St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 2, December, 1877

me is Ben Brown,

are you

es to ge

of work c

. I'm used

uch a little

legs;" and the small boy gave a nod that seemed to

r the sunburnt face was very thin, the eyes big with hunger or pain, and t

I-run away." The last words seemed to bolt out against his will, a

me you. But how d

up here at the big house would take me in. But the gate was locke

Mrs. Moss, while the children looked de

nkle in spite of his forlorn state as he went on, whi

w them little girls playin'. The vittles looked so nice I couldn't help wanti

lly at the poodle, who half closed his eyes wit

him put it bac

ou was racin' after Sanch, and then clim' up o

laughed?"

es

zed?" add

es

wn the roses?

u liked 'em,

What made you

lancing at his tatters as if he'd like to

ed Mrs. Moss, suddenly reme

e in. The glass was broke, and I only pulled the nail out. I haven't done a mite of harm sle

me back

emed kinder like home, and I could hear 'em talkin' outside

ays and nights with no bed but musty straw, no food but the scraps a dog brought him, was too much for her. "Do you know what I'm going to do with you?" s

to me, and we're fond of one another; aint us, old chap?" answered the boy, with h

you in a good bed, and to-morrow-well, we'll see what'll ha

to work for you. Aint you got a horse

but hens

would like to join in if he only had the strength to do it. But his legs shook under him, and he f

le. I'll see to the boy," commanded Mrs. Moss, waving off the children, and going up to feel the pul

and cool, and the black eyes were clear thou

e rain last night, and I've jest about lived on water late

t your

took it in agai

had a mite but what Sanch brought for three

derstood all that was going on, and recommended a speedy march toward the promised food and shelt

this. I'm sorry Sanch took it, and I'd like to give it back if I knew whose it was," said Ben,

e bits your queer dog ran off with. Come along, I must

rain. Sancho was in great spirits, evidently feeling that their woes were over and his foraging expeditions at an end, for he frisked about his master with yelps of p

BEN'S

y cheek, while Bab was cutting away at the loaf as if bent on slicing her own fingers off. Before Ben knew what he was about, he found himself in the ol

oyed, Mrs. Moss beckoned the little girls o

o to the Cutters, and tell Miss Clarindy I'd like a couple of the shirts we made at last sewing circ

s, that Ben hardly knew himself when he emerged from the back bedroom half an hour later, clothed in Billy Barton's faded

d scrub, while Mrs. Moss set a stitch here and there in the new old clothes, and Sancho re-appeared, looking more like the c

nd were greeted with smiles of approval from the little girls and a hospitable welcome from

had a tidy look that pleased her, and a lively way of moving about in his clothes, like an eel in a skin rather too big for him. The merry black eyes seem

, ma'am," murmured Ben, getting red and bashful un

uest, and just as Ben spoke Bab dropped a cup. To her great surprise no smash followed, for, bending q

T TO HER ON THE

" asked Bab, looking as if she

ing so rapidly that Bab and Betty stood with their mouths open, as if to swallow the plates should they fall,

he could, Ben took several clothes-pins from a basket near by, sent several saucers twirling up, caught them on the pins, balanc

tureen if he had expressed a wish for it. But Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments at

wise nod, for she saw the same look on his face as when he said his n

ard of the World, and I learned some of his tr

t like to do that, for he is a harsh sort of a man; so, if you haven't done anything bad, you needn't be afraid to speak out, and I'll

nd if I tell, may be you'll let 'em know where I be," said Ben, much distressed

ldn't. Tell the truth and I'll stand

truly!" cried Bab and Betty, full of dismay at bei

'em," said B

he little girls hastily sat down together on their private and particular bench opposite the

conti

ABOUT P

IN C.

e Centennial when you were there?" asked Willie of

red clay things from England, or the Chinese

t you remember a splendid show of pottery near t

igures of London street people, and some we

I hardly recollect any of it. But 'pottery,' I thought,

ed of earth and hardened by fire. I heard Uncle Jack sa

ese things 'china' or 'porcelain'

er, and 'porcelain,' 'majolica,' and other names like that

Uncle Jack to tell us all

ask him this

ir plan to Willie's sister Matie, and th

in," was the response, and in bounded the three children, their faces ligh

cheery tone. "But you look as if you

you to tell us all about

e do," chim

about the whole civilized world, for a complete history of one would be almost a histo

talk about pottery al

further than the ABC of its histo

nds are there, u

t must teach something," said Uncle

-ST

RCESTER P

s at the Centennial," inter

f people, and yet all those people were either men or women; so all potte

, was it? I thought it was all baked

iring, it is only wet clay and sand,-in pretty shapes, perhaps

is it call

oft.' Other pieces you couldn't crush, and you'd call them 'hard.' That is something like what

d, why isn't it all h

e we get a kind of pottery that can be scratched with a knife, at another a ware too

be satisfied with

ON C

RCESTER P

ome funny little figures representing all

id, showing them a droll little man about four inches high, "and

aid Matie. "Where was

ession on the under side, answered: "At the Royal Worcester Works in

Willie, while Al, as if inclined to test the m

cent,'-that is, it shows the light through,"

cimen from the cabinet. "This is a copy of the Chinese 'conventional dog,' made of

NES

RCESTER P

a blue dog?"

e are many things in Chinese art th

DEN

ard of Dresden china," pre

ot that belonged to her grandmother, and she said the te

irl. See how gracefully she reaches for a nosegay from her basket. I have seen bouquets o

a beautiful thing was made f

ound only in China and the Corean islands; but about a hundred and sixty years ago, a noted chemist of Meissen, in Saxony

clay from China and make their

RK

DEN

y kept all their clay to them

er where the clay was, and if it

RK

TER PO

y, and it occurred to him that this white clay, dried and powdered, would make an excellent and cheap substitute for wheat flour as a hair powder. So he carried a little home with him, and some of it finally reached B?ttcher. The chemist found it extremely

nds like a sto

COTT

nd back thousands of years, to the time when bodies were burned

usands of years o

cient cinerary urns, as they were called, and was

celain, is it,

for 'earth cooked.' Those beautiful lines of

real antique vases,

of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, by General Di Cesnola, who dug up a great many articles,-statues, ornaments of gold, silver and bronze, beautiful glass bottles, and many domestic utensils. I saw a cullender

d see them!" cried

curious things there, and the elegant forms of many of the articles would s

D PORC

d the history of pottery was almost that of the

binet a small jug covered with rich gilding,

hat lovely?"

jeweled porcelain, as it is called, is

se,

nt, where are some of the la

like it, uncl

is something that will explain my meaning," he added, taking from the cabinet a little vase of g

