC. BY JOHN RIVERSIDE. IF Ned McGilp was not a great painter, it was Ned planted his easel firmly on a broad bench of not his fault; no artist ever worked harder. Early rock, overlooking a deep ravine, beyond which the and late he was in the fields or woods studying the mountain rose in rocky steeps, dotted with scrubby forms and color of trees, rocks, mountains, plants, oaks and mansanitas, against the horizon. To the and clouds; or he was in his studio working out on right the ravine wound around a noble spike of canvas the charming things which he found in bald, grey rock, down which came tumbling a nature. Yet, somehow or another, his pictures did laughing stream, making a soft roar of mirth in the not sell. He could not even get an opinion from air. This was the scene which he had looked the critics. His little sister said that everything he at, and decided days before, should be the subject painted was "just lovely." And another young of his grand picture. Swiftly he went to work, lady, for whom Ned had a very high admiration, softly repeating to himself the lines of some favor- thought and declared that his pictures were ite poet of nature, as hespreadhis colors and made "heavenly." But these fair critics could not buy his canvas begin to glow with the tender hues of his pictures, of course; and their praises, while sky and mountain. they fed his vanity, did not help him to fame and So intent was he upon his work, that he did not reputation. Ned used to say that he had never know that a large black bear, one of a numerous met with one honest critic. He was determined family that lives in the Santa Cruz mountains, that he would find one such; and he did. had quietly come up behind him, and now, gravely . Last summer, despairing of finding anything squatted down, was watching him at his work with new to paint among the Atlantic States, Mr. Ned great interest. Ned's brushes flew swiftly; the McGilp packed up his "painting traps" and be- colors beamed on the canvas, and the lines of the took himself to California, People are tired (so he picture grew firm and clear. Bruin looked on at- said) of smug Connecticut towns, with white tentively; and Ned said softly to himself, "This steeples, nestling among maples and elms; they might please the critic-if he ever sees it. This is have been fed so long on White Mountain scenery, the picture that shall make my fortune, if I ever and Lake Georges, and bosky dells, and sylvan make it." He paused a moment to think of the glades, that they want something new. I'll go and little girl with brown eyes who thought his pic- find it. So he went and found it. tures "heavenly," when he heard behind him a Among the Santa Cruz mountains, a broken and contemptuous chiff, as if some one said, I have picturesque ridge that skirts the Pacific Ocean, just a very poor opinion of that." He looked about, south of San Francisco, McGilp fixed his painting angrily, and saw Bruin regarding him and his work camp. Near the saw-mill of Mr. J. Bowers, better with great disdain. known as Missouri Joe," the young artist found Mr. McGilp might have stopped to argue the shelter and lodging. Most of the daylight hours case; he was in a great hurry, however, and fled he passed in the open air. The grand old peaks at once, leaving behind him his picture, brushes, and gorges, shining with water-falls, or covered colors, hat, and even his loaded gun, which hap- with noble mahogany and madrofa trees, gave him opened to be nearer the bear than the artist. He a new delight. He painted as if he were mad. It did not stop until he reached the opposite side of would be useless to tell you how many yards of the ravine, when, expecting to feel thebear's sharp canvas and square feet of sketching paper he claws on his shoulders, he ventured to look around. covered. Mr. J. Bowers used to remark, thought- To his great relief, Bruin had not followed one fully, that that thar painter chap war a powerful step of the way; but, on the other side, the un- dabster at his biz." But Mr. Bowers was not the gainly creature stood on his hind legs, regarding critic Ned McGilp was looking for. He set up his the unfinished picture with an air of great dissatis- easel, day after day, on the mountain side and faction. He growled at it roughly, in the manner manfully worked away, forgetting all about his of most critics; perhaps he found something wrong critic. Quite likely he was not expecting him in in the distance, or the drawing was faulty. I am the least. inclined to think that he was much displeased with One day, leaving the San Gabriel road on the the boldness of the coloring. At any rate, he left, and climbing up the Felipe Felipena ridge, rudely knocked over the easel, put one paw on the which, of course, all California tourists remember, canvas, and then deliberately licked off every scrap ;64 AN ADVENTURE WITH A CRITIC. [DECEMBER, of the beautiful colors. Even this did not soften his rifle, went in pursuit of the courageous critic. He rage-perhaps it was not to his taste-and, after never found him. Perhaps he had an engagement mashing the painter's color-box into small bits, he on some of the New York newspapers; I think I seized the gun, and began to hug and twirl it about have heard of him since. But Mr. Ned McGilp with rage. Bang! bang! went the gun, for both painted his damaged picture over again. He put barrels were loaded. Bruin looked at the smoking in the ravine, waterfalls, sky, and mountain, just muzzle of the gun with great surprise, clapped his as before. But he added a portrait of himself at his paw to his own black muzzle, as if he did not like easel with his severe bear-critic gazing on the work. the smell of powder, gave one yell of dismay and This last picture was much more interesting and astonishment, dropped the battered gun, and fled valuable than the first one would have been, had up the mountain side much quicker than Mr. Ned Ned finished it. The figure of the black bear in McGilp had before fled in the opposite direction. the painting excited so much curiosity and comment Very cautiously, McGilp returned to the ruined when it was exhibited, and when it became known "THIS PICTURE SHALL MAKE MY FORTUNE, SAID NED. outfit, picked up the shattered canvas and color- that the bear incident was a real one, that the pic- iX . 4- -- --- - -- .. . Mr. Bowers was disgusted that thar picture chap quite satisfied that, after all, his "grand picture" - - -siM:. -2 "THIS PICTURE SHALL MAKE MY FORTUNE,`' SAID NED. outfit, picked up the shattered canvas and color- that the bear incident was a real one, that the pic- box, and went back to Bowers' saw-mill with much ture sold for a high price. More than this, it gave lowness of spirit. He had met his critic, at last. Ned such a good reputation as an artist that he is now Mr. Bowers was disgusted "that thar picture chap quite satisfied that, after all, his grand picture" should he chased by a bar," and, taking down his will be the means of really making his fortune. -- ,.----- 1873.1 NAYLOR 0' THE BOWL. 65 ,-,,-1, . ;- -I " NAYLOR O' THE BOWL. BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS. THE story of Beak's Derricks was this. Jem ground due to each, there were no soft pleasant re- Beak was a sharp young fellow in a Western town, membrances or common ground of good-humored who was paid the high wages which skilled hands in amusements and politenesses to fall back on for a the iron mills command. By some chance he heard fresh start. They bickered and snarled, all day Sof a few acres of land for sale in the Kanawha long, and went to bed to rise and bicker again. In (West Virginia) Valley, in which he fancied oil time they ceased speaking one to the other, giving might be found. He persuaded some of his com- orders each to his own workmen. One after an- pahions, who had saved a little money, to take it other would threaten to sell out, but did not sell out of savings banks and building associations, to out, afraid the others would cheat him. In old buy the hill-side and go with him to working it. times they had been used to take a little holi- They found oil, not enough to make them rich, day, running off in couples to the neighboring but to pay them better than iron mills. But with town for a change of air, and harmless frolic. the oil or their pay we have nothing to do. Now they all stayed at the derricks to watch each TIhe derricks stood in a defile or gut of the other. Tales of their greed and their quarrels be- mountains to which the only access was by a creek gan to spread through the country-side, and some wide and deep enough to float their rafts when of the country papers went so far as to call them laden with barrels. Few strangers came to this a band of young thieves and cut-throats, league lonely place, and no women. Beak and his five together." This, of course, was going too far. partners and their workmen lived in cabins, cooked But people avoided the gloomy valley, and it was and washed, and served themselves. The shadow left to its shadows and ill repute more and more of one hill or the other lay over the wells all day with each succeeding year. long, giving to the defile a gloomy and forbidding Matters were in this state when Joe Welker re- air. Beak used to say, by way of a grim joke, ceived a letter one day, on the reading of which that the cry of blood seemed to issue from the his glum face darkened still more. ground, and that the place ought to be called Mur- I'll have a mess-mate now, Phil," he said that derer's Hollow. Outside of the mouth of the de- evening to the negro co6k who baked and broiled file, there lar like a wonderful picture, a broad for them in turn. Phil was a good-humored, civil river and low green hills over which the birds flew fellow, and they were all in the habit of gossipping and the clouds heaped themselves once or twice a with him, good-humor and civility being at so high day and turned into glittering palaces and towns a premium at the Wells. It's an old gentle- of carnelian and jasper. But Beak and his com- man," continued Joe, with a touch of pride, my panions cared nothing for rivers or hills unless grandfather. He's been left quite alone in the there was oil in them. Very soon, too, no jokes world: I'm his only relative." passed among the men, grim or otherwise. Lads "What ye gwine do wid him, Mr. Welker?" out of mills are not apt to know much about Bring him here." the friendships or courtesies or even amusements Now Phil's idea of an old gentleman was the which boys in school and college delight in: even reverend gray-haired clergyman whom he had their fun is likely to consist in hard hitting. When served long ago. "Dis isn't ezactly de place Beak and Welker and the others, therefore, began for dem ar," he said, gravely looking about to quarrel about the yield of oil or amount of him. VOL. I.-5. 66 NAYLOR O' THE BOWL. [DECEMBER, Welker, going up to his cabin, looked about He looked behind him,-up-down. him, too, and saw for the first time the mud pits, Hel-lo he cried. the filth gathered in front of the huts, the heap Just on a level with his knees was the head of an of ashes, potato parings and bones at his own old man, the gray hair falling thick about it. The door. .face was pale and wrinkled, but full of kindness "I can't bring him here," he muttered : "but and good humor-even fun. The old man's body what else am I to do ? was large as Jem's own, but it ended at the knees. Welker, scapegrace as he was, had always had Both legs were gone. He sat in a low round bas- an absolute reverence for his grandfather Naylor, ket on wheels, which he worked slowly along by and he felt it to be very strange that he had been his hands. Jem's Hello" went down into a com- left to his care. Seems as if God was in it," passionate "Tut! tut! as he stooped and pushed speaking the name of God for the first time in the basket up to a safer place. The men glanced many months without an oath. He fell to work at at each other with a pitying shake of the head and the heap of ashes. By night it was gone. The then took off their hats. "Good day, sir. Hope next day Beak's Derricks was amazed to see Welker I see you well," one said after the other. To busy whitewashing his cabin. All kinds of jokes Beak or to Welker they would have nodded with passed among the men about the visitor he ex- their hats on. "WHAT COULD I DO? SAID BEAK AGAIN. pected. They said it was a rich relative who would "Yes, I am James Beak, sir. And you " lend him money; or, could it be that Joe meant to "Naylor, Joe Welker's grandfather. 'Naylor marry ? Whoever it might be would meet with a o' the Bowl' they call me sometimes," glancing with cool reception. Welker was the most unpopular a smile down at his odd carriage. Yes, I've come of the partners, and the Derricks, without a word, to live with you all. I wish I was eighteen instead entered into a conspiracy to make the place too un- of eighty to go in with you in earnest. Five young pleasant to hold his guest. fellows joined together in business and fun. All Gentleman, indeed!" said Beak to some of friends! Why, you could move the world if you his men, "we want no tag-rags of gentility here." chose. Joe used to write to me about you at first, Phil had just brought word that the stranger had until I knew you all. Precisely the kind of thing I arrived in the night. should have liked as a boy; but I never, when Joe "And this is Mr. Beak, I'm sure?" said a cheer- described his chums, thought I should be one of ful, hearty voice from under Jem's feet, as he you. Yet here I am! " thought. I'm sure we are very glad you are one of us," 3873.1 NAYLOR 0' THE BOWL. 67 said Beak, holding out his hand. What else I've some good cheese there I'd like you to try. could I do? he said afterward, when telling of it. I brought it with me. You'll all come? " Naylor shook it cordially. There comes an- I shall be very happy to see you, gentlemen," other of the partners; introduce me," rubbing his said Welker, growing red. They've not let him hands in glee. I want to know you all at once: know," he thought; "that was clever of the boys." I tell Joe that you must take me into all your trou- They all answered him politely enough. bles and frolics-eh, boys ? It puts new blood into Pratt, however, was the only one who appeared me to come among such a hearty lot of good fel- in the evening. lows, all working together! Early the next morning gran'ther," as they all "What could I do?" said Beak again, talking began to call him, began his rounds again. of it, "I couldn't look the old man in the eye Whether because. of his white hair, or his utter somehow and tell him we were living like so many helplessness, or his cheerful, friendly voice, he dogs fighting over a bone. I called Pratt up (it was seemed to carry a new life into the gloom and hatred George Pratt) and I introduced him to gran'ther of Beak's Derricks. Naylor. Whether the shock of seeing him Stryber, the roughest and most bitter of the part- knocked the wits out of George, or whether he ners, left a curiously-carved wooden pipe with Phil 'was anxious to be friends again, I don't know, but for the old man. His face minds me of my own after he had shaken hands with the old man, he father," he said, in explanation. Beak and Wil- shook hands with me liams looked up some books to lend him which had Presently the old gentleman bowled himself off been stowed away in their cabins for many a day. to find "some more of his new partners," he said. Every evening they all gathered about him some- fe had brought all the late papers down, and dis- where. He had such an inexhaustible store of an- tributed them as he went; stopped at every door ecdotes and riddles that everybody began to beat to talk a little, then was off to one well after an- their brains to furnish matches for them; and after other, asking questions, testing the oil, smelling they had tried them on him, they told them to bits of the earth and tasting it, as though he were an each other. Men cannot keep up ill-humor long expert, to the great amusement of masters and men. after they have laughed together. Jokes, puns, Joe Welker, who had made some excuse for re- conundrums flew about the Derricks thick as hail- maining behind, started out to find his grandfather nobody had known what a jolly fellow his neigh- about noon. He could not bring himself to tell the bor could be until now. old man the truth about the wretched condition The old man, too, was perpetually calling on of affairs in this place to which he had come, and somebody for a song, after piping out The Bay preferred to shirk it and let him find out for him- of Biscay," or "The Maid of Lodi," in his shrill self. When he found him, it was in front of black treble. Now, there was not a man at the wells who Phil's door. The workmen had lifted him, basket did not think himself a very fair singer. In the and all, up on a horse-block, and were lounging course of a week or two you would hear songs of about eating their nooning," while he read some all sorts in all kinds of voices-tenor, baritone, bass story from the newspaper, adding anecdotes of his -roared and shouted and mumbled all day long. own adventures when he was a younger and a The raftsmen on the river began to suspect the 'whole man, which brought forth shouts of laughter town of drinking too hard, so jolly and gay had it and applause. Beak, Pratt and Williams (another gradually become; even the shadow of the hills fell of the partners) were all seated near the door, as less heavily, Beak fancied, than before. 