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Author: Anonymous
Language: English
That night Edith insisted on taking the old idol to bed with her as of old.
Aunt Bell over-heard her talking to it.
“I love you bushels. You are the beautifulest dolly in all the world. And I
don’t care if you haven’t dot two arms, and fine clothes, and a parasol.
You’ve dot me, and I’ve dot you, and we’ll just do on loving each other. Dat
new dolly can sit in the parlor, but you’se my every day chum.”
Edith showed the new dolly to all her friends, but wouldn’t play with it
for many days. Like a genuine little woman, she wanted to be loyal to her
first love.
IN THE MEADOW.
T eheran, the Persian cat, was dozing on a rug in the hall. Suddenly her
hair stood on end, and her tail grew large. What-ever was that thing coming
down-stairs? She had opened her eyes just in time to see at the head of the
long flight of stairs some strange animal, with great eyes and long sharp
teeth. To her horror, it slid quickly down stairs, directly toward her.
It did not take her long to run from the mat and dodge the fierce-looking
animal. She turned to look, and there lay the four footed beast, just where
she had lain. What could he be, and what was he doing in that house? There
he lay quietly. Could he be asleep? Pussy-like, she crawled toward him,
ready to spring if he stirred. She walked round him with her back up. No, he
wasn’t asleep. His eyes were wide open. Was he lying in wait, ready to
spring at her?
Round and round him she walked. Not an ear did he raise, not a whisker
did he twitch, not an eyelid did he wink. What a curious fellow!
Had he died of heart disease coming down-stairs so fast? Her eyes
opened wider. She pricked up her ears to listen. Not a breath could she hear.
Poor fellow, he must be dead.
She grew bolder. She played with his paws, and she pulled his tail. She
brushed by his side. How queer! No fat, no bones! She put one paw on his
back, two paws, three paws, all four paws. How flat! no heart, no stomach,
no insides at all. She sat down on him to think. What was he?
Many a day she thought about him; many a time she played with him;
many an hour she watched him. But a puzzled cat she always remained.
ON THE BEACH.
T his little girl has come with her mamma from the noisy city, Paris. She
has a shrimping net in her hand, and thinks she can catch shrimps.
The fish-wife is surprised to see a little girl in such fine clothes on the
beach. The little girl is curious about the fish-wife. Do you wish to know
what they are talking about? Listen!
“Êtes vous de Paris?”
“Oui.”
D orothy was wandering about the house, wondering what to do. She
strayed into Grandma’s room. On the bureau lay Grandmas’s cap. Dorothy
tried it on, and thought she looked very like Grandma. There lay a pair of
spectacles. She tried those on too.
Suddenly a scheme came into her wise little head. She went to
Grandmas’s closet, found one of her dress skirts, and put on that. Grandma
was a short woman, and Dorothy was a pretty big girl for her age, still the
skirt was a trifle long in front. Grandma didn’t wear short sleeves and high-
necked aprons. Grandma’s black shawl was just the thing to cover them up,
Dorothy thought, as she fastened it with Grandma’s big pin.
DOROTHY.
She walked quietly into the hall. Quietly, because she wasn’t sure that
Grandma would be pleased. She couldn’t see through the spectacles. She
clung to the bannisters, or down the whole flight of stairs she would have
gone at one step. Shoving the glasses to the end of her nose, she went on
her way. Around the corner lived a poor old lady that Grandma sometimes
called on. Dorothy walked to her door and knocked. The old lady came to
the door.
“Good morning, Mrs. Johns!” said Dorothy.
“Good morning,” answered Mrs. Johns, looking at her caller curiously.
“Come in, wont you, and sit down? I don’t just recall you, though you do
seem familiar.”
“My name is Swinton,” said Dorothy. (So it was and so was her
Grandmother's).
“Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Swinton? You must excuse me for not
knowing you. I’m getting hard o’hearing, and my eyes aren’t as good as
they were once. And how are you?”
“I have a little rheumatiz, and sometimes a ‘stick’ in my back,” answered
Dorothy.
“Your voice doesn’t sound natural, but perhaps it’s my ears. Does your
throat trouble you?”
“Oh no!” said Dorothy, growing nervous. “I guess I better be going.”
“Going! Why you’ve just come.”
But Dorothy hurried away, rather quickly for an old lady.
“Well I never!” muttered Mrs. Johns. “She must be going out of her
mind, she acted so queer. The rheumatiz must be in her brain. She walked
too fast to have it in her legs.”
Grandma was surprised to see Dorothy coming into the house, dressed in
her clothes. She couldn’t help smiling while Dorothy told her all about her
call.
“And Grandma,” said Dorothy, “she didn’t find out that I was only
myself, and not yourself at all!”
FIDO’S PUPPIES.
F ido was the proud mother of four puppies. They were born in a clothes
basket. While they were very young they did not offer to leave their warm
bed. They snuggled close to their mother, and when she went off for a walk
they cuddled together.
They soon became venturesome, like most dogs and boys. Two were
particularly so. They jumped over-board to go on a tour of inspection, the
mother’s sharp eyes following.
The third, not quite so bold, just leaned over the edge of the basket. He
leaned too far, and out he tumbled, and then tried to climb back. The fourth
was too lazy to move, and kept under cover.
Dear, big, old Colonel eyed curiously these fat, faltering, four-legged
new-comers. And the new-comers eyed him. They sat in judgment over his
tail as it lay on the ground. They never thought of its being a tail. They only
knew one kind, like theirs and their mother’s.
While they were thinking, the Colonel raised this bushy tail. It struck one
under the jaw, making him turn a back somersault; it rolled the other puppy
over. They were very much surprised, and waddled back to the basket as
fast as their weak legs could carry them. The Colonel smiled.
These two dogs grew bolder as they grew older. Once, when their mother
was away, they went on another inspecting tour, taking the most timid
puppy with them.
They jumped up the front steps of their masters house. Seeing the front
door open, they decided to call. They did not know that the proper way was
to ring the bell and hand in cards. They simply walked in and found their
way to the parlor. What fine curtains to roll on! What beautiful lace to tear!
What gay cords and tassels to pull! Such a lark!
That which attracted them most was a mat made of a wolf’s skin and
head. At first they were afraid, but seeing he did not injure them, they
pulled him about at a great rate. They were having such a good time, they
made some noise.
The maid surprised them, and stopped their little game by appearing with
a whip. The puppies went out the front door faster than callers usually go;
and they never so much as said good-afternoon.
DOLLY’S LULLABY.
K ate was trying to learn her history lesson. She thought she never could
learn the names of all the Presidents of the United States, and recite them in
their order. Her eyes would stray to the story books. Her mind would
wander to “Lady Constance,” who had her right hand cut off to save the life
of her dear husband. And to Cinderella and her lost slipper. And to the
Prince who found it and married her. In fact she could think of everything
except the Presidents of the United States.
While she was wasting her time, Cousin Anna came in to call.
“What makes you look so cross, Kate?” Cousin Anna asked.
