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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates
https://archive.org/details/happyhoursathomeOOpete
LIBRARY ■
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Happy Hours
AT HOME,
With thh Childrhn;
THi:
EVER TOLD
To Amuse and Instruct the Little Ones,
THE BEST }VB ITERS OF AMERICA AXE EURO RE.
PROFUSEI.Y IL1.USTKATED.
f;DITED BY
REV. MADISON C. PETERS,
PASTOR OF BLOOMINGDALE REFORMED CHURCH, NEW YORK.
AUTHOR OF “THE PATH OF GLORY,” “POPULAR SINS,” “EMPTY PEWS,” “HOT SHOT,’*
“ BRIGHTEST AND BEST.”
PHILADELPHIA :
S. I. BELL & CO.
Copyright. 1887, by John Blakely.
INTRODUCTION.
V
So^. '('•
?^A •
i
G
O
■ ^ U;
,APPY are the parents who are happy in their children, and happy are the children who are happy in their parents. Many parents are not wise. They reserve all their charms for strangers, are dull at home, forbid their children to go into the nicely furnished rooms, make home as irksome as possible, forget that they were young, deny their children every amusement and pleasure. Many sons of the most pious parents turn out badly, because they are surfeited with severe religion, not the religion of Christ, who was himself reproved by the prototypes of such severe men.
Let innocent joy reign in every home.
How sweet ’tis to sit ’neath a fond father’s smile. And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile — Let others delighc ’mid new pleasures to roam,
But give me, oh ! give me the pleasures of home.”
Children are the incarnations of God’s smiles. We should live in and for them. Home is not home without them. Parents, do not have moods with your family; cultivate by strict discipline, in the midst of worries and pressing business, a disengaging temper that will always enable you to join in your children’s playfulness. Be boys and girls in the presence of your children.
The treasures contained in this volume show that the brightest minds of every age have devoted their best talents to entertain and to teach the little ones.
Fathers, however busy you are, find a few moments at least every day in which to romp with your boys. The father who is too dignified to carry his boy pick-back, or, like Luther, sing and dance with his children, or, like Chal- mers, trundle the hoop, lacks not only one of the finest elements of greatness, but fails in one of his plainest duties to his children. One of the inalienable
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1 006982
4
INTRODUCTION,
rights of your children is happiness at your hands. Remember that the children belong as much to you as to your wife, and it is only just to her that the little time you are in the house you should relieve her of those cares that are her daily portion.
You cannot afford to let your boy grow up without weaving yourself into the memory of his golden days. Norman McLeod exclaims: “O, sunshine of youth, let it shine on ! Let love flow out fresh and full, unchecked by any rule but what love creates, and pour itself down without stint into the young heart. Make the days of boyhood happy, for other days of labor and sorrow must come, when the blessing of those dear eyes and clasping hands and sweet caresses will, next to the love of God, from whence they flow, save the man from losing faith in the human heart, help to deliver him from the curse of selfishness, and be an Eden in the evening when he is driven forth into the wilderness of life.” “ The richest heritage that parents can give is a happy childhood, with tender memories of father and mother. This shall brighten the coming days when the children have gone out from the sheltering home, will be a safeguard in times of temptation, and a conscious help amid the stern realities of life.”
Don’t turn your boys out to spend the night — you don’t know where. It is better to instruct children at home and make them happy, than to charm strangers or amuse friends. From a dull home children will escape if they can.
You have no right to bring up your children without books. They are a necessity, not a luxury. Wherever you economize do not cut off the supply of household literature. The culture of the taste for reading keeps the children quietly at home. The best society in the world is that which lives in books. The publishers offer this book to thousands of parents, in the hope and belief that it will gladden the hearts of the little ones around them. They send forth just such stories as delight children. May they cause many smiles to dance blithely over their young faces, in “The Happy Hours at Home.”
September, 1889.
MADISON C. PETERS.
CONTENTS.
A Vount^ dill’s Adventure witli a Tlear. ,
An Adventure with I’anlhers
Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
About Sliells
A (^ueer l''ish
A Sea Yarn
A 6x9 Rhyme
A Little Stranger
A 'rale of the Greenland Seas
About Oysters
A Lresh-laid Egg
A Wonderful Sparrow
A Sea Fowling Adventure
About Chinese Ducks
Aaron’s Rod Changed to a Serpent
A Clever Cat
Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp. .. ...
A Brave Youth
Adventures with Pirates
A Cyclone, or Whirlwind
An Intelligent Swallow
An Indian Story
A Lie Sticks
A Young Hero
A Fearless Heroine
A Night on the Picket Line
A Thanksgiving Dinner
Abraham Lincoln
A Noble Nurse
Bessie’s Party
Barbara Frietchie
Clever Monkeys
Crabs
Combat Between a Shark and a Sawfish
Christmas Decorations
Conceited Carrie
California Life
Chinese Locomotion
Capturing his own Father
Dragon Flies
Danger of Negligence
Druids Offering a Sacrifice
David Livingstone
Eggs
Everybody’s Pet
ICvangcline 180
I'arly Life of Queen Victoria 276
Fannie and her Doll 126
I'ingal’s Cave 188
Gathering .Shells 46
General Grant 263
Happy Hours at Home 7
How to Catch Monkeys 24
How Dollie Deane .Spoiled her Christmas 34
How Harry and I Studied Astronomy 284
History of the Steam Engine 286
Indians 213
Indian Medicine Men 214
Jelly Fish 53
Jonah’s Di.sobedience 1 1 1
Jesus Crucified 1 14
Joan of Arc 290
Little Fritz 91
Life and Metamorphoses of the Dragon Fly 104
Locusts 107
Looking at the Pictures 121
Lottie’s Thanksgiving Dinner 136
Little Sunshine 177
Learning to be a Soldier. ... 235
Little Eddie, the Drummer Boy 249
Mary and her Pets 23
Musical Mountains 184
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore 248
Murder of Thos. A. Becket 274
Mary Queen of Scots 282
Nero 28
Napoleon Bonaparte 294
Ostrich Feathers 103
Old Spectacles 250
Pretty Doggie 15
Pearls ^ 51
Playing on the Beach 56
Pride Goes Before a Fall 93
Peronella 144
Poor Dick 182
Paper and Printing 183
Penn’s Treaty with the Indians 203
Pizarro 204
Putnam’s Leap 234
Peter the Great 292
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6
CONTENTS.
Somelliing about Frogs and Toads
Si)inning tlie Yarn
Swiss Family Robinson
Story of a Bat
Strange Birds
Spiders
Story of Little Joe
Susie’s Dead Doll
Snowballing
Story of Susan Cooper
Sand Whirlwinds
Stories of Rivers of America
South American Indians
Story of Benjamin Franklin
Sketch of Daniel Webster
The Lion
The Playful Kitten
The Porcupine
The Dying Deer
The Puma
The Village Blacksmith
The Horse
The Hippopotamus
The Pets
The Wild Boar
The Cat and the Fox
The Zebra
The Boy and the Heifers
The Hyena
The Ant-Eater
The Seaside
The Little Fishers
The Little Sailors
The Dog and the Crab
The Sea-Horse
The Diving Bell
The Hammerheaded Shark
The White Ray
The Turbot
The Vikings
The Trunk Pdsh
The Fate of Vanity
The Bee .
The Whale
The Vampire Bat
The Pet Geese
The Miller’s Geese
The Condor
The Deluge
The Christmas Tree
The Early Life of Jesus
The Princess Wonderful
The Revolving Palace
PAGE
The Selfish Boy 119
The Doll’s Christmas Party 120
The Generous Child 122
The Ungrateful Son 122
The Young Artist 123
The Force of Habit 125
The Little Patient 128
The Bad Boy 137
The Talking Doll ... 138
The Sledge 150
The Toboggan Slide 151
The Little Tease 153
The Three Wishes 154
The Disobedient Girl 157
The Pet Lamb . . 158
The Faithful Shepherd Boy 159
The Frost 160
The Robber and the Queen 176
The Shepherd’s Bride 179
The Sea Plant 190
The Flower Girl 192
The River Nile 193
The Temples of India 194
The Sagacity of a Gull 196
The Native Australians 197
The Japanese 200
The Alama 206
The Lazy Maiden 207
The Early Settlers of Kentucky 208
I The Burning of Deerfield 215
The War of the Revolution 21
The Ride of Paul Revere 219
The Capitol at Washington 221
The Boyhood of George Washington 223
The Declaration of Independence 226
Thomas Jefferson 228
The P'ounding of Rome 239
Tired of Reading 239
The Battle of the Wilderness 242
The Women of Gettysburg 245
The Siege of Vicksburg 246
The Little Fleet 256
The Rulers of England 267
The Druids 269
The Crusades 270
The Mandarin 278
The Burning of Moscow 279
The Fox and the Horse 281
The Battle of Waterloo 298
What are the Wild Waves Saying? 73
When the Cat’s Away the Mice Will Play 131
What the Sunbeams Saw 132
Where Sugar Comes From 220
PAGE
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HAPPY HOURS AT HO MB.
TTHEilRESlDE
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(7)
THE LION.
LION has, from the most ancient times, been called the “ King of Beasts,” and his slowness of carriage and dignity will entitle him to the name. Some lions are as long as ten feet, but are gen- erally not over seven feet. The female has no mane, and a smaller head. Lions differ in size according to the country they inhabit. Unless they are ex- ceedingly hungry, they do not hunt during the day; but, when I I twilight appears, he places himself near. a pool of water, and ^ when an animal comes to quench its thirst he springs out, and
with one blow of its paw breaks its back. If he misses his aim, he goes back into the bushes to wait for a new victim. When the animal is hungry, or
irritated, he shakes his mane and flogs his sides with his tail, and, if a traveller encounters him at this time, he may know he is in great danger. When he is not hungry, he takes flight at the sight of a man or child, and even runs at the sound of human voices.
In the spring the lion seeks a mate, and they are themselves most devoted to each other. Until the female has young she follows her lord everywhere.
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'll IK LION.
She is very fond of her youn^^ and will j)rot(!Ct them at the risk of her life, d'lu; male has a hahit of (h^voiirin^ tluan, and the lion(!SS tak(!S ^reat pains to conceal them. A lu^w-horn cub is about the* size of a half-^rown cat ; at a year old, it is as lari^e as a Newfoundland do^. d'hey do not walk until they are two months old. 'They are y(;llow, stripc^d with small brown bars, which do not disaj)pear until tlu;y are hilly <.^rown. I'he mane commences to grow on the male when he is three years old.
Some years ago, in the menagerie in the d ower of London, there were two young lions, a male and female, d'hey had been obtained in India when only a few days old, and a goat nursed them during the first months, d'hey were so gentle that they ran about the courtyard, and were caressed without fear by visitors.
A lioness has been on exhibition in 'England which would allow her keeper to get on her back, and even drag her about by the tail, and place his head between her teeth.
A wealthy farmer was one ciay walking over his land, armed with a gun, whensuddenly a lion appeared before him. Feeling sure of killing him, he aimed, but the gun missed fire, and the man, being frightened, scampered off as hard as he could go until he came to a little pile of stones, which he jumped upon and turned round facing the lion, and threatened him with the but-end of his gun. d'he animal stopped, and went back a short distance, and after nearly an hour went slowly away.
:o:
There was an old woman who lived In a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do ;
She gave them some broth without any bread, ^
She whipped them all round, and sent them to bed.
:o:
Sing a song of sixpence, a pocketful of rye;
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing ;
Was not that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was In his counting-house counting out his money;
The queen was In the parlor eating bread and honey;
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes:
Down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose.
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.4
THE PLAYFUL KITTEN.
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Tllh: KI'I''I'I^N.
Tlll^' little ^irl you see in the j)ictiirc is playing with her kitten, which is not always the innocent little animal it aj^pears, hut is sometimes treacluM'ous, and will st(;al anything within its reach.
A pretty story is told of the gratitude of a cat to a kind friend who had lu‘lp('d it in distress. One day the cat ate some rat-poison, and its sufferings were so great that it would dip its paws in water to cool them, though cats are not fond of water. At last it went to the lady, and looking up in a pitiful way, seemed to ask for help. The lady bound it up in wet cloths, and gave it metlicine and eruel, and took the best of care of it.
One night after the lady had gone upstairs she heard a mew at the window, and as she opened it the cat jumped in with a mouse in her mouth and laid it at the lady’s feet. She did this every day for a long time, and when she after- wards caught mice for her kittens one was laid aside for the lady. If the kittens tried to eat this she gave them a little pat. After a while the lady would take the mouse and then give it to the kittens, the cat seeming much pleased to see them eat it.
Cats have a thick soft fur to keep them warm, so that they can run out of doors in cold weather. Their fur all grows one way, and is so thick that when it rains the water runs off, and does not wet their skin unless it rains hard. They like to be stroked, but do not like to be rubbed the wrong way.
They have long whiskers on each side of their mouth and nose ; when they come to a hole they spread out their whiskers, and if they can get through without touching they know there is room for their bodies. Their ears are large and stand up straight, so they can hear the slightest nibble of a mouse or the sly tread of a rat. They use their fore-paws like hands. These paws have each five toes, but their hind feet have only four toes each. Some cats have more toes on each foot. Cats do not wag their tails when they are pleased, but wave them from side to side.
A lady in New York State has a large cat which has three kittens nearly half-grown. She was noticed feeding them on some perch and sun-fish every day. They watched her, and found she caught them herself in a pond which had been drawn quite low, and the cat would crouch down near the water, and when a fish would come within its reach would spring upon it and rarely miss it. When she came in with a meal she laid it before one of the young ones: the others must wait quietly while the first was eating, and when it had eaten its share she placed it in front of another and then the third. This she re- peated day after day, and was never varied.
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A YOUNG GIRL’S ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR.
WHEN mother was a young girl she taught school in Illinois. Very few people lived there at that time; the settlements were very far apart. The school- house was built of rough logs, and the chinks were filled with clay and straw. Instead of glass for windows they had oiled paper to admit the light.
One night mother stayed late at the school-house to help the girls trim it with evergreen, and it was almost dark when they started for home. She walked very fast, as she felt lonely. Her way lay through a thick wood, and the path was narrow. All at once she saw a big animal. What was it? A calf? No, it was a big black bear. Was she afraid? Of course she was. Wouldn’t you be afraid if you met a big black bear in the woods? She had an umbrella in her hand, and held the point close to the bear’s nose, and opened and shut it as fast as she could. She called him all the pet names she could think of, and he walked away and growled. He was a brave bear, was he not, to be afraid of an umbrella! Mother hurried on, and just as she came to the edge of the woods out he came again; then she opened the umbrella at him again, and shouted as loud as she could, and away he went. Mother was so tired and frightened she almost fainted when she reached home.
“ I don’t believe it was a bear ; it must have been neighbor Clapp’s big heifer,” grandma said.
But just as she said it they heard a loud squeal. They ran to the door and there was a bear carrying off a pig ; he had jumped In the pen and got it. Aunt Stella seized the dinner-horn and blew a loud blast. That was the way they used to call the .settlement together when anything was the matter. There was a great rush for grandfather’s house, and when the men heard about the bear they said, “We must kill him as quick as possible.” So they had a great hunt for him ; they hunted all that night and the next day, and found him at last upon the stump of a hollow tree, and killed him.
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'VWE I’ORC'IMMNI^:.
The common porcupine is found in Africa, Tartary, Persia, India, and some parts of Europe and Canada. It digs holes in the ground,, and only comes out at night to get food, which consists of vegetables and roots. The quills are very strong, and when in danger he raises them and runs backward against his enemy. The American Indians ‘use the quills of the Canada porcupine .for ornamenting moccasins and different parts of their dress. When the porcupine walks his quills, which are large and hollow, and about fourteen inches long, make a rustling sound. Our readers may remember having seen one in the travelling menagerie attached to the circus.
o o o
There was a little girl
And she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead,
And when she was good
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
She went up stairs To say her prayers With no one nigh to hinder.
Where she stood on her head On the little trundle bed And was falling out the winder.
Her mother heard the noise.
She thought it was the boys Playing in the empty attic.
So she went up -stairs And caught her unawares.
And spanked her most emphatic.
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THE DYING DEER.
NCE upon a time a deer that lived far from an in- habited country used to go in the winter to some low- lands, where she found grass, and could find shelter among the evergreen trees during storms. When spring came she went to a mountain, where there was a fine stream of water. She had been living this way for a good many years until she commenced to be weak from age, but did not know what was the mat- ter, and thought that, if she could only have some water from the stream in the mountains, she would be well again. So in the early days of spring she started, and, after walking a little way, had to stop to rest. At last she reached the top, and drank from the stream where she had quenched her thirst so many summers ; but it did not taste as it used to, nor refresh her so much. She lay down to rest on some grass, and never rose again.
:o:
THE PUMA.
^HE puma inhabits the whole of America, and is greatly feared by the na- tives. It is about four feet and a half in length, and has the general appearance of a lioness. Its color is gray. The animal is very sly and quick in all its movements, and can ascend a tree twenty feet at one bound. It is easily tamed, and fond of being petted, and is not considered dangerous when at liberty. It makes fearful ravages among herds of cattle, and always kills its victim before it commences to eat.
:o:
Why is a liar like a person deeply in How does a boy look if you hurt debt ? — He has great /f-abilities. him ? — It makes him yell. Oh ! (yellow).
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PRETTY DOQGIE
(15)
AN ADVENTURE WITH PANTHERS.
[pjMj^HE occupants of a few log-cabins in the western part of Florida had been annoyed by the disappearance of their sheep and goats, of which the wealth of the early settlers con- sisted ; and they often heard the cry of the panther, which sounded almost human.
About this time two hunters came into the set- tlement, and, learning the state of affairs, deter- mined to rid the clearing of the wild animals. The night before they arrived a heifer had been killed quite near a cabin, and dragged about two miles into a swamp. These hunters started without delay, and found the trail, which brought them to the edge of a large swamp covered with trees, cane and grape-vines. It was very dark, but they plunged in for half a mile, where, on an elevated spot, they found the half-eaten body of the heifer; and about twenty- five feet from them they saw, instead of one, an old she-panther and two cubs nearly grown, while over them, on a large gum-tree, crouched the “old he one of all,” lashing his sides with his tail, and spitting like an angry cat, which was imitated by the three below. The hunters found them- selves rather uncomfortably situated. They could neither retreat nor advance ; so they stood for a second, their guns cocked and aimed, Dan drawing a bead on the dam, while Jim did the same on the sire. It was madness to fire. They were not long uncertain, for the old fellow suddenly bounded on Jim with a roar. He fired as he sprang away, and, dropping his rifle, drew his long heavy knife. It was well he did so, for the beast, mortally wounded, alighted on the very spot he had left. He turned and sprang upon him, but Jim avoided the blow of its paw, and grappled with him. He rolled on the turf, and wound his right arm tight around his neck ; while he dealt rapid blows with his knife. The contest was soon decided, the knife passing through the heart of the brute. In the meantime Dan had put a. ball through the head of the dam, and was battling with the two cubs. His clothes were nearly torn from him, and the blood was streaming from numberless scratches.