TON

t, and I thought they were common stone-war

the drawing of the figures," said his uncle, poi

that little rabbit would run away

that it tells," said Uncle Jack. "In the first place it tells that the si

vase made, uncle

on Works, Lam

of the story about

uld be a good idea to ornament some of the common things they made with the designs they had learned to draw at school. So, with a bit of pointed stick, they made some of their fa

y given up making common pipes and tiles

women who had received drawing lessons and applied their knowledge so well are the aut

plendid, wasn't

s what a good influence art has on even the humblest people," said Uncle Ja

it, you think of the potters

he toils that were perhaps endured in its production," replied his uncle. Then, turning to Matie, he said: "I brought this little 'English pug-dog'

PUG IN P

ly black nose it has!" cried Ma

, n

ot?" a

furnace and heated so as to melt the coloring matter, which had been mixed with

those I have in my pa

x, and the mixture has the appearance of thin mud, showing no c

's going to look like, if

skill and fine imagination are required to produce some of th

call it majol

one of the places in Europe where glazed pottery was first made. About the twelfth

of the old Italian maj

FROM CASTELLA

st specimens of the finest majolica ever made,-that produced in the fifte

Gubbio?"

It

llani collect

must tell you that when the French came to manufacture majolica, most of which by that time was made in the little Italian town of Faenza, they called the ware faience, after it. This name is applied to most soft pas

make the lu

ides, which, at the last of the many necessar

nice points of the ceramic art,' uncle.

e Greek word χεραμο?, signifying 'potters' clay,' and hence, in a

some time, began to grow very sleepy, so Uncle Jack

heir beds, while Uncle Jack leaned back in his easy chai

O LITTLE AM

se poems are here given for the benefit of the readers of

large and isolated farm, lying upon the broad slopes of the beautiful Be

alk, to express in verse what they saw and felt, rhyme and rhythm seeming to come by instinct. Living largely o

y dells, where wild flowers love to hide, hunting the early arbutus, the queen harebell, or the blue gentian, th

EN BY DORA, ON A H

ER HER STOCKING ON

s bright wit

trees abou

sunshine f

d through th

s shade and

had built

ly, with sc

he meadow g

n stacks ab

t in the b

nest so s

snowy eggs

ctober's r

e very tree

flowers fad

forests lost

hatched and re

nest was l

hills are co

d from its n

pon it wi

ts cunning

sunny south

us their no

GRUM

Yo

thick and his c

be quiet, he

rite, and he

ly very much i

nd work over bo

strict, and he

wretched as wre

e so wretchedly

Matu

o small and his

and lazy, and

o silly, his ch

use he was un

money enoug

at all fit to

wretched as wre

e so wretchedly

Old

sorrows more dee

think he has gr

o think he ha

fortune, his li

s too late,-it

too dim, and his

wretched as w

more wretchedly

O

U

y trees in

ht all the

ms radiant

when dayli

clear, out

t all the gree

young, and br

thee, Mont

ue skies of

t odors bre

cooling sha

ry head

babbling thr

r choicest tre

gs tender, s

hee, Mont

AI

NG S

tle streams

g, run

tle streams

the

n soft grass

ng, spr

n soft grass

to

s the breez

r, whi

ds the bre

e flo

ins sing th

e, wel

ins sing th

y ho

the sun i

g, shi

the sun i

and br

re and wait

s, mea

re and wait

his l

March, '

rite in sympathy with

ild written in sympat

OF R

the su

dayligh

when ligh

that min

of r

's warm s

rightnes

hot tear

s there

of r

AI

R IS

ng!" the soft b

ing!" the glad

ng-I hear her

look at the b

from her throne

oming, and I

dren have crep

ft me but li

ht Summer is cr

forest Arbut

ald of all t

always disown

dow she stoops

bloom from the ap

ob me of all t

e from her sto

ing! I hear t

s o'er the moun

leaves the beau

Summer begins

O

MARJOR

iry T

K R. ST

ugh to make people glad when they were over. When it rained, it mostly rained at night, and so the fields and gardens had all the water they wan

ed to the culture of the herb, and fields and fields of it were to be seen in every direction. At that time, and this was a good

tional herb began. It was called "Sweet Marjoram Day," and the people, bo

y that he or she could not go to help in the harvest. Even when there were sick people, which was seldom, the

N THE SWEET

in on the great day. They must be poor, indeed, these people said, if they could not raise sweet m

e soft green and white beds of the fragrant herb, and pulled it up by the roots, and la

having fun. There was always lots of fun on this great harvest day, for everybody worked so hard that the whole crop

er fairies more generally liked than these two little creatures, neither of them over four inches high. They were very fond of the company of human beings, and were just as full

is cottage had never been seen by any of the people, but the sisters

with a little portico running all around it. Inside was the dearest little furnitur

s ever so small, and little graveled paths; and a kitchen-garden, where the peas climbed up little sticks no bigger than pins, and where the little chickens, about the size of flies, sometimes got in and scratched up the little

ttle home. They had looked for it, but could not find it, and the fairies would never take any of them to it. They said it was no place for human beings. Even the smallest boy, if he were to trip his toe, mi

he people new games, and all sorts of new ways of having fun. People would never

little girl just old enough, and not a day too old (which is exactly the age all lit

e it," said Core

rls, "we are too big. If we we

s would be glad to see u

ut it doesn't matter at all,

nd she went off to ta

onged to a Reformed Pirate who lived there all by himself. He had entirely given up a sea-faring lif

asy-chair in front of his door near the edge of a small blu

FORMED

is knitting, which he was very glad to do, for he hated kni

e were speaking under water, for he tried to be as gentle in every way as he could,

t over carefully and showed him where he had dropped a lot of stitches and where he had ma

the grass by his side, and after a while she began to talk to him about the fairy c

like to see it myself. In fact, I'd like to go to see almost anything that was

gs you might do besid

ing and suitable,"

Corette. "Even I am too large, and you are ever and ever so mu

the right way. But you see, little maid, that you and I don't know enough. Now, years ago, when I was in a different line

y such persons?

lives, I reckon, on an island about fifty miles from here, right off there to the sou'-sou

we get there?