“I can’t get my lesson,” lamented Kate.
“What is your lesson about?” asked the cousin.
“All the Presidents, and I get so mixed up.”
“Have you the list in rhyme?” asked Anna.
“No, Cousin Anna. I never saw it,” said Kate.
“Oh, you must have that. It is so easy to learn. We used to learn the
English Sovereigns in rhyme. I remember so well our reciting;
‘First William, the Norman,
Then William, his son,’
“And so on. And now Mrs. Peter has put our Presidents in rhyme;
‘First Washington, then Adams,
Next Jefferson we view;
James Madison, Monroe, and then,
John Adams’ son—John Q.’
“And so forth. Come home with me and I’ll get you her little book. She
has the important events of each administration all in rhyme, too. For
instance, under Grover Cleveland is:
‘Twas after twenty years and four
A Democrat these honors wore;
Cleveland his honest record made,
Though people did not choose free trade,—
Huge labor strikes and feuds arose,
And earthquakes sealed sad Charleston’s woes.’
T heresa loves her cat very much. How do I know? Theresa was hungry.
She asked for some milk. She sat down on the floor to enjoy it. Her dog sat
down beside her. Frisky, her cat, smelling the milk came and sat in front of
her. Frisky did not move her eyes away from Theresa and her milk. She
looked and purred, and purred and looked.
Theresa began to feel uncomfortable. She knew Frisky liked milk but so
did she. She felt that Frisky was asking for some as well as she knew how.
Her eyes seemed to say to Theresa, “I’m very fond of milk and I’d like
some of yours very much indeed.” When the milk passed Theresa’s heart on
its way to her stomach her heart said, “Frisky wants some too. Poor kittie!”
Theresa put the bowl down and told Frisky to take a taste. Frisky put her
little red tongue into the bowl and began tasting the milk. She kept on
tasting the milk. She didn’t once lift up her head and offer to let Theresa
have the rest. Theresa liked her cat so much she couldn’t bear to pull the
bowl away. Frisky’s tongue went fast and so did the milk. Frisky lapped up
every drop. She was only a cat and did not know she was selfish.
Some tears came into Theresa’s eyes when she saw that the milk was all
gone. She did not scold nor complain. Frisky purred, “Thank you.” Theresa
took her in her arms and said, “Nice Frisky!”
Wasn’t this a proof that Theresa loved her cat very much?
“I CAN STIR IT!”
live was walking in the yard, when she heard a voice calling her to come in.
She at once obeyed, and was told that a lady wished to see her in the parlor.
This lady spoke to Olive very kindly, asking her if she would like to go to
live with her. Olive, liking the lady’s face and manner, said she would.
Olive had lived in this Orphan Asylum several years. She was a very sad-
looking child, and no one had wished before to adopt her. This lady wished
to make some poor child happy, and chose Olive because she seemed so
forlorn. Promising to come for her in a few days, she kissed Olive good-
bye.
Martin was Olive’s brother, and lived in the Asylum too. Their mother
died when they were very young. Irene, the eldest child, tried to help her
father take care of the children and the house, but she was never very well.
She grew weaker and weaker. She used to go off by herself to cry. She
longed for her mother, and wished she could go to her. Her wish was
granted, for she died too.
The father couldn’t look after Martin and Olive, so he put them in the
Orphan Asylum. It wasn’t very long before the father was taken ill, and had
to go to a hospital, where he died. That left Martin and Olive without father
or mother, or anybody in the wide world to love them.
When Olive told Martin she was going away with a sweet lady, he threw
up his arms and rushed down the garden quite wild-like. Martin was old
enough to realize that his little sister was to be taken away from him, and he
could never be with her any more. It nearly broke his heart even to think
about it.
Olive began to think too. They cried and they thought, they planned and
they talked. Olive told the matron she couldn’t leave Martin, but the matron
said she must. When the lady came for her, Olive cried very hard, and asked
if
sh
e
pl
ea
se
co
ul
dn
’t
ta
ke
M
art
in
to
o,
fo
r
he
w
ou
ld
n’
t
ha
ve
an
y
lit
tle
sis
ter
at
all if she went away.
Martin came to say good-bye. He and Olive clung to each other. While
they sobbed, the matron scolded and the lady pondered. Finally the lady
asked the matron’s permission to take Martin for
a few days’ visit. That stopped the crying and the
scolding, and away the children went in great
glee.
Martin was such a quiet, good boy, and so
happy to be with them, that the lady and her
husband decided to keep both children. Neither they nor the
children ever had any reason to regret it.
Olive and Martin had had so little fun in their lives, had shed so many
tears, and had known so much about trouble, that they were always grateful
for everything done for them, and tried their best to do right. They were
very unlike the children, who, while always being indulged and petted, are
nevertheless discontented.
MY DOLLY.
A FABLE.
“D andy, let’s you and me play we’s poor. And we’ve eaten nuffin for
free-seven-’leaven days. And we’ll beg our daily bread from door to door,
in the rain. Poor little boys have to eat, if it does rain. They don’t have to
stay in the house.”
Nibs is a little boy, who is very tired of staying in the house. Dandy is his
dog.
“Well have to have a basket to put our daily bread in, and a bumbrell.”
Dandy wags his tail so hard you can scarcely see it. That is his way of
saying he’ll back Nibs in any scheme to get out doors.
“Dandy, do you fink poor little boys carry bumbrells? I know one to
match poor boys. Big brover said it was so poor its ribs showed. Come on
Dandy.”
Here Nibs goes off for a basket and umbrella, Dandy keeping close to his
heels. In some way Nibs and Dandy get out of the house unnoticed. After
Nibs raises the umbrella, he halts a moment, Dandy waiting beside him. His
heart and Dandy’s tail sink at the same moment when a voice is heard
calling:
“Nibs, what are you about out there?”
“Dandy and I are just going out for our daily bread,” answers Nibs.
“You’d better come in for your daily bread, or you may get a daily
something else.”
“Oh dear!” sighs Nibs. “Dandy, you and I can’t have any fun. We cant
even be poor.”
NIBS AND DANDY.
A BATH IN THE SEA.
A bath in the sea! How refreshing it is! At first Clarence was afraid, and
would scream with all his might, and he is more timid now than he will be
when he learns how to swim.
Hazel is not afraid. She does not go far from shore, and enjoys sporting
in the cool soft water. Clarence keeps her busy. The water that is shallow
for Hazel, is deep for him. He is a small boy.
“Oh! oh! oh!” cries Clarence. “There’s a fish nibbling my toe!”
“Nonsense!” says Hazel. “A kick and a splash will scare them all away.
Now I will teach you how to swim.”
“I’m afraid! I’ll drown!” cries Clarence.
“If you’re afraid, you will. But you must learn not to be afraid. Salt water
is strong and will hold you up. And besides, I am here to take care of you.”
So Hazel puts her hand under him and Clarence stretches himself, face
downward, on top of the water. Then he folds his hands together, and
spreads them out again, pushing the water away from him, and using his
feet as paddles, and is quite proud of his success. He wants to learn how to
swim, so that if he should go out in a boat and be thrown over-board, he
could keep his head above water until help came.