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AN ADVIONTUKK Wnil I’ANTHI:F<S.
'flic savage beasts bore upon lh(*ir bloody hides deadly cuts, d'heir system of attack was to sj)ring suckhuily on him, striking him with their paws; and strong and active as he was, it was impossible to defend himself, and had no assistance been at hand they would have gained the victory. Jim saw all this at a glance, and rushed to his rescue. “ Dan,” he shouted, “take the one on your left.” ddiey threw themselves upon them. Jim struck at him, but his wrist struck his paw, and the knife flew far from his hand. He seized the loose skin of the neck with both hands, and holding on, kept him at arm’s length, while his paws were beating his breast and tearing his flesh. He sud- denly thought of a small pistol in his belt, and drawing it out, cocked it with his thumb, and the next mome nt the panther’s brains were spattering his face.
He turned to look for Dan, and found him trying to free himself from the dead body of the panther, whose teeth were fastened to the remnant of his coat which hung around his neck. He cut the cloth, and they both sank on the ground.
After they had rested. a while they washed the blood from their bodies, and taking the scalps of the four panthers started for home, where their success was soon known, and in the evening a feast was held in their honor. This exploit added greatly to their reputation as daring hunters, and also left the settlers in peace from their daring foe.
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2
THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.
(18)
Tiiic iioRsr:.
WHO docs not love a horse? d'hey are most intelligent animals, and can he taiioht almost anything, d'heyare affectionate and like very much to he petted, aiul will eat sugar and apples out of a child’s hand without hi lino- it.
When they work or travel over a hard road, they have iron shoes nailed to their hoofs, so that they will not be hurt by striking the stones. The hoofs have no feeling on the outside, and it does not hurt the horse to have these shoes nailed on. They grow like our nails and must be pared once in a while.
A little story is told of a poor stray kitten which found its way into a stable and made its home there. It soon made friends with a lame chicken and the three were never quite happy unless they were together. The kitten and the chicken would stand close together on the broad back of the horse, while he would stand quite still so as not to disturb them.
“ Billy ” was a fine horse. The blacksmith who put on his shoes lived a long distance from Billy’s home, and he had never been over the road but on the day he was shod.
A few weeks after the blacksmith saw Billy coming towards the shop. Thinking he had runaway the blacksmith turned him around and threw stones at him to make him go home.
The horse trotted off ; but the blacksmith had only fairly got to work again when he heard a noise and there stood Billy.
This time, before driving him away, the blacksmith looked at his feet and found that Billy had lost a shoe. He put on a new one and waited to see what he would do.
The horse looked at the blacksmith as if asking whether he was done, then pawed to see if the shoe was all right, and giving a neigh, started for home on a brisk trot. His master knew nothing about it until the next day.
A gentleman when he wanted to catch his horse in the field was in the habit of giving it sonie oats in a measure, and would then throw the bridle over his head. After he had deceived him several times by calling him when there was no corn in the measure the horse began to suspect him, and on coming up one day as usual he looked into the measure and finding it empty turned round, reared up on his hind legs and killed his master on the spot.
The life of horses generally lasts about thirty years, but they have been known to live to the aofe of forty-seven.
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THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.
The hippopotamus is an enormous animal. Its mouth reaches nearly from eye to eye and, with its large and pointed teeth, has a frightful appear- ance. The eyes are of medium size, but prominent Its body is enormous, and its legs so short and fat, that its body reaches nearly to the ground.
These animals are quick and active in the water, and pass a good part of the day in it. When swimming, their bodies are entirely under water, and only the upper part of their heads above it, so that they can breathe and hear the slightest noise.
The hippopotamus feeds on young stalks of reeds, little boughs, small shrubs and water-plants, Its disposition is mild, and is only vicious when
attacked. There are different ways of hunting it: it is sometimes surprised at night on leaving the water, or by day in the rivers, with harpoons or guns. It tries to defend itself, and sometimes overturns the boat containing its enemies. Sometimes it gets desperate and tries to tear the boat to pieces. It can cut through the middle of the body of a full-grown man with one bite. The ivory from the tusks is valuable; its skin, which is thick, is used in various instruments, and the flesh is delicate. Owing to the perfection to which fire- arms are brought, hunting these animals is much easier than formerly, and the probabilities are that they will become extinct.
When is a boy like a bird? — When he has a 7'ave7i-ous appetite.
(20)
THE PETS.
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CLEVER MONKEYS.
inOUR monkeys sat under a ■*" tree in an Indian forest. One monkey was seen to busy him- self in smearing one of the others with red clay earth. When he had succeeded in entirely cover- ing their companion, the three disappeared into the neighboring wood, leaving the other a mass of clay, but for two small holes through which peered a pair of cunning eyes. Then the be- daubed monkey was seen to climb to the hollow of a tree where was a bee- hive. The bees buzzed about the intruder, but all they could do was to leave their stings in his clay coat. At last they swarmed away in despair, and the clever monkey helped himself to the honeycomb. And then the other monkeys came out of their hiding-place, and proceeded to pick off the clay covering from their brother. This done, they set to work at the honey-comb, and finished it.
:o:
THE WILD BOAR.
This is the original from which all the different kinds of the tame hog have sprung. His color is dark grey, nearly black; his snout is longer than that of the tame hog ; his ears short and pointed. He is found in different parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.
The skin is remarkably thick and strong and difficult for any weapon to pierce through.
The animals, being considered unclean, are very little hunted. Boar-hunting used to be a favorite pastime for the nobility of France. The best bristles used in brushes come from Russia, where the boar is still hunted.
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Why is an umbrella like salt-herring? — It serves to keep one dry.
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MARY AND HER PETS.
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HOW TO CATCH MONKEYS.
skelter for the cocoanut. The first arrival peeps into it, and seeing- the rice inside, squeezes his hand through the hole and clutches a handful. Now, so much more powerful is greed over every other feeling connected with monkey nature that nothing will induce the creature to relinquish his hold. With his hand thus clasped he can’t possibly get it out ; but the thought f?hat if he lets go one of his brethren will obtain the feast, is overpowering. The sportsman soon appears upon the scene ; and he is easily captured.
What is it you must keep after giving it to another? — Your word.
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N old, hard cocoanut is taken, and a hole is made in the shell. Fur- nished with this and a pocketful of boiled rice, the sportsman sallies into the forest and stops beneath a tree tenanted by monkeys. Within full sight of these inquisitive spectators he first eats a little rice, and then puts a quantity into the cocoanut, so as to attract as much attention as possible. The nut is then laid upon the ground, and the hunter retires to a convenient ambush. No sooner is the man out of sight than the monkeys race helter-
THE BABOON.
T\\\i CAT AND '\'\\E FDX.
ONCI'w upon a tiino a cat carnc across a fox lyin<^^ in a wood, and, spcakin;^ friendly to liini, said : “ I low do you (lo, Mas- ter lu)x ? I low do you find your living in these dear times ? ”
d'lie fox eyed him from head to foot, and hesitated whetlier to answer or not. At last lie said: “ Dh, you hungry mouse-hunter! How dare you ask me how I fare ? How much do you know ? ”
“ 1 know this much,” replied the cat, “ when the dogs pursue me, to climb up a tree and save myself.”
“Oh, is that all ?” returned the fox. “I know a hundred things, and have besides a sackful of cunning. Come with me, and I will show you how to escape the hounds.”
Soon a hunter came riding along with four dogs. The cat ran up a tree, and was hidden among the leaves, and then called to the fox, “ Open your sack. Master Fox ! ” But the hounds had already caught him. “ Now, Master Fox,” cried the cat ; “ how much good has your superior knowledge done you ? Could you have crept up the tree, you would still be free like me.”
Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater.
Had a wife and couldn't keep her — He put her in a pumpkin-shell.
And there he kept her very well.
All of a row. Bend the bow, Shot at a pigeon. And killed a crow.
Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater.
Had another and didn’t love her; Peter learn’d to read and spell. And then he loved her very well.
The cock doth crow, To let you know,
If you be well,
’Tis time to rest.
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THE ZEBRA.
TN very early times we find mention made of an animal which the Romans called the hippotigris, as possessing at once the shape and agility of the horse and the ferocity and the beauty of skin and color which distinguish the tiger. Bassianas Caracalla is said to have killed in one day an ele- phant, a rhinoceros, a tiger, and a hippotigris. The ani- mal was thus even then con- sidered better fitted to furnish a savage sport in the combat than to be rendered useful by domestication. The same character still belongs to the zebra, which is doubtless the animal designated by the name hippotigris. It possesses some of the characteristics of the horse — smaller in size, it strongly resembles it in the shape of its body, its head, its limbs, and its hoofs. It moves in the same paces, with a similar activity and swiftness. But it discovers none of that docility which has rendered the services, of the horse so invaluable to man. On the contrary, it is proverbially untameable ; it is ever the most wild even among those ferocious animals which are ranged in the menagerie, and it preserves in its countenance the resolute determination never to submit. So completely, indeed, is this its character, that the few instances in which it has shown any- thing like submission, are looked upon as the most extraordinary triumphs of art over nature. Even in these cases the good nature which the animal displays is partial, and not to be trusted. In the year 1803, General Dundas brought a female zebra from the Cape of Good Hope, which was deposited in the Tower of London, and there showed less than the usual impatience of subordination. The person who had accompanied her home and attended her there would sometimes spring on her back, and proceed thus for about two hundred yards, when she would become restive, and oblige him to dis- mount. She was very irritable, and would kick at her keeper; one day she seized him with her teeth, threw him down, and showed an intention to destroy him, which he disappointed by rapidly getting loose. She generally
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'line ZICMKA.
• teeth whatever offcMidcHl lujr. Strangers she would not allow U) a[)proach lu^r unless the keejxu* held lu^r fast by the luMd, and even then she was very prone to kick. Anotlu;r which was kept at Kew showed the same sava^^e tlisposition, allowin<^ no one to approach except his keeper. lie was some- times able to mount the back of the animal. It one day eat a cpiantity of tobacco, and the paj)er that contained it; and was said even to eat flesh, d'he most docile zebra on record was burnt at the Lyceum, near b^xeter Change. This animal allowed its keeper to use i^reat familiarities with it — to put chil- dren on its back without discovering any resentment. On one occasion a person rode it from the Lyceum to Pimlico. It had been bred in Portugal, and was the offspring of parents half reclaimed. At the Cape of Good 1 lope many attempts have been made to train the zebra, but they have been all to a great degree unsuccessful. A merchant, who had succeeded so far as to be able to get them harnessed to his chariot, almost lost his life from the ungovernable fury with which they rushed back to their stalls.
There are instances of mules having been obtained from the ass and zebra, but these in Europe do not exceed three, and they either died soon, or were unserviceable. One which was bred in the menagerie at Paris, from a female zebra and Spanish ass, had a good deal of the form of its sire ; but it had the ungovernable and vicious temper of the zebra, and attacked with its teeth every one who approached it.
There are two other animals of the horse kind, for the knowledge of which we are indebted chiefly to the reports of travellers. These are the Dziggtai and the Ouagga, the former a native of Central Asia,» the other ranging in herds through the solitary deserts of Southern Africa. The former is a wild animal, and is shot by the natives for the purposes of food; the latter is of a disposition susceptible of domestication, and has been seen in London drawing a fashionable curricle. They have both been too little under the observation of men to allow of an interesting biography beyond the notices which have been given of them in the notes to Goldsmith.
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A MAN of words and not of deeds, Is like a garden full of weeds ;
For when the weeds begin to grow. Then doth the garden overflow.
But yeow may sing a’ Monday, Till Sunday cums agin.
Yeow mussent sing a’ Sunday, Becaze it is a sin ;
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NKRC), TWE NI^WFOUNDLANI) IKK).
IiRO is a great, shaggy dog. All night he is left to keej) watch in a
i. large store. 1 1(! slecips during the day, so that one would think he was lazy, but at night he is always awake, and at the least noise bounds from one end of the store to the other.
One night the store next to that where Nero was was broken open and robbed. Nero heard the burglars, and gnawed at the front doors and tore great strips of wood from them. In the morning he was punished, but when the owner found what the reason was he petted him and called him a noble dog.
He goes every day to the butcher’s for dinner. When it is time for him to go, one of the clerks puts a dime between his teeth, and he brings back a piece of meat.
One day when there was no small change, the clerk wrote on a piece of paper: “Please give Nero his meat, and charge.” Away he went with the paper. The next day the clerks were all busy and Nero wanted his dinner, so he picked up a piece of paper and went to the butcher, who gave him his meat.
Another time, he was tired of waiting his turn, so he snatched a nice porter- house steak, and leaving his ten cents, ran off.
His owner thinks there is not another dog like him in the world, and they are often on the street together.
O
Old King Cole,
Was a merry old soul.
And a merry old soul was he ;
And he called for his pipe.
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.
And every fiddler, he had a very fine fiddle, And a very fine fiddle had he ; “Tweedle dee, tweedle deef” said the fiddlers; “Oh, there’s none so rare As can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.”
o
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SOMETHING ABOUT FROGS AND TOADS.
Frogs are very curious creatures. I need hardly tell you how they can live equally well on land and water ; nor how, when they are little, they are not frogs at all, but tadpoles, with tails and without feet, swimming about like fishes, and never venturing out of the pond. Every little boy or girl knows about this already, so I will leave out all descriptions of frogs, which I am sure you would skip as being too dry, and tell you some funny stories about them.
I would never think of taming a frog for a pet. But a gentleman once took a fancy to a big bull-frog that he found sitting every day on the same log when he was fishing in a lake. He gave him a daily breakfast of sunfish for weeks, until the frog became quite tame, and would jump into the boat to be fed, and at last permitted himself to be handled. The gentleman called his frog Ralph, and he knew his name very well. This gentleman had a little boy, who made a great pet of Mr. Frog ; and one night he dreamed that, as he was walking round the basin of the fountain, the frog stopped and talked to him, and told of all the beautiful things he had in his palace under the water.
Another gentleman tells a story of a frog that he had at home in the kitchen of his house, and for three years came out every day, particularly at meal-time, to be fed. When winter came, instead of crawling down into the mud and going to sleep until spring, as all frogs do, he came regularly every evening and rnade directly for the hearth in front of a good kitchen fire, where he would remain and enjoy himself in the warmth until the family retired. An intimacy sprang up between him and the family cat. The frog would nestle under* the warm fur of the cat, while the latter was very careful about disturbi-ng his comfort and convenience.
Toads are found in every part of the temperate and torrid zones. Their repulsive appearance and nocturnal habits have rendered them objects of horror and superstition, although it is now well known that they are perfectly harmless, and very useful creatures to the gardener and farmer.
Old tales and legends abound in stories of their poisonous qualities. A jewel was formerly supposed to be in their head, and many have fallen victims to this belief.
There are about seventy different species of toads, and the appearance and
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SOMI'/I'II IN(; AlU)iri I KOflS AM) 'rOAlJ.S.
]ial)its of soiiK! ar(^ very 'I'lu: snout is inr)ro hlnnt tliaii that of the
Iroo', and th(!ir liinhs nuich sli()rt(*r; tli(!y havo no and thoir ton;^uo is
a most iisotiil and d(;licato or^in, hoin^ fastened in the front [jortion of the lower jaw; its free (e\tr(miity is coil(;d in tlu; l)ack |)art of the rnoutli. When Mr. 'I'oad perceives an ins(;ct or shio- (which forms his [)rinci[;al diet), it a[)proaches stealthily, and darts its tongue forth with such ra[adity as to be almost invisible. I'he insect is caught by a glutinous substance on its tip, and carried to the back of the mouth, where it is cjuickly swallowed, and the toad is sitting as calmly as if nothing had happened to disturb his equanimity.
d'he skin is usually warty, and is cast off periodically ; the reason that it is never found, like that of snakes, is because it is invariably swallowed by its owner.
Unlike its near relation, the frog, it is a poor jumper, which may be ac- counted for by the shortness of its legs ; neither are its feet webbed like those of a frog, which in early life it greatly resembles, going through the state of a tadpole, never leaving the water until fully matured, and then not returning to it, except at the seasons of propagation.
In winter the toad goes into a crevice of rock- or a hollow tree. Many stories are told of their great age, and how they are found in a living state in solid wood or marble, where they must have been imprisoned for years with- out food ; but it is very likely that some small opening existed through which enough minute insects were carried to supply them with food during their semi-torpid condition. Recent experiment has shown that they will die in from one to two years, if kept in tight jars.
They are much more agreeable creatures than is generally supposed to be the case, being comical-looking, and require the minimum of care to keep them in health. All they need is a cool, damp spot with stones and moss, to form a hiding-place, and the curious manner of taking their meals is a source of constant amusement to the owner.
Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef; I went to Taffy’s house, Tgffy wasn’t home,
Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow-bone ; I went to Taffy’s house, Taffy was in bed,
I took the marrow-bone, and beat about his head.
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Till!: IIY/liNA.
rpiIE liy.rna is hotli striped and spott(!d, and is found in Africa as well as Asia, and there arc; ^reat niini- bers of them in Abyssinia, d'hey live in caves and rocky places, and come out at night to seek for food. It will feed on dead animals, or any living thine that it dares to seize. It will not attack a man unless he attacks it ; but in South Africa the hysena will creep into the huts of the natives and carry off their sleeping babies, or ter- ribly bite and tear them to pieces. The hyaena is useful in clearing and the country of the dead bodies of the larger beasts, which might wise make the air unfit to breathe. They do not live in herds, but will together to follow soldiers on their march, in order to feed on the dead of those killed in battle.
towns
other-
gather
bodies
THE ANT-EATER.
rpHIS animal is an inhabitant of A South America. It has no teeth, but it has a pointed muzzle and narrow mouth, a long slender tongue that stretches, but which is moistened by a thick, sticky spit. It also has strong feet armed by sharp, cutting claws, with which it tears down the buildings of the white ants. It then protrudes its long tongue in the sand, and brings out large numbers of ants that are glued to it. The ant-eater is covered with long, shaggy hair to protect it from the attacks of insects.
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'J
ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE.
WAS the youngest of three brothers, and had every advan- tage, as I was destined for the law, but, against the wishes of my parents, determined to go to sea.
Being in Hull one day, I met a school-fellow who was going to London with his father, who was master of a vessel, and who promised me a free passage.