'Welker saw with amazement; shying away from It was on the fourth Sunday after his arrival that each other gruffly, it is true, yet now and then ex- the old man began his rounds early in the morn- changing words. ing. Tapping softly on every door with his stick, "Time to go home, grandfather," said Joe, "Ho, boys," he said, "Parson'scome! Didnotex- grimly. pect to get over for two weeks, but here he is! "Eh? Really, Joseph? The morning has Preaching in the big shed at ten o'clock. Bring passed so quickly that I- Take care, my boy, your hymn books; everybody must sing." you can't lift me down alone." Now, Mr. Armstrong, the clergyman, who came Beak and Williams both started forward to Joe's two or three times in a season to preach to these 'help. "All right! chirped the old man; "these people, was used to see the big shed very nearly lads would be capital nurses! Women could not vacant. What was his surprise, therefore, to find all do better. I generally take a nap these hot after- the partners and many of the men seated and or- noons. As there is only half of me, I don't run derly before he began. He observed the glances full time-eh? But come over in the evening, lads. they gave furtively to a poor mutilated stump of a Come over, Joe will be delighted to see you, and man who sat in the midst of them. 68 NAYLOR O' THE BOWL. [DECEMBER, They are afraid of him," he thought shrewdly. as he had always done. He never had preached to "They are afraid he should know they never have nor advised them, and they did not notice that the been here before." He saw what they could not. joke and laugh always left them more kindly, hap- What a rare, strong meaning was in the old man's pier men. face; what wisdom and fine charity under the jol- "I did not want to say good-bye to any of them," lity and good humor. There is a man," he said the old man said to Joe. ''And when our partners to Beak, "who is born with a power of leading come, put me in my basket; let the lads remem- other men. His influence is good here." ber the old man at the last as they have always "I don't know-why, certainly, it is good," said known him." Beak, who had not thought of it before, "it would He always called Beak, Williams, Stryber and not be so great if he had his legs," laughing. "But Pratt our partners," though he knew they were the men regard him both as they would a child and not even Joe's partners any longer. Welker an old man. He is as helpless as a baby, you see, had scarcely raised him up into his wicker bowl and as wise as the prophet Elijah, though he never when the young men came. It was noticeable lectures us," laughing. that they came together, nodding to each other There are other ways of preaching than in the gravely as they first met. Pratt, who was the gen- pulpit," said Mr. Armstrong. test and most kindly-natured among them, was the Now, a great deal may be done by joking and first to speak. laughing, and kindly talk in the way of keeping "The old man's going fast, I hear. Well, the peace and harmony in a community. Even one Derricks will lose a good friend." pleasant, good-humored face every day going up "None better," said Stryber, gloomily. and down among us is like mortar that holds all They had reached the cabin now and went in. conflicting parts together. But gran'ther Naylor's The window shutters were open. The cheerful work was not complete. At the end of the year he sunset light fell on the mutilated old creature in was still the centre of the once jarring, disorderly his bowl, raised on a table to a level with their village; no longer jarring or disorderly. Welker's heads. His wrinkled face was strangely pale. The cabin had been the first to reach the honor of a white hair hung about his neck, but his blue eyes coat of paint; in the spring the old man wheeled were joyous as a boy's going home after a long ab- his basket about the yard setting out pear and sence. He held out both hands. plum trees where the pigs and dung-heaps had "Here you are, lads, here you are!" been. Very soon, paint, whitewash and fruit-trees The men crowded around him. They touched came into fashion. The workmen collected about each other in touching him. Their faces were him, as usual, in the evenings. Many was the fight gloomy and agitated. nipped in its bloody growth by the sound of the "Have you any pain, grandfather?" said paddle, paddle of Naylor's bowl along the cinder Beak. walk; many a young fellow set down the glass of "No, just weak-weaker every day; death whiskey untasted and sneaked hurriedly from the couldn't come more pleasantly-with all my part- bar-room, hearing the old man's hearty voice out- ners about me too," looking about with a feeble side. But the partners were not friends. They laugh. nodded gruffly when they met, and each would Nobody could answer him. His head dropped willingly have gone back to their old brotherhood, on the rim of his bowl. Stryber and Joe lifted it but pride held them back. and joined hands to support it. The winter of '59 was a severe one. The one "It's all been so pleasant," said Naylor o' the street of Beak's Derricks was well nigh impassable Bowl, looking at the young men and past them at for full-grown men; no one was surprised or anx- the hills without. "It's been a good friendly world, ious, therefore, at missing Naylor o' the Bowl from but so is the other-so is the other. There's friends his accustomed haunts. But one day word went watching me go here, and friends watching for me about that the old man was ill and wished to see all to come yonder." his old friends. The work at the wells flagged that "Water," whispered Williams. Beak brought day; the men, dressed in their Sunday clothes, it and wet his lips. The men were young; death with a liberal display of white shirts and red cra- was not a common thing to them. It seemed as vats, were going to Welker's cabin from morning though they, too, stood in its dreadful light, on the until night, singly and in groups, always coming edge of the unknown sea, with the worlds on this out with cheerfuller faces than when they went in. side and on that, where all were friends. Friends ? "He'll come round," they said to each other. With whom were they friends? How would their "Dying men don't have that spirit nor courage;" greed, and hate and bitterness avail them when for Naylor had joked and laughed with them just they stood where the old man stood now2' 1873.1 NAYLOR 0' THE BOWL. 69 He looked from one set and stern face to the The men looked at each other with no hasty other. "Boys, I think I'm going now," he said, emotion, but a long unanswered question in their gently. "I'll not say good-bye, because-because eyes. Then as by one impulse they joined hands. you're all coming to meet me some day-we'll be "We'll meet you, gran'ther," said Beak, "and friends there again and partners-eh, boys? All will be friends again and partners." friends-and-and partners?" His eyes turned on When they turned to the old man again his eyes them from the verge of that unknown world, eager were closed. and begging of them. Naylor o' the Bowl's work was done. THE moon came late to the twinkling sky, To see what the stars were about: Fair night," quoth she, are the family in ?" Oh no, they are, every one, out." 70 THE TEN LITTLE DWARFS. [DfCEMBE;. THE TEN LITTLE DWARFS. Froa, te Frienc, of Ei,'ile So'anestre. BY SOPHIE DORSEY. HTi,. t-L long winter evenings had set in, swered slowly and in an uninterested manner, as if a. d William's farm-house was the her thoughts were elsewhere; for the pretty Martha te- :'-ene of frequent gatherings of friends thinks often of the village where she grew up, re- .-.' .i nd relatives. After the day's work, grets the dances under the Elms, the long walks in S the family were accustomed to assem- the fields with her young companions, when they ble around the fireside, and neigh- laughed and plucked flowers from the hedges, the bors joined them; for in the solitary long chats in the square and at the fountain. So it valleys of the Vosges Mountains, often happens that Martha sits with her arms list- dwellings are scattered and neighbor- lessly hanging by her side, her pretty head droop- ship establishes a sort of relationship. ing, and her mind occupied with the past. This It is there, around the glowing flame of pine very evening, whilst the other women worked, knots, that friendships are cemented; the sweet she sat before her spinning-wheel, which did not warmth of the fire, the joyous reunion, and the turn, her distaff, filled with flax, hanging idly to freedom of conversation lead to intimacies. Hearts her girdle, her fingers playing abstractedly with the freely open to hearts, and minds unite in a thou- thread lying over her knees. sand projects, each inner life is thrown into a com- The Goodman Prudence had observed all this mon stock, the outer one being cast off for the from the corner of his eye, without saying anything, occasion, as a mask thrown aside, for he knew that good council is like bitter medi- Sometimes Cousin Prudence joined the evening cine to children, and that the manner and the time party, in spite of the distance he had to come, and for administering it must be well chosen to make it then it was a real holiday at the farm; for this acceptable. cousin is the cleverest story teller in the moun- In the meantime the family and neighbors sur- tains; he not only knows all those the fathers have rounded him, and cried out, Goodman Prudence, related, but also those told in books. He knows a story, a story; the old peasant smiled and cast when all the old houses were built, and the histories a glance toward Martha, still sitting listless. of all the old families. He has learned the names That is to say," said he, that one must pay of the moss-covered stones, which rise upon the for his welcc.me-well you shall have your way, my hills like columns, or like altars; he is, in short, a good folks. The last time I told you of the olden living tradition of the country and its lore. And times, when the Pagan armies ravaged our moun- more than that, he is the Wise Man. He has tains; that was a story for the men; now I shall learned to read hearts, and he rarely fails to discover speak, if it please you, to the women and children; the cause of any ill that may afflict them; others every one must have his day. We told then, of may know remedies for the infirmities of the body, Caesar, now I will tell of Mother Water Green." but the old peasant treats infirmities of the soul, so Everybody burst into a great laugh at this, and the popular voice has bestowed on him the respected all quickly settled themselves to hear. William, name of Goodman Prudence." the farmer, re-lighted his pipe, and the Goodman It is the first time within the new year that he has Prudence commenced: appeared at the farn gatherings, and every one, This story; my dears, is not a nursery tale; at the sight of him, shouts for joy; they give him you can read it in the Almanac, with other true the very best place by the fireside, they form a tales, for it happened to our grandmother Char- circle around him, and William, the farmer, lights lotte, whom William knew, and who was a wonder- his pipe and seats himself right in front of him. fully reliable woman. Grandmother Charlotte was The Goodman Prudence is then, first by one and also fair in her time, though you would hardly then by another, informed of every piece of news credit it, when looking at her gray locks and her about everything and everybody in the neighbor- hooked nose always trying to meet her chin, hood; he wishes to know how the crops turned but those of her own age said there was no better- out, if the last colt is thriving, how the poultry yard looking, or gayer girl anywhere than she, when is flourishing; but all his inquiries, when addressed she was young. Unfortunately, Charlotte was left to the farmer's wife, formerly so cheerful, are an- alone with her father, in charge of a large farm, S1x873.] THE TEN LITTLE DWARFS. 71 much more productive of debts than of income, stead of caps; here are two others, who are not so and work so constantly succeeded work, that the smart, and who wear a ring for a girdle, they can- poor girl, who was not made for so much care, not do much more than aid in the general house- often fell into despair and took to doing nothing, work, as also these last little ones, and they are to since she could not find the way to do everything. be estimated by their willingness to do what they One day, whilst sitting before the door, her hands can-all ten of them appear to you, I warrant, very under her apron, like a lady with frost-bitten fin- insignificant fellows, and not worth much, but you gers, she commenced to say, in a low tone: "God shall see them at work, and then you can judge." forgive, but the task which has been laid upon me At these words the old woman made a sign, and is not such as a Christian can bear, and it is a great the ten dwarfs sprang forward. Charlotte saw them pity that I am tormented at my age with so many execute successively the rudest and the most delicate cares; why, if I was more industrious than the work, lend themselves to everything, prepare every- sun, quicker than water, and stronger than fire, I thing,'and accomplish everything. Amazed, she could not do all the work of this family. Ah! why uttered a cry of delight, and stretching her arms is not good fairy Water Green still in the world? toward the fairy, "Ah! Mother Water Green," she or, why wasn't she invited to my christening, and cried, "lend me these ten brave workers, and I will asked to stand godmother? If she could hear me, ask nothing more." and would help.me, perhaps we should get relief "I will do more than that," replied the fairy, from our troubles,-I from my care, and my father "I will give them to you, only as you cannot carry from his debts." them about with you without being accused of witch- "Be satisfied, then, here I am," interrupted a craft, I will order each of them to make himself very voice, and Charlotte saw before her Mother Water little and to hide in your ten fingers." One word, Green supporting herself on her staff of holly, and this was done. At first, the young girl was frightened, for the "You now know what a treasure you possess," fairy was dressed very differently from the costume continued Mother Water Green, "and all depends of the country; she was clad entirely in a frog skin, upon the use you make of it. If you do not know the head of which served as a hood, and she herself how to control your little servants, if you allow them was so ugly, old, and wrinkled, that if she had been to grow clumsy by idleness, you will gain nothing worth a million, no one would have been bold from my gift, but if you direct them properly, and enough to marry her. Nevertheless, Charlotte for fear that they should pass their time in napping, recovered herself quickly enough to ask of the fairy, never allow your fingers any repose, you will find with a voice rather tremulous but very polite, what the work, which now so frightens you, done as if by she could do to serve her. magic." "It is I who have come to serve you," replied the The fairy spoke truly, and our Grandmother, old woman. "I have heard your complaints, and who followed her advice, not only cleared, at last, have brought something to relieve you." the farm from all its difficulties, but made money "Are you really in earnest, good Mother?" cried enough, after marrying happily, to raise eight Charlotte, who quickly, in her joy, lost her fear of children comfortably and respectably. Since that her visitor. "Do you come to give me a piece of time it has become a tradition amongst us, that all your rod, by which I can make my work easy?" the women in the family have inherited Mother "Better than that," replied Mother Water Green. Water Green's workers, for whenever they stir them- "I bring you ten little workmen, who will do all selves these little laborers go to work, and we great- that you order." ly profit thereby, and it is a common saying with "Where are they?" cried the young girl. us, that in the movement of the housewife's ten "I will show them to you." The old woman fingers lies all the prosperity, all the joy, and all opened her cloak, and out popped ten little dwarfs the happiness of the family. of different heights. In speaking these last words the Goodman Pru- The two first were very short, but quite stout. dence turned towards Martha the young wife "These," said she, "are the strongest; they will blushed, lowered her eyes and picked up her distaff. help you in every work, and they make up in Farmer William and his cousin exchanged a strength what they want in dexterity; those that glance -all the family silently reflected upon the you see follow them, are taller and more adroit, story, each one seeking to penetrate its full mean- they know how to milk, to handle the distaff, and ing, and apply the lesson to him, or her, self. But to take hold of all housework; their brothers, whose the farmer's pretty wife had already understood to tall figures you see, are remarkably clever in the whom it was addressed, for her face had become Suse of the needle, and that is the reason I have gay, the spinning-wheel turned rapidly, and the flax clapped little thimbles of brass upon their heads in- soon disappeared from the distaff. 72 FOR TIE BIRDS. IDECener. FOR THE BIRDS. BY C. C. HASKINS. Y'. DEAR CHILDREN: I have were said to destroy fruits and grains. At an Been thinking for a long time of annual meeting of one of these, in the County of \ '1,' :'l writing a plea for a large family Sussex, England, the report of the bird murderers of our friends who are wantonly showed that this club alone S destroyed and abused by impul- had put to death seventeen - Ssive persons without good rea- thousand sparrows / This Sson, and, very often, thought- was only in one county. \f)J J lessly. These friends are con- Other counties encouraged . stantly at work for our good, the same sort of slaughter. ' and are doing much to cheer In France, too, the same ' -0 0 .and enliven our every-day lives. outrageous killing was en- ,-" If they were suddenly extermin- courage, and poisoned grain " _-y ated, we should sadly miss them, was sown, year after year, and regret their absence They until the rapid increase of are the birds-all of them- noxious insects completely ruined several of the from the eagle and the vulture grain-producing districts, and convinced the people down to the tiniest humming- of the error they had committed. A law was then S bird that pokes his little needle passed, protecting the birds, and with the return of bill into the depths of our the merry little worm-eaters, the insects diminished delicate flowers, and makes an in number, and the fields again became productive. Sample dinner on less than a By careful investigation, it has been ascertained O drop of honey. that a single pair of European sparrows, during the SST. NICHOLAS and I have infancy of their brood, feed their little ones an ave- / '1 ,! had some correspondence on rage about three thousand three hundred and the subject of the abuse of birds, sixty caterpillars in a week Now, take your S and we have devised a plan for slates and pencils, my little friends, and see how their protection. How do you many caterpillars in a month the sparrows killed 0 think we propose doing this? by that Su-sex County club would have destroyed We are going to raise an army if they had been permitted. Think what quantities of defense, without guns, and of pretty leaves, how many bushels of grain, and S carry war right into the enemy's what an abundance of nice fruit must be destroyed camp. We shall use example by the taking off of seventeen thousand worm-eating and argument and facts, instead of powder, and we birds ! must try to carry on the war until we conquer, and There is a class of birds which feed on very small the birds have perfect peace. seeds. Did you ever shake a dry weed-stalk and Before we can do much we must drum up our see what quantities of seed fell from it? It makes volunteers. We want all the boys, and the girls also, very abundant provision for plenty of weeds of its to form themselves into companies. But if any of kind next year. The seed-eating birds, who live the good fathers and mothers desire to join our mostly on this kind of seed, do more than the farm- young folks' army, we shall be heartily glad to er and all his help in preventing the increase of have them do so. lHM ill'IB I weeds; and without the birds the farmer Through ST. NICHOLAS we will be m' would find his plow and hoe work more than enabled to learn the plans of our i..'bled. commanders, and the movements of ''I' Hawks and crows are our friends. So are the enemy; in it we can urge the ,1 I owls. The snakes, and mice, and rats claims of the birds, and answer all the "'. devoured by these good fellows far ex- false logic of any who dare oppose us. : ceed all that are killed by all the There have been, at different times, I terrier dogs on the continent. And in some parts of Europe, societies birds are my especial preference organized for the extermination of I ..