When Clarence comes out of the water he must be well rubbed, and oh,
how his cheeks will glow! Then he must take a run on the shore.
GOING CRABBING.
P eter is fond of tools. He loves to saw and hammer, and to drive nails. Oh,
what a noise he makes! He has a room all to himself in the upper part of the
house, and here he spends most of his time on rainy days when he is out of
school.
It is handy to have such a boy as Peter around, for if a hinge gets loose,
or a piece of board is wanted, there is no need of sending for a carpenter;
Peter will attend to it just as well as the best.
Nellie, Dotty, and Susy, bring him their dolls to mend, and
sometimes he has so much work of this sort to do that his
work-shop looks like a dolls’ hospital. He has a sign upon the
wall—“Dolls mended”—and he tries his best to do his work
well, and to keep his tools bright.
Poor little Dotty was almost broken-hearted when Laura
Matilda fell and broke her arm; but Jessie said “Peter can
mend it;” and Dotty took it to Peter herself for she would not trust the dear
doll out of her arms. She has to sit patiently and wait her turn, just as sick
people do in the hospital, and is comforted by seeing other dolls worse off
than poor Laura Matilda. What if she had broken her neck? or smashed her
head? O that is too dreadful to think of.
Peter has an order for a bench, and after he has sawed the board the right
length, he will have to use the plane and make it nice and smooth, and all
this takes time. Dotty thinks he is very slow; but there are some things that
cannot be done fast, and “what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”
Have patience, little Dotty!
UP IN THE BELFRY.
M ildred came over to spend an afternoon with Gertie. Gertie led Mildred
to her favorite spot. It was out on the rocks, away out to the very last one
that could be seen above the water.
Gertie took off her shoes and stockings. Mildred felt too much dressed up
to do that. They sat on the rock, Gertie dangling her feet in the water. They
talked, and they laughed, and they sang:
“Little fishes in the water,
Who has taught you how to swim?
Has your mother or your father
Shown you how to use each fin?
L ulu’s dolls are so large that you would think they were real flesh and
blood. She likes to have them large, she says, for then she can hug them,
and make it seem as if they were alive. Her doll-baby, Flo, is just the size of
her little sister, Baby May, and it is hard sometimes to tell which one she
has in her arms.
Lulu is a real little mother girl. She takes the best of care of her dolls, and
fondles them, and talks to them just as if they knew all that she said. She
makes all their clothes, and keeps them in good order, and it would surprise
you to see how well she sews.
She is gentle and kind in all her ways, but sometimes she has to scold G.
W. and B. F. and stand them in a corner.
They are such bad boys. Lulu has not made up her mind yet whether she
will call them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, or more fancy
names, but has become so used to G. W. and B. F. that it will be quite hard
for her to make any change. When night comes on Lulu sings her dolls to
sleep, and then puts them in their own little beds where they rest quietly
until daylight. If they were real children, and cried out in the night with
aches, and pains, and bad dreams, what a hard time Lulu would have!
THE STOLEN CHILD.
T his is a sad story, as you might well know. But sad things will take place
now and then, and we cannot help it. It is a story about a little boy, named
Peter. That was to be his name when he grew up, but now nobody called
him anything but Pete.
Pete had had a bad fall when a little baby and it left him with a weak
back, so that he could not run and romp like the rest of the small boys. He
had toys to play with, but they were not nice or new, and he soon tired of
them. What he wanted most was a doll. Really? Yes. He was ashamed to let
the boys know it for fear they would call him “Sissy,” but deep down in his
heart there was a strong desire for a doll to hug, and to hold, and to take to
bed with him.
One day a lady came to the house, and somehow she guessed just what
kind of a boy Pete was. Without saying a word, she took a small shawl off a
hook, gave it a fold and a roll, pinned it together and then handed it over to
the small boy.
You should have seen Pete’s face! There was not room on it
for the broad smile that tried to get there, and finally had to
break itself all up into little bits. Oh, how he hugged and loved
that doll! and he soon got so he did not mind being seen on the
street with it in his arms. There was no danger of breaking it; and it could
sit down bea—u—ti—fully.
One day Pete thought he would try to climb a lamp-post. He had seen the
other boys do it, and it looked easy, but he would need two hands. So the
doll—Matilda Jane—had to sit down on a stoop near by, and wait until Pete
came back for her.
Well, it was not long; but when Pete got back to the place where Matilda
Jane was he could not find her.
She was go——o——o——ne! Somebody had stolen her!
Pete was heart-broken. He cried, and cried, and cried. He should never
see his own dear Matilda Jane again! And the worst of it was that he
wouldn’t know her if he saw her. Even his mother laughed, and said “Oh, it
was only an old shawl. No great loss!”
But Pete’s heart was wrapped up in that shawl and that is what makes this
a sad story. He might have other dolls, but none that would take the place of
his Matilda Jane.
CAUSE FOR THANKFULNESS.
While they dream their mother sits beside them. While she fills their
stockings with gifts, her heart is filled with praise. Her two little girls are
both alive and well. It is not many weeks since the elder was very ill. The
mother had been very sorrowful at the thought of losing one of her own
dear girls.
What queer fancies sick people have! This little girl while ill imagined
many things. She thought she was a fairy riding in a little golden carriage
driven by two small white kittens, and that the doctor was a giant. She told
him he was too big to take a drive with her, he would smash her carriage
and kill her kittens. If he would be good, and not make her swallow such
horrid stuff, she would change him into a dear little Puck, with a green
jacket and a lace ruff.
Sometimes she thought she was an angel flying through the air. She said
she was sitting on a horn of the moon, but would fly off soon to a world
way off out of sight. That made her mother cry.
Once she very politely asked her father—a very large man—to take a seat
on the mantle-piece, as she thought the room was crowded. And once she
thought she was a clown in a circus, and tried to stand on her head in bed.
She was very ill; but she got well, however. Now it is Christmas eve. The
mother is happy and thankful because there are two little girls instead of
one.
PLATO’S SOLILOQUY.
S he does not look like a Princess, with her plain fur cap and cape, and
driving her own sleigh. Yet a daughter of the King she is.
If you could look under the fur robe, you would find a doll’s carriage,
and in it two dolls all dressed for a drive. You would find a doll’s bed, with
pillows, blankets, mattress and spread. You would find a pair of skates, a
sled, some mittens, handkerchiefs, caps, and hoods; and a basket of candles,
spangles, and small toys for a tree.
This “King’s Daughter” did not pay for them all. She is only one of a
circle of Daughters. They saved their money, they bought the toys, they
made the clothes, and they dressed the dolls, not for themselves, not for
their own little brothers and sisters, but for a family of children who but for
them would have no presents at all. Their father is poor and ill, and their
mother earns but little.
It is the day before Christmas. This King’s Daughter is taking these
things to the home of those poor children. The other Daughters will meet
her there, to trim a tree they have ordered. The poor mother will help them,
forgetting her sorrows for a while. The sick father will smile as he looks on.