there in the creek that's as good as ever she was, I could fix her up, and get everything all ship-shape in a

uch!" cried Corette, clapping

nitting and stuffing it under the cushion of his ch

and told them all about the matter. They list

well as usual. I have noticed that she is a littl

her mother, "and as to that Reformed Pirate, she'd

should go. Her father and moth

is little vessel ready. To sail again on the ocean seemed to him the greatest of earthly joys, an

ple who lived near enough, came down to see them off. Ju

d get my sword! I only wear the empty scabbard now, but it m

n he pushed off amid the shouts of

able. The Reformed Pirate managed it beautifully, all by himself, and Corette sat in th

the sails filled, and the vessel went dashing over the waves, he laughed an

RATE IS THE JOL

sprang to his feet and, with his hand still upon the helm, he leaned forward and gazed at the ship. He gazed and he gazed, and he gazed without saying a word. Corette spoke

in its sheath. Hurriedly giving the helm to Corette, he went forward and jerked a lot of ropes and hooks from a cubby-hole where th

e seemed to be a great commotion on board; sailors were running this way and that; women

rew out grapnels and made the two vessels fast together. Then he hooked a rope-ladder to the side of the shi

he shouted. "Down upon your knees

on his knees, and threw dow

aptain?" roared

came tremb

er, your jewels and your precio

Pirate, who continued to stride to and fro across the deck waving his glitter

k the ship, and the children cried, and the men trembled so that they could hardly kneel straight, and the

Look here!" and then he paused, glanced around, and clapped his hand to his head. He looked at the people, the

t I had reformed, and seeing this ship, old scenes and my old business came into my head, and I just came and took the vessel without really thinking wha

th joy as he seized the hand of the Reformed Pirate. "It is of

adies. "Kind sir, we are

but I really think I was not altogether excusable. And I am

to show them. Very glad indeed to have the opportunity. By the by,

plied the Reformed Pirat

your men might like a tr

ut myself-excepting a little girl, who is a pa

," said the Captain. "Is there anyt

be something. Do you sail to any por

veral such," s

ed Pirate, "if you would sometimes stop off that point that you se

by the quantity, the

," said the

ry person on deck, the Reformed Pirate went down the side of th

wered his flag, the Captain looked

y but a little girl on board! I thought,

ship, for she had heard the noise and confusion as she sat below in the little

eformed Pirate made his boat fast, and taking little Corette b

in other places; and then, again, it seemed to run into the ground and re-appear at a short distance-t

there before, and knew the ways of the place, went up to a little door in a two-story part of the house and knocked. Our friends were admitted

, full of curious and wonderful things, and, in a short time,

long time since you were here. What can I do for you, now? Want to know s

is time for something entirely different. But I'll let this little gi

d a constant smile, which seemed to have grown on his face instead of a beard, and she told him the whole sto

said; "I don't wonder you want to see

"I might as well go with her, i

ry proper, indeed. But there is only one way i

hurt?" as

one hundred and eighty ducats," said he, turning to the Reform

rmed Pirate of Corette, as he put

e, "certainly I am, i

a hundred and eighty ducats and handed them to the Pr

d upon each of their heads the old white-faced gentleman placed a little p

few minutes," and he lifted up a long thin stick, and, pointing

e had reached fifty they were no bigger than cats. But he kept on counting until

ink ball from each of their heads

little creatures and put them on a table in front of a l

. Every proportion ha

better," said the Condensed Pirate

COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAI

d, smiling rather more than usu

said Corette to her friend. "A little fe

true; I couldn't do it. But perhap

ittle boat would be swamped before you reached shore, if a big

l cage that stood in a windo

"He is very strong and swift, and will

hung a little basket, with two seats in it. He then lifted Corette and the

o the cottage of the fairy si

!" said

e bill of the pigeon, and, opening t

Condensed Pirate, as the pigeon rose in the air

led worse

in a straight line for the Fairy Cottage, where he arrived bef

y fence; and when Corette and her companion had jumped from

in. They went up the graveled path, and under the fruit-trees, where the ripe peache

es came to the door, they

ried. "And if there isn't our o

l. "There's no use of my being reformed while I'm so s

of you," said the sisters,

y. The fairies' were delighted with the whole affair, and insisted

and they thoroughly enjoyed all the delightful little things in the little place. Sometimes, Corette and the fairies would take naps in

hinking that the Condensed Pirate might like to have something to do, and knowing how he used to occupy himself, took

f I find it necessary to reform again, I may do something of

all very careful not t

Corette knew that her father and mother did not expect her at home for s

were delighted to have t

ne, led her, with great secrecy, to the bottom of the p

t as I expected them to be here? Everything is very nice and good, but nothing appears very

sters used to be such dear, cunning little creatures, and now the

id the Conde

asked

answered her com

ldn't do that!"

hink I can. You remember thos

said

I've go

d Corette. "How

ide me, and I picked it up and put it in my coat-pocket. It would just go

know how he

te. "I watched him. What do you say?

orette, "and I don't really

the other. "I beli

es, and grounds should be condensed until they

nsed Pirate went up into the garret of the cottage and got out on the roof. Then he climbed to the top o

e hand (she had been waiting for him on the portico

the fairies' grounds, he stood up, pointed to the ball with a long,

shrink. Smaller and smaller it became

he Condensed Pirate, hur

st come out of the barn. He ought to be as small as

ut the former size of the fairy sisters; but, in fact, he was not quite a quarter of an inch high. Everything on the place was small in proportion, so that when Corette said "Stop!"

e. While they were looking with delight at the little fields, and trees, and chickens,-so small that really big people coul

e and her companion

d. "Oh! how sorry we are! Now you cannot come

at each other, as much as to say, "They

I suppose we shall have to go away now

ters, "and if we only had known, we would have had a lit

he matter. He might have waited a little, and yet he could not h

ttle while and look at

very careful not to step inside the grounds, or to s

y came to see; and then they took leave of their kind entertainers, who would have been glad to have them stay longe

get along, they were so small. When they came to a narrow stream, which Corette would once have jumped over with e