-' for two other reasons: I never have particular kinds of birds, because they -r- ---. to beg meat for them at the butchers', x873.] FOR THE BIRDS. 73 and I never heard of one having the hydrophobia. the bees go and come under his very nose, and They do occasionally take a chicken for a holiday. sometimes he is impudent enough to alight close to dinner, perhaps ; but the rats and the weasels do the entrance, and rap with his bill to announce .much more of that that he is making a call. Oh! what a rascal! A "sortofrascalitythan murderer, calling his victim to the door of his own they; and ifthe birds house, that he may kill, and then eat him And --were less fearful of when the bees come to the door to answer the r being shot at and knock, Mr. Phoebe selects the largest bee, and 'trapped there would makes off to the S- a- be fewer rats in the fence corner or to .- S barns, and the wea- his mud nest to en- sels would have to joy his prize. But S hide or die. the queer part of it- Almost every boy who goes gunning, if he can all is that he only find nothing that he wants to bang away at, con- eats the drone bees, siders it the next best thing to kill a few woodpeck- which never store **:.- ers. Theylookso funny, wrong end up on the side any honey, and of a tree, bobbing and whacking around the loose when the flowers bark, that the temptation is strong, and the poor, become scarce the working bees kill these lazy jolly hammerer has no friends-so bang !-and drones and pitch them out of the hive. So the down he comes, and he is given to the dog to play king-bird is a help, instead of a damage, to the with and tear to pieces. That poor little bird, if bee raiser. over a year old, has killed and eaten many hundred There are many reasons, in addition to what I thousands of bugs' larva, in the form of grubs and have given you, why birds should be protected, worms, and almost every one of a kind which but I must omit them now, and proceed to our is injurious to vegetation. The cat-bird, one of our organization. finest singers, and a bird that is always sociable, if I want all the little people to assist me in select- ever permitted to be so, eats a cherry occasion- ing a name for our army. There has been a deal ally, and of course he must be banished or suffer of thinking and discussing, and we have said death. He pays a better price for every cherry he "that's it! "ah, no it isn't! many times, and eats than any fruiterer would dare demand in the I am not sure we have quite hit it, yet. What market, in the worms he destroys, and throws in do you say? There are "Bird Advocates," "Bri- a complete bird-opera several times a day in the gades," Guards," Friends," and ever so many bargain, more, but I am best pleased with "BIRD DE- The king-bird, or phoebe-bird, is too often stoned, FENDERS." What do you think of it? and shot, and frightened-and almost any far- As a basis on which to commence work, let us mer's boy deems it a duty to risk his neck while adopt the following preamble and resolution: S.Whereas-We, the youth of America, believing that the wanton destruction of Al l. '. wild birds is not only cruel and unwar- S ranted, but is unnecessary, wrong, and productive of mischief to vegetation as --' well as to morals; therefore, I- Resolved--That we severally pledge 1..... i ,. ourselves to abstain from all such prac- Si tices as shall tend to the destruction -. of wild birds; that we will use our best _2 endeavors to -induce others to do like- wise, and that we will advocate the ., rights of birds at all proper times, en- '7 -- courage confidence in them, and recog- nize in them creations of the great Father, .-for the joy and good of mankind. climbing under a bridge to get at and destroy its Now, little folks, there is a starting-point; send mud nest. Why? He kills our bees Well, in your names. ST. NICHOLAS is ready to hear yes, he does kill bees. He is very cunning about from each and all of you on the subject of bird it, too. He watches the hive, sitting very near, as protection, and will be glad to learn what you have 74 THE YELLOW COTTAGE. DECEMBER, to say about organizing yourselves for this really for our little feathered friends who, poor things, important and humane work. Come forward freely are unable to defend themselves from their thought- with your plans, and let us all put our wits together less or cruel enemies. Here is an opportunity for and see if we can not decide upon a line of defence all of us to do good work. '. ",2 ;.2L .-. - !.L -' -1 -= .- -_.- LOOKING THE WRONG WAY. (TratnsZation of Germant Story in our Novemuber NVieber.) LITTLE Lizzie had the bad habit of never look- brought the workmen to her, and they quickly ing before her. She was always gazing to the right helped the poor child out of the ugly hole. or to the left. It happened, once on a time, that Lizzie was obliged now to lie for a long time in she ran out with a large piece of cake in her hand bed and suffer great pain, while the other children into a court-yard where some masons were dig- were joyfully playing out-of-doors. She resolved going a hole which they intended to fill with lime. never again to go one way and look another. Had Lizzie ran gaily about, having entirely forgotten the she thought of that before, she would have spared warnings of her mother. Indeed, it was too funny her good mother sorrow and herself much pain. to see the large dog, which came circling about her But it was with her as with the Tyrolese in Mr. and snapped at the cake. But, alas before she Stephens' picture. Both failed to look where they saw it, she fell headlong into the pit. Her screams were going, and we see what happened. THE YELLOW COTTAGE. BY MARION DOUGLAS. 'MID fields with useless daisies white, On winter nights beside the fire, Between a river and a wood, In summer, sitting in the door, With not another house in sight, I turned, with love that did not tire,. The low-roofed yellow cottage stood, Their well-worn pages o'er and o'er; Where I, In me, Long years ago, a little maid, Though sadly fallen, it is true, Through all life's rosy morning played. Their heroines all lived anew ! No other child the region knew; One day, about my neck a ruff My only playmate was myself, Of elder flowers with fragrant breath, And all our books, a treasured few, I was, with conscious pride enough Were gathered on a single shelf; To suit the part, Elizabeth; But oh The next, Not wealth a king might prize could be Ensnared by many wily plots, What those old volumes were to me! I sighed, the hapless Queen of Scots ! 1873.1 THE YELLOW COTTAGE. Where darting swallows used to flit, On Sundays, underneath the tree Close to me, on some jutting rocks, That overhung the orchard wall, Above the river, I would sit While watching, one by one, to see For hours, and wreath my yellow locks, The ripe, sweet apples fall, And trill I tried A child's shrill song, and, singing, play My very best to make believe It was a siren's witching lay. I was in Eden and was Eve! r'. ' ,: -, f ~te4#L . . .f . Oh golden hours! when I, to-day, Would make a truce with care, No more of queens, in bright array, I dream, or sirens fair In thought, I am again the little- maid Who round the yellow cottage played ',)' .'., ~ ~ i I,, ,: - II 1.1" . Who round the yellow cottage played 76 A DAY AT SYDENHAM. [DECEMBER, A DAY AT SYDENHAM. BY ELIZABETH LAWRENCE. LITTLE Dora lived in London, and it was quite a I dare say you have heard of the Alhambra, the standing joke in the family, that on her birthday famous and beautiful palace built by the Moors in there was always sure to be a royal show, or a Grenada. Well, in this Crystal Palace you may grand flower exhibition, and on this particular eight- see for yourselves just how it looked, and how gor- eenth of June, which made Dora ten years old, the geous the Hall of the Abencerrages must have been Queen was to open the new fountains at the Crystal with its wonderful rainbow-colored and gold fret- Palace at Sydenham, and papa and mamma and work dome filled with a soft lilac light. Dora were going. And there are the Egyptian court and the Assy- They started about eleven, Dora, happy soul, in rian court and many more besides, and also copies the freshest of rose-colored muslins, with cheeks to of all the most celebrated statues in the world. match, and opposite to her, the two whom in all the Upstairs, in the galleries, they have all sorts of world she loved best. pretty things for sale at different stalls; books, pho- As they drove rapidly along, it was easy to see tographs, jewelry and fans and bronzes, beautiful the influence of the greatf te, in the tide of car- glass and china, toys, and games, and dolls, and riages full of gaily dressed people, all setting in the even candy, put up in boxes with pictures of the same direction. Crystal Palace on the lids. Dora often had been there before, but the Crystal You can scarcely imagine a more fascinating Palace always seemed like Fairy-land, and to-day place to do shopping. Dora was delighted when it was more beautiful than ever. her parents asked her to choose two birthday pres- One can hardly make anybody who has never ents, in the lovely gallery overlooking the grand seen it understand the charm of the long nave with transept. its high arched roof, its graceful galleries, its huge She was a long time making up her mind, but marble basins of water-lilies, edged with beds of the at last she decided on a fan with black and gold brightest flowers, its great hanging baskets of deli- sticks, and a long tassel, and a nice little Russian cate plants, its tropical trees, its statues, its bright leather writing-case, completely furnished, and with banners, its delicious music and its glimpses down a lock and key. Then, with her own pocket-money, the crossing transepts of one of the loveliest land- she bought a doll for the baby at home, and a box scapes in all England; for these transepts, or cross- of barley-sugar fishes, with a picture of the Assyrian ways, you must know, are walled and roofed with court on the top, and then they went down stairs glass like all the rest of the building, again to get some luncheon. And this is just what you have before your eyes as One side of the dining-room, at the Crystal Pal- you go in, but to see all the curious and interesting ace, is an open verandah, with a view over the things would take weeks. At each side of this magnificent grounds of the Palace, and miles and wonderful nave, or body of the building, there are miles of the lovely country beyond; and with such beautiful courts, in which one may see exact copies a picture before one's eyes, it must be a more of famous places all over the world, exacting person than any of our party who would For instance, the Pompeian court, where there is not forgive a slight toughness in the cold chicken an exact copy of a house in Pompeii, the city which and a want of flavor in the salad. was destroyed by burning lava from Mount Vesuvius After lunch they went out into the grounds, and hundreds of years ago, before Christ was born. You it was not too soon, for with one accord all the can scarcely believe it, I dare say, but it is true. people began pouring out of the building, and the And mind, I don't mean the ruins of a house like good places for seeing the great sight of the day those to be seen to-day in Pompeii, but just as it were very soon filled. Our three found a charming used to be when that city was a busy, active place, little grassy knoll close to the broad gravel walk and Pompeian little folk kept their birthdays and that encircles the large fountains, and there they played and learned their lessons just as you do now. established themselves most comfortably in the And in another court there is a model of a house shade of a clump of rhododendrons, knowing that of ancient Rome, with couches instead of chairs in the royal party would drive along the walk just be- the dining-room, for you know, among other strange fore them, and they could not possibly have had habits, the old Romans had a way of lying down at a better place to see all that would happen. their meals. The grounds looked perfectly lovely on this fair s873.] A DAY AT SYDENHIAM. 77 June afternoon, with the bright masses of flowers just at the very instant when she passed each foun- of all kinds set into the velvety green turf; and the tain, it burst through its waiting stillness and bright dresses of the ladies grouped about on the leaped forth in loyal welcome, its spire of snowy grass added to the beauty of the scene. The rho- foam mounting joyously towards the blue summer dodendrons were at their height, and the polished sky. dark green leaves were thickly sprinkled with large Down poured the cascades as she passed them; clusters of the delicate azalea-like flowers, in pink the broad, short fountains spread out their swan- and crimson, and lilac and white. like plumage, as their royal mistress went by, And now I must explain that, for years, there and in less time than it takes me to write this, the had been a number of extremely fine fountains in whole ceremony was over, and the air full of the front of the palace, which played every afternoon, musical sound of falling waters. but it had taken a long time to finish the grand The Queen lookedvery good-natured and pleased, series of water-works, which was to include, besides as she bowed and smiled to everybody, and talked the first fountains, a number of very much higher to Sir Joseph Paxton, who rode, hat in hand, beside jets, as well as others, in elaborate shapes, and her carriage. She wore a blue silk dress (the some beautiful cascades, which altogether make, shadow of widow's mourning had not fallen upon I believe, the finest set of fountains in the world, her then) and the sunlight lit up her hair and except, perhaps, those in the gardens at Versail- touched it with gold. The Prince Consort sat les. And now, at last, they were all finished, and beside her, looking good and noble as he always in working order. did, and the Princess Royal was there, with the Not a single fountain was playing, even the old Crown Prince of Prussia, to whom she was married ones were still waiting, like their new sisters, for the very soon .I'.:.. and there were also several other Queen to come. foreign princes with long German titles, which I Punctually at four o'clock, the people in the gar- shall not trouble you to pronounce. The great dens saw the royal standard unfurled from the large people only stayed a little while, and after they flag-staff on the palace, and heard the bands play- were gone, our party lingered an hour or two in ing God Save the Queen," and then they knew the gardens, enjoying the music of the Coldstream that her Majesty had arrived and gone into the Band, and then they went inside to get Dora's building, and presently the royal party came out parcels, which had been left in charge of the woman on the garden side, and got into the pony carriages at the confectionery stall. By this time it was get- that were waiting-they being, by the by, the only ting late, and they made their way, at last, through persons who are allowed to drive in the grounds, the crowd at the entrance, and got into the carriage, As the Queen came in sight, she was greeted by and drove home through the slanting sunshine and cheers and waving hats and handkerchiefs, and lengthening shadows at the close of the long, bright, now, as if her Majesty had carried a magic wand, summer day. SOLD SIMON. 'l .3 .I OLD Simon and his boys were glad V_ To take the plainest fare; They brightened everything they had, SWith gratitude and prayer. S "Give thanks," said Simon, "when ye rise, Give thanks when day is done." And none than Simon were more wise, $ 3Or happy, under the sun. CCCG :78 MAKING A LIBRARY. rDECEMBER, MAKING A LIBRARY. BY JOHN LEWEES. LITTLE Charlotte determined to have a library were nothing but pasteboard boxes made like all her own. She had some books,-nice little books, and with the names printed in gold letters books, with big, fat letters, and the lines ever so on the backs. far apart,-but these did not suit her. She wanted Charlotte's uncle was an uneducated man, who grown-up books, such as stood on the shelves of had suddenly become rich. He wanted his house her uncle Harry's library, to have a fine library in it; but as he did not care Charlotte and her mother were on a visit to this for reading, or for spending a great deal of money F 11 uncle Harry, and the little girl, who was delighted on books that would be of no use to him, he ad with the great, fine house,-much handsomer than these mock books made, and they looked just as any she had ever seen before,-was particularly well on the upper shelves as real ones. pleased with the library. She had a strong love After a while, Charlotte became quite accustomed for pictures, and when she found this large room to these books; and, as some of them were open with well-filled book shelves, from the floor to the at the bottom, she'used them for boxes in which to ceiling, and seldom any one there to interfere with put her little treasures. She generally kept her her, she thought she should live in a picture para- second-best tea-set in a large volume on China and dise. Japan, and her doll, Jane, who had lost her head But it was not long before she made a wonderful and her right arm, was stowed away for a good discovery. As the books on the lower shelves were long nap in Baxter's Saints' Rest. mostly of a character uninteresting to her, she So, one day, when Miss Charlotte was playing climbed to the upper shelves, and soon found that house down-stairs, and wanted a library of her own, the books up there were not real ones. They there seemed no reason why she should not make the books up there were not real ones. They there seemed no reason why she should not make 1873-. FISH-HAWKS AND THEIR NESTS. 