This will be his last Christmas-tree on earth, as he can not live much longer.
He is very glad the King has sent his daughters to do for the children what
he is not able to do for them himself.
On Christmas day will come a basket, full of good things to eat, which
these same girls have provided. These girls by saving their money have had
less candy to eat, fewer trinkets to wear, and perhaps a little less fun. But
think of the comfort and happiness they will give to those poor children,
that sad mother, that sick father!
Are you a daughter of the King?
GETTING READY FOR BED.
A llan thought it was time he learned to get himself ready for bed. He
wished to be a man as soon as possible. That, he thought, would be one way
to grow manly. So he kissed everybody good-night and went upstairs to bed
all alone.
No, not exactly alone, for Toodles went with him. Allan did not admit it
to anybody, but he really was very much obliged to Toodles, as he was a
great deal of company.
“Now Toodles, you watch me undress, and see if I don’t know how!”
And Toodles watched.
“You see that, Toodles?” asked Allan as he put out one foot with a
stocking on it. “That is where I keep some of my pigs.”
“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles.
“Sure!” said Allan. “You can’t see them, for they are all covered up; but
they are there. Now, look!” Allan jerked off the stocking and wiggled his
toes before Toodles’ very nose. “See, five of them!”
“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles.
“And here’s where I keep all the others!” said Allan as he held up the
other stockinged foot. “See them?” Off went that stocking. “Are they not
nice little pigs? There’s the one that went to market, and there’s the one that
said, ‘squeak, squeak.’” Allan poked his bare foot into Toodles’ ribs and
wiggled his toes in his fur.
“Pur-r-r, pur-r-r,” said Toodles.
Allan got his clothes off, but found it hard to get his nightgown on. His
hands would go into the legs of the gown. His feet would go into the arms
of the gown. He and the gown got all tangled up. Toodles couldn’t help
him. He could only encourage him by saying “Pur-r-r, pur-r-r.”
Mamma came up and straightened him out, and buttoned his gown
behind.
Then Allan said his prayers, asking God to “bless everybody and
Toodles.”
A BOY.
I have three dolls. Their names are Blanche Amelia, Capitola, and John
Henry. Blanche Amelia and Capitola are very well-behaved, but John Henry
gives me a world of trouble. I thought it would be nice to have a boy-doll.
But it is not. He is a great care.
When I dress up Blanche Amelia and Capitola in their best clothes, they
seem to know that they must act like ladies, and I am never ashamed of
them.
I love to make believe; don’t you?
Mamma and my sister Belle go out to afternoon teas and receptions, and
when they come home I hear them tell how this one looked, and what that
one did, and what the other one said, and what they all wore, and oh! how I
do enjoy it.
Then I have an afternoon tea for my dolls. I have my own set of dishes,
and my own tea-tray, and I pass the cups around to them just as if they were
real folks.
Blanche Amelia and Capitola sit up and behave their best, but John
Henry will put his arms on the table, although I have told him it is not nice
to do so.
When I play afternoon tea I have to eat all the goodies myself, and drink
all the warm milk, which I call tea, and when the play is over I am ever so
tired. But not a bit hungry. Oh, no!
HOW ELMER WAS LET ALONE.
C ome, let us sit down under the shade of this big tree.
How its branches reach over, and dip down into the water. It is like a
great umbrella. It is an old tree. See how thick the trunk is. It is nice to sit in
its shade on such a warm day. We will ask the miller to give us some corn,
and we will feed the ducks. There are five of them—white as snow, and
with bright yellow bills and legs.
Here they come!—one, two, three, four, five. Let us name them. Ala, Ela,
Ila, Ola, Ula. The names sound very much alike, but that will make no
difference to them. And if you call one the others are sure to follow.
Quack—quack—quack—quack—quack!
They know what we are sitting here for, and they are in haste to be fed.
They are always hungry.
Now throw the corn out, where the water is deep. See the ducks dive for
it! That one is standing on its head. How queer it looks, with its yellow legs
kicking up on top of the water. Over goes that one! Heels over head! The
ducks don’t mind. Now let them quack, quack for a while. Soon they will
sail off to their pet feeding-ground, where the earth is moist and there are
soft grasses.
Look! look! What is the matter? A big turtle has seized one of the ducks
by the leg. It cannot get away. Isn’t that too bad! Now there are only four
white ducks on the mill-pond.
MRS. BRUIN AND HER CUBS.
O ne afternoon Mrs. Bruin was obliged to leave her cubs alone. She
cautioned them not to go far from their cave while she was away.
They had their usual play together, rolling and tumbling and chasing each
other. They ran farther and farther away from the cave, as no mother was
there to call them back. They ran around trees and scrambled over logs;
they climbed over rocks and stepped into bogs. Growing tired, they turned
to go to their cave to rest.
Where was it?
They looked into one cave. That was not theirs. They looked into another
cave. That was not theirs. They poked their noses into hollow trees, they
sniffed around between the rocks. Had their cave moved away! Oh! where
were they! No home! No mother!
Oh dear! Frightened nearly to death, these young cubs took to their heels.
They did not know which way to go, but they ran. Splash! Splash! Into a
stream that he didn’t see, tumbled one little cub. Such a howling as was set
up, by the other little cub. And the howling was not in vain. It had a very
familiar tone to Mrs. Bruin, who was walking home that way.
She hurried to the spot from which it came. She saw at once the plight of
the cubs, and that they were her very own babies. She made a dash for the
little one struggling in the water and pulled him out by the nape of the neck.
Mrs. Bruin shook him pretty hard, perhaps to shake off the water, and
perhaps to punish him a little. She was very much surprised to find them in
this part of the woods all alone by themselves. She marched them off to
their home. The walk was an instructive but not a jolly one.
THE BUNNY.
B ox and Cox were twins. Griswold, their little master, was very fond of
them. The dogs and the boy were always together.
Griswold let them play with some of his toys, but not with any they could
hurt. Somebody gave Griswold a new toy-rabbit which he kept safely away
from the dogs, except once. Then he left it on the floor while he went out to
see a boy passing by.
Box examined the bunny, nosing and pawing it all over. Cox tried to get
his nose or a paw on it, but Box kept him off. Suddenly, while Box was
looking up, Cox grabbed bunny by the back and started to run. Box as soon
as he could collect his wits ran too. Such a race! Over the toys, down the
steps, out in the yard, around the house, they chased and they raced.
Cox held the bunny fast in his mouth, and kept the lead for a long time.
Box finally got near enough to catch the bunny’s head in his mouth. Then
came the tug of war. Cox pulled one way, Box the other. Cox tried to shake
Box off, Box tried to shake Cox off. Cox growled, Box growled.
Griswold, coming back to his playthings, missed the dogs and the bunny,
and feared something was wrong. Hearing some growls, he went to look for
the dogs. His heart came into his mouth as he saw them jerking his bunny
with all their might.