Without 'taking farewell of my parents I set sail, and had scarcely left the Humber when a violent storm arose, and I resolved that if I ever set foot on land I would return to my parents; but, when the danger was* passed, I soon forgot my good resolutions.
Soon there arose a brisk gale, and to save our lives we were forced to cut away our foremast andmain mast. Our master, seeing some light vessels, fired a gun as a signal of distress, v/hich was answered by their sending boats to our relief.
Instead of going home, I travelled to London, and soon found a vessel going to the coast of Guinea. Having some money, the commander agreed to take me without any expense, and I was allowed to carry anything with me. Acquainting my friends in Yorkshire, ^40 were sent me, and I brought back from my trip almost ^300.
But . the captain died, and I sailed with his mate. We were chased by pirates, who gained on us, and we had a desperate fight, and were forced to surrender, and were taken prisoners. I was kept by the captain as his own slave.
I resolved to make my escape, and one day, being sent out with my masters kinsmen and a young boy to catch fish, I threw the man overboard, and giving the boy Xury the helm we pursued our voyage, and by three o’clock the next
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THE NEXT MOHNINC; I SAW THE SHIP LYING ON SHOP
ROUINSON CRUSOE.
day were one hundred and fifty miles beyond the Emperor of Morocco’s dominions.
We sailed five days, and anchored at the mouth of a small river, and taking two jars went on shore for water, which we found in plenty, and then con- tinued our voyage in a southerly direction, hoping to meet some European ship, and, after eleven days’ sail, Xury cried out suddenly, “Master! Master! a ship with a sail ! ” I soon discovered she was a Portuguese ship, and tried hard to come up with them, and fired a gun as a signal of distress, upon which they lay to, and in three hours we came up with them, and they took me on board with all my effects, which I offered to give in return for our deliverance, but the master of the ship refused, and insisted on paying full value for my boat, and sixty pieces for my boy Xury, which, as he was willing himself, I consented to do.
We had a pleasant voyage to the Brazils, and after twenty-two days arrived in All-Saints Bay, and, being recommended to an honest planter, lived with him until I learned the manner of planting and making sugar ; and I resolved to get the money I had left in England remitted to me, and purchase a plan- tation. I was in some measure settled before the captain left, and desiring his assistance in getting my money, he consented, and in addition to that, which he did, sent a servant, with all necessary tools for my plantation.
Having lived four years in Brazil, I became acquainted with the most eminent planters. I was one morning visited by three of them, who proposed to me a voyage to Guinea, in order to stock their plantations with Negroes, and if I would go to manage the trading part, I should have an equal share of the Negroes, without providing any stock. I accepted the offer, on con- dition of their looking after my plantation.
The ship being fitted out, we sailed northward in order to gain Africa, and then we met with a terrible tempest, which continued twelve days, when the weather cleared up, we found ourselves on the coast of Guinea. Altering our course, we sailed north-west, and were overtaken by another storm, which drove us westward, and we were afraid of falling into the hands of savages, or terrible wild beasts.
In our distress, our ship struck a sand-bank, and we expected to perish. While we were looking at each other, expecting death, the mate swung the boat over the side, and eleven of us getting in, we were driven about a league and a half, when a raging wave came rolling towards us and upset the boat. I was driven on the shore half dead, while all my companions were buried in the deep.
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KoniNSoN CIUJSOIv
When I n:(:()V(‘r(‘(l, I looked around to see what kind (){ a {)lace I was in, but could see no hous(;s or |)eoj>le. I walked about to see if 1 could find Iresh water, which I did, and jj^ettin^^ up into a thick tree fell asleep.
On wakinc^ u[) tlu; next iuornini( I found the storm had ceased, and saw tluj ship lyine- on shore. Hy tlu; aid of a piece of ropf; hani^dn;^ from her side I climbed on board, and, collectini^ everything I could conve-niently carry, and buildino- a raft of boards and timbers, s(!t out for the shore, and was driven a short distance from where I first landed. Seeing a large lull I ascended, and found 1 was on an island, and no land to be seen.
With some sails and poles, which I cut for the purpose, I made a little tent, and lying on the ground slept until morning.
INIy next thoughts were how I should secure myself against wild beasts and savages. At one time I thought of digging a cave; at another, of erect- ing a tent. At length I resolved to do both. Looking around I found on one side of a. rock a hollow place like the entrance to a cave. Just before this I drove down strong stakes, about six inches from each other ; then took pieces of cable, which I had cut on board, and laid them in a circle between the piles up to their tops, which were more than five feet from the earth, and afterwards drove another row of stakes within, making a castle secure against men and beasts.
Being established as king of the island, I went out every day to see what I could kill that was fit to eat, and found goats, pigeons and turtles.
One day, finding a bag which had held corn for the fowls, I shook all the husks and dirt on one side of the rock, and about a month after something came up looking green and flourishing, and in a short time twelve ears of corn made their appearance. I also perceived about this little field of corn some rice stalks wonderfully flourishing. It was the latter end ot June when the ears of corn ripened, which I laid up very carefully, together with twenty or thirty stalks of rice; yet four years expired before I allowed myself
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R()P.INS(JN CRUSOE,
to eat any corn-bread, and longer before I liad any rice. One time 1 was in my cave when a dreadful earthquake happened, and 1 expected the whole island would be swallowed up, and I cried: “Lord, have mercy on me ! ” but, when the earthquake was over, the pathetic prayer left me, so little grace I had then.
Having been about ten months on the island, and never seeing any human being, I considered myself as “ monarch of all I surveyed,” and concluded to make a tour around my kingdom to make new discoveries. On the 15th of July I began my journey on my raft, and found many pleasant meadows covered with grass. On the rising parts, where the water did not reach, I found tobacco, several plants of aloes, and several plants • sugar-cane, but imperfect for want of cultivation. When I had made these discoveries I came back and passed the night in my castle. The next day I went farther, and found woods and trees, different fruits, melons and grapes, rich and ripe. Night coming on, I climbed a tree and slept very comfortably. When the morning came, I continued my journey, and found the country flourishing, green and delightful. Descending the side of a beautiful valley, I found abundance of cocoa, orange, lemon and citron trees. The juice of the limes, mixed with water, I found refreshing and wholesome.
After spending three days on this journey I returned home, carrying a supply of grapes, limes and lemons against the rainy season, which continued longer or shorter as the winds happpened to blow.
At this time I contrived to make many articles I needed. The first was a basket, which, though not cleverly made, answered my purpose on all occa- sions.
At the beginning of the dry season I resum.ed my journeys, taking my dog, gun, hatchet and some biscuit.
After travelling ten or fifteen leagues, I found that side of the island much pleasanter than mine ; the fields- covered with flowers and grass, besides some fine woods.
There were parrots in plenty, and after great difficulty I knocked one down, and kept him some years -before I could get him to call me by name.
When I came to the seashore, I was amazed at the splendor: the strand was covered with shells of the most beautiful fish, and abounded with turtles and fowls of many kinds.
Having spent a month on this journey, I returned to my cave and rested a week, and employed my time in making a cage for Poll.
I was now beginning my third year, and had every reason to be thankful
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IK )i:iNK( »N ( in : .( )!’.
lor iny j)r()S|)(‘rity. Still I nK'ditalcd a drliv<Tan(o Ironi this plaf^-, and my llu)ni;lUs ran ('ontiniially on some way ol oscapo, and I hc;^nan to think it not im|)ossil)l(‘ to hiiild a ('anoo Irom the trunk ol a Iik-o; so at work 1 wont. I cut down a cedar trcai, and was a whole month in shajani;^^ it like the L'^ttom (A a boat, and was thr{‘e weeks with a mallet and chisel clearini^^ it, till it was laroe cnoiioh to transport me and all my elfects. In the height of this work, my fourth year expiiaxl. b'or five years after nothin^^ extraordinary occurred.
bdndini^ it impossible to <;et my canoe- to the shore, bein;^ f;f such lar^^e size, 1 made a second, much smaller, and it was two years bc*fore it was finished.
The sixth year of my captivity I set out to take a tour around the island.
and was driven about two leagues into the sea, and endeavored to keep as far north as possible. In the course of the afternoon I found myself within a mile of the shore, where I soon landed ; and, making a resolution to lay all thoughts of escape aside, I brought my boat safely into a little cove, and lay down to rest.
On awaking from my sleep I saw that I was not far from the place where I had travelled on foot; so I began my journey towards my castle, and, reach-, ing it, was pretty well cured of my rambling inclinations, and lived nearly a year in a contented manner, wanting nothing except conversation.
I had now two plantations on the island : the first, my little fortification, with many improvements ; the second was that where my grapes flourished.
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ROBINSON CRUSOE.
You can imagine that, after being here so long, nothing could be more amazing than to see a human creature. One day, on going to my boat, I saw the print of a man’s naked foot on the shore. I looked everywhere, but could see no living person. This struck me with horror. I returned to my habita- tion frightened at every bush and tree. That night my eyes never closed. Next morning I ventured out of my castle, and milked my goats and flocks. 1 thought of destroying my enclosures, turning my cattle into the woods, and digging up my corn-fields.
Wandering one day to the west of the island, and going to the shore, I saw the ground covered with skulls, hands, feet, and bones of human bodies, and perceived a circle, in the midst of which had been a fire. Anxiety of mind for my preservation put a stop to all my plans for future inventions, either for accommodation or convenience.
It was now the month of December. On going out early one morning before it was light, I saw a flaming light about two miles from me, on my side of the island. I returned immediately to my castle, and prepared to defend myself. Two hours after I went to the top of the hill with my glass, and saw no less than nine savages sitting around a small fire, and eating, as I sup- posed, human flesh, with their two canoes hauled on shore, waiting for the flood to carry them off again. Before they went they danced for above an hour. When they had gone I went down, and saw that three canoes had been there.
One day, during a violent storm, I was seriously alarmed by the firing of a gun, which I conjectured was from the ocean, and must be from a ship in dis- tress. I brought all the dry wood at hand, set it on fire, and soon heard another gun. All night long I kept up my fire, and when daylight appeared I perceived something a long way off, and, seeing it did not stir, concluded it must be a ship, and taking my glass saw a wreck cast on the hidden rocks. The calmness of the sea tempted me to go out in my boat to this wreck to get such necessaries as I might find, and to save some living creature, if any were on board. I made all necessary preparations, and set out, and in two hours came to the wreck, which was a Spanish vessel, and the first sight were two men drowned, locked in each other’s arms. I filled my boat with articles which would be useful to me, and was soon on land.
One day I was much surprised by seeing no less than five canoes on my side of the island, and the savages landed and out of my sight. Ascending the hill I saw about thirty savages feasting upon what meat they had cooked, and dancing and capering around the fire. While I was watching I saw them
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iM )i'.iNS( )N' fiMrsoj-:.
dead. I beckoned to the poor fellow who had been pursued, who finally came close to me, kneeled down, kissing the ground, and taking my foot set it upon his head. This I understood afterwards was a token of swearing that he would be my slave forever. As I understood him in many things, I began to speak to him and taught him to talk to me. I named him Friday, because it was on that day I saved his life. I taught him to cook, to plant corn, and many other things, so that he was very useful to me.
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(.Irag two wrct(’h(‘S Irom the boat, kiioc’k ofie of llu-m down and (:f)rnmence to cut him open. 'I'he other was left to himself until they were ready for him. 'rile poor creature!, seeing himself at liberty, starte:d and ran along the sands towards my castle. 1 le was pursued by three of the savages. I, determined to save the poor fellow’s life, rush(‘d out. knocketd down the foremost one, and, seeing the other about to shoot at me. I immediately fired, and shot him
FRIDAY.
KO HINSON CRUSOE,
' One morninof I sent liim to the seashore to see if he could find a turtle or tortoise, which we usually had once a week. I le had not been gone long before he came running back, crying that there were three canoes on the shore. I took my glass and went on top of the hill, and saw one and twenty savages, and three prisoners, whom they were preparing to feast on. I came down the hill and told Friday I was going to kill them all. I gave him a pistol to put in his girdle, and three guns upon his shoulder, and taking the same number myself we marched out. We entered a thick wood, and were soon quite near them, and saw a white man bound hand and foot. Telling Friday to do exactly as he saw me do, and raising my musket, I took aim at the savages, killing one and wounding two ; but Friday, aiming better than I, killed two and wounded three. We fired again, but only two fell, though many were wounded; the rest ran yelling like mad creatures. Then we gave a great shout, and fired at them, but only killed two, and mortally wounded a third. I untied the prisoner and gave him a dram and piece of bread, and arming him, we had a fierce encounter with the savages, who worked hard' to get out of our reach. Resolving to pursue them, I jumped into one of the boats, and found another poor creature bound and almost lifeless. We gave him drink, and when Friday heard him speak it would have moved any one to see him ; he was like one distracted, and at last said it was his father. While we were thus engaged the savages were almost out of sight, and, a violent storm coming up, I could not suppose otherwise but that they were all drowned.
One day, on going up on the mountain, I saw an English ship, and not long afterwards a boat approached the shore, and at last it ran upon the beach, about half a mile distant. I could see that they were all Englishmen, three of whom were bound and were using gestures of entreaty. I perceived that they were set at liberty to go where they pleased, while the seamen wandered about to see the place. The captives were seated under a great tree. I approached them and called out in Spanish, “ What are ye, gentlemen ? They started up in confusion, and turned to fly from me. But when I said that I was an Englishman, and would help them, one of them said : “ Our story is long, but I was master of that ship ; my men have mutinied, and have left my mate, this passenger and myself here to perish.” When he had given me all the satisfaction I required, I made these conditions. That while they stayed on the island they should be subject to my orders, and that if we could recover the ship, they should give myself and my man Friday a free passage to England.
I then gave them fire-arms, advising them to fire on the men as they lay
(42)
KoniNsoN (KiJ.soi:.
aslcc^j). Wc killed one and wounded three others, wIk) cried (or help, which we granted, on condition that they wonld help us in recovering the ship, i tluMi told them that 1 was t;oin^ to leave the island, and if they would stay there, tlieir liv(;s would \h) spar(;d. 'They ac^rf'ed to stay.
1 and iny man I'riday set sail, carryiiii^ with me my money, my parrot, umbrella and ^oat-skin cap. I had been on the island twenty- eight years, two months and nineteen days.
I found my first captain’s widow alive, but in mean circumstances. Soon after I went down to York- shire, where all my family were dead, except two sisters and two of my brother’s children. They all thought that I was dead. My circumstances would have been indifferent, had not my partners conducted my plantation in the most profitable manner; so that I found myself in possession of ^5,000, besides an income of ^1,000 a year.
Not liking to reside at the Brazils, I sold my plantation and settled in Eng- land, and marrying a young lady of good family I lost all desire to roam. I had two sons and one daughter, and purchasing a farm, I led the life of a country gentleman, and was as happy as the greatest monarch in the world. But in the midst of my happiness, I was suddenly plunged into the greatest sorrow by the loss of my dear wife. I sold my farm, and at the solicitation ^ of my nephew, started on a voyage with some merchants of his acquaintance, to the East Indies and China. “And, uncle,” said he, “ if you will go. I’ll promise to land you on your own island, to see the state of your kingdom.”
Just before he came in, my thoughts had been fixed to get a patent for its possession, and fill it with inhabitants. I was not long in coming to a decision, and made preparations for the voyage.
The vessel being ready, I and Friday went on board, and had besides ser- vants whom I proposed to leave there, if they were willing — two carpenters, a smith, and a fellow who was a jack-of-all-trades ; also a tailor. My cargo consisted of clothing, household articles, and muskets, cannon, pistols, swords, etc. We put to sea, and were driven by contrary winds to the north, and were obliged to put in at Galway, Ireland, where we lay for twenty-two days.
I had difficulty in finding my little island, as I had no landmark. At length I came on the side of my island, and, no sooner did I see it, than I called
(43)
ROBINSON CRUSOE.
Friday, who clapped his hands and danced for joy. When we came into the creek, Friday saw his father, and would have jumped into the sea had they not let the boat go. No sooner was he on shore than he flew, like an arrow, to embrace his father.
I found everything very much changed. There had been several fierce encounters with the savages, some of whom had been taken prisoners, and had become naturalized; some of the females had married the sailors we had left, so that, in the nine years of my absence, my little colony had considerably increased. After distributing the clothing, tools, nails, etc., we went on board ship, and, giving them a salute of five guns, set sail for Brazil.
The third day there happened a calm, and we were driven towards the land. Some hours after we perceived the sea covered with something black, and, on looking through the glass, saw about one hundred and twenty canoes, filled with savages, paddling hastily towards us. They fired about fifty arrows among us; and, unfortunately for poor Friday, no less than seven arrows pierced his body, killing one of the best servants and most faith- ful companions in all my solitude and affliction.
So enraged was I at the death of poor Friday that I ordered the guns to be loaded with small shot, which killed numbers of them and set the rest swim- ming ; the others scoured away as fast as possible. Being now under sail, we took our last farewell of poor Friday. We buried him with all possible decency and solemnity, putting him in a coffin, and committing him to the deep, causing eleven guns to be fired over him.’
After many adventures which prolonged our journey to a year, five months and three days, I reached my native land in safety, cured of my rambling in- clinations, and only desirous to end my days in peace.
Shoe the wild horse.
And shoe the gray mare ; If the horse wont be shod, Let him go bare.
•:o:
Lady-bug, lady-bug.
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire. Your children at home.
(44)
ABOUT siii<:lls.
'jW i\ the arc many varictif^s of sliclls, from the tiny ^^rovvth to that of the fountain shell, which weighs as much as five pounds. Although all these are found in the ocean around* the PORCELAIN SHELL, WITH ANIMAL. Wcst ludics, it would takc a whole book to tell of what can be said about the different sorts of shells, and the animals that build them and use them for their houses. Some of them, like the turtle, carry their shells around with them, only the turtle cannot get rid of his shell ; it is carefully fastened to him, and the turtle appears to be the
connecting-link between the crocodile and the fishes. The coral is one of the lowest family of animal life, and there are many who say it is a plant. You know these have been dying and leaving their shells piled upon each other until they reach as high almost as the surface, beneath which they are hid, and many vessels have been wrecked on their treacherous reefs. The fishing is carried on by sailors, and is very tiresome.
The coral is cleaned from the small shells and sea-weed and car- ried to sea-ports, where they are
sold to work- ers in jew- elry. Here is a very pretty cut of the red coral, which is quite scarce.
o u will also see in CORAL. this picture
the vessel from which the divers jump to hunt for pearl-oysters, shells and coraL
(45)
GATHERING SHELLS.
(40)
Twi: sp:a-sii)IO.