79 it of these fine, big books, which she could handle as it was, some of the larger books fell on the sides so easily. In fact, they were so light that she could of the cradle, and they were all so light that no in- take an armful of them that would have been too jury was done, except that the baby woke up sud- muich for a man had the books been real. denly, and commenced to cry his very loudest. There is no knowing how large this library of Charlotte's mother and a lady visitor came run- Charlotte's would have grown-for she could readily ning up-stairs, and a stop was soon put to the library- climb from shelf to shelf of the library and throw making. But the worst of all was it now became down the books-had not a little accident occurred. known what sort of a library Uncle Harry had. While passing, with a great pile of books in her It was well for Charlotte that it was only her arms, the cradle in which the baby was asleep, uncle who had a library just for show. Of course, Charlotte let the books slip a little, and over they it is bad enough to have an uncle of that kind, but went, bang upon the cradle. If they had been it would be ever so much worse to have a father who real books the baby would have been killed. But, would do such things. A CLOUD-PICTURE. BY H. H. C. I HAD a vision one eve at sea, And just in the midst of the glory, In the clouds as they unrolled, In the brightest, sunniest place, When the kingly sun was falling asleep I saw four cherub boatmen On his royal couch of gold. Pulling a fairy race. Many shimmering pictures Dimpled and white and airy. I saw among the clouds, Pulling with baby glee, And troops of laughing children Their little craft a fairy, Came dancing along in crowds. Afloat on a golden sea. They rowed their boat with sturdy might Into a cloud and out of sight, And then I knew the race was won, And their goal was the far-off setting sun. FISH-HAWKS AND THEIR NESTS. BY M. D. RUFF. I SPENT the summer at a little fishing hamlet, on upon their nests. As soon as you come within the New Jersey coast, and of all the strange and in- sound of the ocean, you may see these large pouch- teresting things I saw there, nothing was stranger or shaped nests wedged between the bare forks of more interesting than these birds of which I want the pine, oak and other strong trees, sometimes to tell you. In poetry and science they are always ten, sometimes fifty feet above the ground. They called "ospreys." That may be a prettier word- are placed, without any attempt at concealment, in but fish-hawks is the better name; it is the one the open fields, or close to the fishers' houses, or which has been given by all fishermen on our along the river-banks perhaps a mile inland; and coast, and it is more descriptive of the birds and they form a wonderfully picturesque feature in the their habits. landscape. They are built of large sticks three A broad shallow river, which was only the sea and four feet long, mixed in with corn-stalks, sea- pushing back into the land, ran just in the rear of weed, and mullein stalks, piled up four or five feet our boarding-house, and there, all day long, we in a solid mass, and lined with sea-weed. They could watch the fish-hawks circling above or are not hollow like a pouch, as you might judge swooping down from great heights, or diving head- from the outside, but are nearly flat on top, and long into the water, or sitting solemn and grave about as deep as a dinner plate. 80 ISI-I-HAWKS AND THEIR NESTS. [DECEMBER, Of course they are very heavy, and the weight, with claws and beak against the enemy or too together with the mass of wet stuff, saps the vitality curious intruder. from the tree in a few years, and it gets bare and The young fish-hawks are the funniest things ragged like the one you see in the picture. you ever saw, awkward and misshapen, and yet This great weight is very necessary, however, for with such a wise, dignified expression I watched it enables the nests to resist the storms and high for several hours a couple learning to fly. They winds which sweep over our eastern shore. And sat balanced uneasily on the edge of the nest, strength is what is mainly needed, for the fish- solemn and grave as judges, and looked as if they hawk builds its nest as we do our houses, to last a had come out of the shell knowing everything. great many years. The old birds were coaxing and going through Ask any one of the old fishermen about them, various exercises which I suppose were the first and he will probably say first: principles of flying, and the young ones tilted "Wall, they're a curus fowl. No matter what about and rolled over and finally got fastened the weather may be, they come back on the 2Ist of between the sharp branches of the tree. The March of each year, all at once; and the 21zt of mother and father fussed and scolded, Bill-ee, September you can't see one. They go over-night Bill-ee, Stu-pid-i-ty." The young are very slow in Sand no man from Maine to Georgia can tell where learning to fly-and I have heard that they often they go to." linger in the nest long after they are well able to help They say, too, that the same birds come back themselves, to be fed and waited upon, till driven to the same nest every year. If it has been injured away by the parents, who beat them out with their by the winter's storms it is carefully repaired; some- wings, and peck them with their sharp beaks. I times even rebuilt entirely in the same place with don't like to think this, but it may be so, for one the same material. One morning in the early day we found a young bird drooping on the fence. spring I passed the ruins of a large nest which had He allowed us to come very close to him, and we been blown down by the wind of the night before, discovered that his wing was broken. It was not It was a great mass of stuff, scattered all around, shot, so he must have fallen in his effort to fly. No and would have filled a good-sized cart. The birds were near him, he had evidently been desert- homeless birds were flying about in great distress, ed. He looked forlorn and pitiful, so we took him flapping their wings, and uttering their peculiar, home and put him in the wagon-house. The shrill note-a note that is in strange harmony with children were very attentive to him; they cut up the melancholy sea. In a week I passed again and fish for him-pounds of it,-and tried to amuse him the.ground was cleared of the wreck and the nest as if he were a lamed child. But it was of no use, loomed up large as ever in the tree from which it he drooped still more, and then died and was had been blown. There is no doubt that many of buried with martial noise and pomp. He would the nests are very old. In the field through which not have been a successful pet, for these birds have a we walked on our way to the beach, was a nest lonely, isolated nature. They seem to have bred in which I was assured was a hundred years old; As them the wild, untamable spirit of the wind and old as them cedar rails on that fence, yonder," said wave, and if deprived of their free, soaring flight, the man; my grandfather told me so." I believed and their sporting in air and water, they will it then, of course, for one's grandfather always languish and die. speaks the truth. The largest fish-hawk I ever saw measured six You will suppose that a bird which builds such a feet across the wings. The average size is from large nest must lay large eggs and many of them, four to five feet. The plumage is of greyish brown but this bird never lays more than three, and they except on the breast and under part of the wings, are little larger than a hen's egg, of a reddish where it is pure white. The beak is sharp and yellow, splotched with brown. They are laid about hooked, the claws long, and the legs very thick. the first of May, and it takes a long and patient sit- The feet and legs are covered with close hard scales, ting till the last of June to hatch them. During this the better to retain a hold upon the slippery fish. time and after the young birds come, the care of It used to be a common notion among the older the parents is unceasing. The nest is never left naturalists that one foot of this bird was webbed unguarded. The male bird goes fishing and keeps and the other furnished with claws to serve the his family well supplied with food, while the female double purpose of swimming and seizing its rarely leaves her nest, but keeps over it a tireless prey. watch. If any one approaches she cries shrilly and Nothing can be finer than the sweep and direct- hovers over her brood, with her broad wings out- ness of the fish-hawk's flight. You see one sailing, spread and her piercing eyes flashing. Peaceable a mere speck in the sky; he stops suddenly, as if and gentle at other times, she will defend her nest viewing some object in the water below; poised 1873.] FISH-HAWKS AND THEIR NESTS. 81 high in the air, without any visible motion of the in all his traits than any of the eagle species. His wide-extended wings, he swoops down with the only prey is fish, so I can tell you no wonderful swiftness of lightning and plunges into the water stories of children, or even of lambs, carried off by head foremost. If he misses the fish he rises again, him to feed a ravenous brood. He never interferes and circles round in short, abrupt curves, as if from with smaller birds, as the eagle does. On the con- mere listlessness. Again he pauses, darts into the trary, a little timid bird called the crow black-bird water, and this time comes up with his prey in his builds its modest nest in the interstices of the hawk's talons. He shakes the water from his feathers and nest. I have seen a half-dozen of these tiny homes flies in the shortest line to his nest. Sometimes his built into the larger one. He is not a greedy rob- fish weighs six or seven pounds. Add to this the her, like the eagle, but fishes in an honest, straight- struggles of the fish to free itself, and you may fancy forward manner, and, in short, has but one enemy, the strength of the bird. I have heard, but I never -the bald eagle. saw an instance of it, that the fish is sometimes Between them there are many desperate battles. strong enough to drag the bird into the water, where The eagle, who is always hungry, and who seldom he is drowned. The next tide carries him up on works when he can steal, waits till the fish-hawk the beach with his claws buried deep in a sturgeon catches a fish. As he comes from the water with or halibut. the heavy burden, the eagle pounces upon the By some naturalists the fish-hawk has been classed booty. They rise together, and in mid-air the con- with the eagle, from a similarity of appearance, but test goes on with beak and talon. I am sorry to this is not just to our friend. He is much nobler say the eagle generally gets the best of it, and flies ~. noff sullenly to fhe nearest tree with Sh l: d. I r 'I'L h i.he "-- "--'- "--- i' ',.p_ -,,ur nol-" ,': r,,' ,::,: ,pe .1-VOL. .-6. : I: ir T I I--I .T'! i LA: CI-h' i, %A [lhe _.. [ d-.'-h .- i s VoLI 6h -h Ch. .-o-. .---r. , -'w'P -. ,. --- r,,- .... l.l ,,,-. ,.l! .... ...I"''' Any- 82 BOWWOW-CURLYCUR AND THE WOODEN LEG. [DECEMBER, fish-hawk with a curious affection. He foretells a The fishermen think that a nest built near their storm, they say, by a peculiar restlessness, and a houses ensures them good luck and prosperous repetition of his feeble whistle. When the storm living. The return of the bird heralds the coming breaks the birds are abroad in the face of it, however of spring, and the happy activity of the fishing wild and fierce it may be. If one can see anything season. The wintry storms are over, the warm sun through the blinding mists and rain, it is the fish- shines again upon the white sand and breaking hawk soaring aloft in the tumult, curving and sweep- waves, and children are playing on the shore. The ing on the wild wind, his white breast gleaming nets are brought out and mended, the boats are against the black trees and sky. These birds show launched, and the men who have lounged all winter great skill in flying against the wind, never fly in the house, gather in groups of two and three, directly into it, but tack backwards and forwards with seines and hooks and lines, to catch the fish as intelligently as a sailor does upon the water, which come in shoals up the river from the sea. BOWWOW-CURLYCUR AND THE WOODEN LEG. BY MARGARET EYTINGE. THE boy and the girl-no, that's impolite, I (Bowwow-Curlycur danced beautifully, much meant to say the girl and the boy, stood at the better than the girl or boy could, for you see he garden gate, looking up the road. had four legs and they only had two.) Bowwow-Curlycur, with his hair done up in curl The man had common intelligence, so he papers, was there too, and he also was looking up answered, "All right, old fellow." the road. Then Bowwow-Curlycur stopped dancing, sniffed To think that the cook had taken every stidk to at him, growled at him, jumped at him, turned boil the oatmeal porridge; and the hoe, and -the back, ran to the girl and boy and barked one word, shovel, and the spade, and the rake had all gone but it was in two syllables, so that made it equal to to a party given by the new mowing-machine, two little words. Seven nice plants and one young tree, and noth- Sailor," barked Bowwow-Curlycur, and sure ing to dig little houses in the ground for the roots enough as the man came near, the girl and the to live in boy saw that he was dressed in a blue striped shirt What on earth were they to do? Bowwow-Cur- with large turnover collar, blue trousers, a pea- lycur would have been willing to have scooped out jacket, a tarpaulin hat, and a wooden leg. a few holes, but he had an appointment with the Ship-a-hoy !" shouted the sailor, as soon as he dog that stole the chickens and didn't want to get spied the girl and boy. "What craft's that?" his nose dirty. This was his way of saying, How do you do?" "What shall we do?" said the boy, the sun is and Who are you ?" going down behind Troykachunk hill as fast as Oh! if you only would," said the girl. "Oh! ever he can." yes," said the boy, "if you only would lend us "Somebody is coming down the road,"said the your wooden leg for a few moments," said the girl. "It's a man, and doesn't he walk funny?" girl. said the boy. Shiver my timbers," said the sailor, and he I'll go and see who it is," barked Bowwow-Cur- laughed so loud that his hat tumbled off his head lycur, and he made himself so flat that he looked and fell on the ground where Bowwow-Curlycur like some queer kind of a giant caterpillar, squeezed seized it and bit a large piece out of the brim, himself under the gate and ran off up the road. What do you want my wooden leg for, young- Now, Bowwow-Curlycur was a most wonderful sters ?" dog. He could bark so plainly that any one of Well, you see," said the girl, who was smarter common intelligence who heard him could under- than the boy-girls always are smarter than boys- stand every word he barked. we have some plants and a young tree to set out, "Who are you?" he asked, as he danced round and the shovel and spade and rake and hoe have the stranger, all gone to the new mowing-machine's party, and 18731 BOWWOW-CURLYCUR AND THE WOODEN LEG. 83 the cook has burned all the sticks, and Bowwow- and tugged and pulled, and Bowwow-Curlycur Curlycur wants to keep his nose clean, and so we scolded and bit the leg that wasn't wooden, but all have nothing to make the root-houses with." was of no use. Won't you lend us your leg for a little while ?" At last the sailor threw up his arms in the air, said the boy. gave a great jerk, and away he flew straight up to- "Blessed if I don't," said the sailor, "but you wards the sky, like a rocket, leaving his wooden must take me with it, for it's so much attached to leg behind him. me, it can't leave me." "Jolly !" said the boy, "what larks !" and the "Oh no indeed," said the wooden leg, but so girl said, Oh, my !" very softly that no one but Bowwow-Curlycur heard Bowwow-Curlycur, for once in his life, was too it, and he only put his head on one side, lolled out astonished to bark anything. his tongue and barked nothing. The cat made a dreadful face with her tail, and Then the sailor threw his leg that wasn't wooden walked solemnly off, her kittens marching behind up in the air, spun around three times on the one her. that was wooden, commenced whistling the sailor's So the moon came out ana tne girl and boy hornpipe and came into the garden. knew it was bed-time, and they went to bed. "Here's fun," barked Bowwow-Curlycur, and ran But about twelve o'clock at night, when every- round after his own tail like mad. thing was still except the frogs, and the crickets, So they formed a procession. The sailor went and the katy-dids, and a few other things of that first and stamped in the ground with his wooden kind that stay up all night so that they can see leg-the boy came next and put a plant in the the sun rise in the morning, they heard a strange hole thus made-the girl followed with the young tramp, tramp, -tramp, in the garden, and getting tree in her arms. Bowwow-Curlycur carried his up and peeping out of the window they saw the ears and curl papers. The cat that made faces wooden leg hopping down the walk, and as it with her tail came after, with her four youngest passed them it said with a chuckle, How cleverly kittens. I got rid of that sailor. Now I'll go and see the At last all the plants were set out and only the world by myself," and it went out of the gate and young tree remained, up the road and they never saw it again. "Now," said the sailor, I must make a deep But looking up at the moon they beheld the face hole for this," and he raised his wooden leg and of the sailor wearing a broad grin. brought it down with such force that he buried it As for Bowwow-Curlycur, after he had taken his in the ground up to the knee, and oh! mercy's hair out of paper and called on the dog that stole sakes alive! it wouldn't come out again, the chickens, he buried (in the hole left by the The sailor tugged and pulled, and pulled and wooden leg he had saved), a few choice bones and tugged, and the girl and boy pulled and tugged, then slept the sleep of the just dog. -F- THERE was a good boy who fell ill, S: And begged them to give him a pill; "For my kind parents' sake The dose I will take," Said this dear little boy who fell ill. I' WHAT was the moon a-spying T Out of her half-shut eye? !'