He got to them just in time to see poor bunny come apart. And he came
apart so suddenly that Box, with the head in his mouth, keeled over one
way, and Cox, still holding the back, keeled over the other way. This ending
surprised them. Each dog sat down to think and to pant.
Griswold sat down to think and to cry. Griswold’s mother came to the
rescue. She gathered up the remains of the rabbit, whipped Box and Cox,
and consoled Griswold. She said the bunny’s head could be plastered on;
but his expression would never be quite the same, for one eye was knocked
in, and one ear was gone.
TOWZER’S FUN.
T iger, Towzer, and Tip, although the pets of one household, were often
jealous of one another.
Towzer and Tip were sometimes friendly from sympathy. Towzer was
chained up and couldn’t run away, Tip had had his wings clipped and
couldn’t fly away, while Tiger, the sly cat, was free to go his way.
Tiger took his after-dinner nap on top of the large square post near his
kennel. One day, while he was resting up there, Tip examined the bones on
his dinner plate. Tiger, lying on the steps, saw Tip picking the bones. He
loved to tease Tip by springing at him, and Towzer loved to tease Tiger.
Towzer thought he saw a chance for some fun.
Tip fastened his eyes on the bone; Tiger fastened his eyes on Tip; and
Towzer fastened his eyes on Tiger. Tip picked the bone; Tiger tip-toed over
the ground; Towzer wagged his stub of a tail.
“Caw-caw, meow-ow, bow-wow!” What a row! Towzer, Tiger and Tip all
in a heap, clawing, scratching, and tumbling one over the other.
“Caw-caw, meow-ow, bow-wow!” What a row! Feathers and fur! Claws
and paws!
“Sis-cat!” said a voice.
And they “scatted.” There sat Towzer in front of his kennel, looking as
though nothing had happened. Tiger and Tip were nowhere to be seen. By
the contented wag of his stub of a tail, Towzer showed he had had some
fun. He winked and he blinked as he glanced at some fur and a feather or
two at his feet.
HIS FIRST CIGAR.
T hey were arranging the holly to trim the parlors for Christmas.
“Mamma, may I put a big bunch over Floy’s picture?” asked Eloise.
“Certainly, my dear, I was just thinking about it myself.”
The mother’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke. Eloise climbed the step-
ladder carefully and placed a beautiful branch of holly over the picture.
Then she sat down on the top of the ladder. She could not visit with Floy,
for Floy had gone to heaven. This picture was so like her that to sit near it
was something like sitting by Floy herself. She imagined Floy’s smile grew
sweeter and sweeter.
“I’m very lonely without you,” she said to the picture. “I haven’t any
little sister to play with now. I wish you could put your arms around my
neck and hug me as you used to. I wish you could come down from heaven
once in a while any way, so we could have some more good times together;
so we could play with our dolls, or look at our picture books, or romp. Your
Cinderella is just where you left her. She doesn’t have anybody to play
with. I don’t play with her much because it makes me cry. I don’t play with
my Maleen much neither. I let her sit beside Cinderella to comfort her.
Jennie came over the other day to play and broke one of your dishes. It
made me cry, and Mamma too, so I put your dishes all away in a box.
Mamma has put all your clothes away too. She is going to give them to
some poor woman who has a little girl about as big as you, because you’ll
never need them any more. I suppose you have wings now. Do you ever fly
down to earth, and can you see me? I can’t see you; I wish I could.”
ELOISE.
T he master’s three dogs were privileged to come into the house. One day
when they entered they knew at once there was something new in the
house, though nobody said so, and nothing was seen. Dogs are very wise
about some things.
These dogs were sure they were right, and they meant to prove it by
finding this new thing. They smelled of the chairs and the floor, and trotted
about through the house. In less time than could you or I, they found the
door that led to the room that contained the box that held the new thing they
were in search of. They pushed open the door; they walked in; they looked
at the box; they wagged their tails. By their manner, one knew they were
thinking, “I told you so! Our noses are better than some people’s brains.”
The box was large; the cover was off. Nothing could be seen except a lot
of paper, but they knew there was something there besides paper. They
smelled of the paper, they smelled of the box. The odor excited their nerves.
They could stand it no longer. They tore off the paper and threw it about.
One grew so excited he jumped in the box. His legs went round
something, he couldn’t tell what. It seemed like a creature that he must drag
out. He pulled with all his might, when up from the box there rose, like a
ghost, the head of a fox. His eyes were wide open and so was his mouth, his
ears stood straight and his tongue hung out. Such barking and jumping! Trip
couldn’t let go, for then the fox at once dropped below.
And this was their plight when the master walked in. All were surprised.
The master looked queer. Scold them he wouldn’t; in fact he felt proud. His
dogs, without bidding, had “unearthed” the fox.
THE LITTLE TEACHER.
“N ow, Pussy-diddle, you have eaten your dinner and it’s time you were
taught how to spell. And Doggie-dibble, you have taken your recess, it is
time you were taught how to read. Come, Pussy-diddle, spell ‘purr.’”
“Pur-r-r-r.”
“That isn’t the way to spell ‘purr;’ you have put in too many r’s. Try
again.” “Pur-r-r, meow!”
“I didn’t ask you to spell ‘meow.’ Put down your paw and sit up straight.
Now try once more to spell ‘purr.’”
“Pur-r!”
“That is right. Come here, Doggie-dibble, and sit by my side and look at
this paper with me. Here’s a page of very fine ladies, and a page of beautiful
birds. Oh, here is the lesson for you. Turn your head this way, Doggie-
dibble, you surely can tell about this. You mustn’t read to yourself, Doggie-
dibble, ’cause then I can’t tell when you are wrong. Now, sir read aloud.”
“Bow-wow!”
“He is a bow-wow, that is right. Go on.”
“Wow-wow!”
“Good dog! Now, Pussy-diddle, you have learned your lessons for to-day,
and so have you, Doggie-dibble, and now you may both go to play.”
THE HUNGRY DOGS.
T his fine-looking boy is going home from his work. His mother is poor.
He helps her by selling on the streets the buns that she makes. He calls to
the passers-by that he has buns to sell, “Fresh buns! Fresh buns!”
He makes the most money at the railway stations. He goes to the trains
and asks the passengers to buy. “Fresh buns! Fresh buns!” They like to buy
of him, because he has such a pleasant face and manners, and is always so
clean. He sells many more buns than he would if his hands or clothes, or
baskets were soiled. He sells many more than he would if he looked cross
and was crabbed.
You can see that his baskets are empty. He has sold every bun that he
had; now he is taking home to his mother all the money he received for the
buns. He is a great comfort to his mother. Every little boy can be that, but I
am afraid there are some little boys who are not.
URSULA AND HER DOVES.
T he doves are not afraid of Ursula. They know she loves them, for she
feeds them every day, and is always kind.
Do you see that one at her feet? He is looking up into her face. He wishes
to stand on her hand and eat from it; but one dove already covers her hand,
and there is not room for another.