(lay, when I was little, I remember our nurse was constantly whispering something mysterious to our governess, and, as you may guess, my sister Mary and b'rank and I were very anxious to know what it was all about. At last I heard nurse say, “I’m ’most done now, and I don’t think we need tell the children to-ni({ht.” That was enoufrh for me, so I bothered and teased until I was told that next day we were all going to the sea-side. I dreamt about buckets and spades, and all sorts of things, and you may depend I was up in time in the morning. Now in those days we were living in New Jersey, and there, you know, everything is not quite the same as here. The house my father had taken was at Long Branch, on the Jersey coast — a lovely, glorious place.
When we arrived the sea was peaceful and smooth. As we drove along the cliff from the depot, we could see fishing boats and larger vessels lying quietly on the calm water, and we could hear the murmur of the tiny waves on the beach. And, joy of joys ! we could see the bathing machines, and we knew we should in a day or two be having splendid dips in the sea. I wonder if you' little people love the sea as I did when I was a child, and indeed as I always have all my life. To be near the sea, on the sea, or in the sea, has always been one of my greatest pleasures. And now I am going to tell you a bathing adventure which happened to me during this very visit to Long Branch.
You must know that there was at that time one quite important member of our family that I have not yet mentioned to you: this member of the family was a dog — a true skye terrier — called Elfie, for he was like an elf in his clever, odd ways, we thought. He was beloved by us all,, but was the particular property of Mary, who was very, very fond of him, and for a long time kept to the delusion that Elfie was a prince in disguise; and that he would one day get rid of the enchantment which had turned him into a dog, and, becoming a handsome young prince, he would straightway offer her his hand and heart. Elfie acknowledged Mary as his mistress, but he extended his loving friend- ship to all the rest of the family, and particularly patronized me. Elfie was very handsome in his way, and I always thought he knew it. He was dark
(47)
THE SEA-SIDE.
bluish gray in color, with very silky hair, which hung over his beautiful eyes, and a coal-black nose.
Elfie went to Long Branch with us, and always accompanied us when we went to bathe ; he hated the water, and therefore never thought of coming
after us into the sea, but he went with us into the machine, and would sit at the open door with a wise expression, watching us bathe.
But to come to my adventure: One morning I was got ready for my bath the last of the three; our usual old bathing woman, Nanny, had given Mary and Frankie their dips (for mamma was most particular that we should have our heads wet first), and was now engaged in giving them sundry odd jumps
(48)
A MSFI.
up and down and “ in(!rry-<^a)-ronnd(*rs,” as wo called them. Nurse told me to wait for Nanny; and had tunned into tluiotlujr compartment of the machine, for it was a double one, to say something to the nursery maifl, who was arran^ini^ our clotlu;s, wluui the idea occurred U) me that I would jr>in the party in the merry-go-around without my usual dip. Accordingly I descended the stc‘ps slowly and cautiously. Nanny and the others did not notice me; the only person who was aware of my intention was bdfie, and he certainly did not a[)provc. Down 1 went, going to the last rung of the little ladder — then — I made a false ste[), and fell into the water, head first. I was stunned ! Nanny heard the splash, but did not see me; nurse ran to the bathing-machine door, and did not see me. Elfie barked furiously, and was the first to see my little white cap, which was lifted on a wave a few feet off The brave doggie did not hesitate, but sprang into the water, swam the short distance, and seized it. He kept my head above water until the old bathing woman waded to me, and I was soon carried back to the machine.
My little face was badly scratched from my fall, but otherwise I soon recovered. And I never tried to have a bath again without my usual dip from Nanny.
:o:
A QUEER FISH.
I
N another part of the book you will read about the flood, and Noah taking into the ark every kind of animal then living; but there were some kinds of ani- mals that lived before Noah was born, or ever man was created. These are called antediluvian animals — that means before the flood. The picture represents a form of sea monster, a genuine sea serpent, and it is claimed some such reptile still exists, because any number of people are willing to swear they have seen it, and it is be- LIZARD). lieved that there really is one, but very
rare. You will notice the picture represents an animal having a body similar to a seal, and a head and neck like a snake. The word plesiosaurus means “ neariv a lizard saurus beinor “ \\\^q ^ lizard.''
(49)
4
i
1’1-:ari.s.
all know what a [)carl is. When perfect it is one of the most precious of jewels; and the Saviour, in one of his jjarahles, com{>are(l a person who had turned away from his evil deeds and wicked life, and who had found the “peace which i>asse*th understandincr,” to one who had found “the pearl of gre^at [)rice,” because the pearl is so jnire.
I'he pearl grows inside of an oyster which is found throughout the Pacific ocean. How many of you can tell me what countries have their shores washed by . this ocean ?
Men, called pearl-divers, dive down in water that is clear and bring up these oysters. Every oyster does not contain a pearl ; and, even when they do, they are not always perfect, any more than all boys and girls are good. These divers can only stay under the water from fifty to eighty seconds. There have been some who have stayed down as long as six minutes. The dangers of this work are not only those of suffocation, but sharks and other horrible monsters of the ocean often attack these people, who have to protect themselves with spikes of iron-wood. Many times this is not sufficient. Just think when you see a pearl next time that perhaps the man who brought it up from the bottom of the ocean may have been afterward eaten by a shark. The water is much heavier than the air, and the result is, that all the blood is forced into the head, and very often the blood comes out of the mouth, eyes and ears.
They don’t live very long.
In Polynesia the women make better divers than the men. In Australia they dredge for pearls like we do for oysters here. Pearls are also found along the coast of California and Central America.
:o:
One morning little Dora was busy at the ironing-table smoothing the towels and stockings. “ Isn’t it hard work for the little arms ? ” I asked. A look of sunshine came into her face as she glanced towards her mother, who was rocking the baby. “ It isn’t hard work when I do it for mamma,” she said, softly.
(51)
OUTSIDE OF THE SHELL OR PEARL OYSTER.
PEARL OYSTER.
THE LITTLE SAILORS.
PAUL and Mary lived on the bank of a river not far from the sea. Ships sailed past their home every day, and the children stopped their play to watch the vessels as they sailed up and down the river. They sometimes called the ships birds with white wings, and one day, when it was blowing hard, they made a sail with Mary’s handkerchief ; and putting his hoop and stick on the ground Paul took hold of the two corners at one side, and Mary took hold of the two corners of the other side, then they held the handkerchief against the wind. Mary was almost blown over, and Paul laughed to see their sails filled by the wind.
When they went home they told their mother what they had been doing. She told them that sailors used a large sheet for a sail, and fastened it to a long pole called a mast, and stretched it with spars and ropes. Large ships have several sails fastened to masts, and by these are blown over the sea from one country to another.
One day Paul and Mary were taken to the sea-side, where the river that ran past their house ended, and when they saw a vessel bounding along with its sails set they where delighted.
When they went home their mother showed them how the sailors can roll the sails up when they wish to slacken their speed, or to stop their vessel.
Paul profited by what he had learned, and made a little boat, and showed Mary how to sew a sail on a mast. They took it down to the pond in the garden, and the wind filled the sail's, and blew the little vessel across the pond.
In the summer Paul and Mary were invited to the sea-shore to pass a num- ber of weeks. They played all day on the beach. Paul brought his little boat with him, and when the sea was calm Paul and Mary waded into the water to sail the boat. Paul tied a string to it, so that he could pull it along. When they were tired of playing they went fishing for shrimps. Mary carried a basket on her back to put the shrimps in as they caught them, and
(52)
JICI.IA'-KISII.
tlu‘y carried them home and ate them for their supper. On oilier days they walketl on th(‘ smooth, shining sands, and looked for shells and pretty colored stones, and carried them home and jifaced them in the ;^arden amon;^ the (lower beds.
As Paul i^rew older he still had the sanu! fondness for ships, and determine*d to be a sailor; so he gained a reluctant consent from his mother, and went on a voyage to the West Indies, where we will leave him for the present, and at some time in the future, when he is captain of a vessel, may take up our sory and tell of his adventures on the sea.
:o:
JELLY-FISH.
T'YID you ever see a fish that had no bones or shell, but was just a transparent mass of jelly, and yet could sting you se- verely ? A few years aofo I was sailinor in Chesapeake Bay, and the water was full of little animals floating around that were just like those in this pic- ture, onl)^ of course, they had no shells. There was a perfect mass of them, and prevented some of those on board the schooner taking a salt-water swim, as they wished. They are called sea-nettles, or medusae ; and are about the very lowest form of animal life known. If handled they fall apart in your hand, being apparently all water. Some melt when they are touched, and disappear while you are looking at them.
:o:
When does water resemble a horse ? — When it is in a race.
Why is swearing like a ragged coat ? — It is a bad habit.
Why is an Israelite in a fever like a diamond ? — He is a ill.
Why is a peach-stone like a regi- ment?— It has a kernel.
(53)
(54)
CRAIGS.
l|I^RAHS are generally supposed to live in the ocean, hut there is one s|)ecies that lives on the land. It is found on the Island of Jamaica, in the West Indies. It burrows in the sand, sometimes two or three miles from the sea. It has two loni^ claws.
In attacking- an enemy it binds it with one claw, which is then thrown off, and then continues the fifjht with the free claw.
They stay in the ground during the day, and hunt for their food at night. They visit the ocean once a year to lay their eggs.
They travel by night, when they are caught in ereat numbers. There is another kind of crab found in the Japanese waters measuring ten feet betw^^n the tips of its nippers, which are five feet lon^. The crab found land crab.
on the coast of the United States is edible, and by many considered a luxury.
-:o:-
THE SEA-HORSE.
HIPPOCAMPUS OR SEA-HORSE.
^^HIS fish is found in the Atlantic Ocean, around the coast of Spain, the south of Erance, in the Mediterranean, and in the Indian Ocean. They are very small, and have been found often curled up in oyster- shells. The head is much like that of a horse, and the rings around the body and tail re- semble those of some caterpillar. The habits of this fish are singular and interesting. They swim with a waving motion, and frequently wind their tails around the weeds and rushes. They have fins to sustain them in the water, and even in the air. They live on worms, fishes, eggs, and substances found in the bot- tom of the sea.
, ' (55)
PLAYING ON THE BEACH.
(OG)
TIII^: I)IVIN(;-P>F.IJ
WI lA'r is the first thint^ you think of when )’ou look at this picture?
Some poor shi[) that was lost in a storm? \V(me you ever at sea when the big waves that seemed to be as hii^h as a house were going faster than the ship and breaking over the stern ? This ship was evidently a man-of-war, and most of it has been hauled up. On one side of the bell you will see a cannon going up, and on the other a barrel. There must be, of course, a ship overhead. I wonder what sort of a boat it is, whether a sailing vessel or a steamship? If you look at the picture again you will see two men sitting in the bell, which has no bottom. The air in the bell keeps the water out. One of the men holds a rubber-hose which is fastened to the helmet of the diver or man who is lifting up the things, and fastening them to the rope let down from the ship above. This tube carries fresh air to the diver. The other man in the bell has a hose in his hand which is attached to the barrel, and it contains compressed air, which passes into the bell as fast as the men breathe the air in the bell, because the air breathed out is heavier and occupies less room than pure air. The men would die if they didn’t have fresh air. As soon as they have exhausted their supply of it they pull the rope, and they are hauled up.
Elsewhere in the book you will read about how they dive for pearls ; but a pearl-diver couldn’t stay down long enough, or dive deep enough to bring up wreckage. The bell-diver wears weights attached to his feet, the same as the boys put a lead-dipsy to their lines when they go fishing; but the diver can’t go below a certain depth, or he would be crushed to death by the weight of the water. The fish have a series of air-bladders, and in this way they can make themselves heavier or lighter by sucking in air or forcing it out of their bodies ; but a man’s lungs contain just so much air, and he can’t make them hold any more.
(57)
SPINNING THE YARN.
(■>8)
A SI^A YARN.
¥ (lisrcm('nil)f;r,” said old I)ill Marlin, takin^^ Ids pipo slowly out of his 1 mouth, in answ(M' to my rccpicst that Im would spin mo a yarn, “ whothor I cxau- told you about litth^ J‘tck I'o’cas’lo.”
“ No ! no ! ” I cried ; “ heav(^ ahead ! ”
“ Well,” said Hill, “ it was in fifty-six that my mate, Joe I larris, and I were in Sydney. We had been* ashore a fortnii^ht, and our money was out, and we were' casting- about for a ship. Adown among the docks we strolled, keeping a sharp lookout, for we had no mind to go to sea in a rotten hulk. At last we saw a craft to our mind, as fine a clipper as ever I set eyes on; clean and taut was everything about her. The ‘ Flying Scud ’ was the name on her bows. As we were standing on the pier looking at her, the mate spied us and came down the gang-plank.
“ ‘ Looking for a berth, my lads ? ’ he said. Well, the end of it was that we agreed to ship with him, and in three hours we had dropped out into the stream, and were only waiting for the passengers to come aboard before we put her head to the open sea.
“Very soon we saw them coming in the quarter-boat with the captain. They were soon alongside, the tackle was made fast and the boat run up to her place in a hurry. Then the captain stepped aboard, walked aft and saluted the quarter-deck, and giving the order to the mate, ‘All hands make sail,’ disappeared down the ladder to his cabin.
“Joe and I stood by the boat to help the passengers out. It was short work, for there were only three, a man and his wife and their little boy. They were dark-haired and talked some foreign lingo. The woman was pale and feeble, and when the man spoke suddenly had a shrinking way, as if she had been harshly treated.
“ ‘ I am afraid she will never see dryland again,’ said Joe to me that evening, as we lay out on the bowsprit to furl the jib, as it had come on to blow ; ‘ she’s very thin and pale, to my thinking, and that husband of hers is a bad lot. But the lad’s a fine one. Did you see him put his arms around my neck when I took him out of the boat ? ’
“ Day after day went by as days do at sea, one much like another. The lady passenger grew whiter each day, and so no one was surprised when one morning word was passed that she was dead. We buried her at sea the next ■evening, and three days after were at the Cape.
“ Here, as we should have to lie off for sorne hours, the passenger went
(59)
A SEA YARN.
ashore in the boat with the mate. The day crept slowly on, and at last it was dusk. A good wind was blowing and the skipper was all impatience to be off, but the mate’s boat had not yet come back. We fired a gun to hurry it, and at last it came, but the passenger was not there. He had not come, the mate said, though he had waited for him till the last minute. The captain shook his head, ‘I half feared it this morning,’ he said. We men all knew what he meant : The boy’s father had run away and left him in the hands of strangers.
“ How it came about I do not know, but in a little while the lad spent all his time with us forward. Every one liked him, and the men would whittle out toys for him, or sing him songs at any time. We dubbed him Jack Fo’cas’le,. for we could never get the swing of his real name.
((>0)
A SI-: A YAKN.
“ Al last the cruise was at an end. 'I'he hands aloft werf! furlin;^ the mainsail for the last time, lor the tiiL: was aloriL^side that was lo take us uj) th(‘ hay. 'I'he captain was lookinj^ over the side when Joe and I we*nt uj) to him.
“‘Well, my men,’ said he, for he was a pleasant-sj)oken man, ‘ what is it.^ ’
“ ‘ It’s about th(! litthi lad, sir,’ said 1 ; ‘ what’s to cortie o’ him ? ’
‘“I’m sure I don’t know,’ said the captain. ‘I’ve been worryin;:^ over it ever since we left tlu^ Cape.’
“‘We’re both a bit oldish men, sir,’ said' I, ‘and having no families, and not carino- to spend money as young- men ’do, joe and I thought we might cast about to pay for the lad’s schooling and board till he come of age to help hisself. If so be it was agreeable to you,’
“Well, the end of it was that he thought well of it, and that was the way Joe and I came to have the youngster between us.”
“ And what became of him ? ”
“ Why ! bless you ! he’s growed up, and mate of the ‘Hector.’ It’s he that pays for me; for, one way and another, I never laid up, and when I was thrown on my beam-ends I don’t know what I should ha’ done without him.”
“ And Joe ? ”
“ Poor old Joe, he died two years after we took Jack ; the fever carried him off on the African coast. He was a good shipmate, a good shipmate.” And the old man lighted his pipe, for it had gone out.
(fii)
THE HAMMER-HEADED SHARK.
^ I "^HIS fish is distinguished by the singular shape of its liead, having the appearance of the liead of a hammer. The eyes are gray and projecting, and when the animal is irritated the colors of the iris are like a flame. The most common species is long and slender in the body, which is gray, and the head black. It is usually about eleven or twelve feet lonor and weighs occasionally nearly five hundred pounds. It is bold and greedy for blood, and is often found around ships, even near the coast. It has not the strength of a shark ; but is more furious, and can strike with as much force. The sailor always remembers its visits, and loves to tell of hairbreadth escapes.
Come, let’s to bed.
Says Sleepy-head;
Stop a while, says Slow : Put on the pot.
Says Greedy-gut ; •
Let’s sup before we go.
What is the difference between a pillow-covering and a quack ? — One is a pillow-sham, and the other is a sham pill-er.
What is the difference between an ambassador and a bear hunter ? — One bears despatches, the other dis- patches bears.
Little Nancy Etticote,
In a white petticoat.
With a red nose ;
The longer she stands.
The shorter she grows.
— A candle.
What contradiction is true of an unpleasant companion ? — The more you think of him, the less you think of him.
What is the difference between a boy and his shadow ? — The boy can see his shadow, the shadow can’t see him.
COMHA'r HICrWl^IiN A SHARK AND A SAW-FISH.
ALONCi souk* parts of the African coast, sharks arc so plenty that tlicy arc ofttni washed on the beach, dlicy are caught with a lari^c hook and a strong; rope. Tlic hook is at- tached to a chain two feet long, so that the shark could not bite the line in two if they swallowed the bait. There are several varieties, one having a blue-skin, and they have seven rows of ugly teeth. Another species is a gray color, and is shorter and thicker than the blue-skin ; the head is broader and the mouth wider, and it is more savage. This is the most common. It will attack a man in shallow water, so that it is dangerous to bathe in the sea.
A sailor was in a little boat and saw a great splashing in the water, and eoine nearer saw an enormous saw-fish attack a larore shark ; both were fighting desperately. Fearing they would attack his boat, he went off a little distance. Each tooth of the saw was two inches long, and there were about forty on each side, the' saw was about five feet in length. At the last the saw- fish gave the shark a terrible blow, so that his teeth went right through the fiesh. He gave several of these blows, and the shark soon lay upon his back dead, with its body fearfully torn. The saw-fish swam away, leaving the water stained with the blood of the shark.
We’ve just come home from the seashore, Been there since the first of July —
And we’ve had lots of fun I can tell you, My dear Kitty, baby and I.