- One of her stars went flying -_ Across the broad blue sky. 84 WOOD-CARVING. [DECEMBER, WOOD-CARVING; BY GEORGE A. SAWYER. A FEW years since, while recovering from an ill- White holly is by far the best wood for a be- ness, I made my first attempt at wood-carving; ginner; indeed, it is the best for any fine carved and, as I gradually overcame its difficulties, I be- work, and designs done in it, and glued on to some came very much interested, and began to make dark wood like walnut or rosewood, make a very many pretty and useful things, such as boxes, handsome contrast. brackets, shelves, picture-frames and clock-cases. THE TOOLS REQUIRED. As some of our boys and girls may take an interest in wood-carving, I will give them a few hints on Tools are, of course, an important item in every the subject,. workman's calculations, and there are those par- ticularly suited to the kind of work I am about to WHERE TO OBTAIN MATERIAL. describe. I shall mention at present only those In all the larger cities there are mills where they which I think most important for a beginner, that saw veneers and thin boards for the use of cabinet or furniture-makers, and if you are so fortunate as to have access to them, you will find it very easy to : supply yourself with materials; in fact, the greatest difficulty is not to get too much; a little goes a great way, you will find, if you do very nice work. There are, however, in almost all large towns, model-makers, cabinet-makers, etc., from whom I you can obtain some of the commoner woods; or if there is a saw-mill where they have a circular saw, you can have some thick wood cut up to suit at trifling expense. Even when these fail, you can ,. get a carpenter to saw and plane you a few small strips; and there is in every town, even the small- i est, a tobacco store, where you can get empty cigar I I' . boxes. These generally are made of Spanish cedar, . and by selecting some of the finest grained speci- "1' I5'' mens, you sometimes can get extremely pretty '. pieces. Articles made from this wood, when polish- ed and shellaced, would never be suspected of coming from a cigar box. You cannot, however,. .i, do much carving on it, because the grain is coarse and the wood wanting in strength. KIND OF WOOD. BRAD-AWLS, ETC., WITH HOLLOW HANDLE. The best woods for our use are walnut and white you may not incur useless expenditure of money, holly, sawed in thin boards, not more than a and yet be sufficiently provided not to get discour- fourth or a sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and aged for the want of the right tools to make a reason- planed on both sides. Walnut is, of course, known ably fair piece of work. As you gain in experience, to every one as the dark wood most generally used you will be able to make additions for yourselves. in this country for the better kinds of furniture. A pocket knife is of the first importance, and it Though white holly is very common also, or at is hardly to be presumed that any real boy is with- least has been rapidly becoming so within the out that useful article. For our purpose, one hav- last few years, you may not know, that it is the ing two blades, a large anda small one, such as can white-wood" generally used for small brackets, be purchased of sufficiently good quality for about card photograph frames, etc., found in the shops. seventy-five cents, more or less, will answer very It possesses in the finer strains a beautifully fine well. Having a knife, every boy should possess texture, even color, and is so strong that it may be the means of sharpening and keeping it in sawed, if carefully handled, in the thinnest lines order. For this, and for sharpening other edged across the grain with little danger of breaking. tools, the best instrument is an oil-stone, such as 1873.] WOOD-CARVING. 85 you will always find on carpenters' benches, fitted last a year. Lastly we want some sheets of into a wooden box with a detachable lid. A useful sand-paper, assorted, fine and coarse. size is about three inches .long by two wide, and Having provided ourselves with these tools half an inch thick. We should make the box our- and a few pieces of some kind of thin wood, selves (I will tell you how by and by), and it both we will see what we can produce. Suppose protects the stone from the chance of breakage, for a first effort we make a common ruler, and keeps the oil from soiling other things. A such as we would be likely to find useful at stone of this kind will cost ten or fifteen cents, and school; say an inch wide, and twelve or fif- wear for ever: that is, so longaswe use it properly, teen inches long. and are likely to want it. Perhaps the next most generally useful arti- HOW TO MAKE A RULER. cle is a case of brad-awls. There are several Take one of our pieces of board, white kinds for sale at tool stores, some with larger tools holly if you have it, and. cut the edges as than those in the illustration; but these are the true and straight as you can, then lay a handiest, as well as cheapest. The price is about a whole sheet of rather fine sandpaper, No. I, a dollar and a quarter. As will be seen from W is the best, on a perfectly flat surface, like the figure (in which, however, only a few of the the top of an uncovered table or box, and rub tools are given) this set includes a number of brads the edge of the wood to and fro, length-wise, of various sizes, for boring holes ; a screw-driver, till the edge is entirely smooth and straight. several chisels, and a gauge, a countersink, scratch- If you will hold this stick nearly horizontally awl,. etc., and a wrench with which to fasten and turned towards the light, one end oppo- them into the handle, which is hollow and holds site one eye and five or six inches from it, them all when not in use. As these tools never and closing the other eye look along the come sharpened ready for use, it is a good plan to edge, you can see very plainly whether the take them to some carpenter's shop, and watch the edge is true or not. carpenter when he puts them on his oil-stone, and Having made one edge straight, carefully accomplishes the desired object of giving them an measure off from it, at two or three points, the edge. You would learn more by seeing the sharp- width you design making the ruler. You can ening once done than by reading pages of descrip- do this quite well enough'with a card or piece tion. So watch the carpenter. of stiff paper; and laying down a ruler, use it We next want some files: a flat one, half an inch as an edge to cut through the wood with the wide; one flat on one side and round on the point of a sharp knife. In thin wood this is other, a fourth or three-eighths of an inch wide; a VILE, very easy to do, and it makes a much cleaner round one three-eighths, and five or six like the one job than sawing. Then smooth the edge as you figured, made of one-eighth inch steel wire; one did the other, being careful to keep the two edges round; one half round and half flat; one triangular; parallel that the ruler may be of the same width. one square; one flat; one knife-edge. Some of Cut off the ends square. If you have a carpen- these have two inches of the round wire left to ter's square, you will find it useful; but I think, for serve as a handle, and are necessary in finishing the present, we can do without it, and use a good- fine work. The lot may cost a dollar or more. sized visiting card, which, being cut by machinery, we may assume, has edges at two right angles. If you are far enough along in your geometry to be -.... . able to construct mathematically a right angled tri- angle, you can verify the angles of your card, and Syou will find great pleasure in applying your knowl- edge to such every-day uses; but if not, we will 1use the card for the present, just as we find it. Set _-one corner of the card at the point where you are THE SAW. to cut; make one edge coincide with, or be exactly even with, the edge of the ruler, and cut across the For a long time I used only these tools men- end by the other edge. tioned, but one day a friend gave me what I believe In cutting thin wood with the grain, or length- is known as a dentist's saw. I give a figure of it. wise, you will find that you can do it best by lay- The tool itself costs a dollar and a quarter, and the ing down a ruler and drawing along its edge, with saws come in packages of a dozen, at twenty-five the point of a sharp knife, just as you would rule a cents. They are extremely fine and delicate, but line with a pencil, only, of course, holding the do most excellent work. With care, a dozen will knife so as to be able to bear on it and force it 86 MIEUX VAUT AVOIR LA MOITIE D UN PAIN [DcECEBER, into the wood, taking care to hold it perpendicu- by pencil lines. Having the pattern nicely and lar so as to cut as straight through as possible. In accurately drawn, take one of your drills and care- cutting across the grain you can do it either in the fully bore holes through all the spaces you in- same manner, or else mark a line with the point of tend cutting out,-one hole in each space. Take the knife, and then use the saw; the back of the saw, your saw and unfasten one end, and put that end however, will allow you to cut only narrow strips. through the first hole. Fasten it again. Lay the piece of wood on the edge of a table or large ORNAMENTATION. box, the part you are about to saw just over the Having now a long, narrow piece of wood, with edge, so that the saw will not cut the table, and hold straight even edges and square ends, we may ven- the wood down firmly with one hand while with the ture upon a little ornamentation, other you use the saw, holding it so that the cut I select, as the most appropriate fora first effort, will be perpendicular. In this way saw around the a geometrical design; that is, one with straight piece to come out, following the pencil lines as lines, which can be drawn with a ruler and com- nearly as possible. You will find, with a little passes. Designs composed of flowers or natural practice, that you can cut almost exactly on the objects, with ever-varying curves, which must be line; but for the present it is safest to keep a very drawn by hand, are much more attractive, but are little inside the line, and cut away the surplus after- more difficult, and must be reserved till we have wards with a file. In setting the end of the saw had a little practice. back again into the jaws, if you put the end of the I would recommend your taking a sheet of large saw-bow against a table and press on it slightly, and writing or other paper, and drawing upon it a pat- then fasten the end of the saw in, the saw will be tern just the size of the ruler you wish to make. strained tight and will work better than if put in Mark out within it the lines, as you intend cutting loosely. Cut out all the spaces in succession in the them in the wood. Mistakes with the pencil are same way, and then take your files and file up to easily corrected, and if you get the pattern exact, the lines. In this design you will find use for your you can, by measuring the points, transfer it to the square, three-cornered, and flat files. After filing '^ KiN>" \<>7 PATTERN FOR A RULER. wood. You may cut out the design carefully with carefully up to the lines, take fine sandpaper and scissors and knife, and then laying it on the wood, rub it all over smooth and white, and your ruler will mark its edges with a sharp-pointed pencil, or you be complete. I think you will take a satisfaction may lay it over the wood and prick through with a in using it yourself or in giving it to some friend, pin or needle, and afterwards connect the pin points which you would not feel if you had bought it. MIEUX VAUT AVOIR LA MOITIE D'UN PAIN QUE NE PAS AVOIR DE PAIN. PAR M. M. D. PEU de jeunes personnel connaissent l'origine de de sorte que les pauvres nobles enfants 6taient ce fameux proverbe. obliges de prendre du lait ordinaire; mais ils avaient En l'an onze cent onze, la grande duchesse du pain condense et c'etait pour eux une grande Caroline van Swing et ses quatre charmants enfants satisfaction. s'dtaient r6unis dans la vaste cuisine du chateau La grande duchesse elle-meme se mit en devoir pour prendre leur simple d6jeuner. Dans ces de preparer le repas, car, disait-elle avec des larmes premiers temps le lait condense n'etait pas connu, d'attendrissement, "je suls une duchesse, mais ne 1873.) QUE NE PAS AVOIR DE PAIN. 87 suis-je pas aussi une mere ? A ces paroles les voix bouch6es les deux moiti6s du pain. Le chien revint de ses petits enfants, presses par la faim, r6pon- h la maison humble et repentant. "I1 ne derobera daient le plus eloquemment du monde: plus rien," s'6cria la grande duchesse, en regardant La noble dame prit un pain et saisissant le grand avec amour ses enfants qui pleuraient. Pourquoi couteau avec lequel son noble grand sire avait ter- pleurez-vous, mes ch6ris? Mais si j'avais garden rass6 une centaine d'ennemis, elle le brandit un dans mes mains la moitie du pain, je n'aurais pu --- I' I IiI /7 1 / 6 .- - ,/ //' "1! 1!! .' 1 , ] ^' 1 Ir *I ? "^ ^ -' ' r r '*, - .,I t- .,--" - instant, puis, d'un coup ferme et r6solu, elle coupa chAtier Athelponto. Consolez-vous. Ne voyez-vous en deux le pain condens6 h la maniere de toutes les pas qu'il vaut mieux avoir la moitie d'un pain que nobles duchesses. Aussit6t que le couteau eut fait ne pas avoir de pain?" / son ceuvre, une moiti6 du pain tomba sur le sol "Oh oui, mare!" r6pondirent ces nobles enfants, avec un bruit sec. Le chien de la famille, qui n'a- prits at s'en aller sans prendre leur dejeuner, depuis vait pas quitt6 des yeux les movements de la du- qu'Athelponto avait 6te puni de sa mauvaise faute. cheese, bondit en avant de son coin du grand foyer. H6las quel gargon ou quelle fille de ce temps Saisissant le pain entire ses mAchoires, il s'enfuit de ferait ainsi le sacrifice du comfort au principle ? la salle important son butin au milieu des cris et Le dicton de la grande duchesse a 6te transmis des appeals plaintiffs des chers enfants. de g6n6ration en g6n6ration, mais Ia signification La noble m 're, craignant de perdre la moiti, de en a change. Quand les mres d'aujourd'hui son pain, s'61anqa aussit6t vers la porte et jeta la veulent apprendre a leurs enfants a se contenter de moitie du pain quilui restait sur le mdchant animal, peu, elles disent: "Mieux vaut avoir la moitie Atteint a la tIte, le chien lAcha le morceau et se d'un pain que ne pas avoir de pain." mit i pousser des aboiements plaintiffs. Pendant cc Le monde n'est pas aussi h6roique qu'il l'tait du temos un iAne, 6tant venu a passer, avala en deux temps de la grande duchesse Caroline van Swing. (Our readers who are studying French may find some amusement, as well as profit, in translating the above story. We shall be glad to have the boys and girls send in their translations.) :. ----- ,. "; '-- --..._ -- ** .-- ------- .-.-7. .._.l '--'"- 88 WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. [DEcEMBER, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. BY FRANK R. STOCKTON. CHAPTER IV. particular reason why he should bend over so very KATE, VERY NATURALLY, IS ANXIOUS. much, but he seemed to like to walk in that way, and nobody objected. He was a good old soul and KATE hurried through the woods, for she was Kate was delighted to see him. afraid she would not reach home until after dark, "Uncle Braddock!" she cried. and indeed it was then quite like twilight in the The old man stopped and turned around, almost shade of the great trees around her. The road on standing up straight in his astonishment at seeing which she was walking was, however, clear and the young girl alone in the woods. open and she was certain she knew the way. As Why, Miss Kate he exclaimed, as she came she hastened on, she could not help feeling that up with him, what in the world is you doin' she was wasting this delightful walk through the h'yar?" woods. Her old friends were around her, and "I've been gathering sumac," said Kate, as though she knew them all so well, she could not they walked on together, and Harry's gone stop to spend any time with them. There were off and I couldn't wait any longer and I'm the oaks,-the black oak with its shining many- just as glad as I can be to see you, Uncle Brad- pointed leaves, the white oak with its lighter green dock, for I was beginning to be afraid, because its though duller hued foliage, and the chestnut oak getting dark so fast, and your dressing-gown look- with its long and thickly clustered leaves. Then ed prettier to me than all the trees when I first there were the sweet gums, fragrant and star- caught sight of it. But I think you ought to have leaved, and the black-gum, tough, dark, and un- it washed, Uncle Braddock." pretending. No little girl in the county knew "Wash him!" said Uncle Braddock, with a more about the trees of her native place than chuckle, as if the suggestion was a very funny joke; Kate; for she had made good use of her long dat wouldn't do, no how. He'd wash all to bits rides through the country with her father. Here and the pins would stick 'em in the hands. were the chinquepin bushes, like miniature chest- Couldn't wash him, Miss Kate; it's too late for nut trees, and here were the beautiful poplars. dat now. Might have washed him before de war, She knew them by their bright leaves which looked p'raps. We was stronger, den. But what you as though they had been snipped off at the top getherin sumac for, Miss Kate? If you white folks with a pair of scissors. And here, right in front of goes pickin' it all, there won't be none lef' soon fur her, was Uncle Braddock. She knew him by his de cull'ed people, dat's mighty certain." many-colored dressing-gown, without which he Why, I'm picking it for the colored people," never appeared in public. It was one of the most said Kate, at least for one colored person." curious dressing-gowns ever seen, as Uncle Braddock Why don't you let 'em pick it the'rselves ? " was one of the most curious old colored men ever asked the old man. seen. The gown was not really as old as its wearer, Because Aunt Matilda can't do it," said Kate. but it looked older. It was composed of about a "Is dat sumac fur Aunt Matilda?" said Uncle hundred pieces of different colors and patterns- Braddock. red, green, blue, yellow and brown; striped, spot- "Yes, it is," said Kate, and Harry's been gather- ted, plain, and figured with flowers and vines. ing some and we're going to pick enough to get These pieces, from year to year, had been put on her all she wants. Harry and I intend to take care as patches, and some of them were quilted on, of her now. You know they were going to send and some were sewed, and some were pinned, her to the almshouse." The gown was very long and came down to Uncle Well, I declar exclaimed the old man. "I Braddock's heels, which were also very long and neber did hear de like o' dat afore. Why, you all bobbed out under the bottom of the gown as if they isn't done bein' tuk care of you'selves." Kate were trying to kick backwards. But Uncle Brad- laughed, and explained their plans, getting quite dock never kicked. He was very old and he had enthusiastic about it. all the different kinds of rheumatism, and walked "Lem me carry dat bag," said Uncle Braddock. bent over nearly at right angles, supporting him- "Oh no said Kate, you're too old to be carrying self by a long cane like a bean-pole, which he bags." grasped in the middle. There was probably no "Jis lem me hab it," said he, "it's trouble enuf 2873.] WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. 