The dove that has just taken a drink from the water-lily bowl is looking at
her too. He will hop on to her shoulder pretty soon. He knows she often has
a little piece of bread in her mouth, and if he gives her a kiss—the kind
doves give—he will find a bit of bread in his bill.
Sometimes a dove will fly to the top of Ursula’s head and peck at her
hair. That is their way of giving love-pats. They stay near her as long as
they can. When she leaves them, they fly to their dove-cots.
When they hear her voice in the garden, they fly to her, even if she does
not call. And whenever she calls they always come. If Ursula were not kind
and good to them, the doves would not love her.
EVA’S PEACH TREE.
O ne day Eva was eating a nice ripe peach. She thought she
would plant the stone in a flower-pot and see what would
come of it. Fred filled the pot with nice soft earth, and Eva
kept it in a warm place all winter. Once in a while she would
dig up the stone to see how it looked, and one day she found
the stone split in two and a root starting from it. Oh, how
pleased she was! and how eagerly she watched for the first green shoot to
push its way through the soil!
In a month or two the peach-tree had grown quite tall, and when warm
weather came Fred told Eva he would set it out of doors, for there was not
room for it in the flower-pot. It would never be a tree if it had not space to
spread its roots.
Fred made a lovely place for it in the garden. He marked out a circle, and
edged it with pretty conch shells. Then he took his trowel, and dug a deep
hole in the centre of this plot in which he put Eva’s peach tree. Then he
packed the earth around its roots, and raked the ground smoothly, and
sprinkled it with water from his watering-pot.
Inside the conch-shells Fred will set out a row of plants, and do his best
to make them and the peach-tree thrive.
Eva has promised that Fred shall have the first ripe peach that she finds
on her tree, for he is good and kind to her, and she loves him very dearly.
But she will have to wait some time yet, for the tree is too young to bear
fruit.
JAMIE’S COMFORTERS.
“M a-a-a-ow! Ma-a-ow!”
“What’s that?” asked Donna.
“Why it sounds very much like my little brother crying,” answered June.
“I wonder what’s the matter with him.”
“Ma-a-a-ow! Ma-a-a-ow!”
Both the girls ran fast, thinking he must be very much hurt from the noise
he made. They soon found him, and did not have to ask what the matter
was. His knees and one hand were covered with dirt.
“I fa-a-a-alled dow-ow-own!” cried Jamie.
“Don’t cry, Jamie dear,” said June as she put her arms around him.
“It’s too bad, but never mind,” said Donna as she kissed him.
“Ma-a-a-ow! ma-a-a-ow!”
The girls brushed off the dirt and wiped away the tears, but still he cried
“Ma-a-a-ow.”
“I wouldn’t cry any more,” urged the girls, for they found that he wasn’t
hurt. But he did cry more, and I’ll tell you why if you won’t tell. I think he
was afraid that if he stopped crying, they would stop kissing and petting.
NETTIE’S PLANS.
n old German woman came to stay at the mill, and she used to tell Patty and
Susan about the children in Germany.
She said, “I knew a little girl called Lina, and a boy named Carl; and on
Christmas Eve their mother had a fine Christmas-tree, with gold and silver
balls, and sugar cherries, and all kinds of pretty things hanging on its
branches. It was lighted up with a hundred tiny wax tapers, so that there
was quite a blaze in the room; and on the table beside it were many presents
for all the people in the house, and a great number of playthings for Carl
and Lina.
“They were just the toys they wished for most. Carl had a donkey on
wheels, and a whip, and Lina a doll, with a box of clothes, and also a set of
tea things.
“They were very happy children, and never quarreled, but lent each other
their toys. It was very pleasant to see them playing together, for they were
so kind and obliging.
“Their mother had taught them a little verse, which she told them to say
over every day; it was—
‘Be to others kind and true,
As you’d have others be to you.’”
The old German woman had a picture of Carl and Lina, which she
showed to Patty and Susan. In it was Lina with her doll, and Carl putting a
basket on his donkey.
A TERRIBLE SCRATCHER.
STOP THIEF.
must tell you about my cat Posy, and the sound drubbing she got the other
day. Miss Posy had eaten a hearty breakfast, but, like a little glutton, wanted
more. What should she do, but go into the garden and seat herself near a
peach tree, in which there was a marten-box. The birds were busy feeding
their little ones, and as long as they were about, Posy hid under a rose-bush,
but soon the old birds flew away, and then was her chance. Looking around
to see if anybody was on the watch, she crept up the tree.
Jumping on the top of the box, she put her paw into the hole to feel for a
young bird. Suddenly there was the greatest chatter I ever heard—the old
birds had come back and caught the thief. But they could not make pussy
stir. Then the father bird flew to a big marten-box on the top of the stable,
and in a few moments came back with all the other martens. They pounced
upon Posy, and pecked her until she was glad to run down the tree and hide
under my skirt.
I don’t think she will want a bird lunch again very soon. If she does, I
think she will go without it rather than venture again to the martens’ home.
But kitty only did what bad boys often do, who know the difference
between right and wrong.
MISS POSY.
VISIT TO DAME TRUMAN.
MY LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.
Granny lives across the moor;
Granny’s old and granny’s poor,
Scarce can cross her cottage door,
But she has sweet Jenny.
Little maid with tender eyes,
Softly blue as summer skies,
Golden locks a queen might prize
Crown her, fairest Jenny.
WHISTLING A TUNE.
THE LITTLE HIGHLANDER’S BIRTHDAY.
hen Henry’s birthday came, he put a garland of red roses around Malcom’s
neck. Malcom was a handsome brown fawn, with a white breast. He did not
stay with the other deer in the park, but had a place fenced off for his own
playground. Henry brought him sugar and sweet cakes, and he fed from his
hand, and followed his little master around like a pet dog.
Henry lived in Scotland, and his father was the chief of the MacDonald
clan. Upon his birthday, all the tenants, with their wives and children, came
to the castle to dinner. Tables were spread in the great hall, loaded with
good things. Henry, dressed in his Highland dress, stood by his father’s
side, and listened to the speeches made in his honor. Afterward, there were
games played in the park, cricket, wrestling matches, and shooting with the
bow and arrow. Prizes were given to the boys who showed the most skill.
While Henry was watching the games, Malcom came and rubbed his
nose against him, as if to say, “Don’t forget me.” But when the bagpipes
began to play, he was frightened, and bounded off amongst the trees.
As soon as Malcom’s horns grow, he will be turned out with the herd of
deer, but Henry will get the keeper to put a mark upon his pet, so that he
may always know him.
MALCOM.
BABYLAND.
Somewhere out by Dreamland,
In the world of sleep,
Lies the land of Infants
Veiled in mystery deep.
BABYLAND.
eter would never take the trouble to learn the Multiplication Table. He
always looked at the printed card when he did his sums, until his teacher
caught him at it, and took the card away. Then he fell to making marks on
his slate, and counting on his fingers, but it did no good. Poor Peter was
kept in every day.