" said Corette, who was struggling along over the

re through the woods, where they can run along as

y tell us of it

y use to us. Don't you see?-they think we'r

!" said

f the woods, and then they climbed up on one of the fe

ave not visited us for so many days!" But when they saw them close at hand, and perceiv

ill holding her companion's hand, she ran on to he

e and her clothes, and her voice, although they were all so small; and when she had explained the matter to them, and to the p

d everything of an enormous size. It did not look like the old place. He climbed up the leg of a chair and got on a table, by the help of t

particularly over Corette's home. The people grieved that they never saw the fairy sisters, who indeed had made two or three visi

that they could not look forward to it with pleasure. Corette might go out to the fields, but she could only sit upon some high place, as the fair

t day. How could they if the fairy sisters did not come? Corette felt badly, for she had never told that the sisters had been condensed, and the Conde

ought, and thought, and thought for a long tim

ouse. There, by means of a vine, he climbed up to her window, and gently called

o bring him two spo

and very soon made her appearance at the window with on

wn the spools down to the ground, "will you dress yourse

d bent his way to the church. This building had a high steeple which overlooked the whole country. He left one of his spools outside,

getting out of a window, began to c

E CLIMBS UP THE OUT

stood on the very tip-top of the steeple. He then took tight hold of one end of the thread on his

d it firmly. Placing the ball in a small depression on the top of the steeple, he left it there, with the thread hanging from it, and r

call Corette. When she heard his voic

my house and stand on the beach,

ssistance he then unwound the rest of the thread, and made a little coil. He next gave the coil to Corette to hold, cautioning her to be very careful, and then he ran off to where some bits of wood were lying, close to the water's edge. S

and you must step on board, letting out some of the thread as you come. Be sure not to pull

tanding on the little raft a few yards from shore. Then he

orette. She had wanted to ask befor

top of the steeple, which is higher than anything else about here, you know. I can't knock the ball off at the proper time, so I've tied a thread to it to pull it

"But how will you know when

ld size, I used just to touch the top of that door with my head, if I didn't stoop.

ed, began to shrink! He counted a good while before Corette thought his door would fit him. At last she called to him to stop. He

houses were like bandboxes, and the people not more than four or f

ate pushed out some distance, broke it fro

ore, and running to his cottage, threw open the door and looked about

to her parents' house. Startled by the nois

ughter!" they shouted, "and s

she was claspe

over, Corette sat down and told them

r, "so that we are all of the sam

s to wake up the people and tell them the good news of

e in anything. Ever

us celebration of Sweet Marjo

e lovely than usual, if such a thing could

hey came among the people they all shouted as if they had gone wild. And

ere several times lately, but somehow or other we seemed to be so very small that we coul

in, the whole country, with a sh

nd the Condensed Pirate. Some of his friends called

all never be able to separate it from its associations with tidies. And with t

ormer captor, for fear that he might forget himself again, and take the ship a second time. But if the captain had come, it is no

condensed. Passing ships could not come near enough to see such a very

and they kept up the celebration of Sweet Marjoram Da

o persons, Corette and the Pirate, who

G-A-

.C.

hear the tea

ing a-sin

not how h

ds its voic

ing a-sin

ng a-sing

hear the tea

ing a-sin

re task of

old water

ing a-sin

ng a-sing

OR

IL HA

or fun," who chatter familiarly about "Kickero" and "luliuse Kiser," and can bang a piano dumb and helpless in fifteen minutes-they, I suppose, will think me frivolous and un

e news that Lord Cornwallis had surrendered the British to the American forces. He was only two years old at that time; but, he said, he had a very strong impression of the house being f

on the young people of my own acquaintance, I recall that William went, as a matter of course, to put the ladies in their carriage; Jamie took the hand luggage as naturally as if he were born for nothing else; Frank never failed to open a door for them; Arthur placed Maggie in her chair at table before he took his own; Nelly and Ruth came t

thers and mothers, but stood through the meal, and never spoke except when spoken to. I cannot say I think we have deteriorated in changing this. The pleasant, familiar, affectionate intercourse between parent and child se

is only the outward expression. Without admitting that we are an uncivil people, insisting even that we compare favorably wit

courtesy. Logarithms are valuable in their way, but there are many useful and happy people who are not very well versed even in the rule of three. A man may not know a word of Latin, or what is meant by "the moon's terminator," or how mu

ng to be agreeable; but life is a great f

o not like you, it is because there is something wrong in yourself, and the best thing you can do is to study out what it is and correct it as fast as possible. Do not for a moment fancy it is because you are superior

ites some poor neighbor, she takes some young sempstress or worsted-worker to town to do her shopping, she carries the tired housewife to see her mother, she asks three little girls-somewhat crowded but rapturously happy-three miles to see the balloon that has alighted on the hill; she drives a widowed old mother-in-Israel to a tea-drinking of which she would otherwise be deprived. These are not charities. They are courtesies, and this bright-faced girl is sunshine in her village

n. If a bouquet is sent her,-too informal for a note,-she remembers to speak of it afterward. You never can remember? No; but Fanny does. That is why I admire her. If she has borrowed a book, she has an appreciative word to say when she returns it; and if she has dropped it in the mud, she does not apologize and offer to replace it. She replaces it first and apologizes afterward, though she has to sacrifice a much-needed pair of four-button gloves to do it! Indeed, no person has as little apologizing to do as Fanny, because she does everyt

S CHR

A K. P

t Christmas before! Jack's mother was a weary, overworked woman, and had no heart to te

t cloth ones which their mother sewed to their stockings, you will see that they were poor indeed. Mrs. Boyd, Jack's mother, generally went about her work with a shawl tied around her, and a comforter over her ears, on account of the ear-ache; and on the coldest days she kept Jack's little sisters wrapped up from head to foot and perched on chairs near the stove, so they wouldn't freeze. No; she didn't feel much like telling t

but hoped from her heart that they wouldn't expect anything, only to be bitterl

u Melly

Melly K

to be jolly, but only a sweet monotony of sounds and words showing that she was contente

s, or something of that kind. One morning, however, Jack discovered some quail-tracks in the snow near the straw-stack, and he no longer wondered about ways and means, but in a moment was awake to the importance of this discovery. That very evening he made a wooden trap, and the next morning early set it near the stack, and laid an inviting train of wheat quite up to it, and scatt

o dolls, some bits of broken dishes, and a few little pine blocks. Mary watched her mother's face until she was sure she was "feeling good," before she ventured to

ing dolls?" asked Ma

nd pink shoes; and little cubberds to keep their clothes in

he looked dolefully at thei

resses; and after hearing what Jack said, it wasn't so much fun playing, and the l

say anything more about C

Jack, so astonished th

ing their heads full of notions abo

eyes tw

mother," said he; "may be San

er shook

t one quail to-da

said his

em. I heard that quails were fetching two cents apiece. And I'm going to get enough money to buy the girls something

heerfully. "Well," said s

ors had cozier firesides than his, besides apples, and sometimes cider; and so he passed many

, but this was doing very well, and he trudged joyfully to town with his game hanging on a stick over his shoulder.