We’ve found the most beautiful pebbles. We’ve rolled in the jolliest sand.
And I am as brown as a chestnut.
And the baby is dreadfully tanned.
C63)
THE WHITE RAY,
HIS fish belongs to the same order as the electric eel, and like it can o^ive an electric shock. One four feet long placed in a trough while a tub was beinor made
o
for it killed four mules which just touched the water where they were ca- customed to drinking.
Indians drive horses into marshy places where these fish are in order to ^et them.
There they can catch the fish, which usually attacks the belly of the horse. The horses fall as though shot, and are frequently killed at the instant of discharging its battery. With harpoons they throw cords around the fish, and by a sudden jerk haul them out of the water. If the cords get wet they are apt to feel the power of the fish.
Why is the skeleton of a sermon a very unnatural object? — Because it has several heads.
Why do policemen ride on the cars for nothing? — Because you can’t get a nickel out of a copper.
A 6 BY 9 RHYME.
A QUEER little boy who had been to school And was up to all sorts of tricks. Discovered that 9 when upside down Would pass for the figure 6.
So when asked his age by a good old dame The comical youngster said,
I’m 9 when I stand on my feet like this, But 6 when I stand on my head.
TIIF. TURBOT.
rillllS fish is l)eaiitiful in appear- JL anc(!. It belongs to tlu; same family as the lloimclcr, aiul is almost Hat. This one is called the turbot.
Its flesh is considered the most finely-flavored of any caught in the ocean, d'o show to what an extent it is eaten it is said that Holland fishermen sell $4.00,000 worth to the London market alone every year. Now, here’s a chance for you to use your arithmetic. Say these fish sell for a shilling, i. e., twenty-five cents a piece, that would make 1,600,000 fish of this kind sent to London. How many peo- ple do you suppose were employed catching them ? Beside, it is said, the quantity sent by the Dutch, the people of London consume four times as many more; that makes 6,400,000. How many turbot would that be apiece, saying London has a population of 3,000,000?
A LITTLE STRANGER.
I GUESS you’d think it dreadful If you were all alone,
And nobody about you You’d ever, ever known. Without mamma a baby Is not the thing at all,
And a papa should always Be somewhere within call.
Two grandpas and two grandmas, And aunties by the dozens, With a sprinkling, too, of uncles, And a perfect load of cousins.
With a nurse are quite convenient ;
And a lot of little frocks,
With capes and boots and bonnets. And a good supply of socks.
These things should be provided For every baby born ;
To miss them is quite dreadful,
• And makes one quite forlorn. I’ve told you what the facts are ;
Henceforth I hope you’ll see That there are no helpless babies Left all alone like me.
o
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A TALE OF THE GREENLAND SILAS.
ONE winter evening', as a shelter from a sudden storm, 1 found myself snugly ensconced by the fireside of the only cottage — and a very hum- ble one it was — within miles of the place where I lived — on the southern coast of England.
“Ay, sir,” said my host, an old weather-beaten, but pleasant-faced sailor, with but one arm — “Ay,” he said, “ it is dark, and it wont be light again to- night. Bring more logs, Norman, and heap them on the fire, and presently you can light the lamp. What, sir! you say it is more pleasant to sit by the light of those crackling logs? Very well, so be it. Ah! those logs, sir, many a story they tell me. Every bit of wood you see blazing there is part of some poor wrecked ship, for ’tis a wild coast this, sir, a wild coast.”
“ But you’ve been on wilder? ” I said to him.
“Ah ! yes, many is the one, sir. You see, I’ve lost an arm. Well, sir, but for the lad Norman there — as I call him, though he’s neither kith nor kin to old Kenny — I’d have lost my life itself.”
Norman was a Norwegian boy: his round face, his fair hair, and blue eyes told me that. He called old Kenny father, and the two lived in this little cot all alone, supporting themselves on the fish they caught, and on the produce of their little garden.
“ It is seven years ago, sir, and Norman would be about eight then, since I sailed away from Lerwick Bay in the good barque “Polly-Anne” — called after the captain’s wife, sir, for the captain was partly owner, you see. I was third mate, or spectioneer, and though I say it myself, sir, there were few could strike a whale or lance one more swiftly than old Kenny, before he lost his arm.
“ It was spring when we left our anchorage, and crowded all sail for the far North — spring, and though the seas were rough and cold, the wind was fair. All went well with us, and we made the Straits in less than four weeks’ time.
“We found the ‘country,’ as they call it, wonderfully clear of ice; so north, and north, and north we went, after the whales. Ay, and good fortune we had among them, too, for before summer was ended, and the autumn frosts had begun, we were full to the hatches, and there couldn’t have been found a happier ship’s crew in all the world than we were then. It was laughing and joking, and telling stories, and singing, all day long. We had rare sport on the ice-bound shores, too, among the bears and the walruses.
“We were just preparing to bear up for merry England once more, when one night the frost fell — the black frost, sir — and we found ourselves suddenly
m
A l.W.l, <>l nil, (.KI'.l-NLA.Mt M,A‘.,
lock^fl ill iIk: ((;K1 r-nil^rc'Kc (jf Kin^^ Winter.
“ It was a sad snr[;rise (or ns, hut. as the season was still yoiin;.^, we did not lose ho[je, for in a single hour a thaw nii'/ht come and set ns free. I did not think of that, thonj^di, when one hric^ht moondit night, ride in hand, I let my- self quietly over the side, un- known to any one, and made my way to the shore across the field of bay ice that sur- rounded our barque.
“ What made me go so stealthily ? Well, I’ll tell you, sir. The captain had given orders that no one should leave the vessel ; but only that day I had spied a huge bear on the ice, and 1 thought I might manage to bag him by the li^ht of the moon.
“ After hours of toil, I found and followed the bear. The chase led me far inland, but I finally was victorious. Hastily securing the skin, I began to retrace my steps. To my horror, I found the snow was getting soft, and that clouds had covered the moon. The thaw had come. Hoping against' hope, I hurried on and on, but the moon set, and it was bright daylight ere I once more stood on the beach.
“The ship had left! I could see her hull dipping down over the distant horizon. Never shall I forget my feelings at that moment. How I spent the next few hours I know not. I was mad; 1 was frantic. I rushed to the nearest eminence; I climbed it; I waved my coat, and shouted myself hoarse. All, all in vain. But tears came to my relief at last. Tears came, and then, sir, I knelt and prayed. I did not feel so lonely after doing that.
“ I was now able to take a calmer view of my situation. But the prospect
A 'I'ALK OF TllF ( 1 RICFN LAN I) SF.AS.
before me was a very terrible one indeed, and when the topmost sails of my barque finally disappeared, a coldness as of death stole over my heart.
“Then, with one more pleading look for heaven’s protection, I began my journey southwards.
“ I was on the Hritish-American side of Weedo bay, and six hundred miles at least lay between me and the nearest civilized habitation.
“Sir, there are times even yet that I dream I am once again toiling along all alone over those dreary fields of ice and snow, and I start from my sleep bathed in sweat, and trembling.
“ The first two or three days, I think, were the worst ; the road was rough, my boots were cut, and my feet bleeding. I had snow to eat, but very little food ; only now and then a bird fell to my good gun.
“ By night I sought shelter, as bears do, under the clefts of the rocks, where I buried myself in snow for warmth, rolled in the great skin that I carried. I saw no more bears, but often the voices of wolves howling at night alarmed me, so that I almost dreaded sleep. The moon wfis my greatest comfort ; what oppressed me most was, I believe, the awful silence that by day reigned everywhere about me. It was a silence that, like Egyptian darkness, could be felt.
• “It seemed as though my journey would never end ; but one day, to my intense joy, I came suddenly upon a log hut, close by the sea. There was smoke curling up from the roof of it : I saw that ; I saw no more, then ; I had fainted.
“ When I recovered, a little boy of eight or so was holding my head, and gently rubbing my face with snow.
“‘You have brought me,’ he said, in Norwegian, ‘a message from poor father.^ He has been gone so very long, and I am all by myself.’
“ ‘ Dear child,’ I said, ‘ have you lost your father? ’
“ ‘ He has been gone away these two months,’ was the reply, ‘and I fear ho will never, never come back any more. But come along with n"te to our cot ; there is a good fire there, and food.’
“Sir, that log hut, rude though it was, looked like a palace to me. The boy brought me food, cooked by his own little hands, then pointed to a bed of skins in a corner.
“ ‘You are tired,’ he said ; ‘ rest and sleep.’
“I awoke refreshed and well, after many hours of sweetest slumber; then bit by bit I wormed the poor lad’s story from him. His father had been a walrus hunter from the north of Norway. Their boat had been wrecked, and
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A l Aij-: ()!• 'I Ml-: (;i<i-:kni,ani) si:as.
all save they two were drowned. With his own hands the latl’s father had hiiilt this hilt, and tlu^ri! tlu^y had liv(;d, hy hiintin;^^ and fishinj^.
“All tlu! dreary winter I stayed with tlu; hoy in his hiit. Ihit liis father never retunu!d.
“Winter wore away at last, and the sj)rlnj^^ sunshine was ^laddf:nin;^ the hills, when one day Norman — ay, it was that dear lad, sir — ran shouting towards me. ‘A ship! a ship! ’ he cried. 1 could hardly reply for joy. I>ut^ seated there on the hillside, we watched h(^r while the anchor was let and the sails clewed, and finally a boat was lowered, and began to make for the shore. Then we returned to the cottage, Norman bounding before me in glee.
“ He had barely reached the door, when — oh! sir, I shudder now to think of it — a gigantic bear, who had been inside, dashed the door open and attacked my boy. Axe in hand, I rushed to the rescue, when the monster dropped the lad intact and flew at me. He felled me with one blow.”
“ Don’t say more, father dear ! ” cried Norman, approaching, and laying his- arm fondly on the old sailor’s shoulder.
“There is little more to say, sir; but those in the boat saw the child rush for a rifle and shoot that monster bear dead, though he seized and broke my arm in his dying agonies.
“ But,” added the old man, “ there is a Providence in all things, sir. The ‘ Polly-Anne ’ that sailed away and left me, w^as never more heard of. She must have foundered at sea. Light the lamp now, Norman, lad.”
A was an apple-pie ; B baked it ;
C cut it ;
D dealt it ;
E eat it ;
F fought for it ;
G got it ;
H had it ;
I eyed it ;
J joined it ;
K kept it ;
L longed for it ;
jM mourned for it ;
N nodded at it ;
O opened it ;
P peeped into it ;
O quartered it ;
R ran for it ;
S stole it ;
T took it ;
V viewed it ;
W wanted it ;
X, Y, Z, and ampersand,
All wish’d for a piece in hand.
m
THE VIKINGS,
“'I'IIP: KINCiS ()!' Tin: SIiA.”
Tins is what the Vikings called themselves. More than a thousand years ai^o the shores of Scotland, h'nj^land, Ireland and I'rance were ravaj^ed by a race of sea-rovers, who came from Scandinavia, Norway, Sweden and Den- mark. Later on they settled permanently in each of these countries, and even peopled Iceland. They were fearless sailors.
There lived in Denmark about this time a petty chief whose coura^^e and prowess were of such a character that his fame spread all over Denmark. His name was Rollo. But he excited the jealousy and envy of the king of that country, and who, after vainly trying to subdue Rollo, used treachery to accomplish his ends. He led Rollo to think he was safe from further attacks by pretending to make peace with him, and then suddenly attacked him when off his guard, murdered his brother and bravest officers, and compelled Rollo to fly for safety to Scandinavia. Here many of his subjects, induced by love, and partly because of the Danish ruler’s oppression, followed him. Rollo, instead of trying to recover his rightful possessions, determined to follow the example of his neighbors. So he collected a body of men, composed of Nor- wegians, Swedes, Scandinavians, Danes and adventurers of every nation, who, being used to roving, took delight in nothing but war and plunder.
He first turned his attention to England; but, as that country was governed by King Alfred the Great, who had overcome previous invaders and induced them to settle permanently in that country, Rollo decided he hadn’t much of a chance there, and, accordingly, made an inroad into France, where he made ravages in every direction along the coast and inland. Finally, the king offered Rollo the province he had already ravaged, to induce him to cease his depredations. There was only one condition that didn’t please our pirate king, and that was that he was to do homage to King Charles, which he long refused to do, but finally, to secure the advantages he enjoyed, humbled his pride and married the daughter of the king named Gisla, and secured further gifts of territory. But when some of the French nobles wanted Rollo to throw himself at the king’s feet, he refused, but finally ordered one of his captains to do so ; but this officer was so angry that, in pretending to raise the king’s foot to kiss, he tumbled him head over heels before all his court.
But the king and his people were so powerless they dared say nothing, and found it best to overlook the insult.
Rollo was now well advanced in years, and gave himself up to settling his newly-acquired territory, which was then and afterward called Normandy.
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ABOUT OYSTERS.
/^"AYSTERS grow wherever there is a sea-coast. The cut re- presents oysters of different ages attached to a block of wood.
An amusing story is told of the man who first ate an oyster. He was walking by the sea-shore, when
kicked it with his foot, and the ani- mal opened its mouth with indig- nation. Seeing the cream-colored layers within the shells, he lifted the upper shell and inserted his fingers, when the shell closed down on his fingers, causing him con- siderable pain. After releasing his fingers, our gentleman put them in his mouth. “ Delightful ! ” he ex- claimed. “ What is this ? ” and again sucked his fingers. Then he found he had made a great dis- covery, and made quite a feast.
Oysters are considered a great relish, and always in demand. They can always be eaten without fear of indigestion. It is recorded of the Emperor Napoleon that he always ate them when they could be procured before any of his great battles. It is proved to a certainty that there is no feast worthy of a master where oysters do no-t come to the front.
On our coast the oysters breed in large beds, to which quantities of young oysters are conveyed and left untouched for two or three years. The oysters are taken up by the dredge, a kind of small net fastened around an iron frame. The part called the beard is really the breathing apparatus.
Why do not the trees open their trunks in the Spring, when they change their dress? — Because they leave their Summer clothing out.
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he saw an old and ugly oyster- shell, coated with sea- weed. He
“WHAT ARE THE WILD WAVES SAYING?”
H
TT7HERE are we to go, mother?” said the little waves to the great, deep “ Go on, my darlings, on to the great yellow sands : you will find
work to do.”
“ I want to play,” said one little wave, “ and jump up and down, and see who can jump highest.”
“ No ; come on, come on,” said an earnest wave ; “ mother must be right. I want to work.”
“ Oh, I dare not go,” said another ; “ look at those great black rocks close to the sands — I dare not go there ; they will tear me to pieces, and spoil my beauty.”
“ On, on, on,” said the bigger wave ; “ take my hand, sister, and let us go on together — how glorious to do some work ! ”
“ Shall we ever go back to mother ! ” cried two or three.
. “ Oh, yes ! oh, yes ! when the work is done we shall go back to mother’s arms.”
So one and all pressed on. The earnest one led the others; and even the little wave who had wanted to play pressed on, and thought that work might be fun after all. The timid ones did not like to be left behind, and all became earnest as they got nearer the sands.
After all, it was fun, pressing on one upon another — jumping, laughing, running on to the broad shining sands.
o O
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“JUMPING, LAUGHING, RUNNING IN THE SHINING SANDS.’
" \v 1 1 A'l* A k I-: 'r 1 1 !•: w i u > w a v i:s s a y i n ( ; ”
Imi'sI ilu*y caiiKi to a j^n'cat sand-cast lo, and splash ! splash ! they went over It, first tlu* cariKkst wave, then the one who had been afraid — down came the castl(! !
“Oh, what fun !” they cried, and on tlu^y ran fast and far.
“ Mother told me to hrin^ these sea-we(ids. I will find a pretty place for them,” said one; and ii[) she ran a lon^, lon^ way, and laid them hi^h up amon^ the pebbles. The pebbles said :
“We are glad you are come; we wanted washing sadly.”
“ Mother sent these shells ; 1 don’t know where to put them,” said a little fretful wave.
“Lay them one by one on the sand, and do not break them,” said the eldest wave. And the little one went about its work, and learned to be quite quiet and gentle, for fear of breaking its shells.
“ Where — where is my work ? ” said the big, earnest wave ; “ this is mere play ; the little ones can do this and laugh over it. Mother said there was work for me',' and he lifted up his proud head and came splash down upon some large rocks.
Down, down into a pool it went, and he heard the fishes and sea-anemones say, “ Hold fast ; the sea is coming. Thank you, great sea ; she always sends a big one when the storm is coming. Thank you, kind wave, we are ready now.”
And now they are all going back over the long wet sands, lazily and care- lessly; for they are tired.
“ All my shells are safe,” said one sleepy wave.
“ My sea-weeds are left behind,” murmured another.
“ I washed the pebbles,” said another.
“And I — I only broke on a rock and splashed into a pool,” said the one who had been so earnest to work ; and he turned sadly to his mother, as she folded him in her strong, firm arms. “ I have done no good, mother — no work at all.”
“ Hush ! ” she said. “ Hark ! ” and first they heard, clear as a bell, the voice of a little child, walking on the shore —
“ Oh, mother ! the sea has been here; look how tidy it all is ! Isn’t it a good sea to make it all so tidy ! ”
And then the sea said : “ Hark ! ” again ; and far away they heard the moan of the comine storm.
“ Come in safe, my darlings. You have done your work, let the storm do its work now.”
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THE TRUNK FISH.
rp H I S queer-looking animal is a fish. It is called the trunk fish, because its back is com- pletely covered with bony plates of a regular shape, forming a com- plete coat of mail. It is protected so completely that it can only move its tail, mouth and a small part of its gills which pass through the armor. It is quite a small fish and is found only in warm waters of the South- ern tropical seas.
Fishes are considered as having less intelligence than animals that live in the air. You must understand that all forms of life that are not vegetable, that is, plant, life, are called animal. This includes insects, birds, beasts, fishes, snakes, etc. Well, as we were saying, fish are not thought to be as knowing as other creatures ; but their movements are guided by an instinct that falls lit- tle short of reason ; their ways are very interesting and sometimes very curious. You know fish have no lungs, but breathe through their gills which are fastened to their heads ; they have a heart which simply pumps the blood into the gills.
:o:
THE WHALE.
^T^HE whale is not a fish, although it is fish-like. There are two species of I the large whales — the whalebone-whale and the sperm-whale. The former have no teeth, and the latter only teeth in the lower jaw.
The whalebone-whale is found only in the northern seas. It feeds on very small animals. The mouth is so large that its lower jaw makes an arch high enough for a man to pass under on horseback. The whalebone is attached to the roof and is in the form of a grate, which makes an immense sieve, which catches the food. The sperm-whale contains more blubber and no whalebone. The most of the fat lies in the head, which is one-third of the
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riiic wham:.
l)ocly, which is so enormous tiu! Iar^(;st heast seems as small as a mouse I^y its side.