Look at him nearly tearing his hair out over five times seven. If he finds
that hard, what will he do with eight times eight, which you know is a
stumbling-block to all little folks?
It is recess, and he sits alone in the school-room. He hears through the
open window the merry shouts of the boys. They are playing base ball, and
he knows his side will be beaten without his help—for I am sorry to say,
Peter plays games better than he does sums.
The tears roll down his cheeks, and he mutters, “I wish arithmetic had
never been heard of.”
Take heart, Peter, and try again. Such great men as Macaulay and Sir
Walter Scott did not like figures when they were little boys—yet see what
perseverance did for them.
PETER KEPT IN.
ONE DAY OUT:
his funny little fluffy snowball comes from far-away Mexico, where, once
upon a time, they used to eat dogs, nicely baked. They were considered “a
dainty dish to set before a king;” but they were big, savage, voiceless
brutes, not at all like the pretty mite I have drawn for you. He can make
noise enough, and, if he were alive, would fly at you, and fancy that you
were very frightened. I wonder why it is only small dogs that are noisy.
Your big black fellow, with a head like a bear, gives a solemn deep-toned
growl, but a mite that would go in your pocket can be heard all over the
house. Well, after all, they are only like children, and like to make a
disturbance, I suppose.
MEXICAN LAP-DOG.
PUSSY’S LECTURE.
Oh, Pussy, will you tell me why
At all the pretty birds you fly?
The little birds that sing so sweet,
You surely would not catch and eat?
For you are ever kindly fed
Each day with nicest milk and bread,
And always at my dinner, too,
I save a lovely bit for you.
CRUEL PUSSY.
LITTLE ANGELICA.
ver
a
hu
ndred years ago, there lived a little girl, named Angelica Kauffman. She
was very fond of drawing, and made pictures of everything she saw. Her
father and mother were poor, but they were so anxious for her to become a
great painter that they moved to Italy to live. Before she was grown, her
mother died, and then she had to take care of her old father.
One day, when she was in Venice, a rich English lady gave her an order
to paint a picture of her little girl. This made Angelica’s fortune, for the lady
was so pleased with the young artist that she took her to London.
Everybody there was very kind to her, and she became a famous painter.
One of her best friends was Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great English artist.
She was so sweet and pretty that people called her “Miss Angel” instead
of Angelica. When you are older you must read her life, for it makes a
beautiful story.
LITTLE ANGELICA.
MISS GREYTOES AND MR. BEETLE.
ne morning Miss Kitty Greytoes took a walk in the garden. The sun was
shining, the apple and cherry trees were in bloom, and the air was filled
with the scent of pinks and lilacs. But Miss Greytoes did not notice these
beautiful things. As she tripped along, she said to herself, “I wonder if that
cat-bird has built his nest in the same place this spring. I dreamed about him
last night, so I’ll go and see.”
Sure enough, when she came to the tree, there was the cat-bird sitting on
a bent limb. Miss Kitty smacked her lips, and was just about to spring at
him, when Whirr! whirr! sung a big beetle, and the cat-bird flew away.
“Good morning, Miss Greytoes,” said the beetle, bowing politely.
“None the better for seeing you, Mr. Beetle,” she replied; “some folks are
forever in the way.”
“Heigho! Miss Kitty, you’re cross this morning. Didn’t your supper agree
with you? I saw you through the pantry window, last night, stealing cream.
It will do you good to fast to-day. Good-bye.” And away he flew to tell his
friend, the cat-bird, the joke.
“Meddlesome old thing!” snapped Miss Greytoes, as she trotted off with
her tail in the air.
THE SURPRISE.
THE COMING OF THE SNOW.
Down, out of Cloudland, comes the snow,
Like feathers idly floating.
Come, in good earnest, snow, and give
Old earth its winter coating.
Thicker and faster fall the flakes;
The trees and fields are whitening;
And at the nurs’ry window here
The children’s eyes are bright’ning.
DICK DISAPPOINTED.
GUIDO RENI.
n Bologna, an Italian city, there lived an old musician who had a beautiful
little boy. He taught him to sing, and play on the harp, but Guido loved
drawing better than music, and instead of practicing, made pictures and
little figures in clay.
His father thought this a waste of time, and gave him many whippings,
but nothing could prevent the little fellow from drawing. When his paper
was taken away, he marked on the walls, and after he had filled them, he
drew pictures in the dust.
But Guido’s good luck came at last. His father gave a concert at the
palace of a great lord, and Guido went with him. He met there a famous
painter, who was so pleased when he saw the boy’s pictures, that he advised
his father to let him be an artist.
To his great joy Guido was put in a studio, and studied so well, that when
he was thirteen, his master made him teach the other scholars. As the years
went by, he became a wonderful painter, and even kings paid the highest
prices for his pictures.
The crowning glory of his whole life was his famous painting of Aurora,
on the ceiling of a summer-house of a palace in Rome.
GUIDO RENI.
LAZY MAGGIE.
aggie is carrying her father’s breakfast to him. She was in the middle of a
pleasant dream this morning when her mother came to her little cot, and
said, “Wake up, Maggie, it is almost five o’clock.”
“Dear me,” yawned Maggie, “what a bother!” And I fear she did not have
a very cheerful face, as she trudged to the wheat field.
The air was sweet with the smell of clover, the dew-drops sparkled in the
sunshine, and the birds were singing gayly.
“What is the matter?” said a dew-drop on a white rosebud?
“I’m so sleepy,” answered Maggie, “and it’s a hard case to have to get up
at five o’clock in the morning.”
“For shame,” said the dew-drop, “I’ve been at work all night watering
this flower, and presently, the sun will dry me up. If you had come half an
hour later, we shouldn’t have met.”
“Lazy little girl,” cried a skylark, “I have been flying a mile high already,
and had a nice air bath. Now, I’m going to hunt for my breakfast.” And
away he flew, joyously warbling,
“The birds are singing in every bush,
At five o’clock in the morning.”
Maggie heeded the lesson of God’s little teachers, and met her father with
a happy smile.
LAZY MAGGIE.
JANET’S CHARGE.
urse was sick, so mamma had to take care of Baby Belle. They walked
down the shady lane to meet papa, and Nipo, Baby Belle’s little dog, given
her by her papa on her first birthday, trotted on behind. Baby had on the
lace cap that Aunt Fanny had sent her all the way from New York, and
looked sweet enough to eat.
“Putty fowers,” said she, spying the daisies and butter-cups.
“Does Baby want some for papa?” asked mamma.
“Ess, and butty-tups too.”
“Doggie, does oo love butter?” and Baby Belle put her fat hand, full of
butter-cups, under Nipo’s nose. Nipo was a good-natured little dog and
loved Baby, so he wagged his tail to say, “Yes.” Then he gave a joyful bark,
and ran off.
“Papa is coming,” said mamma; “now for a ride,” and she and Baby
followed Nipo.
At the stile Baby Belle got a dozen kisses from papa, who was on the
lookout for his little daughter, and rode home on papa’s shoulder as proud
as a queen.