ght him thirty cents; so he was now the owner of half a dollar, which was more money than he had ever possessed in all his life before. But when two dolls were bought, and they weren't very fine dolls either, there were only twenty cents left. Jack did mean to buy something for his mother too, but he had to give that up, and after looking over the bright co

such a little package, but it sank still lower when his father's

'EM,' SAID

ng here?" he

a few thing

'em," said

ngly opened

you get t

s," said Ja

th his big, mittened hand, and said q

ed Jack, beginning

run alo

his father and any of the family-that is, there didn't seem to be; but I guess the stream was frozen over, a

ong way toward making her happy. That night she sat up-I wouldn't dare tell you how late-making cookies,-something that hadn't been in the house before that winter. She cut them out in all manner of shapes that feminine ingenuity and a case-knife could compass, not forgett

illage to have a "good time." That didn't mean, as it does with some men, to get tipsy; but it me

should buy, he was going to "look around" and see what Munger had. He was touched at the sight of Jack's poor little package of gifts, but I doubt if i

nd filberts, and almonds, with all the loungers looking on, very much interested in the spectac

, I guess," said he, rub

there are little folks up at our house who've been

a peck measure with them, passed them around a

folks if you don't want 'em,"

yd put all his in his pockets, with a slight feeli

ser had gone, some one a

ing his hands again; "and a mighty nice man he is, too. Pays for all them thin

y, and generous Jack, who had taken so much pains to give pleasure to his sisters, and a great rush of shame filled his heart. Now, when Mr. Boyd was once thoroughly aroused, he was alive through the whole of his long frame. He thumped his knee with his fist, then arose and walked to the counter, where he dealt out rapid orders to the astonished grocer for nuts, candies and oranges; not in such large quantities, to be sure, as the "orphants'" friend had done, but generous e

hildren." Then he went out and spent the rest of the short day in chopping wood, which was very cheering to his wife. So many Sundays had dawned with just wood enough to cook breakfast, that Mrs. Boyd beg

tained corn or some other uninteresting vegetable, and paid little attention to it. It

ney on his lap, and keep the stove well filled with wood. Janey wasn't feeling well that day, and this unusual attention

ittle girls to bed; while, strange to say, his father was desirous that the whole family should go to bed, except himself. In course of time the little girls were asleep in their trundle bed, wi

our stocking, mother?" asked

d looked

ly, not knowing whether the questio

ng to the bag in the corner, and

nishment. Then, with a great deal of enjoyment, Mr. Boyd untied them one by one, showing cand

ll of tears that there seemed to be about eight pairs of shoes, ten bags, and half a dozen Mr. Boyds; but she managed to lay hands on the real one

would have anything nice, and I made these. I gu

k they were prized by the children a little more dearly, if such a thing

g. When that devoted boy recognized one of his own gray socks crammed full of knobs and bunches, with a beautiful plush cap on top, he was almost out of his wits. Likewise, Mrs. Boyd's

s which he had caught since market-day, and the festival o

e. And this was only the beginning of good days for that family, for, somehow, the Christmas feeling seemed to last through all the year with Mr. Boyd,

T O

A.G

Nicholas made

te plain why they

any one ha

ever makes p

ke presents to

or fellow who

ALC

ITTLE WOMEN AND

F.B

er that she is. She not only tells you pleasant stories about "little women" and "old-fashioned girls," "eight cousins," and children "under the lilacs,"-but she shows you how good it is to be generous and kind, to love others and not to be always caring and working for yourselves. And the way she can do this is by first being noble and unselfish herself. "Look into thine own

his boxes,-for he was a traveling merchant, or peddler,-staying in their mansions sometimes, and sometimes in the cabins of the poor; reading all the books he could find in the great houses, and learning all that he could in other ways. Then, he went back to Connecticut and became a school-master. So fond was he of children, and so well did he understand them, that his school soon became large and famous, and he was sent for to go and te

, which, perhaps, you will some day read. The little Louisa did not go to it at first, because she was not old enough, but her father and mother taught her at home the same beautiful things which the older children learned in the Temple school. By and by people began to complain that Mr. Alcott was too gentle with his scholars, that he read to them from the New Testament too much, and talked with them about Jesus, when he should have been making them say their multiplication-table. So his school became unpopular, and all the more so because he would not refuse to teach

re very poor, and worked hard; but they never forgot those who needed their help, and if a poor traveler came to the cottage door hungry, they gave him what they had, and cheered him on his journey. By and by, when Louisa was ten years old, they went to another country town not far off, named Harvard, where some friends of Mr. Alcott had bought a farm, on which they were all to live together, in a religious community, working with their hands, and not eating the flesh of slaughtered animals, but living on vegetable food, for this practice, they thought, made people more

ad been instructed by her father and mother. She had seen so much that was generous and good done by them that she had learned it is far better to have a kind heart and to do un

ok care of the poor soldiers who came into the hospital wounded or sick, and she has written a little book about these soldiers which you may have read. But soon she grew ill herself from the labor and anxiety she had in the hospital, and almost died of typhoid fever; since when she has never been the robust, healthy young lady she was before, but was more or less an invalid while writing all those cheerful and entertaining books. And yet to that illness all her success as an author might perhaps be traced. Her "Hospital Sketches," first published in

father and mother in a picturesque old house, under a warm hill-side, with an orchard around it and a pine-wood on the hill-top behind. Two aged trees stand in front of the house, and in the rear is the studio of Miss May Alcott ("Amy"), who has become an artist of renown, and had a painting exhibited last spring in the great exhibition of pictures at Paris. Close by is another house, under the same hill-side, where Mr. Hawthorne lived and wrote several of his famous books, and it

rceive these qualities, do you not? and notice, too, the vigor of her fancy, the flowing humor that makes her stories now droll and now pathetic, a keen eye for character, and the most cheerful tone of mind. From the hard experiences of life she has drawn lessons of patience and love, and now with her, as the apostle says, "abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." There have been men, and some women too, who could practice well the heavenly virtue of charity toward the world at large, and with a general atmospheric effect, but could not always bring it down to earth, and train it in the homely, crooked

ravel on life

odliness; and

duties on her

HO JUMPED

RY HA

boy whose na

he w

ull

y could w

e plump, his e

pped a

camel

d played from

he was her

rents'

n lik

d held him

MP ON THE CA

as their jo

ood b

oe be

mp on the c

ing to a br

hold h

nward

all his mig

r learned th

old h

ine

were runnin

ER'S STER

other, she t

ped wit

nk Dun

pancake some

elations

haking

boy w

way if it ki

ugh when sch

boys

ins flo

too, with pl

RS DECKED WITH

mean to g

y his

emptin

rs decked with

s father's s

nt his

ned a

planned to g

Crash! His h

heel b

rs it

paralyze

crutches n

boys m

ides f

aid, this b

WER-MO

VUS FRAN

a tropical country, and I was wandering alone among the grand scenery of

light and easy to carry. A hunting-knife, a small hatche

te side of this lake I could see a narrow gap or cleft, which seemed to lead to the higher ground. I therefore made a raft,-not without considerable trouble,-and paddled it ac

nto the crevice. I passed over the rough bottom of the chasm until I came to the steps; these I ascended. At a height of about a hundred feet I came to a wa

rose steeply to the summits I had partially seen from the lake below. As I passed on and surveyed the plateau, I found it to be a valley about a mile in dia

xtending for miles in every direction, whilst all round about rose the mighty domes and pinnacles of snow-clad mountains. I stood in the midst of the sublimest mountain scenery in the world. I could look d