'I'hey are <.(racerul, and skim ov(m tlu! water rapicJly and h^aj) into the air. They are remarka])le for their swiftiu^ss, and their sole j;ower is in the tail, which lies horizontally on the watem and is used iij) and down, instead of from side to side. It is also used to defend itself.
d'he speed of the whale is ten miles an hour, but under excitement it will ^o fifteen. The whale rarely brings forth more than one young at a time, which the mother nurses with the greatest tenderness, even after it is thirty feet long. The affection shown for the young is greatly admired. At its birth the “calf” is twelve feet lonc^ and weierhs a ton.
The capture of the whale is always very exciting, d'he whale seeing the danger, dives below the surface and swims for a long distance, the time often reaching an hour and twenty minutes. The time under water is so regular and exact that it can be depended on to a minute.
An interesting account is given, the whale plunging beneath the surface on seeing his pursuers ; at length he arose ahead of the boats, not more than a quarter of a mile from them. The excitement among the crew was tremen- dous, and they flew over the water at a swift rate.
The whale seemed frightened, and as he puffed up his spout and raised his enormous head, he increased his speed and went along for two or three min- utes as fast as the boats, when he grew quiet and the boats were soon in his wake. The uproar became intense, and amid the splashing of the oars the harpooners darted their weapons, but the whale descended like a shot, leaving a white and green whirlpool to mark the spot where he had floated.
The irritated captain ordered his boat lowered, intending to join in the chase, but as he left the ship a loud shout arose, for the whale, not having all his spoutings out, had risen to the surface and was coming rapidly towards the ship, throwing his head completely out of the water, when the captain hurled his harpoon with excellent aim and it was plunged deep in his side.
After an hour’s exertion, six boats got their harpoons fast in him, but not one could eet near enoueh to eive him a fatal blow. At last, Qfrowing weak from his deep wounds and less capable of avoiding his foes, one of them had an opportunity to pierce him to the life.
The huge body was towed to the ship, a hole cut into the blubber of the head, into which a hook was inserted, the head cut open and the spermaceti dipped out ; the remainder of the head and blubber was stowed away in casks in the ship’s hold and the oil afterwards extracted by exposure to heat.
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SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON.
I WAS a pastor in West Switzerland, and having lost my fortune, resolved to seek in other climates the means of support. I sailed with my wife and four sons for England, where I accepted an appointment of missionary to Otaheite. After purchasing a few cattle and seeds of various sorts, we took passage and sailed till in sight of New Guinea. Here we were attacked by a tempest, which continued seven days. The shivered masts had been cast into the sea, several leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill.
The vessel soon struck against a rock ; a tremendous cracking succeeded ; the sea rushed in ; and we saw that the vessel had grounded, and could not long hold together. The ship’s company crowded into the boats, and moved off, and were driven out of sight. At the same time I saw in the distance several nooks of land, and thought that, when the sea should become calm, we might reach land in safety.
After making several plans we built a raft, which we loaded with everything necessary that we could carry, besides the geese, ducks, fowls and pigeons, and set out for the shore. As we neared land we saw some trees, which
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SWISS I'AMILV KOIIINSON.
provrd to l)c hroad-friiti trees. We (MU(‘red a small hay, and all jumped (‘a<4(‘rly on land.
Lookiui^ about, and findino^ a place to s(!t up a tent, vv(! drove oiu! of our poles into a fissure of a rock; this rested on another polcr, which was driven into the <;round and formed the ridge of our tent; we next fastened some sail-cloth on, and our tent was complete. I'hen we prepared a soup, of which we all ate heartily, and a little later made our preparations for the night. Darkness came on all at once, which made me suspect that we were near the tropics. A sweet sleep closed the eyes of my beloved family, and our first night on the desert island fruit of the bread-fruit tree. was passed very comfortably.
The next day w^e decided to examine the soil on the other side of the river before settling on a place of abode. In about an hour I, with my son Fritz, had completed our preparations, and commenced our journey. After going about two leagues w^e entered a wood, where we stopped and ate our lunch. We had the good luck to find a single cocoanut, wdiich w^as a little oily and rancid ; but, this was not a time to be nice, so we made a hearty meal and con- tinued our route. In conversation on subjects interesting to both we found ourselves nearer our family than we were aw’are, and, following the river, soon joined them. My wife had prepared a goose, besides a dish of fish, which the little ones had caught, and was hardly like a dinner one would expect to see on a desert island. By the time we had finished our meal the sun was setting, and we hastily lay down in our tent and enjoyed a refreshing sleep.
The next morning I and my son Fritz embarked in our boat to make a journey to the vessel to bring off whatever we could. Not long afterwards we fastened our boat to one of the timbers of the vessel. We found all the animals we had left on the main deck, and gave them a fresh supply of food and water. Our cargo was so large that our boat was filled to the very edge, and we took the precaution to put on our swimming jackets for fear of mis- fortune. Night suddenly surprised us, and we resigned ourselves to sleep in
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SWISS FAMILY RO HINSON.
our boat, and slept as soundly as we should in a bed. Early next morning 1 went on board the vessel ; Fritz prepared a nice breakfast of biscuit and ham, of which we ate heartily.
My next anxiety was for the animals, and how to get them on shore. Fritz suggested that we tie a swimming jacket round the body of each animal, and throw them all into the water. We first tried our experiment on a lamb. He sank at first, but soon reappeared, and in a few seconds had learned the art of swimming. The sow gave us the most trouble. We were obliged to put on her a muzzle to keep her from biting, then tied a piece of cork under her body. The sheep and goats were more accommodating, and we soon had them equipped. After some little trouble we had all our animals in the water, and getting ourselves in the boat were soon on shore. My wife could find no words to express her surprise and joy at seeing so many useful animals. After each relating the experiences since we had been separated we retired to rest.
After breakfast the next morning we considered the question of a new abode across the river, where there some fine trees which would afford us shade, and we made preparations to set out. We packed everything we were to leave in the tent, and at length took up our line of march — my wife leading the way, with her eldest son ; the cow and the ass behind them ; the goats and sheep followed ; and I and the other boys followed and brought up the rear. On the other side of the river the grass, which grew in great profusion, proved such a temptation to the animals that they strayed away from us to feed ; so that without the dogs, we should not have been able to bring them back. My wife busied herself in making the fire and preparing our dinner. We dined heartily on slices of ham, and bread and cheese.
Our next thought was how to suspend our hammocks from a tree ; and, going a short distance we found some long bamboo canes, which we cut into lengths, and with some rope, which we brought from the ship, made a ladder with forty rungs. Jack, being the lightest, climbed the tree and fastened the ladder, and we soon had our hammocks hung, and passed a comfortable night.
Fearing we might be attacked by wild animals, we next day decided to build a house among the branches of the trees. Accordingly, we fastened a pulley to a branch, and drew up timbers and boards which had been washed on shore ; and, when we had made the floor, we fastened a piece of sail-cloth above it, and had a cool, airy shelter, from which we had an extensive view of the ocean.
The next day, being the Sabbath, we had appropriate services, and made
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SWISS I AM I I , V 1;m|;| Nh( )N'.
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SWISS FAMIi.Y ROI^lNSoN.
the day one of rest. We dined on a flamingo, which Fritz had killed and my wife made into a delicious stew. 'Fhen we ascended into our apartment, and slept so soundly that daylight came before our eyes were opened.
We passed several days in exploring the island, and then, as the vessel was still on the rocks, I and Fritz took our boat, and rowed out to it, and had no difficulty in getting on board. Our first care was to select materials for a raft, as our boat was not roomy enough to carry a large burden. We built a handsome raft, which took up the day, and when night came were too weary to row back to land, and lay down in the captain’s cabin and slept until broad daylight.
The vessel had been laden with everything likely to be useful in an infant colony. We found a saw-mill in a separated state, but so well fitted that it was easy to put it together. The captain’sv chest was filled with gold and silver watches, shirt-buttons, necklaces, rings, and snuff-boxes of all sorts. But the discovery that delighted me most was a chest containing some dozens of young plants of every species of European fruits — pear, plum, almond, peach, apple, apricot, chestnut trees and vine shoots.
We had to consider which of these treasures we should take, as it was impossible to take everything in one trip. We first stripped the cabin of its doors and windows; then we took the carpenters’ and gunners’ chests. At last, with much hard labor, we finished our loading and pushed out for the current. The wind being favorable we quickly reached the shore, where we found my wife ant children anxiously looking for our arrival. When we had unloaded our raft, and eaten a hearty meal of a tortoise which the boys had caught in our absence, we drew the mattresses we had brought into our chamber and slept soundly.
We went to the vessel every day for a whole week, and at the end of that time had put together a small pinnace, which we had found taken to pieces; and she was an elegant little vessel, perfect in every part. She had a small deck, and her masts and sails were no less exact and perfect than those of a little brig. We had pitched and tarred all her seams, and had mounted her with two small cannon of about a pound weight, and had fastened them to the deck with chains.
We had considerable difficulty in launching her, but finally succeeded; and our pinnace was in a condition to set sail, and we put off in great glee, and Hew like a bird over the water. My wife and little ones were greatly sur- prised ; and, when they had come on deck, they discharged the cannon, and gave the pinnace the name of their mother — the “Elizabeth.” The pinnace
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swisr; I wiii .v i^’( )i;i n .on.
was anchored on ihc shore, and fastened with a rope hy her head to a stake.
'The day following- I saw that the sea was violently a^dtated, and the wave?: swelknl with the wind, and was rejoic(;d to find myself in safety in my home. We had betm i^one so much that wr. had nei^lected many thin;^s, amon;^ tiie rest the fruit trees. WIk.mi wc had ])lant(;d these \v(t startf^d on an exploring ! ('xpedition. As we advanced on our way I was freque*ntly obliged to use a hatchet to make a passai^e throui^h the tall ^rass. lamest found a kind of hollow stalk ; lie cut one of them, and drops of fresh water issued from it. I divided the plants lengthwise, and they gave out water enough to supjdy us all. We named these “ fountain ” plants.
We reached a wood, the trees of which resembled the wild fig-tree. They were from forty to sixty feet high ; the bark was scaly, like the pine-apple, and bare of branches, except at the very top. The leaves of these trees are thick and tough, like leather, and their upper and under surfaces are different in color. What surprised us most was a kind of gum which issued in a liquid state from the trunk of the tree, and was immediately hardened by the air. Fritz tried to soften it with his breath, but without success. He now discovered that, by pulling it, it was elastic, and cried : “ Father, this is the very thing we used to rub out marks with ! ” Having examined it, I saw that it was the true caoutchouc tree, which yields the India rubber.
We reached our home without any further adventure. We passed some days in planting trees for shade, and to protect our tent across the river.
The first fine day I, with my three eldest sons, paid another visit to the wreck, and secured the chests of clothes, powder and shot, such pieces of cannon as we could remove; in fact, we entirely emptied the ship, though this took several days of hard work. We then prepared a cask of gunpowder, which we left for the purpose; we made a small opening in the side, and inserted a piece of matchwood, which we lighted at the last moment and sailed away as quickly as possible. About nightfall a rolling like thunder, accompanied by fire and smoke, announced the destruction of the ship, which disappeared forever. In the morning the shore was covered with timbers, empty casks, fragments of masts, etc.
Our time was fully occupied in making preparations for winter and the rainy season. We began to think of making boots without seams from our elastic gum. We made some clay moulds, which we covered with layers of gum, and they were soft and pliable.
The weather, unfortunately, changed sooner than we had expected, and we
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SWISS FAMH-Y ROBINSON.
were not sufficiently prepared for it. It was no longer possible to remain in * our quarters in the trees, the rain fell in such torrents ; and we removed to the bottom under some tarred roofing I had erected for the poultry and cattle. Here we were crowded together, and hardly able to move. In addition, we were stifled with smoke whenever we made a fire, and drenched with rain whenever we opened the doors. We lived on milk and cheese, and never made a fire but to bake our cakes. We then used the occasion to boil a quantity of potatoes, and salt meat enough to last a number of days.
When darkness obliged us to light up, we fixed a large taper in a gourd, which enabled my wife to pursue her occupation with the needle, while I wrote a journal of our shipwreck and residence on the island.
I can hardly describe our joy when, after many tedious and gloomy weeks of rain, the sky began to brighten, and we came from our dreary hovels with joyful shouts. The vegetation was rapidly advancing ; the seed we had sown was sprouting; the song of the birds was heard; and we were at once struck with wonder and gratitude towards the Creator of so many beauties.
Our summer occupation commenced by thoroughly cleaning our house in the trees, which we had named “ Falcon’s Nest,” which was full of dead leaves blown in by the wind. Our next visit was to Tent House, where we found very serious damages : the tempest and rain had beaten down the tent, car- ried away a part of the sail-cloth, and made great havoc among the provis- ions ; and the contents of two barrels of gunpowder were wholly useless.
Fritz and Jack were very eager to make an excavation in the rock, and I resolved to make the attempt. We made so little progress the first day that I was almost discouraged ; but my hope was somewhat revived as I saw that the stone was much softer as we penetrated deeper, and, after a few days’ hard labor, we found we had dug in seven feet. Jack had a long iron bar, sharpened to the end, which he drove in with a hammer, to loosen a piece at a time. Suddenly his bar seemed to have come to a hollow place, and working it about I made a sufficient aperture for one of my sons to pass. We found the air so foul that we became giddy, and the boys hastened to gather some dry moss, which they set on fire and threw into the opening, but it was immediately extinguished. We then lighted some rockets and other fireworks which we had brought from the ship for our amusement. These uorhted the cavern, showing its enormous size.
After having played off our fireworks I tried lighted straw, and, as it was entirely consumed, we could reasonably hope nothing was to be feared from the air. We then lighted tapers, and, forming a procession, marched into the
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SWISS I/WIIIA' ROI5INSON.
cav(!rn, and a most ma^nifircnt mot our oycs. d'ho sidos sparkled like
diamonds, and had the ellect ofa^rand illumination. Crystals of every shape hun^^ from tlie top of the vault, and vve mijj^ht have imaginf:d ourselves in the palace of some fairy. 'I'he bottom was level, and covered with fine white sand. I tried an experiment, and found we werc! in a ;^rotto of rock-salt.
We laid out the interior into two divisions, d he side we designed to lodge in was divided into three apartments ; the first was the bedroom for my wife and myself, the second a dining-room, and the last a bedroom for the boys. I'he other side contained the kitchen, stables and work-room, besides the cellar and storeroom. We made a long stay at the lent Housf^ during these employments, and found plenty to eat along shore in the shape of sea-lobsters, turtles, and their eggs, which they deposited on the sand, oysters and many small fish.
We had still two months before the rainy season, and employed it in making our grotto comfortable. We had formed a convenient part of our dwelling into a small chapel, in which divine service was performed every Sunday. I had raised a sort of pulpit, from which I pronounced discourses for the instruction of my affectionate group of auditors. Jack and Francis had a natural inclination for music. I made a flageolet apiece for them of reeds, on which they accompanied their mother, who had a sweet voice, and produced a pleasing little concert.
We were separated from society, perhaps condemned to pass the remainder of our lives in this desert island ; and yet we possessed the means of happiness, and had all the necessaries and many comforts desired by human beings. We passed our days in industry and innocent pleasure.
Nearly two years had passed without seeing any trace of civilized or savage man.
I was one morning looking through my telescope when I saw a vessel a short distance off at anchor, and a boat containing several officers putting for the shore. I went towards them armed with my gun, speaking first in Ger- man, and then in English. One of the officers, who spoke German, answ’ered. The vessel had been driven from its track by a violent tempest, and was badly injured by the weather ; so that the captain and his company were anxious to get into some port where they might refit. After an hour’s con- versation we separated, in the hope of meeting the following day. But, during the night the tempest revived, and the vessel was driven out to sea, and we feared they had gone to the bottom.
In the morning we were startled by the report of a gun, which was repeated
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SWISS FAMILY ROIIINSON.
several times. We entered our boat and were soon in open sea, but found no trace of the vessel and returned to land.
Wishing to make some further explorations of the island, we set out one morning in our boat, and in our search on the island found some bread-fruit trees; the fruit was about the size of an ordinary melon, of an oval shape, and seemed good and nourishing. The evening was approaching, and we made haste to reach our boat, which we had tied firmly to a palm-tree ; but when we reached the place no boat was to be seen. We were much alarmed, fearing savages had landed and carried it off, and* could not doubt it when we saw the print of naked feet on the sand. We made all haste to Tent House, and hastily entered, calling: “ Elizabeth ! Francis ! where are you ? ” No one answered. My sons flew in all directions in search of their mother and brother, but returned in fear and distress, crying: “The savages have been here, and carried away our mother and Francis. We have seen the marks of their feet on the sands, and the print of dear Francis’ boots.”
We started instantly to see if the pinnace was left, and it was still there. We knew that for a long voyage we must think of food, water, arms and many other things; so we put on board barrels of salt-fish, jars of fresh water, potatoes, two bottles of rum, and what we had left of our bread-fruit. A gentle wind swelled our sails, and the current carried us into the open sea. Daybreak showed us we had passed far from our island, which now only appeared a dark speck. As day advanced we saw land plainly in another direction, and sailed towards it. I did not land without great excitement. All wished to be of the party of discovery ; but Ernest agreed to remain with me, and watch for any arrivals by sea.
All was still around us, when Ernest suddenly called out: “Father, a canoe ! ” “Alas ! it is not ours,” I said, as I saw a canoe filled with islanders. When it passed where we were we hailed it ; but the savages went on with great rapidity, and we put chase after them, but lost sight of them around a promontory.
There were neither trees nor rocks on that desert shore to which we could fasten the pinnace; and as it was necessary for some one to guard it, I decided to leave Ernest alone to protect it. After having traversed for some time a sandy plain without meeting a living creature, we arrived at a thick wood, which was alive with beautiful birds of brilliant plumage. We passed through these verdant groves, and reached a dry plain extending to the shore. We again discovered footsteps, and saw a large canoe pass rapidly, filled with, islanders, and thought it was the one we had built and of which we had been
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SWISS KAMII.V ROI'.INSON.
rol)l)(‘cl. I'ritz wished to swim after tliem, l>iit I would not jjermit him. We w(u*e endeavoring^ to retrace our road when we saw at some distance a man, clothed in a lon^ black rolx;, coming towards us, whom we saw was a mission- ary, who sj)okc; to nu! in I'higlish.
“You are the persons 1 am seekin^r,” he said; “and I thank I leaven I have met you.”