89 fur me to get along, anyway, and a bag or two full of sumac leaves; and that he and she were pull- don't make no kind o' dif'rence." ing it through the woods, and that the legs caught Kate found herself obliged to consent, and as in the trees and they could not get it along, and the bag was beginning to feel very heavy for her, then she woke up. It was bright day-light. But and as it didn't seem to make the slightest differ- Harry had not come ! ence, as he had said, to Uncle Braddock, she was There was no news. Mr. Loudon and his friends very glad to be rid of it. were still absent. Poor Kate was in despair, and But when at last they reached the village, and could not touch the breakfast, which was prepared Uncle Braddock went over the fields to his cabin, at the usual hour. Kate ran into the house, carrying her bag with About nine o'clock a company of negro sumac ease, for she was excited by the hope that Harry gatherers appeared on the road which passed Mr. had come home by some shorter way, and that Loudon's house. It was a curious party. On a she should find him in the house, rude cart, drawn by two little oxen, was a pile of But there was no Harry there. And soon it was bags filled with sumac leaves, which were supported night, and yet he did not come. by poles stuck around the cart and bound together . ,. i -. -il : : - -, ^ , started out into the woods to look for Aunt Matil- the cart, an' on each side of it, were negroes, men a s i s a a w l i Y! A : '" 5."' ...... r t,,', ,- ""* I %--'S t".' I' ' k -: I Vt \ THE SUMAC GATHERERS. Matters now looked serious, and about nine by ropes. On the top of the pile sat a negro, ply- o'clock Mr. Loudon, with two of the neighbors, ing a long whip, and shouting to the oxen. Behind started out into the woods to look for Aunt Matil- the cart, and on each side of it, were negroes, men da's young guardian. and women, carrying huge bales of sumac on their Kate's mother was away on a visit to her rela- heads. Bags, pillow-cases, bed-ticks, sheets and tions in another county, and so the little girl passed coverlids had been called into requisition to hold the night on the sofa in the parlor, with a colored the precious leaves. Here was a woman with a woman asleep on the rug before the fire-place. great bundle on her head, which sank down so as to Kate would not go to bed. She determined to stay almost entirely conceal her face; and near her was awake until Harry should come home. But the an old man who supported on his bare head a load sofa cushions became more and more pleasant, and that looked heavy enough for a horse. Even little very soon she was dreaming that Harry had shot a children carried bundles considerably larger than giraffe, and had skinned it, and had stuffed the skin themselves, and all were laughing and talking 90 WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. [DECEMBER, merrily as the) made their way to the .II, store Harry was afraid to move. Perhaps the man at the cross-roads mistook him for some kind of an animal. To be Kate ran eagerly out to question these people. sure, he could not help thinking that boys were They must certainly have seen Harry. animals, but he did not suppose the man would want The good-natured negroes readily stopped to talk to shoot a boy, if he knew it. But how could any with Kate. The ox-driver halted his team, and one tell that Harry was a boy at that distance, and every head-burdened man, woman and child clus- in that light? tered around her, until it seemed as if sumac clouds Poor Harry did not even dare to call out. He had spread between her and the sky, and had ob- could not speak without moving something, his lips scured the sun. anyway, and the man might fire at the slightest But no one had seen Harry. .In fact, this com- motion. He was so quiet that the musk-rat-it was pany, with the accumulated proceeds of a week's a musk-rat that lived in the hole-came out of his sumac gathering, had come from a portion of the house, and seeing the boy so still, supposed he was county many miles from Crooked Creek, and, of nothing of any consequence, and so trotted noise- course, they could bring no news to Kate. lessly along to the water and slipped in for a swim. Harry never saw him. His eyes were fixed on the man. CHAPTER V. For some minutes longer-they seemed like hours -he remained motionless. And then he could bear THE TURKEY HUNTER. it no longer. WHEN Harry left Kate, he quietly walked by the Hel-low! he cried. side of Crooked Creek, keeping his eyes fixed on "Hel-low!" said the man. the tracks of the strange animal, and his thumb on Then Harry got up trembling and pale, and the the hammer of the right-hand barrel of his gun. man came towards him. Before long the tracks disappeared, and disappear- Why, I didn't know what you were," said the ed, too, directly in front of a hole in the bank; quite man. a large hole, big enough for a beaver or an otter. "Tony Kirk exclaimed Harry. Yes, it was This was capital luck! Harry got down on his Tony Kirk, sure enough, a man who would never hands and knees and examined the tracks. Sure shoot a boy,-if he knew it. enough, the toes pointed towards the hole. It must "What are you doing here," asked Tony, "a- be in there! squattin' in the dirt at supper-time?" Harry cocked his gun and sat and waited. He Harry told him what he was doing and how he was as still as a dead mouse. There was no earthly had been frightened, and then the remark about reason why the creature should not come out, ex- supper-time made him think of his sister. "My cept perhaps that it might not want to come out. senses! he cried, "there's Kate she must think At any rate, it could not know that Harry was out- I'm lost." side waiting for it. Kate!" exclaimed Tony. "What Kate? He waited a long time without ever thinking how You don't mean your sister! " the day was passing on; and it began to be a little Yes, I do," said Harry; and away he ran down darkish, just a little, before he thought that perhaps the shore of the creek. Tony followed, and when he had better go back to Kate. he reached the big pine tree, there was Harry gaz- But it might be just coming out, and what a ing blankly around him. shame to move. A skin that would bring five dollars "She's gone !" faltered the boy. was surely worth waiting for a little while longer, "I should think so," said Tony, if she knew and he might never have such another chance. what was good for her. What's this?" His quick He certainly had never had such a one before, eyes had discovered the paper on the tree. And so he still sat and waited, and pretty soon Tony pulled the paper from the pine trunk and he heard something. But it was not in the hole, tried to read it, but Harry was at his side in an in- -not near him at all. It was further along the stant, and saw it was Kate's writing. It was almost creek, and sounded like the footsteps of some one too dark to read it, but he managed, by holding it walking stealthily, towards the west, to make it out. Harry looked around quickly, and, about thirty She's gone home," he said, "and I must be yards from him, he saw a man with a gun. The after her; and he prepared to start. man was now standing still, looking steadily at Hold up cried Tony, I'm going that way. him. At least Harry thought he was, but there And so you've been getherin sumac." Harry had was so little light in the woods by this time that he read the paper aloud. There's no use o' leaving' could not be sure about it. What was that man yer bag. Git it out o' the bushes, and come along after? Could he be watching him? with me." 1873.1 WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. 91: Harry soon found his bag, and then he and Tony It's easy enough," said Tony, striking a match set out along the road. to light his pipe. I could find my way with my What are you after? asked Harry. eyes shut. And it would not do fur me to go. I'll "Turkeys," said Tony. make too much noise coming' back. There's no Tony Kirk was always after turkeys. He was a known' how soon the turkeys will begin to stir wild-turkey hunter by profession. It is true there about." were seasons of the year when he did not shoot tur- "Then you.oughtn't to have brought me here," keys, but although at such times he worked a little said Harry, much provoked. at farming and fished a little, he nearly always found I wanted to show you a short way home," said it necessary to do something that related to turkeys. Tony, puffing away at his pipe. He watched their haunts, he calculated their in- Harry answered not a word, but set out along the crease, he worked out problems which proved to path. In a minute or two he ran against a tree, him where he would find them most plentiful in the then he turned to the right and stumbled over a fall, and his mind was seldom free from the consid- root, dropping his bag and nearly losing his hold ration of the turkey question. of his gun. He was soon convinced that it was all Isn't it rather early for turkeys?" asked Harry. nonsense to try to get home by that path, and he "Well, yes," said Tony, "but I'm tired o'waitin." slowly made his way back to Tony. I'm goin' to make a short cut," continued I'll tell ye what it is," said the turkey hunter, Tony, striking out of the road into a narrow "ef you think you'd hurt herself finding' yer way path in the woods. "You can save half-a-mile by home, and I thought you knew the woods better comin' this way." than that, you might as well stay here with me. So Harry followed him. I'll take you home bright an' airly. You needn't "I don't mind takin' you," said Tony, "fur I trouble yerself about yer sister. She's home long know you kin keep a secret. My turkey-blind is ago. It must have been bright daylight wheh she over yander; and as he said this he put his hand wrote on that paper, and she could keep the road into his coat pocket and pulled out a handful of easy enough." shelled corn which he began to scatter along the Harry said nothing, but sat down on the other path, a grain or two at a time. After ten or fifteen end of the log. Tony did not seem to notice his minutes' walking, Tony scattering corn all the way, vexation, but talked to him, explaining the mys- they came to a mass of oak and chestnut boughs, teries of turkey hunting and the delight of spend- piled up on one side of the path like a barrier. ing a night in the woods, where .: -.: in.ii was This was the turkey-blind. It was four or five so cool and dry and still. There's no nonsense feet high, and behind it Tony was accustomed to here," said Tony; Ef there's any place where sit in the early gray of the morning, waiting for a feller kin have peace and comfort, it's in the the turkeys which he hoped to entice that way by woods, at night." means of his long line of shelled corn. By degrees Harry became interested and forgot You see I build my blind," said he to Harry, his annoyance. Kate was certainly safe at home, "and then I don't come here till I've sprinkled and as it.was impossible for him to find his way out my corn for about a week, and got the turkeys of the depths of the woods, he might as well be con- used to coming' this way'after it. Then I get back tent. He could not even hope to regain the road o' that thar at night and wait till the airly morning' by the way they came. when they're sartin to come gobblin' along till I can When Tony had finished his pipe he took Harry get a good crack at em." With this he sat down behind his blind. "All you have to do," said he, on a log, which Harry could scarcely see, so dark "is jist to peep over here and level your gun along was it in the woods by this time. that path, keeping yer eye fixed straight in front of Are you tired ? said Harry. you and after awhile you can begin to see things. No," answered Tony, I'm goin' to stop here. Suppose that dark lump down yander was a turkey. I want to be ready fur 'em before it begins to be Just look at it long enough and you kin make it light." out. You see what I mean, don't you?" But how am I to get home? said Harry. Yes," said Harry, peeping over the blind; "I Oh, jist keep straight on in that track. It'll see it," and then, with a sudden jump, he whisper- take yer straight to the store, ef ye don't turn out ed, Tony it's moving." uv it." Tony did not answer for a moment, and then he "Can't you come along and show me," said hurriedly whispered back, That's so It is mov- Harry, "I can't find the way through these dark ing." woods." 92 HOW A TINKER WROTE A NOVEL. DECEMBER, THE SACRED BEAN. OUR picture certainly looks very much unlike the beans" or seeds. In India it is known as the a bean; in fact, some of our readers may suppose it sacred bean, and in this country it is often called the water-chinquepin, because its seeds resemble the ,-. chinquepin or dwarf chestnut. It is found growing in _? deep water, both in the southern and western states. It grows in a few places in the eastern and S middle states; for instance, in the Connecticut River near Lyme, and in Big Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario. The plant bears large circular leaves one to two feet in diameter, which grow out of the water, and do not float on the surface like the leaves of the common water-lily. The flowers are pale yellow, and from five to ten inches broad. i'"(I | After the flowers drop their leaves or petals, the '" seed-vessel .1,, ,il assumes the form shown in '. ,,* our picture. This seed-vessel is shaped somewhat S- like a top, and the beans look a little like acorns. The root resembles that of the sweet potato, and is 'said to be very nutritious when boiled; in fact, the Indians used to cook it in this way for food. i' The seeds are also good to eat, and this makes its name of the water-chinquepin all the more appropriate, for although some of our Northern to be a wasp's nest. It is, however, the seed-vessel readers may not know it, the chinquepin bush of a plant, and the loose little balls, which look as of the South bears a nut that is very good eat- if they were ready to roll out of the holes, are ing. ,; ,.'; -,-_ ,.;, i.; '. -- .... . HOW A TINKER WROTE A NOVEL. BY DONALD G. MITCHELL. ONCE upon a time-years and years ago-I to make eight leaves of every sheet, whereas a wanted some good Sunday book to read; and when duodecimo is one of paper folded so as to make the want was made known, I was helped to a big, twelve leaves to a sheet; and this last is therefore leather-bound, octavo book, which at first glance- much handier and every way better for boy use- notwithstanding one or two large splotches of gilt at least, I think so. Then it was bound in full calf upon the back-did not look inviting. In the first -very suspiciously like a dictionary, and like- place, what boy wants to grapple with a big octavo? well, I must say it-like the Bible. I don't mean, Your precious old aunt will tell you what an octavo of course, to breathe one word against that venera- is-that it means a book with its paper folded so as ble volume; but then you know, when a fellow i873.1 HOW A TINKER WROTE A NOVEL. 93 wants a good Sunday book and knows just where Faithful, who went with him, got whipped and the Bible is kept, and has read it ever so often, he hung there-if I remember rightly. He would doesn't want what looks too much like it. have escaped that in New York, you know. However, there I was with the big book on my There was an Apollyon in the book; and a pro- knee: and there were pictures in it. These were digious monster with scales, equal to anything in stunning. There was a picture of a man with a the "Arabian Nights;" and lie strode wide across great pack on his back, doing his best to get out of the path by which Christian was going to the Celes- a huge bog; and there were some people standing tial city, and gave fight to him. It was "nip and by who didn't seem to help him much. tuck" with them for a long time, and I wasn't sure There was a picture of a prodigious giant-fully how it would come out. But at last Christian gave as large as that in Jack and the Bean-stalk story- Apollyon a good punch under the fifth rib, and the who was leading off two little men-one of whom dragon flew away. He wasn't through with his looked like the man that wore the big pack, and troubles, though ; in fact, all sorts of enemies came was near sinking in the bog. Then there was a upon him. There was a Giant Despair-it was he splendid picture of this same little man walking up who was figured in one of the pictures-who took with all the pluck in the world, through a path, him to his castle and thrust him into a dungeon; beside which were seated two old giants, which-by and this giant had a wife called Diffidence-which the bones which lay scattered around their seats- seemed a very funny name for a woman who ad- seemed to have been amusing themselves by eating vised the giant to give Christian and Faithful a up just such little men as the plucky one, who good sound beating every day after breakfast. He came marching up between them so bravely, did give them a beating, and a good many of them; In short, the pictures carried the day; and though and Christian would have been murdered outright, it seemed droll Sunday work, I wanted amazingly if he had not bethought himself of a key he had, to find out how this plucky little man got through which unlocked the door of the giant's dungeon; with his bogs and giants., and so he stole out and escaped. It was verystupid So I set to. of him not to think of that key before, but he didn't. Christian was the man's name, and he had a So he went on, this plucky, earnest Christian- family; but he became pretty well satisfied that he meeting with hobgoblins--worrying terribly in a was living- in a city that would certainly be de- certain Valley of Humiliation-enjoying himself stroyed; and was very much troubled about it, and hugely in the Delectable mountains, where some couldn't sleep o' nights, nor let his family sleep. hospitable shepherds lived and entertained him,- So it happened that this Christian, after getting reaching the very worst, as would seem, in the some directions from a man called Evangelist, "put Valley of the Shadow of Death; but coming out all out" one day, with his pack on his back, and left his right at last by the shores of the river of Life, and wife and children, in the streets of the CELESTIAL CITY. I didn't quite like the manner in which the book Don't forget that it was a Sunday on which I first makes him leave his family; his course was all read this book, and dreamed, after it-of Apollyon very well; but why shouldn't he have taken them (who I imagined a monster bat; with wings ten feet along with him, instead of leaving that fellow long, and flopping them with a horrible, flesh-y Great Hear-- but I mustn't tell the story in ad- sound)-alsoof Giant Despair and his deepdungeon, vance. (if Christian had happened to forget the key !) Well, this man Christian got into the bog I spoke I don't think I dreamed of old Worldly Wiseman, of, and he got out again-no thanks to the two or Pliable, or Legality, or Pick-thank. These are weak fellows who journeyed thus far with him, and