FROM TH

ose glory one could never grow tired, I felt rather pleased with the thought "Why not

so lovely that I resolv

group of lofty peaks which rose in the midst of this smiling garden. The sides of the toweri

oom to spare. The sides and roof sparkled with crystals of all hues, and were singularly and picturesquely variegated with differently colored veins running through them; and, as the cave opened t

ber I made m

trong threads I made a hammock, which I suspended from a strong frame bound together with these tough fibers, placing it a few feet back from the mouth of the cavern. Thus, I had an excellent bed, and if I should need coveri

mbers and rejoicing to behold the light, rocking myself gently in my pretty hammock, and hailing the

ream near by. Then, when all was sparkling and bright in my humble house, I would parta

and I could have caught and eaten as many birds as I wished; but the fruits and nuts were so plen

the examination of the structure and mode of growth of a vast number of species of plants. Their flowering,

ately under the equator. For several days at the end of the four months, the sun rose directly in the east, passing through the sky in

solid rock, which rendered my abode delightfully cool in the greatest heat of the day. Toward the end of the short dry period, magnificent thunder-showers passed over my domain. Nothing could be more glorious than these electrical displays of an equatorial sky, as I sat snug and safe within the rocky shelter. The heaviest shower could not wet me, the wat

of these tempests that a parrot

d I. "Where do you come from

to perch, trying to find a footing against

ngs in this lovely valley appeared to be uncommonly tame; and in time no bird or other animal showed the least fear on my approach, regarding me no more than any other creature that never did them harm. Of course, this came of my never molesting them. But I never thought of getting on familiar terms with any of them, although scarcely a day passed that some of these animals did not come and eat of the fruit by the side of that which I was plucking. I never laid hands on them, but always let them go about their own b

parrot, thinking that, of course, as soon as

might have in case I should feel hungry when in my house, and yet not care to eat the fruit directly from the plant,

till descending, for it was just at this time

is world, and, as there was no rosy dawn to look at, my

ed; and I sat upr

he parrot o

some time, and

ef! Stealing my

sleeked up the feathers on the back of his neck, in the way his family know so well

and immediately got up and went toward

the bird would fly away. But he remained motionless.

is peaceful vale?" I said to myself. "And why make such ado

at the fruit, it seemed to me

ay, just as I had left it the night before; there was no evidence whatever of its having been p

tly in my esteem at

ed, I am sure that you have not. That you have so scrupulously regarded the rights of property is to me the source of infinite gratification, and fills me with the highest admiration of your charact

sed at his significant performances. He turned his knowing head one way, and then another, now sidewise toward the fruits, and then obliquely up at me, as I sat enjoying the repast,

noring me with your company, I most respectfully invite you to partake of this humble collati

oceeded to crack and munch

rvants to wait upon my highly esteemed guest, and that there are no silver knives and forks and spoons

approvingly, as much as t

ery hungry, and I l

to be affectionate. He delicately pecked at my lips, drew his

of your soft billing and cooing.

s; and, soon comprehending the force of my objection, he very sensibly desisted from best

him much valuable advice, and, which was more to the

away. He was in no hurry to go, however. I went out, wandered about, and toward noon returned home. Still the

said to hi

, as long as it shall please you. I will share with you food, and shelter from the sun and rain. And whenever you grow weary of this my society, tired of this plain habitation, or disgusted generally with civ

, and from that time forward we lived upon the most intimate t

me, and that he, too, should be able to address me by mine. The title, "Friend Parrot," was rather too for

you are Mr. Parrot no long

his new name,

my name is

le how rapidly

ed, "you must learn the names

before he was able to repeat them correctly; but after that, and apparently all of a sudden

what I said, so there was ample conversation, though somewhat one-sided, going on in our ancient dwelling. I marveled at the parrot's extraordinary power; but what astonished me above all was his wonderful memory, and

y, what

e strolling through the forest, I stumbled over a stone, and the parrot, perc

t's

ught him. And now I began more than ev

at's that?" and actually the fellow wante

tly in our domicile, shaded from the afternoon sun by our lofty rock-built palace, enjoy

somethi

ave heard me say, at some time or other, "Pippity, now I will tell you something new." Yet

that it was time that he should learn the names of the plants,-at least of the most inte

Did he begin to think that, after all, savage freedom was to be preferred to dull, systematic civilization? Had he come to the conclusi

to save the small stock of memorandum paper in my note-book and journals as much as I could. At other times I had used bark and similar things to write on, but the mica was more durable, and more easily stowed away. It was my intention to make a still

"Pippity, Pippity!" I cried, "I thought you were never coming back. Have yo

e back. His society was agreeable. He was a good listener, and he was by no means an idler, as far as that kind of honorable work is concerned which consists in keeping body and soul together. For example, str

nas up there? Now, do you go up and cut the stalk, while I stand

dvanced with his work. For getting nuts, and such fruit as it was desirable

uctions, on our domain, the cocoa-nut was not one of them. I remembered that, in coming up from the lake, I had seen large numbers

wn there and get some of those nuts, and it undoubtedly

here, and I mean that you and I shall have some. Keep house while I am gone. I shall sta

s, and was much amused at their lively antics, and at their astonishment at seeing one so much like them, and yet so different. I then returned-not, however, without being obliged to th

ppity saw me,

uts! Coc

own after them quite often, always lea

a great commotion among the monkeys-about a hundred of them squealing and yelling and gesticulating at once. It was on the ground, where the monkey-crowd swayed t

conti

ING

AN H. B

d hammered out on elfin anvils into notes of music. There are some who say that this statement must be received

enings since; for although I knew well enough that pins were bright and sharp eno

their heads must ache forever after, I hereby withdraw all my objections, and express my decided opinion that

dle" were standing at the time on a piece of pi

oo self-important, bent his head quickly downward, and replied tha

being forever kept under key and behind bars, had revolted under the leadership of

that if they did not all see sharp they would soon be flat again, noth

e of all pape

od soldiers should be, nor did they all stand e

far more like the notes of music which they had been, than like the orderly

ed them. For he coolly picked up the splendid staff-officer by his head and poked the first bass with his point, as if to

e of producing but one sound. Moreover, they had been so arranged that, as they uttered each one his peculiar note, the sounds follo