“Reverend man,” said Fritz, “you have seen my mother and brother; where are they ? ” •
“ riieyare living’, and well taken care of,” said the missionary. “Come, and 1 will lead you to them.”
1 was so overcome with joy that I should have fainted; but the good mis- sionary made me inhale some salts he had about him. 1 had a thousand questions to ask ; but the missionary said little, and referred me to my wife and children for information. On the subject of his own mission he was less reserved. He said he had already gained some power over the savages, and they willingly listened to his preaching and the singing of some hymns.
We proceeded towards the shore, and perceived my two sons on the deck of the pinnace, which was covered with the islanders, to whom they were distributing the ornaments we had brought with us. The mirrors were re- ceived with the greatest delight ; but they evidently thought there was some magic in them, and threw them all into the sea. The colored glass beads had then the preference, but those who had none wished to deprive the rest by force. There was great quarrelling, but the voice of the missionary calmed them as if by magic.
We had now to think of joining our dear ones, and decided to proceed by water. The pinnace was loosened, the sail set, and we went on board. Some of the savages went with us in their own canoe. We soon reached the shore, and found an excellent missionary waiting for us. After a half hour’s walk he told us we were near our family. At last I saw a light smoke among the trees. We entered a kind of grotto, and found my dear wife seated on a bed of moss and leaves. She was quite overcome. When she recovered she presented to me a lady. Madam Hirtel, about twenty-nine years of age, and her two daughters, who were attending on my wife.
After we had partaken of a light supper of bread-fruit. Madam Hirtel related her history.
“I was,” she said, “married when very young to a merchant, who wished to increase his income, and having an advantageous position offered him in a distant land accepted it. The vessel we sailed in was wrecked in a violent
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SWISS FAMILY ROIUNSON.
tempest, and after being tossed about by the waves I, with my two children, were washed on shore, where we lived for some time on the eggs of the turtles and fish. As the shore was very hot and sandy I decided to abandon it and seek an abode in the woods. We followed a stream until we reached a grove, and saw before us the entrance to a grotto, and were going to enter it when we heard a cry like a child, and on going in found an infant tied up in leaves and moss. When 1 was considerino- whether I should remain or
C>
leave the cave, I heard strange cries, and ventured to look out. The sounds approached nearer, and I saw a crowd of men armed with lances, clubs and stones. They appeared to be following some trace for which they were looking on the ground. Following them was a woman uttering loud cries and tearing her breast. I concluded she must be the mother of the child. I called her and gave the child to her, and can never express her delight. We became one family, and soon became acquainted with the missionary, Mr. Willis.”
My wife, at my entreaty, gave me a description of her capture. She said: “I was sitting where I would be the first to see you on your return, when Francis came running, saying there was a boat full of men, perhaps savages. My blood froze with terror, and I fainted. When I recovered I found myself lying at the bottom of a canoe, and out in the open sea. Our voyage lasted three days. At last we landed, and we saw a great crowd of savages; one of them, who was very tall, came to meet us. He was the king of the island. We were taken to a hut, where we were received by Mr. Willis, and from that time had no more fears. He offered to lead us to a lady who would take care of us. The lady received us like old friends, and made me lie down on a bear-skin, and gave me milk from a cocoanut ; and had it not been for thoughts of the anxiety you would feel I should have been quite content.”
We persuaded our new friends to come and live with us on our island; and we, fourteen of us, embarked on our pinnace. Mr. Willis accompanied us, being desirous of seeing the island. After seven or eight hours we reached the Tent House, where we found all as we had left it, in good condition. Our friends found our establishment far beyond their expectations, and we made them all comfortable. Mr. Willis returned to his charge after passing a few days with us, promising to visit us, and eventually to join us.
The following year we had a visit from a Russian vessel, commanded by a countryman and distant relative of mine. Delighted with our establishment, he did not advise us to leave it. Leaving us a good supply of provisions, powder, seeds, and some excellent tools, they left us.
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Several families ol llu; natives, pupils of Mr. Willis, ohtainetd leave to join us aiul settle at “ falcon’s Nest,” and at tlu! farm, 'riuis two years [massed away, and we were as happy and contentcal as we could desire. If any one is anxious for further particulars respectin^^ our cfdony, let him set off for the I Ia[)[)y Island, where he will be warmly welcomed.
i:ggs.
GREAT AUK’S EGG.
Among the largest and most beautiful eggs in the world are those of the great auk of the Polar regions. These eggs are about five inches long and three in breadth, and very curiously marked. Upon a silvery tinted ground are characters resembling those upon Oriental wares. Outlined in green, purple, blue and brown are these quaint traceries, with occasional interrupting patches in which various shades are blended. Sometimes one finds black lines irregularly crossing each other. Should an egg of yellowish tint come to the hunter’s hand, it may be called a “red-letter day” in his calendar, since such are esteemed of “ royal lineage ” in auk-land regions — as rare as gold itself. Upon this faint amber-tinted ground the wonderful hiero- glyphics stand out in strangely beautiful relief. Forty years ago only about thirty auks and forty eggs were recorded belonging to public and private collections. At one time fifty dollars were paid for two auks and two eggs ; a little later half that sum for one egg; and not very long since we read that five hundred dollars were given for one egg. These eggs are found only on dizzy heights among the cliffs and crags of the Arctic seas, and are only* obtained with great peril.
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FRESH-LAID EGO.
ij'r'rij- I'Ki'iz.
Y ITTLE FRITZ, the only cliild of a peasant in Germany, wandered away from his home one day, with nothing on but his in-door clothing, and his head covered only with his long, bright curls.
It was sometime before he was missed. Mamma thought he was with auntie, and auntie was quite sure that he was with mamma. But when mamma and auntie met, they found to their great dismay that the dear little boy was missing.
All over the house they searched, among neighboring houses and through the whole street; but in vain. Then the neis^hbors came, and all the nieht that followed they searched everywhere for the missing child. The mother, as she walked the house nearly frantic with grief, pictured to herself her baby- boy lying upon the ground crying bitterly for mamma. Ah me! They were heart-breaking visions that came to the minds of both parents through those long, dark hours ! It was a night never to be forgotten ; a night remembered afterwards with shudderine and tears.
In the morning they brought tidings to the parents that a man living a few miles out of the city had found the little boy, the afternoon before, asleep in a field, with his arms full of flowers ; and, fearing that some harm might befall him, he- had taken him to his own home, warmed and fed him, and laid him tenderly to sleep in his own bed.
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A WONDERFUL SPARROW.
When the mother saw the man coming, she bounded from the house, her loving arms outstretched, and clasped to her breast the little wanderer.
When money was offered to the kind man,‘ he shook his head. “ No,” said he, “1 have children, and if they are ever lost or in trouble, I shall want some one to be kind to them. No money ! ” And he walked away, bearing the blessing of the happy parents.
A WONDERFUL SPARROW.
Three years ago I had a sparrow given me as a present, which became so tame that he amused all who saw him. I brought him to my place of business. It was amusing to see him alone in the shop, perched in the window ; and when a customer came in he would announce it by a “ chirp,” and fly on the counter, as if to see what was being sold. He would eat from strangers’ hands, and if he was not noticed, sometimes he would surprise them by alighting on their shoulders. He knew my voice when I returned from business, would fly into the shop to meet me, and ride into the parlor on miy shoulder; and when the evenings were cold he would get snug inside my vest, or crouch down close to the warm tea-pot during tea, unless he was helping himself to milk or sugar, when he would hop from one to the other. At night he perched on the mantel-shelf, and if any one disturbed him after he had gone to sleep, he would show fight, but not stir an inch from his favorite place. At the break of day he would fly up on my head, and continue chirping until I awoke.
[A play with the face, 'the child exclaims;]
Ring the bell ! Knock at the door ! Draw the latch ! . And walk in !
giving a lock of its hair a pull, tapping its forehead, pidling up its nose.
opening its mouth and putting in its finger. (92)
rRlDI'. (;()I‘S IR'J'OI.'I' A I'ALI..
A SWALLOW flew near some high mountains, and finding a pit made by some miners made her nest in it.
One day an eagle saw the little swallow coming out of her nest, and said, “See how high I live above you with my little ones. You dare not fly above the ground.”
The swallow made no answer, but went back to her nest in the pit.
The day was very hot, and a violent storm came on ; the thunder rolled, trees were broken and hurled to the ground, and everything looked desolate.
The swallow heard nothing of the storm, and when she came out to look for food she saw the nest of the eagfle on the ofround, and the little ones scattered all about. One was dead, another had broken its wing, and the mother was mourning, and said to the swallow : “If I had been satisfied like you, and not have been anxious to get above all the other birds, we should have escaped all danger.”
;o:
What kind of a pie can fly and cry ? — Magpie.
Why is a railroad car like a bed- bug? — It runs on sleepers.
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A SKA-FOWLING ADVENTURE,
rjN a pleasant after- noon in summer, Frank Talcott jumped into his little boat, and pulling her out of the narrow creek where she was moored, crept along the shore until he reached the entrance of one of the deep sea- caves so common on the coast of Ireland. In these gloomy caverns millions of sea-fowl re- sort during the breed- ing season, and Frank started out with the in- tention of killing a large number. Gliding into the chasm, and stepping from his boat, he fast- ened the painter fast to a rock, and lighting a torch penetrated into the recesses, where he found a great quantity of birds and eggs, and became so engaged that he paid no attention to the time until the sound of rushing water beiiind him made him aware that the tide was rapidly rising. His first thought was to return to his boat, but he was horrified to see that the rock to which he had fastened it was com- pletely covered by water, and Frank saw her slowly fill and disappear beneath the waves. He could not go forward, and there was no way of going back, and his heart died within him as he thought of the fate which awaited him.
He was not a man who feared death, for he had faced it a thousand times
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A si:a-R)\vijx(; advicn'i uki;.
oil sc;i and land, liiiL lo meet it in this way was more tlian lie could hc^ar. I le sliric“k(‘d aloud ; die lorcli lc;ll Iroin liis hand into the dark waters, d'he wind l)(‘n;an to rise*, and drove tlui waves into tlu^ cavern, d he ;:,oale increased every inonu'iit, while tlu! dashin(r of the waves and the shrill scream of the sea- birds made a noise too terrible to endure. Ihit the love of life was stron^^ his lirmness returned, and he remembered that at the farther end of the cave the rock rose like a (liolit of stairs, sloj/mg from the floor to the roof, he had often climbed these, and knew he could get out of the reach of the highest tide. Hut he thought of a deep fissure which ran through the rock, forming a chasm ten feet wide between him and the stairs, but he knew that his only chance was to cross it. He was young and active, and had often leaped across this abyss, a feat which none of his companions dared to attempt. Collecting a handful of pebbles, he went cautiously over the slippery rocks, throwing at every step a pebble before him to ascertain the security of his footing. At lenijth he heard the stone fall with a hollow sound, and he knew he was stand- ing on the brink of the chasm. Stepping back and straining every nerve, he threw himself forward. The agony of years was crowded into a single moment, in the next his feet struck against the firm rock on the opposite side, and he was saved, and as he climbed up the rugged slope, he hardly thought of the clangers he still had to encounter. All through the night he sat on a narrow ledge of rock, with the waves dashing the spray over him. With the ebbinor of the tide the sea went clown, but Frank was unable to cross the chasm, as his limbs had become stiff, and he felt weak from loss of food. He was giving way to some gloomy thoughts when a loud shout rang through the cavern, and never had a voice sounded as pleasantly to his ears. He replied with a cry of joy, and in a few moments several persons appeared with torches and, throwing a plank across the fissure, Frank Talcott was once more among his friends, who congratulated him on his escape. They had given him up as drowned, until on reaching the cavern they discovered his boat fastened to the rock and full of water. They searched farther, and there suit you already know.
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Solomon Grundy,
Born on a Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Worse on Friday, Died on Saturdav, Buried on Sunday: This is the end of Solomon Grundy.
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'^HE “Vampire’' 1 i s the name given to a species of bat found in South America, which “ sucks the blood of persons and beasts when asleep.” It was at one time the popular idea that these bats would enter the sleeping apartments of hu- man beings, in the warm climate of Brazil, and, making an incision with their sharp teeth in the great toe of the sleeping victim, suck his blood until full to repletion, meanwhile fanning the sleeper with their wings to induce continued slumber. The idea has proved to be fallacious, at least as far as the soothing fanning is concerned and the particular fancy for the great toe only. They are not particular as to where they make the inci- sion, if they only get the blood.
In some parts of South America vampires are very numerous, and domestic animals suffer greatly from their nocturnal attacks. “They seem to take advantage of an existing wound, but they can also make one.” In some parts of Brazil the rearing of calves is impossible on account of these bats, and there are districts, chiefly those where limestone rocks abound with nu- merous caves, in which cattle cannot profitably be kept.
The vampire, according to an old superstition in various portions of Europe, particularly in Hungary, was supposed to be a dead perscfn, returned in body and soul from the other world, and wandering about the earth doing every kind of mischief to the living.
TflE VAMPIRE BAT.
THE VAMPIRE BAT.
THE LEARNED ESQUIMAU.
There is a certain Esquimau
Who much of knowledge knows, One day he found with grief and pain, He’d frozen off his toes.
What did this knowing Esquimau Who had the learned brain ?
He bound them to his feet of course And froze them on again.
S'l'OKY ()I‘ A
AHA'F was onco captiir(;(l in a j)(!culiar way. It had entered a j^rocer’s shop and iL^(^n(! in ainoniLC th(* su^ar-Ioaves wliich were piled on the ii[)per shell. Beyond pokini^^ it witli a broom, no attempt was made to dis- lodq^c it; at last the writer drew it out. It tried to bite, but its tiny teeth could do no damar^e. It was i)laced in an empty mouse caue where it soon became familiar enough to eat and drink under observation. It woukl never eat (lies, and preferred small bits of raw beef to any other food, but would not touch this unless it was freshly cut and cpiite moist. It spent the day at the top or side of its cage, and would occasionally descend in order to feed and drink.
The animal was kept for some time, but it did not seem to thrive, and was found dead in its cage.
:o:
PAPA’S PRESENT,
O, PAPA, dear papa,
You’re such a good man, I’ll try to be like you As hard as I can.
I want so to tell you,
On this your birthday, I’m so happy I’ve got you. And this more I will say :
In spring-time and summer, Cold weather and snow.
You’re the very best papa I ever did know.
I am sure there is something For which I shall pray: ’Tis that you, my dear papa. Have many a birthday.
Now here is your present,
A box full, you see,
Of the very best candy ;
’Tis for you — and for me.
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THE FATE OF VANITY.
There was a young rooster whom once I knew, Wlio stood on a fence and loudly crew, Cock-a-doodle ! a-doodle-doo ! ”
But the more he crowed the vainer he grew.
And the louder he crowed the higher he flew — “ Cock-a-doodle ! a doodl v-doo ! ”
Till at last he crowed himself heels over head^ And that’s the end, for the rooster is dead.
:o;
THE BEE.
Among the daisies all astir Observe the belted rover. The merry little mariner
That sails the seas of clover.
Whene’er a shower falls pellmell Upon the seas of clover,
He flies into some flower-belL And waits until it’s over.
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TWi: MILIJ^R’S OEESE.
A MILLER had a Hock of and lost thc*ni all (except an old ^oosc
that swam round the mill j)ond alone.
d'he miller’s wife put some ducks’ eg^s under a hen, and when they were hatched the ducklings ran to the water. When the old goose saw how frightened the hen was she took the ducklings in charge and swam about with them, and when they were tired she led them to the shore and gave them back to the care of the hen. The next day she came down again with the ducklings and found the goose waiting for them. When the ducklings had gone into the water the hen Hew on the back of the goose and they sailed round the pond.
An old gentleman was fond of pets, and had an old gander called Sammy that had been left by the others. This gander would follow him like a dog, and would be very angry if any one laid a hand upon him.
At last he found a friend of his own kind: an old blind gray goose was turned out by the flock, and Sammy took pity on her and gave her all she wanted to eat. He took her neck in his bill and led her to the water to swim. When she hatched a brood of goslings Sammy took care of them all, and they lived together many years.
An old blind woman who lived in the country used to come to church every Sunday morning: she was always alone, and came in the last and went away the first of any. The pastor, who was a new one, was puzzled to know how she went about so well, so one day he went to visit her, and found she lived in a small cottage a mile away, and on the way was a stream with a narrow bridge over it with a railing only on one side. He knocked at the door, and on asking for the blind woman was told that she was out in the field.
He asked, “ Why do you let the poor old woman come alone to church ? She will fall off the bridge some time.” The woman laughed, and said, “ Sure, she doesn’t go alone — the goose takes her.”
“What do you mean?” said the pastor. “Sure,” said the woman, “she saved the life of a little gosling, and now it always comes every Sunday and takes her to church. It leads her along by taking her skirt in its mouth. When they come to the bridge it puts her next the rail, and keeps between her and the water. It stays about the church-door until service is over and brings her home.”
This pleased the pastor so much that he preached a sermon on kindness to animals.
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A STRANGE BIRD.
all know what a bat is? If you don’t, you will find a picture of one on page 103. The animal, or bird, whichever you have a mind to call it, shown in this picture, doesn’t look much like a bat, I am sure ; and yet that is the bird the bat must call its grandmother. It lived before the flood, like the animal from which the lizard sprung. This pretty bird was really a reptile; but It had a web-foot, the same as all lizards, but its little toe
\vas spread out into a wing the pterodactyl.
of flesh. It had no feathers. You will notice its head is like a duck. Just suppose a flock of these queer things were flying overhead. They were about the size of an alliorator.
o
I HAVE a gray goose — she is of a large size —
Any man who buys her has need to be wise.
She has many feet on her, but walks upon none,
She goes far for her living, and seldom comes home.
o o’
Why is the Fourth, of July like oysters? — Because we can’t enjoy them without crackers.
Why is a dog biting his own tail like a good financier? — Because he makes both ends meet.
Which travels slower, heat or cold? — Cold, for you can catch It.
When Is coffee like the soil? — When It is ground.
Why is a policeman like a rainbow? — Because he rarely appears until the storm is over.
What is that which is Invisible, yet never out of sight? — The letter S.
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— A ship.
'iwi: coxi )(){<.
[riH^IIlR condor is tlic largest of all birds. It is four feet lon^ from its beak to the tip of its tail, and nine feet to four yards between its outstretched winces. Its Iicad and neck are perfectly bald. I'he color of the feathers is usually black, except a frill of white ones around the neck. The female bird is smaller than the male. This bird is found only in the Andes moun- tains, of South America. It feeds on carrion, but sometimes attacks sheep, goats and deer. They sleep during the day, and hunt for their food in the early morn- ing and evening. They sleep very deeply, and are thus easily captured, the hunters climbing the trees where they roost, and have them noosed before they awaken. They have been known to live forty days without food, and can fly high.er than any other bird, higher even than the eagle. Their favorite dwelling-place is in the regions of perpetual snow. Humboldt saw one 23,000 feet above the. earth, and Darwin says he has watched one high in the air for half an hour, and it didn’t move its wings once in all that while, but sailed right along.