humble, riff-raff characters (to boys), compared who had no sooner got a foot in the mire than they with Apollyon. But the day will come when grown set off-back for home. And Christian gets rid of boys will reckon them worse monsters than even his pack too after a time, and sees wonderful things Apollyon-by a great deal. I know I do. at a house he comes to on his way, called the'In- There was a second part to this story-though terpreter's house; amongst the rest,-two boys both parts were bound in one within the leather named Patience and Passion whom I haven't for- covers I told you of. It was too much together for gotten to this day; and a man with a muck rake one day's reading; but I came to it all afterward. grubbing away desperately, who comes into my The second part tells the story of Christian's mind now every time I go to the city and walk wife and children, and how they packed up, and down Wall street, journeyed by the same road through the Valley of But Christian was not journeying in Wall street, Humiliation, and over the Delectable mountains to no, no: though there was a Vanity Fair where he the Celestial City. And there was a splendid fellow tarried; and it was a city not very unlike New York. called Great-Heart who traveled with them and 94 HOW A TINKER WROTE A NOVEL. [DECEMBER, made much lighter of the dragons than Christian worse for him, and they condemned him to perpet- did, and who loved a good fight, and who-if the ual banishment. Somehow, this judgment was story is true, which you must judge of yourselves- changed in such a way, that Bunyan, in place ofbeing absolutely went over into the grounds of Giant shipped to Holland or Amercia (where he would Despair, and slew him-as much as such a character have found a parish), was clapped into Bedford jail, can be slain, where he lay (he tells us) twelve entire years." He I thought all the world of Great-Heart. I was had no book there but the Bible and Fox's Book glad when Mercy, who was a pretty, nice young of Martyrs. He made tag-lace to support his woman that joined the travelers, refused Mr. family, the while he was in jail, and bemoaned very Brisk (not much of a man); and I thought Great- much the possible fate of his poor blind daughter Heart ought to have married her. But it didn't Mary. end so. Great-Heart never married. In fact the While he was living this long prison life, country story is so rapid, there is no time for marrying. people in England were reading the newly printed Well, that story in the leather covers, and as book, by Isaac Walton, called the Complete Angler, big as a Bible, has been printed by thousands and and during the same period of time, John Milton hundreds of thousands, and has been translated published his Paradise Lost; and in that Bedford into all the languages of Europe, and it was writ- jail, in those same years, John Bunyan wrote the ten by a traveling tinker Think of that. story I have told you of, called "The Pilgrim's John Bunyan was his name; and he was born in Progress." a house builtof timber and clay (which was stand- He came out of jail afterwards-a good two hun- ing not many years ago) in the little village of dred years ago to-day-and took to preaching Elstow, near to Bedford, England. again. But he preached no sermon that was heard Bedfordshire is a beautiful county, there are so widely, or ever will be, as his preachments in fine farms and great houses, and beautiful parks in The Pilgrim's Progress." it; but this man, John Bunyan, was the son of a travel- He went on some errand of charity in his sixtieth ing tinker, and was born there only a few years year, and took a fever and died in 1688. It was after the pilgrims landed from the Mayflower, on the very year in which the orthodox people of Eng- Plymouth Rock. He says of himself that he was a land had set on foot the revolution which turned wild lad, swearing dreadfully, going about with his out the Papish King James the Second, and father to tinker broken tea-pots, lying under hedges, brought in the Protestant William and Mary. having narrow escapes from death. Once, falling Poor John Bunyan would have seen better times into the river Ouse, and another time handling an if he had lived in their day, and better yet if he adder and pulling out his fangs with his fingers, had lived in ours, and written in the magazines as But he fell in with Puritan preachers, who well as he wrote about Great-Heart. "waked his conscience;" for he lived just in the heart Live as long as you may, you can never outlive of those times which are described in Walter Scott's the people that he set up in his story. novel "Woodstock;" and he didn't think much Messrs. Legality, and Cheat, and Love-lust, of Episcopacy or Bishops; and at last he took to and Carnal-mind, we meet every day in society. preaching himself, having left off all his evil Every boy and girl of you all will go by and by- courses. He married too, and had four children- stump-into some slough of Despond; and God help one of them, Mary Bunyan, blind from her birth. you, if the pack you carry into it is big! Always, He fought in the civil wars under Cromwell, and and all times, there must be thwacking at dra- it is possible enough that he may have seen Charles gons in our own valleys of humiliation, and if the the First go out to execution. May be he was one teeth of Giant Pope are pulled, Giant Despair, of those crazy fellows who came to Ditchley (in whatever Great-Heart may have done, will be sure Scott's novel) to help capture the runaway, Charles to catch us some day in Doubting Castle. In fact, the Second, who was gallivanting in that time in I don't much believe Great-Heart did kill him, and the household of old Sir Arthur Lee. He throve think, to that extent, the work is a fiction. Giant while the Commonwealth lasted, but when Charles Despair lives; you may be sure of it; and he has a the Second was called back to the throne in 166o new wife; and her name is not Diffidence now, but (John Bunyan being then thirty-two years old), it Swagger; and you would do well to give her a wide was a hard time for Puritans, and worst of all for berth. As for that Valley of the Shadow of Death, such Puritan of Puritans as the Puritan preacher who that has lived since Bunyan died, or who that -Bunyan. shall live henceforth, may escape its bewilderments They tried him for holding disorderly religious and its terrors? The poor tinker and preacher-the meetings, and he put a brave face on it and con- zealous writer who made his words cleave like sharp tested his right; but this only made the matter knives, sleeps now quietly (to all seeming) ina grave r873.] SAM QUIMBY'S ART SUMMER. 95 on Bun-hill Fields; and we shall have our resting and for such as we, must lie straight through the places marked out too, before many more crops awful Valley of the Shadow of Death. of autumn leaves shall fall to the ground; but ever- It would be a sad story if there were no Celestial more, the path to such resting-place, for such as he, City. Now, let us read The Pilgrim's Progress." SAM QUIMBY'S ART SUMMER. BY FANNY BARROW. IN the warm August days, with their golden Not so Sam, the farmer's son-a great, rough, sunshine, making wood and sky magnificent, an healthy, country boy. He stood at the door, bash- artist named May came to live with farmer Quimby. fully peeping in, and declared that it was terrible TOM, O, 'I j' and prim enough; for Mrs. Quimby-although she looked up smiling at these compliments, he rushed kept everything as neat as a pin, and cooked de- off and hid himself in the barn. lightful doughnuts-knew as much about making a Sam was out in the fields nearly all day, tossing room beautiful to live in as a cat knows about play- hay, and riding home on top of great loads of it, So the artist went into the woods, and brought a chance, darting into his mother's pantry, eating back long trailing vines, and twined wreaths over doughnuts and drinking milk. But now, he did the windows and door. He hung up a set of something besides this. He forgot his work, to wooden shelves, ornamented with birch bark, upon watch the artist. Great and greater grew his which he arranged his books; and the room began wonder, as the woods and mountains so familiar to to look comfortable. him appeared upon the canvas. And when the But Mrs. Quimby, who was a fat, fuiny-looking lovely little stream, which sang all day long through old lady with no shape at all to speak of, lifted up the wood, and at last in a high frolic, tumbled her hands and eyes and exclaimed, Wall now! heels over head over a boulder, came to light in It just beats me why he should want to litter up the artist's work, Sam had almost spasms of the room with them ar old weeds !" delight. the room with them ar old weeds !" delight. 96 SAM QUIMBY'S ART SUMMER. [DECEMBER, 'i'I'V .ihI'I~~II'd;IiI'. Il:ll l i I I _______ ~V // ll': ________ li"__l____ IIn "NOW, I LL PUT A LITTLE COLOR ONTO YOU. "Oh dear," he cried, "I wish I could make He begged his mother for paper and pen- pictures. I must! I will !"and he rubbed his hair cil, and rushing out, climbed up into the fork up hard with both hands, and looked quite crazy of a tree, and after many attempts, during enough for a genius, which he chewed his pencil into bits, he drew enough for a genius, which he chewed his pencil into bits, he drew 1873.] SAM QUIMBY'S ART SUMMER. 97 this beautiful picture of a cow reclining at her into the picture as though it were a mirror, it ease. beats all but I must go now." Here it is; quite nice, I think, for a beginning. All right," said Sam, as he leaned back in his At any rate, it looks more like a cow than it does chair to take an admiring gaze. at his work; you like a crocodile. go and I'll stay and put a little more color onto But Sam, like a true genius, you." was disgusted with his cow. He Meantime, the other artist had returned unex- wanted to do better. "I say!" pectedly, and he was now standing at the door he exclaimed. "I say! I know nearly bursting with suppressed laughter. At last a queer choking sound caused Sam to turn around. Up he jumped, dropped the palette, tried to pick / it up, stepped on it, fell over it, and in his frantic Struggles, upset the easel, with the tumbler of water, his father's portrait and all, and finally picked himself up with his hair straight on end with fright and confusion. S- Well, my young Titian," said the artist as soon as he could speak for laughing, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Do you think you would like how to make a cow here,"-thumping his head to be a painter ? If you choose I will give you with his fist, "why can't I get it right on pa- lessons." per?" This glorious offer made Samn turn crimson, The next day he drew the cat washing her face and tingle from head to foot with delight. He by the kitchen fire. It looked very like the cow; had no fine long words in which to express his with whiskers instead of horns, but never mind. joy. He only answered, "Oh, yes, sir," and Sam went on sketching everything he saw, on odd rushed out into the kitchen, to stand on his bits of paper, and all over the wall of his little head, and dance a hornpipe, in order to relieve room in the peaked roof of the cottage, until Mrs. his feelings. Quimby, dreadfully worried about him, said to the Then, all at once, he went up to his mother, who farmer, I'm clean tuckered out about Sam; I do was rolling out paste for an apple-dumpling, and believe he has gone cracked !" said in a strange, soft, new voice. Oh mother ! "Gone cracked!" repeated the farmer. "Why, I am going to learn to be a painter, then I too will Molly, he's almost as smart as the painter fellow! know how to paint the beautiful woods and moun- Why, now, just look at that there cat he took! tains." Why, it's as likely a picture as ever I see." After this, Sam's thoughts by day were of paint- Oh," cried Sam, delighted at this praise, I've ing, and he dreamed of nothing else at night. got some painting' fixin's that Mr. May gave me, But Mrs. Quimby went about turning up the and I'd like to take your portrait, Pop. Just you whites of her eyes and moaning. Who on earth sit down and let me try." will help your father with the farm ? Who'll help The other artist had gone away trout-fishing for him, I want to know?" the day, and Sam, in his delight, proposed to borrow While the good old farmer, who was as sensible his easel and paint his father in fine style. an old fellow as you will meet in a month of Down sat the good old farmer, grinning and $undays, said: "Never you mind, Molly; if it is in chuckling, and Sam, staring his eyes nearly out of him to be a painter, he won't make a good farmer; his head, made a lovely profile likeness of his so just you let the boy try." father, with his old cloth cap stuck far back on his Sam is hard at work now, learning his art-and head, and one eye very flat and wide open, in the for aught you and I know, or do not know-one top of the forehead, of these days we may hear again of Samuel Quimby, "Wall, I declare!" cried the old man, looking Esq., the great painter. VOL. I.--y 98 FOR VERY LITTLE FOLKS. [DEcEi~m, FOR VERY LITTLE FOLKS. "Oh, come, Bell," said Kate, with a hop, -"- skip, and jump; "come .' - take a walk with me." .. , "Oh yes," said Bell, "let us go," and shetoo - had to hop, skip, and I-.. ' jump, she was so glad. i Down the lane they went, hand in hand, with a hop, skip, and jump, all in a lump, till they fell with a bump, just by a pump. But they were not hurt. Oh, dear no! not a bit! "Oh, look!" said Bell, "look at Dash, and old "Grey! Why, Grey must -- -.. : have told Dash that he ,l was dry, oh so dry! and S' "" see! Dash has the rope ,.' :.'' ~ a. st He looks up! he :"'ss Come to the -- -- pump, old Grey, and take all you Wantt' I love Dash, -:. don't you? " 1873.] THE WONDERFUL RIVER. 99 THE WONDERFUL RIVER. BY PAUL FORT. [SEE FRONTISPIECE.] THE entrance to the cave was not imposing. It with torches to meet him. The Most Important seemed like a hole in the ground-and that, in fact, dwarf sat in the prow of the first boat and every- wasallitwas. But those who had gone through this body was full of joyful expectation. Akaran had hole and had entered the grand chamber of the wonderful things to tell. Dome," through which the Wonderful River fan, I rowed and I rowed for a day and a night," knew what a magnificent place the cave was. The said he. underground dwarfs used to sail on the river in their "And what did you discover?" asked the Most boats, and when their torches blazed up they could Important dwarf. see the roof high above them sparkling as though "Oh! I went on still further, and rowed, and it were set with diamonds, and wherever the light rowed, and rowed." struck on the walls they shone and glittered like "And what did you find out then?" piles of polished crystal. Long pendants, hanging "I didn't stop," said Akaran, "but I rowed on as if they were icicles of stone, gleamed with bright and on, until at last the rocks were so many and so edges and points from the arches overhead, and sharp, and the wind was so cold, that I thought I under all this grandeur and brilliancy the river had gone far enough, and so I came back, rejoicing rolled, dark and silent. The underground dwarfs that I had rowed further along the Wonderful River (and no one else had ever seen this cave) understood than any one in the world." very little about this river. Theyknew it came out of "But what did you see?" the Most Important the wall at one end of the cave and went into the wall dwarf asked again. at the other end, but that was all they knew. And "Oh, I couldn't see anything. It was as dark as considering how curious they were, and how anxious pitch all the way. And the wind blew so that I to find out things, it is a wonder that the river re- could not light a torch." mained a complete mystery until young Akaran's And so you really saw nothing at all? " day. Young Akaran made up his mind that he "Not a thing," said Akaran. "But no one ever would find out all about the river, and one day he went so far along the river before." took a little boat and after fitting it up for an ex- "And no one ever shall again," said the Most ploration, he rowed to the place where the river Important dwarf. "To risk life where nothing is entered the wall of the cave. Then, as there was to be gained by it, is all stuff and nonsense. Let plenty of room for both the river and his little us row home." boat, he pulled into the great tunnel through which And so the Wonderful River has ever since the water flowed. He was gone ever so many days, flowed on as before, dark and mysterious beneath and all his friends thought he was lost, but one the great Dome and through the unknown tunnels. afternoon they heard his voice calling over the None know whence it comes or whither it goes. water under the great Dome, and they rowed out But the dwarfs are just as happy as if they knew. MY little one came, and brought me a flower, Never a sweeter one grew; ;-= But it faded and faded in one short hour, -. And lost all its pretty blue. 41 My little one stayed in the room, and played; And so my flower bloomed bright- .- y beautiful blossom that did not fade, f' But slept in my arms all night. 