I could stop laughing, "that's pret

G THE

in your head, and then drive a pin down in a board, and keep a-driving, and trying it till it

e a pin to a high

down farth

a lower not

up a littl

ou manage

he pins a good ways apart; and when you

ister or by a stove-pipe, and then had connected it by a string with a wheel. This wheel, as it turned, set an upright shaft in motion, and from this there projected a stick armed at the end wi

PIN-

nd that all the boys he knows are making these pin-organ

THE PO

J

d white and gray beneath. He is from four to ten feet in length, and his

d foolish manner, and will gladly follow a steamer at full speed rather than be left alone. He is a very inqui

L OF PO

r diving under the vessel a few times to inspect it and try its speed, they take their station under the bows, just ahead, and proceed to cut up every antic that a fish is capable of. They jump, turn over, play "leap-frog" and "tag" in the most approved

which their curiosity leads them to investigate. A porpoise once came into the Harlem River and wandered up and down f

ered for acres with a tumultuous multitude of these "

d), their plungings throw up little jets of water, which, being m

WILD

RA W.

ame howling at

dened fien

struggled with

ngry win

-wreaths at ou

ts rattled

imbed to the

ugh the flues

's sled by th

it down in

snow till he

from poor J

he lattice and

or the bird

branches and b

off fresh wr

frightened po

er tremble

e up and soothe

her with so

nestled, con

er's, so so

ical power of

love hushed

CIAN AND

P

thing, there was no help for it. So they all marched in a long procession, the magician at the head with his dictionary open at the "bee" page. Every now and then he turned around and waved his wand, so as to keep the musicians in good time. The cock-of-the-walk led the ban

ard laugh so much that the third one who carried the candles had a chance to eat a penny-dip, without any person seeing him. The king rode in his chariot, drawn by two w

se he ironed with. He balanced himself pretty well until a bird sat on

driver, who was a mouse, managed to get them along. The footman was also a mouse, and the queen had two pet mice that sat at her

zy and the lady beat them with a hair-brush. As for the bearers of the last shell, they had a fight and took their poles to beat each other, leaving their shell, with the lady in

wed by note. The old ram wheeled the barrow, in which was also a basket containing the hen and chickens. The smallest chicken

having his hair combed by the court barber. It was so late that the barber had to hurry, and so he used a rake instead of a comb.

t all the relatives of the criminals got after him. The wasps stung him, a game-cock pecked at him, a beetle nipped him, a dog barked at him, an old woman ran after him with a broom, a wooden-legged soldier p

along as if they didn't care at all whether they spelled cat with a c or a k. They each had two partners. The

said to each other, "We can't put letters together to make words, so let us dance for a spell," which they did,-all but

rows, the magician gave out the first word. It was "Roe-dough-mon-taide"-at least that was the way he pronounced it. The king an

fterward a ram, a rabbit, and the head ninny-hammer; but they made sad work of it. Then each one of the co

n his mother's back and tried to crow in tune w

ow under the influence of a powerful spell. Here you will

d you, my reader, have to sit on the

S BEAUTI

.C.

ap

l, d

morrow be

ad Christmas-day long a

takes so awful long to wait for some time-it's jess a noosance. I fink ole Kriss was drefful mean not to let me have a tree only cos we'd got

he had to say in her own fashion. When she saw her father's sorrowful face, she thought sh

Kissmuss, wont he? Jess like I used to have? And then wont that be ni

her poor torn and tangled doll in her arms, sat very still for at least five minutes. The little maid was thinking all that time. She did not think very straight,

chickabiddy, and then Kissmuss'll be here. S'umber on, baby dear. Kriss is coming with such a booful tree; then wont

that she could not wait to sing any more; so she just danced Lucy

e's all good little chillen, if we is poor. Yes, indeed, Ole Kriss is coming with his reindeer. And he'll bring me a horse wi

COMING WITH

just there, and laid her head do

I do wish ole Kriss'd co

ped over in the corner, and good old Lucy, and the three dolls tucked up i

I

d the toys are tired out and sleepy after their doings the night before, when the children were asleep and the grown people out of the way. They have rare sprees all by themselves, but just as soon a

key-hole to keep out the wind that whistles so, papa takes medicine for the cold that makes such a ringing in his head, and Bridget sets a trap to catch the m

els and rabbits understand it; and the poor little late chicken, which was broug

ood her and liked her immensely. Even the plants in the window wou

prancing up to the little pasteboard and wool dog that lay tipped over in the corner, pawed him about until he was as full of fun as

f blue, red and yellow worsted, and with black beads for eyes. She was a

d badly; but, for all that, she was still full of lively French airs. Lyd was the last of the lot. Poor thing! She had been such a lovely wax blonde: but now the wax had all melted off her cheeks, she was as bald as a squash, one eye had been knocked out, and, wors

d it is a wonder the neighbors did not come in t

g, Spot, heard it out in his shed, too, and whined at the door until Jumping Jack contrived to undo the latch and let him in. The little late chic

er, and had her hugged up so tightly that the kind old baby

Fran?aise had climbed into the wagon, and was sitting there as gracefully as she could, trying to hold her head steady; she had the p

them and wagging his tail till it looked like a fan. Ned fairly shouted i

e saw that and tumbled out of the wagon in a minute, as if she were only a very quick-tempered little gir

ed dog, and said, very severely: "Spot, aint you ashamed to worry anythin

ad, so it i

nd went to scolding; the chicken put his claw before his face,

was unde

crubby cared for, and I don't be

Minx, "and she stuck the pencil

when she wrote it," sai

lap and read it to me when it

you remember, Fran, she hitched it to my bridle and told you t

on the floor! You are a nice crowd! I'll take charge of it myself now, and see that old Kriss gets it

in a way that put the others in good spirits right off,

" she said, "I can read that letter for you

heet in fine style, and just repeated what she had heard Scru

And glass s'ippers for mamma. And moss under it, and animals, jess like I used to

rd said-or a word of any kind for that matter. Not one of them even looked at the others, and i