-:o:-
Why is a hive like a spectator at a show? — Because it is a bee-holder.
Why is a pig the most extraordinary animal in creation ? — Because you first kill him, and then cure him.
Why is a proud woman like a music-box? — Because she is full of airs.
Why is a woman mending her stockings deformed ?’ — Because her hands are where her feet belone.
What is it that occurs twice in a moment, once in a minute, and not once in a thousand years ? — The letter M.
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ABOUT CHINESE DUCKS.
[fill^HE people of China are very fond of ducks. They collect a ^reat num- her of eggs, and put them in boxes of warm sand, and cover them up snug on the kitchen hearth. The little children of the house watch day after day for the young ducklings to come popping through the shells. By and by there will be such a cackling, and out will pop the little birds ; and, soon jumping out of the box, they will be making a great noise for something to eat. A little Chinese boy will be ready to feed them. He has a bagful of boiled rice, and they run after him and “quack, quack” for their dinner. When they get a little bigger they are carried to a large boat — built on purpose — where a flock of three or four hundred ducks all live. Each flock has its own old bird that guides them about, just as though she were the mother of the lot.
Many of these duck-boats float about on one river, and of course there are more ducks than you or I could count ; but when the different masters blow their whistles, every duck rushes back to its own boat, and somehow they never make a mistake,
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< THE POOR LITTLE HEN.
Eight little fluffy chicks, one little hen, Two little strangers, children ten.
Eight little puffy balls under her wings. Two little callow heads, troublesome things.
Eight pretty babies she knew all about.
Two funny puzzles she might do without.
Off for a ramble in sunshiny weather,
All the eleven go strolling together.
Eight little downy chicks, one little hen. Two little web-feet — a brood of ten.
Close to the edge of the pond they go, Where on the sedges the bright waves flow.
Into the waters the small ducks start,
Oh, what a fright in the little hen’s heart !
Eight little chicks see mamma turn pale.
Two little strangers are off for a sail.
Never mind, babies, we’ll go home.
Maybe the queer little ducks will come.
Never I thought to have had such luck.
Out of my nest to have hatched a duck.
What is a poor little hen to do
Who finds to her terror that she’s hatched two !
Eight little chickens, one little hen. Two little ducklings — babies ten. (102) •
OSTRICK Rl'ATIII-RS.
Have you ever wondered where the lon^ white feathers that little folks wear in their hats come from ? Or perhai)S you have been to the Zoo- logical Garden, and seen the big, uncouth bird from whose tail and wings they are pulled. What stumpy wings they are, and what a clumsy, uncouth creature it is altogether! yet it can run so fast over its native plains that the Arabs call it “ the camel of the desert,” perhaps because of its long neck and legs, and because it lies down in the same way by just bending the knee, then leaning forward on the chest, then sitting down as it were on its tail. These queer birds can eat almost anything — wood, metal, plaster, stones and rub- bish ; but they prefer grass, insects and reptiles. They are sociable, for they may be often seen in flocks in the desert; but the hunter comes and scatters them, then away they fly at the rate of about thirty miles an hour, too fast for even the Arabs to catch; so they follow the bird for days, until they are too tired to run any longer, then make a dash at them and strike them down with clubs, unheeding their loud cries, almost like the roar of the lion. They are valuable prey, for each bird yields half a pound of white and three pounds of black feathers.
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FIDDLE-DE-DEE.
Fiddle-de-dee,
The cat was at tea, The rabbit Was taking Snuff,
The dog and the pig
Were dancing a jig. And the donkey Put on a lace Ruff.
:o:
What fashionable game do frogs play at? — Croaky.
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If an egg could speak what sweet thing would it say ? — Ma-me-laid.
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Ok which side of a donkey would you look for the most hair ? — On the outside.
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LIFE AND METAMORPHOSES OF THE DRAGON-FLY.
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I
!
DRAGOX-MJKS.
WIlA'r a pesky nuisance the fly is, to he sure. In warm weather it rouses us from our sound slumhers hy crawlin;;^ over our faces, and on wet days it annoys us hy huzzin^ uj)on the window-[)anes trying to get out when nohody asked it to come in. There are different kinds of flies: the ordinary house-lly, which is the most common ; the hig liorse-fly (and you no douht have heard some idiot ask you if you ever saw a liorse-fly ?) ; then there is the hlue-hottle fly, met with at the sea-shore, and he isn’t satisfied hy calling and leaving his respects, hut leaves behind an unpleasant reminder of his unwelcome visit hy carrying off a good-sized piece of your flesh. But there is another kind still, called in England the dragon-fly. In this country it is known as the “devil’s darning-needle.” In some parts of England they are known as the “ horse-stingers.” They are perfectly innocent, though when I was a boy we were almost afraid of them. But some of the larger ones can make a fearfully large and painful bite with their powerful jaws. The female drops her eggs in the water, when they at once fall to the bottom. Sometimes it is said the females crawl down the stems of water-plants and deposit their eggs. Some natural historians say there are two broods of these flies, and others claim it takes as long as three years for them to attain their full growth. The larvae of the dragon-fly, which you see in the picture under the water, is a perfect tyrant, as its parent is in the air. It lives upon all the other forms of insect-life under the water. When it attains full size it crawls out of the water, climbs a tree for several feet, and fixes itself to the bark. After a while its back splits, and the fly comes out. It is a most beautiful color, being principally a brilliant bronze-colored green, blue or black. They love the sunshine, and in wet weather they are lifeless and easily captured. Many of the larger species will hang to a particular twig, darting off after their prey, but returning to the same spot.
In the Malay Archipelago the natives use them as food, and catch them with lime twigs. They are found in all parts of the world, except the polar regions. There are 1,700 species. They have been found even in the beds of slate in England along with other fossils, showing their existence millions of years before the earth was inhabited. They have been found preserved in amber, which you know is the resin of trees, supposed to be the pine that existed before the deluge, and is found deposited like coal under the ground in Switzerland and France. In the clay of Paris it is found mixed with coal. It is also found in some of the clay-beds of England and the United States.
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i
SPIDERS.
Spiders are not only among the most poisonous of insects but they are seemingly the most intelligent. There are very many varieties of them. They have eight legs, and generally eight eyes. Some say they can be educated. They display wonderful strategy in trapping and carrying off their prey, and in building their nests. The silk they spin is formed by an apparatus situated in the back part of the under-surface of their bodies, which consists of several bundles of vessels twisted together, and ending in very little openings (so small they have to be seen with a microscope) at the end of the tail. The gluey matter thrown out by these pores hardens in the air, forming threads of the finest description. It takes many of these to form a single strand of a spider’s web. Different spiders have different colored webs. A Mexican spider has a beautiful web of red, yellow and black threads. It is said that 10,000 threads of a common garden spider would not be as thick as a single human hair ; while others form threads so strong they will catch birds. Some form a web like in the picture ; others a cup with a cover to it ; others live in the ground. One kind of spiders is called the “leapers,” because they jump instead of run ; others move sideways.
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Till:: L(JCi;ST.
locust is about tliree inches Ioul:, with a large head and pro- jecting oval eyes. Its food consists of leaves and green stalks of {dants, and when locusts alight on any vege- tation that they fancy they consume it entirely.
The terrible ravages of locusts are owing to the vast numbers in which they appear, filling the air and darkening the sky so that objects cast no shadow, and advancing with a sound like the rushing of chariots. Locusts are found in almost all parts of the world except the coldest regions, and are equally destructive wherever they appear.
Why is a field of grass like a person older than yourself? — Because it is past-your-age (Pasturage).
:o:
What is the best way to raise strawberries ? — With a spoon.
:o:
How can a man make his coat last ? — Make his pants and vest first.
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When is a man duplicated? — When he is beside himself.
•:o:
If you saw a house on fire, what three celebrated authors would you feel disposed to name ? — Dickens — Howitt — g^rns.
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!
THE DELUGE.
to repent of their sins.
Then God spoke to Noah, and told him to come with all his family into the ark ; for God said He knew him to be a orood man amonor
o o
all the wicked ones living on the earth. And God told Noah to take with him two of every kind of beast, and every kind of bird, and every kind of insect, and keep them alive while the flood should be on the earth ; for all that were not in the ark would be
OTWITH STAN DING the punishment of Adam and Eve for disobedience, yet the people were so wicked that God decided to destroy all the' people on the earth. But one man, named Noah, found favor in God’s sight; He commanded him to build a very large boat, with rooms in it, a window, and a great door on its side. This was three stories high, and was called an ark. Noah was one hundred and twenty years in building this, and all the time he could spare he preached to the people, and tried to persuade them
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'I III. Di'.Li
drowned. And Noali did as lie was ( oniinanded, and went, with In'* wife*, his lhre(‘ sons and their wives, into the ark, and took all the beasts, the birds and the ins(‘cts with him ; and, wlien they w(n*e all in, (hx! shut them in.
AIlv r sc^'v’eii vkiys tliC
rain commcmced to fall, and it rain(‘d without stoppiiiLf lor forty days and forty niohts. 'Fhc rain did not come down ocntly, but as if it had been poured down from the sky ; and the land was overflowed, and the ark tloated, and was lifted from the place where it had been built.
The wicked people, who had thou2:ht Noah was trying- to frighten them, and that there would be no flood, saw that it was all true, and climbed upon the high mountains ; but, after a while, they were cov- ered, and there was no place for them to go,
dll
drowned ; and all the beasts, birds and insects, except those in the ark, were drowned with them.
After Noah had been in the ark one hundred and fifty days the waters went down, and the ark rested on a mountain called Ararat. Then Noah opened the window and let a raven go, and it flew over the water, but never came back. Then he sent out a dove to see if the waters had left the ground dry, but the bird found no pleasant place, with flowers and trees, where she would like to stay; so she came back, and Noah took her in. Alter seven days he sent her out again, and in the evening she came back with a leal in her mouth.
(109)
AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT.
Then he waited another seven days, and sent her out again, and this time she did not come back. Then God told Noah to come out of the ark, with his family, and all he had taken with him.
Noah built an altar, and offered up animals and birds to the Lord, who had saved him and his family from the flood, when all the other people in the world were drowned. ^
AARON’S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT.
fiHIS picture shows Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, inter- ceding with him to let the Israelites go. But Pharaoh said that, if they would perform a miracle, he would free them. Aaron threw down his rod, and it immediately became a serpent. Pharaoh called before him all the ma- gicians and wise men of Egypt, and com- manded that they do the same wonder ; and when they threw down their rods, they also be- came serpents. Then Aaron’s rod swallowed up all the rest. You can see Aaron’s rod changed into a serpent on the pavement before the proud ruler. But even after this wonder- ful miracle had been performed before Pharaoh, the hard-hearted king did -not keep his promise, and refused to let the Israelites go out of the land of Egypt.
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JONAH’S DlSOIil- DII-NCI^:.
Nineveh was one of the greatest cities of the olden times. There were beautiful temples and gardens, and a great multitude of people. The city was surrounded by walls a hundred feet high. The people were very wicked, and God told the prophet Jonah to go there and tell the people they were going to be punished for their sins. But he did not want to go, and fled to Joppa, where he found a ship that was going to a far country; so he paid his fare and went in it. When they sailed a violent storm arose, and the ship was in danger of being broken to pieces. The sailors were frightened, and threw out some of their loading. Jonah knew nothing of the storm, for he was fast asleep in the lower part of the ship. And the people went to Jonah and asked him who he was, and what wicked thine he had done. And he told them he was a Hebrew, and was fleeing from the Lord, and knew that he was the cause of all this danger, and told them to throw him into the sea. The men tried to bring the ship to land, but could not do this ; then they threw Jonah into the sea and ‘it became calm.
(Ill)
A CHRISTMAS TREE.
(112)
tup: I'AKLY Ob' Jl^SlJS.
WIC find little is written ahoiit the childhood nnd lK)yhood of Jesus, but we. realize the fact that he grew u[) like other cliildren, and had to learn to think and read like; oth(;rs.
I le was brought up in Nazaretli, in the household of Joseph, who was a good Jew, and was called a righteous man.
It was customary among the Jews to send children to school at six years of age, and “the boy Jesus” went to school just as tlie boys do now.
The school at Nazareth was not like the high schools of our great cities, or academies in our towns and villages, but was a sort of parish school, where children were taught to read, write and cipher, and were made to learn by heart the Bible history and the psalms which were used In public worship. Besides these they had lessons in the meaning of the sacred law and in the moral duties of life. The teacher wore a turban, and a long robe fastened with a girdle round his waist. He sat on a cushion with his legs crossed under him, and the children sat cross-legged on cushions on the floor. They repeated whatever the teacher told them at the top of their voices.
The schools were free and all children were compelled to go.
The situation of Nazareth was one of great beauty, but the place itself was not spoken well of. The valley Is hidden among the hills that form a pretty basin about a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. To the north- west is a high hill having little ridges on its sides, and along these the little houses stand In rows.
Among some olive trees In the valley is a spring where “ the boy Jesus ” may have gone with his mother when she went to draw water, and when he was older he must have gone to the top of the hill to see the magnificent view which was connected with some of the most remarkable events of Jewish history, and to even look on It would be an education, so that it was a training for him who came to be the “ Saviour of the world.”
When a Jewish boy was twelve years old he was expected to conform to all the requirements of the Mosaic ritual, and was called “a son of the law.” He was then taken to the Temple of Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover.
The pilgrims chanted sacred songs on their journey, which was through a beautiful country, and as the Temple was very grand, all these were com- bined to make this event always remembered.
After “ the boy Jesus” had returned from the Temple to Nazareth he worked patiently eighteen years at the carpenters’ bench, waiting for the hour when he should enter upon his life-work, o (113)
JESUS CRUCIFIED.
After judas had betrayed Him, Christ was taken be- fore the council, and the men in the council spit in His face and mocked Him, and said He should be put to death. The Romans, before they crucified a man, used to scourge him — that is, he was stripped to the waist, his hands were bound to a low pillar in front of him so as to make him stoop forward, and he was beaten with rods. Pilate took Je- sus and scourged Him. Then they led Him away to a place called Calvary. There they nailed His hands and feet to the cross, and crucified Him, and with Him two thieves, one on His right-hand, and the other on His left. Upon die cross, above H is head, Pilate set up this writing: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” God sent darkness over the land because His Son was being put to death by wicked men. Then Jesus bowed His head and died. The curtain which hung in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, and che rocks were broken in pieces.
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CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
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rilE PRINCESS WONDERFUL.
ONG
ag-o, long ago, in the days when fairies existed, there lived a king who had a beautiful daughter, who was so amiable that people called her the Princess Wonderful. The king, having enemies, was obliged to go into battle ; so he placed himself at the head of his army and succeeded in driving his enemies out of his ' dominions. H is dauorhter was deliofhted to welcome him back, and prepared a banquet in honor of his return. Be- fore it was over the king asked his daughter what she had dreamed the night before. She replied, ‘T dreamed, sire, that you held a golden basin before me and begged me to wash my hands.” The king was angry, and left the princess with- out another word, and early the next morning he sent for the captain of the guard, and told him that the dream of his daughter had irritated him, and she must be taken to the forest and be put to death. The captain was horrified, but dared not disobey, and promised he would kill her, and went to the apartment of the princess, and told her the king wished to see her. She arose and went into the garden, where the captain of the guard pretended to look for her father, and not finding him, said he had probably gone into the forest, and opening the door, led her into it, and told her her father’s commands. She burst into ‘tears. He told her he could not do anything so cruel, but would tell the king he had obeyed him. The princess walked away until she found a large ram as white as snow. Hundreds of sheep were around him, some playing cards like human beings, while others were eating strawberries and cream. The ram ran up to the princess and told her not to be afraid; that he was not always a ram, but was born to a throne, and a wicked fairy changed him into a ram for five years, and the sheep, too, had been human beings, but had been transformed by the same fairy. Months passed, and the ram becam.e attached to the princess. One day she heard that her father was about to marry, and she wished to go to the wedding, and the ram told her if she did not promise to come back he should die. When she arrived at the wedding, the ceremony was just commencing, and when it was over, the king, not knowing her, begged her to remain to the banquet, and himself held the golden basin for her to wash her hands. The princess cried out : “ My dream
(116)
A ('LICVKK (’A'r.
lias come true.” I'hc kini( kiKnv her tluui, and be^^j^fid her to forgive him. It was many hours before tlie |)rincc;ss thoujj^lu of the [Kjor ram. lie was in despair at Iier lon<^ absence, and started to find her, and when he readied the palace they refused to admit liim. I le utt(!red loud cries, and throwin;^ him- self on the ground, breathed his last. When the princess heard of the fate of her friend, she was much grieved, but in time, it is said, she was consoled.
:o:
A CLEVER CAT.
ONE day, as a lady was sitting by the fire, Kitty came into the room, and looking up in her face, mewed in a pitiful manner. At first the lady paid no attention, but the cat went to the door and back again to her so many times and finally pulled her apron with its claws, that she followed it into a small wash-house, where some tubs were partly filled with water, and in one of these her little child had fallen, and would have drowned but for the superior intelligence of the cat.
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When is a door not a door? — When it is ajar.
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When is a bed not a bed? — When it’s a little buggy.
:o:-
Why does a sailor know there’s a man in the moon? — Because he’s been to see.
:o:
Why was Eve not afraid of the measles ? — Because she had ’Adam.
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Why is Sunday the strongest day in the week? — Because the rest are week davs.
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What is the difference between a hill and a pill? — One is hard to get up and the other is hard to ofet down.
o
(iin
THE REVOLVING PALACE.
Many years ago there was a lazy king who was always wishing to know everything tiiat happened in his kingdom. He was suspicious, and was fearful lest something might deprive him of his crown.
He was too indolent to go round in disguise, so he contrived a plan, which was to build a palace on a high hill from which he could see all parts of his kingdom. This palace was to revolve, so that he could sit at one window all day and see what was going on without moving. The palace was built and rested on top of a high tower filled with machinery which had to be wound up every night.
At first the king and all his household were so giddy they could hardly stand on their feet, and the king was sometimes very angry at many things that were made new to him.
He rose one morning and found he was not giddy at all, and finding that none of his retainers were giddy either he was so happy that he walked up and down his apartment, and finally threw himself down on his couch and looked out of his favorite window. Suddenly he rose in a rage. On looking<