00 JAC K-IN THE PU PIT. [DECEMBER, haven't your boots yet, the chances are that they -' "" I, i' are oozing out of some tree for you at this very % .' i- -.. "moment. S , m'' NIGHT SCHOOLS. S. J TALKING of lessons, I wonder if the ST. NICHO- LAS children have any idea of how many girls and C boys go to night schools. The poor little things have to work during the day, and so, rather than not have any schooling at all, they say their lessons at night. S1 '.' "' Not only young persons, but middle-aged men and women attend these schools. I know of one man S' "' past forty years of age who has learned to read at l' a night school within the last two years. All honor S' k-- to him and the school too. Such schools abound --. now in the large cities. They have fine rooms, ACK K-IN T TIE i L I'T. good teachers, and many thousand pupils in all. -KC- -. capital thing; but (whisper) I'm glad I don't have to go. HERE I am again! Nothing very much to say, A STRETCH OF GOLD. so I suppose we'll talk rather longer than usual. TALKING of figures, a humming bird told me LEAVE THE HOUSE. the other day on the very best authority that a SOME of you children look pale. That's because piece of pure gold as big, or, I should say, as small you don't exercise enough in the open air-you, as his own bright little eye, could be beaten out little girls, I mean especially. Study your lessons thinner and thinner until it would cover seventy if you must, for I wouldn't on any account interfere square miles. Some of you school-boys may say with the advice of other Jacks; but remember that That's too thin," but you're mistaken; and there are out-of-door lessons to learn-music less- besides, Jack doesn't approve of slang expressions. ons to take from the birds in summer and the winds in winter, picture lessons from Master Nature, A NEW CONUNDRUM. health lessons from Dr. Oxygen, and love lessons HERE'S a conundrum. Very young folk needn't from the bright blue sky. Don't miss them, my apply. What wild animal is the past tense of a dears, else some day you'll be "kept in" for verb which, spelled with two letters, means a nega- non-attendan'ce in a way you'll not fancy. What tive? would you like to hear about this time ? The birds It's a gnu conundrum, you observe. have brought me vord of all sorts of doings, and I TREES UPON STILTS. hardly know where to begin. DID ever you hear of trees upon stilts? A INDIA RUBBER TREES. lady who had been reading a book called the ARE all of you provided with India rubber boots Desert World" told a little bird about it, and the for the winter? A smart bird asked me the other little bird brought word direct to me. In Guiana day if I'd ever seen an overshoes tree. He thoughL and Brazil, the lady said, are found the immense he was having a good joke on poor Jack. But I forests which supply the whole world with nearly stirred his feathers by telling him that I hadn't all the dye woods in use, and the most beautiful seen one, but that I knew more about them than timbers for cabinet work. These trees love the he could chirp to the moon in a fortnight. You sea air, so they grow as near to the shore as they see, a South American bird had told a friend of can without having their roots and trunks washed mine all about it. He gave me some figures about by the salt water, which would kill most if not all the caoutchouc or India rubber tree that I can of them. Between these great forests and the open spare as well as not: The trees are very plentiful, ocean stretch vast swamps, which at low tide are 43,000 of them having been counted in a tract of only marshy, but at high tide are covered with land eight miles wide and less than four times as several feet of water. In these swamps grow long. They are tapped for.the sake of a milky immense quantities of mangroves, their dense juice, which is the India rubber used in manu- foliage seeming to float on the surface of the facture. This juice or gum" is whitish at first, water when the tide is in, but when it is out the but is blackened by smoke. Each tree yields branches present the appearance of growing out about a tulipful a day, and can be tapped for of the sides of prostrate trunks of trees, which are twenty successive years; so you see, in case you supported upon immense crooked stilts. These 7873.] JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. IOI stilts are the bare roots, which are obliged to seek and autumn, take long journeys in search of fresh the deep rich mud for nourishment, at the same feeding grounds. The large size and weight of time that they must support the trunk and these somewhat clumsy explorers make it rather branches at a height that the tide cannot affect difficult for them to cross the mountains, so they them. The mangrove swamps are the haunts of seekout for themselves the most practicable routes; many curious creatures which are here almost per- and hunters and emigrants have found that a fectly safe from pursuit, for the tangled masses of "buffalo-track" offers the surest and safest path roots are a more effectual defence than the strongest for men and horses. The best passes in the Cum- walls. berland and Rocky mountains, and the regions of A VERY FUNNY BOOK. the Yellowstone, and the Colorado, have been dis- I DON'T know when I've laughed inwardly more covered by following the trail of these sagacious than I did at a book that a dear little girl had in animals. our meadow yesterday. The pictures are enough to I know this is so, for the great traveler, Hum- split the sides of the soberest Jack-in-the-Pulpit that bolt, once wrote : In this way the humble buffalo ever lived; so funny, and so bright with color that, has filled a most important part in facilitating geo- for a moment, it seemed to me as if the autumn graphical discovery in mountainous regions other- landscape had suddenly turned into a great wise as trackless as the Arctic wastes, as the sands big illuminated joke. The book is English-I'd of Sahara." wager my stalk on that; but it is republished by ORGAN MOUNTAINS. Mr. Scribner's publishing house in New York. It is I KNOW where there are some organ moun- called "The Ten Little Niggers; and I'll tell tains! How did I hear? Why, the fact is, my you the thrilling story it illustrates, if you'll allow new ST. NICHOLAS friends, without intending me to change one little word throughout the poem, the slightest disrespect to the birds, already have so as not to hurt anybody's feelings: begun to send me paragrams, as I suppose all messages over the paragraphic wires must be THE TEN LITTLE BLACK BOYS. called. Here's the message about organ moun- Ten little black boys went out to dine; tains: I don't mean musical instruments, dear One choked his little self, and then there were nine. Jack, so big as to be called mountains-though Nine little black boys sat up very late ; there are some cathedral organs large enough to One overslept himself, and then there were eight. ,. U almost deserve the term,-but real mountains. Up Eight little black boys, traveling in Devon; to heights sometimes greater than that of Mount One said he'd stay there, and then there were seven. Washington, these organ mountainsdo not differ Washington, these organ mountains do not differ Seven little black boys, chopping up sticks; from other ranges in the same countries. But One chopped himself in halves, and then there were six. suddenly, from the midst of the trees and verdure Sx little black boys, playing withe a hive; with which the lower parts of the mountains are covered, there rise the vast and smoothly-rounded Five little black boys, going in for law; columns of sparkling porphyry whose resemblance One'got in chancery and then there were four. o to the pipes of gigantic organs gives a name to the Four little black boys, going out to sea; mountains A red herring swallowed one. and then there were three. Peaks and ranges of this kind are found in Three little black boys, walking in the Zoo; France and in Mexico, but the most celebrated are The big bear hugged one, and then there were two. the Sierra de los Organos in Brazil, rising west and Two little black boys, sitting in the sun; north of the beautiful bay of Rio Janeiro. To One got frizzled up, and then there was one. north of the beautiful bay of Rio Janeiro. To make the resemblance more complete these moun- One ligtte black boy, living all alone; tains emit a grand and wonderful harmony. The He got married, and then there were none. lightest breeze, even the cry of a jaguar, or the THE BEST PATHFINDERS. howling of a monkey, passing between these vast Do my young Americans know who are the stone pipes produces a wild and solemn music. best pathfinders on the American continent, The great instruments are seldom quite silent, even the great original pathfinders of the West ? I'll in the calmest weather, but in a storm their mys- tell you. They are the buffaloes. Yes, sir, it's terious tones rise and swell into harmonious true. Hearwhat a correspondent of ST. NICHOLAS thunder. Sometimes long before a storm breaks writes with the quill of a dear gray-goose friend of upon the country below, the inhabitants are warned mine: by the notes of the mountains that a tempest is As the frosts of winter destroy their pastures coming, and the Indians whisper, The Great in the north, so the heats of summer parch those Spirit makes thunder-music; by and by He will in the south, and the buffaloes must, each spring be angry.' " 102 BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. [DECEMBER, BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. THE most charming book for young readers pub- her maid Rosetti; how Jean Paul taught them to lished this season, is "Bed-timeStories," by Louise perform wonderful tricks on a small white board, Chandler Moulton (Roberts Bros., Boston). The which he called his theatre; how, when times were volume contains sixteen delightfully-told tales, just bad and he could get no more money by exhibiting as full of lovable boys and girls as any book can be. Lady Green Satin among the Pyrenees, he left his We fear that if any of these stories were told at bed- home one day, with the consent of his mother, and time to some young folks we know, they would made his way to Paris. The story tells us how, not have their natural rest, for it would be impossi- after many days the little fellow came to the great ble to get them to go to sleep until every story was city; how he thought he could sleep in the streets told. The illustrations are by Addie Ledyard, and and found that he could not; how he gained his altogether it is a book which our little folks-the lodgings for two sous a night, and then went and girls especially-ought to have before the year is out. came, cold, wet, hungry, and sometimes very happy because Lady Green Satin and her maid Rosetti AFTER you have read Mrs. Moulton's book you had performed so well, that he had gained good hardly can find anything new that will interest you friends, and best of all, had gathered many sous to more than Northern Lights, a collection of stories send to his dear mother and sisters. by Swedish and Finnish authors, translated by The story is charmingly told. The sweet, Selma Borg and Marie A. Brown. The publishers every-minute trust in the good God that led Jean (Porter & Coates, of Philadelphia) have had the Paul safely through so many hard places and original Swedish pictures re-drawn by Mr. Bensell, at last back to his home, is .just the trust that and the book is one of the handsomest of the children, and grown folks, too, need everywhere in season. These Lights" will lead you into the order to make life bright all the way through. The very brightest and richest nooks of story-land, book is written by the Baroness E. Martineau des and, what is of great importance, they will bring Chesnez, and will, we hope, be read by every reader you back again, with its gleams still lingering of ST. NICHOLAS. about you. It is a good thing to feel, after we have read a delightful book, "Ah, now I can strive and "Romain Kalbris. His Adventures by Sea and study with a will!" But if it makes us sigh, "Ah, Shore," is a book that is certain to be read-de- how can I take up my old humdrum life again !" voured, we will say-by every boy into whose we may be sure something is wrong. hands it may fall, and upon the whole, we recom- mend it. The adventures are possible, the escapes Porter & Coates, of Philadelphia, send us thrilling; and Romain's honesty is so true in "Lady Green Satin." great or small emergencies, and his return to his Lady Green Satin was only a little white mouse, duties at last is so satisfactory that we are inclined to living in a cattle-shed on the Pyrenees mountains, do as others did and forgive him. Remain Kalbris until Jean Paul found her. is translated from the French of Hector Malot, by Jean Paul was nine years old. His father was 'Mrs. Julia McNair Wright. Published by Porter dead, his mother and sisters very poor, so poor, & Coates, of Philadelphia. that the dear little fellow ran five miles to carry a letter and fetch its answer, in order to earn a little Try and Trust; or, The Story of a Bound less than ten of our cents, that he might buy black- Boy." By Horatio Alger, Jr. Loring, publisher, bread to give them to eat. Boston. Here is a book for the boys, by a capital The way was so long that on his way back it writer. It is the story of an orphan boy who had grew quite dark. The rain began to fall, and he been well trained, and fairly educated, but who on went into the cattle-shed where Lady Green Satin the tIeath of his mother was left without means. and her maid Rosetti lived. His uncle in a distant city, influenced by the pride In the night when the white mice began to of his family, failed to assist him. He was then nibble at the little boy's supper of white bread, obliged to take a situation as bound-boy by the Jean Paul caught them, put them on his head select-men of the town in which he lived. His up- underneath his leather cap, fastened it, and went right conduct and fearlessness carry him safely home before daylight. through many perils. The master to whom he is This delightful new fairy story tells us how the bound is very cruel, but his unreasonable treatment little white mice came to be Lady Green Satin and only serves to show the heroism of the boy, who 1873.] THE RIDDLE BOX. 103 bravely carries out the last advice of his loved "Aunt Sadie's Cow," by Sarah J. Prichard. mother, to "try and trust." After leaving his in- Published by Robert Carter & Bros. Juman master, he meets with many adventures, A beautiful story well told by one who knows the and finally But you must read the book for ins and outs of young hearts. yourselves, young friends. Its fresh incidents will delight you and you'll take in good lessons without BOOKS RECEIVED. knowing it. Maltt's Follies, and other Stories, by Mary N. "Brightside," by Mrs. E. Bedell Benjamin. Prescott, with illustrations. James R. Osgood & Published by Robert Carter & Bros. Co., Boston. This story of little Sorella, an English child, Children of The Olden Time, by the author of left in charge of a careless nurse in Italy while "A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam." Scribner, Wel- her parents went to Russia, and afterwards stolen in foray & Armstrong, New York. Naples and brought to America, is told in a simple Leaves from the Tree of Life, by Rev. Richard and very interesting manner. All our children Newton, D.D.; Trufle Nefphews, by Rev. P. B. will be delighted to be told how this little stolen Power; Fanny's Birthday Gift, by Joanna H. girl came to be known by the pleasant family at Matthews; Kitty and Lulu books; Not Bread Brightside, and what came of that knowledge. Alone. Robert Carter & Bros., New York. THE RIDDLE BOX. CLASSICAL DIAMOND PUZZLE. DOUBLE ACROSTIC. I. A CONSONANT. I SHINE like the dew-drop when beauty adorning, 2. God of the Shepherds. I reflect the green leaves sun-kissed in the morning. 3. Inferior Roman gods. I. A river famed in story. 4. A Myrmidon hero; father of Epigeus. 2. This the reporter's glory. 5. A beautiful youth punished by Nemesis. 3. A name for anything. 6.-A legendary hero of Attica: who, emulating Her- 4. This man will have to swing. cules, undertook to destroy the robbers and monsters 5. And now I really wish that infested the country. To taste this Spanish dish. 7. A fierce and powerful Thracian people, subdued 6. This number's anything. by the Romans. 7. He played before the king. 8. The clothing of the Satyrs. 9. A consonant. REBUS. The centre letters, horizontal and perpendicular, name a god and a flower. ..--1 i.... *'--r_--.-'ii ; - CHARADE. MY second went to the side of my first, And stayed through the whole, for the air; There were croquet and swinging, And bathing and singing And chatting with maidens fair. HIDDEN SQUARE WORDS. FouR words concealed in the following sentence will - form a perfect word-square: He gazes toward the lone beech on the far distant . hillside, and thinks how happy he should be could he' but own all those broad and fertile fields. . SQUARE REMAINDERS. - BEHEAD three words having the following significa.- '- -. - tions, and the remaining letters will form a word-square: -. I. Genuine; 2. To change; 3. To crook. WA[ CTaGREAT M AN IS TAIS?] 104 THE RIDDLE BOX. [DECEMBER. --' ,POSITIVES AND COMPARA- TIVES. J '' (EXAMPLEs.-Stream- streamer, past-pastor.) I ... 1 He brings his bill for service done, ,- I_ And straightway mounts his steed. [- t '' .1 -2. The little rascal plays his pranks, -S... I Then runs away with speed .. .' 3. Now see the youth with nimble tread S_ As step by step he mounts. / ,I i \" ( 4. How well the story he'll relate, S" How rapidly he counts. .- 5. Then give me but my Arab steed, i And well I'll shave his head. I 6. Oh what a horrid, noisy bell, The noontide meal is spread. '..- _, '*II.rI" .U<: PUZZLE. S- CUR ... IOU sepit apht HEM '. ilk ofhum AN KIN DN essw ASM yow N dearc I'-;.HE rubwi FEI' I: LLN Eve RFI Ida no the rone asgo O dinal ., .DS he B loss !- .... ... M e r, "- -- ".'- DS He Dec aye Dan .- r "-- '' -- Dun Dert Iist Reeh eribo PICTORIAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC. DYISLA ID. ANSWERS TO RIDDLES AND PUZZLES IN THE NOVEMBER NUMBER. CLASSICAL ENIGMA.-Hesperus, the Evening Star. (Hesperia, DIAMOND WORD.- b Granius, Vesta, Teuta, Hera, Nereis). r a g n e g r o RIDDLE.-A drum. b a g p i pe ELLIPSES.-2.-Abby, baby. 3.-Levi, veil. 4.-Ruth, hurt. b r i a r -Sway, ways. 6.-Pass, asps. 7.-Kale, lake. a p e ANAGRAMS.-I.-Earliest. 2.-Immediate. 3.-Proselytes. 4 - Rapacity. 5.-Abdicates. 6.-Beardless. 7--Journalist. 8.-En- GEOGRAPHICAL REBUS.-Next month we shall give the names of largeinent. 9 -Sectarian. o.--Incarceration. 'those boys and girls who sent to the Riddle Box" the best list of R -In at e ear, nd ot at the other answers to this rebus. Here are the names of sixty towns and REBUS.--In at one ear, and out at the other. places that can be found in the picture: LOGOGRIPH.-Carpet-out of which may be made: ace, acre, act, Lone Pine. Archangel. Bridgeport. Krossen. Buffalo. Rock- ape, arc, art, car, care. carp, cart, cap, cape, cat, crape, crate, ear. land. Portland. Rockport. Watertown. Cape Fear. Home- pace, part, pat, pea, pear, peat, pet, race, rap, rat, rate, tap tape, stead. Pigeon Roost. Hillsdale. Black Rock. Enfield. Water- tar, tare, tea, tear. ford. Horse Creek. Horsford. Columbia. Domaize. Hall. PARAPHRASED PROVRBn.-A care-less watch inn-viee)-tes a vigil- Carr Rock. Log Cabin. Houston. Katonah. China. Table ant foe. Rock. Genoa. Salem. Manchac. Waterloo. Cape Henlopen. Pine Hill. Boardman. Mendota. Logic. Stockton. Leghorn. Rameses. Ramsgate. Wellow. Lowell. Manchester. Bootan. THE VISION.- Manaccan. Stone Kane. Loggun. Canaan. Kasey's. Man- atee. Crestline. Painted Post Turkey. Cape Horn. Skow- began. Chickasaw. Washington. Bull Run. Plainfield. FRO PIf TN YDLRC E ' Q ,/ I IA I -" '' -,-; ---- -.--.- THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER. FROM A PAINTING BY DELAROCHE, 4. 5,5- -. "- ..: .. .41.,: *- -- .. r, . ... .... , . .. ... % = .,,"; : ,. -= 'I -4. -Pt ,_ ... . .... . -; ,, A -": .. ., . ti-i ,5% A.'d *.1" 1v w"" -$2" *a- .4'. -- ". ; ,.,-..;-. .. '. '. :-. : ..,., ::~ -..1 .-_ .., . .' : ,: ........ -o -- ,: . : : :-'.'' i .. ,.. ..'., ...' ..-' ." .' :_"... ,- ,.',:,'-:, .- ',.' -..,_: .. ,:. ,- . . ,;. __ IUAN Contact Us | Permissions | Preferences | Technical Aspects | Statistics | Internal | Privacy Policy © 2004 - 2010 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries.All rights reserved. Acceptable Use, Copyright, and Disclaimer Statement Last updated October 10, 2010 - Version 2.9.7 - mvs