GOING TO MEET PAPA.
THE DOLLS’ LUNCH.
nnie had been to lunch with her little friend, Katie Heath. All the dolls were
invited, and a merry time they had. It being summer, the table was spread in
the arbor. Katie’s uncle brought her last Christmas from Japan a beautiful
set of dolls’ china. This was arranged on a white cloth, and the tea tasted
very good out of the pretty little tea-pot. There was also a sponge cake,
which Katie had made with her own hands, for her mamma wished her to
be a good housekeeper. After tea and sandwiches, they had strawberries and
cream, to eat with the cake. The dolls sat at the table, and enjoyed
themselves very much—only Mr. Punchinello, who is such a tease, would
make fun of dear little Polly Primrose’s old-fashioned bonnet. She was used
to his nonsense, and would not have cared, except that Marie de Montfort,
Katie’s new doll, had on her Paris finery.
Polly looks very sad on her way home, but I think it is because Mr.
Eugene Montmorenci is going to marry Mademoiselle Marie. It was all
arranged after lunch, and the wedding is to be next Tuesday, Annie’s
birthday.
Cheer up, dear Polly, something very nice is in store for you too.
VAIN MINETTE.
am glad my mistress is out, that I may have the mirror all to myself.
Well, I am a beauty! though that spiteful cat next door says my face is
streaked. She calls me “Miss Vanity,” but my good looks got me this nice
home, with plenty to eat, and nothing to do.
This is the way it came about. My mother belonged to a little French boy
named Henri, and being a French cat, she was very clever. One day when I
was a tiny baby, a lady from New York came to stay at the house. My
mother lay on the rug listening to the conversation, but pretending to be
asleep. Henri said to the lady, “My cat has kittens, and one of them is
beautiful.”
“Ah,” said she, “I wish I could see it.”
Upon hearing this, my mother trotted down stairs, and brought me up in
her mouth. My, what a shout there was when we appeared! The lady said
she must have the kitten of so wise a cat, and that I was perfectly lovely.
She promised Henri to be very good to me, so I was put in a basket, and
brought to New York, where I am much admired, and happy as the day is
long.
The last thing my mother said to me was, “Beauty is as beauty does.” I
wonder what she meant?
VAIN MINETTE.
MARIE’S FIRST SLIDE.
his Laplander looks as if he were sitting for his photograph, though I don’t
expect photographers ever go to such a cold country as his. Lapland, you
know, is in the northern part of Russia, and the people there dress in furs
and skins all the time.
To go swiftly over the snow, they wear big shoes like the one the man is
holding. These are strapped on the feet, and a Lapland boy skims along
faster than any of you can skate.
But think of it—he never tasted a peach or a strawberry in his life. In his
cold home only a few small trees and bushes grow. There are no fruits or
vegetables, and the only food is the flesh of the reindeer, and fish.
The houses are round huts, with a hole at the top to let the smoke out.
The Laplander’s fortune is in his reindeer, and his only business, the care
of large herds of them. A little Lapland baby lies in a cradle made of wood
hollowed out and filled with white moss. Pieces of leather are laced across
the top, and the mother fastens the cradle to her back when she travels.
Lazy little people who don’t like school, should go to Lapland, for there,
if a boy knows his A, B, C, he is thought very learned.
THE LAPLANDER.
ANNA’S BOUQUET.
ANNA’S BOUQUET.
THE CORK BOAT.
y boy Charlie has made a cork boat, and is blowing it about to try and make
it sink, but it is like a life-boat, and will not go over. Did you ever see a life-
boat? and do you know what makes it different from other boats? or why it
is so called? Perhaps you don’t know, so I will tell you, for all knowledge is
pleasant and useful.
A life-boat is so called because it is useful in saving life. When a ship is
in distress, a life-boat can put off from the shore and reach the ship, and
then come back again laden with the poor people it has saved from
drowning, because it can live in a sea where any other boat would sink and
be lost.
“Why is this?” you ask. That is just what I am going to explain. So, stop
blowing, Charlie, and come and listen to me.
A life-boat is lined with cork; in other words, it has a compartment or
inside casing filled in with cork, or sometimes with large thin metal air-tight
tubes; this is done to make it buoyant, that is, able to keep bounding along
the stormy sea instead of sinking to the bottom. For cork will not sink. Stick
a sail to it, and blow as Charlie has done, but you will not blow it over
easily.
The brave men who man the life-boat must be made safe, too; so they
wear cork jackets, and life-belts filled with cork, and take life-buoys with
them. A life-buoy is a large round casing filled with cork, with a hole in the
middle large enough to slip over a man’s head and shoulders, and it will
keep him from sinking to have one on.
OLD MOLLY HARE.
on’t be afraid, little girl—it is only Old Molly Hare. I won’t hurt you.”
“Oh, Molly, my heart is going pit-a-pat. I was playing that I was in a
jungle, and when you popped your head up, I thought you were a lion.
Where did you come from?”
“I was sitting behind the fence, and a bad boy threw a stone at me, so I
took to my heels through the wheat. My little ones are waiting for me in the
hollow tree yonder.”
“Tell me about them. Have they got pretty eyes, and long brown ears like
you, Molly? I never saw a baby hare.”
“Their eyes are not as pretty as yours, little girl, but they can see behind
and before at once, and their long ears can hear a pin fall.”
“How nice! I wish I was a hare, Molly.”
“Better be a little girl. You have a warm house, but we live under the
rocks and fences—and when the snow is on the ground, if we even poke our
noses out, the men and dogs are after us.”
“Well, I’m going to tell my papa that he mustn’t shoot you. But, Molly,
don’t you get mad sometimes? I heard my grandpapa tell a man that he was
as ‘mad as a March hare.’”
“That’s only an old saying, my dear. Hark! I hear a gun. Good-bye.”
OLD MOLLY HARE.
THE FIRST RIDE.
urse and George were standing by the garden gate one fine summer
afternoon. George had been playing in the hay field, making nests in the
sweet hay for himself and nurse.
And they had tossed the hay about, and thrown it at each other, and had
had a good game of play.
And now nurse and George were both tired, and they were going into the
house to have some tea.
Just then, Tom, the carter, passed by, leading one of the horses, and he
said—
“Will you have a ride, Master Georgey?”
“I think not,” said nurse. “He has never been on a horse.”
“He will be quite safe,” said Tom; “Dapple is very steady, and if Master
Georgey will hold tight by the halter, there is no fear of his tumbling off.”
“Oh, do let me go!” said George.
When nurse saw how quiet Dapple was, she let Tom lift Georgey on his
back. Tom stroked the horse’s nose, and said—
“You will be glad of a rest in the stable, and of your supper.”
“What does he have for supper, Tom?” asked Georgey.
“Hay, and some oats,” said Tom.
“And what does he drink?”
“Fresh clear water,” said Tom; “horses like to have clean water to drink.”
“When I am big,” said George, “I will have a horse of my own, and I will
ride on him every day.”
GEORGEY’S FIRST RIDE.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.
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