Minx, at last. "I'm just going to get that

lady at all. "She ruined my dress, and tore my lace, and put my hair in such a st

papa and old Luce to-night," sobbed the one-eye

her," they

afterward, with much chatter, they began

ulled every hair on him loose, and had twisted his tail until it hung crooked; a

I

the back door and start off somewhere. She was in a great state of mind about it. Not for anything in th

he canary, was the only one left behind; and those who couldn't walk, rode. For they had h

n the sled, and much trouble she had to keep it, for there was nothing

ble and well-dressed; while Peg had come just as she was, and

squawked every time the sled plunged a little in the snow. Minx rode horseback as before, whi

hat they were going to do. They meant to get Scrubby

as a very sensible baby,

e going to

get a tree for Scrubb

ind of a tree

them had thought so far as

y kind-s

of trees in France

umping Jack; and at once they raced off to t

nce. "The world comes to an end just over there. I got up on the f

"for there's nothing over there but a big lot of water

ively. "That is the ocean. I know they brought me a

o get awfully sick if there was any other way to find

cold," peeped the chicken; and then there

s about the door every day-he could tell us all

t himself, for she always watch

of you will have to talk to him, fo

ow answered. The matter was explained to him, and the bi

is half bird herself-bless her heart!-and she likes trees just like any other bird. And don't she come to th

d one yet, and so t

irrel. She can tell." And off he flew, and had th

Mrs. Squirrel and to Mr. Rabbit, who had also

seem to me she is so very poor. Didn't I give her those eyes she has? And didn't the robin give her his own throat? And hasn't she a sunbeam inside, that shines all through? And didn't Miss June roll up all the flowers she had, and a dozen birds b

th one cold foot wrapped up in his ear. He un

my little bunnies wanting anything she couldn't g

hirped th

by? What do you all stand here for, chattering and doing nothing? I'd

advice," the s

ve her your own tree? That little Norway spruce is j

Norway is not fit, and, besid

uch green on him; and of course he'll go, for we'll

th, that was evident. He was very thin, and his temper was in bad condition too; for

n the ground, poorly as I am, without coming out

disappointed! What will she d

Scrubby got to do with my catching

He hardly waited for them to get throu

horse. Then he went on talking. "You see if it hadn't been for Scrubby I wouldn't be alive at all. She heard somebody say that I needed to have the dirt loosened about my roots, and to have plenty of water. So she dug around me at a great rate, and wate

icken, "for I'm so cold my b

a sleigh-ride in their queer way, Spot racing about everywhere with Minx on his back, and the tree hopping along after the sled

Mrs. Squirrel, and Mr. Rabbit, but they had all disappeared; so

V

w when Jumping Jack opened t

t a tree was just no tree at all without plenty of things to hang upon it. So she went to work, and by the time Jack opened the door she had a great deal

es of flowers made of bright paper. A great many of the things Scrubby had thrown aside so long ago they would be new t

ow she had them in a heap on the floor, trying to keep them in

ou have done i

"Do keep that horse away, Jack, an

fluttered under the table, for these

d toys about; the French lady walked away into a corner and waited to be introduced, while L

th himself. Lucy did not see him at first, being so busy with the rest; but

Come up to the fire and get warm. Here, Jack, and Lyd, and Fran?aise, h

t of work nobody would have believed possible. They were all glad enough to do the work, but they n

DS ARRANGING HE

his foot and hopped upon the stool, pushing himself as far back i

he things, for the French girl had excellent taste, and nobody could deny it. Lyd and Peg, and Minx and Spot, and even the chicken,

s astonishing how pretty those battered old dolls, broken toys, and torn flowers looked when upon the t

s good as you can be; but if you only were not quite so thin, and were just a little bit greener! And then

d the door to see what it was. In whisked Mrs. Squirrel; the sparrow h

use I thought it might come handy. We laid in a great deal more than we n

s she had brought, enough to spread all ar

. "That is just exactly what we wanted. H

rrow, "will you pleas

arrow had dragged in with him from some place in the woods. Lucy

st it around the tree. Just the thing to hide poo

up, and now he shook a couple of button-balls and some acorn-cu

the tree. Look kind of

never did see such good creatures as you are;

tering and laughing for a minute; but they went to work harder than ever, and soon had all the moss spread down,

way on the moss; the sparrow flew up into the tree and began pecking at the mountain-ash berries; Fran?aise and Lyd and Peg all sat down as well as they could near the squirrel and the rabbit; Jumping Jac

door. Scrubby had waked up and missed her dear old doll, so she had come down to look for

little pets she had played with and loved so well, the bird and the wild creatures she had fed and chattered to, and a little bit

t that did it-the light of her own happy

STREL'S

TMAS CO

d MRS.

aged

aged

aged e

d MRS.

} Twi

E, }

, a hir

tons' parlor o

stop making

can't have an

at all your toys scattered a

body to p

with your li

s a girl. Oh, papa [running to his father] I wish

r mind, never mind! Th

ont the Re

e, there isn't an

her word. May, don't speak of the Remsens again

er L

that'll never do! Come, cheer up! You'll have plenty of fun soon with H

They're not coming, and I don't want them.

r PAT

r father have quarreled about a piece of la

, Patrick,

e, the horse

rse ready

goin' for the

he Remsens! What do you mean by acting w

thin, that hitched up the crather every Christmas

nswer, sir; do

he masther's rin his nose for

the prattle of the children to old Patrick himself. It is Christmas Eve, dear! How can we teach the dear chicks to be kind to each other unless we set the examp

ave me crawl at the feet of a

t, and say: "Come, neighbor, let us do some

l not do i

rk! What

f a harp, or of a conceale

animent, is sung th

all, be

dress the f

song, the fe

e Merry C

remember,

bask in f

is all a

have only

he costly b

who never

e morsel fr

he poor at

ach note of

heaven than pr

in their c

the poor a

utiful carol! I'll c

, run Lucy!

chair by th

th old minstrel

entle folks, and a mer

e. Tommy placed the chair f

here, Tommy. That's right. So, up, on my knee. Why, that's a bright face now! And it ought to be bright, too; for this is Christ

ve a little

e a little sister, eh

g]. Over there

d eyes, so she is! Ru

returns leading

ou'll let me, I'll tell these little people a story of Jes

emselves about

?" Now, these boys and girls were the children of rich parents, and lived in much finer houses than the one Jesus had for a home. They had handsome clothes, too, and everything of the best. So they looked on the plainly dressed stranger, the son of a poor carpenter, and bade him begone, saying: "We will not play with you, or with any such as you!" What a rebuff was that! The poor, sensitive little lad had not expected it, and his tender feelings were hurt. His eyes filled with tears; and running home as fast as he could, he laid his head in his mother's lap, and sobbed out to her the whole story. Then Mary was angry with the ill-natured children, and told her son to go back and destroy them all by his word; for she believed that her beautiful boy could do such things. But, surely, if he could have harbored that thought,

d and laying her hand on his sh

fe, Lucy, Tommy, May, you shall be happy! We'll have the Remsens! I say, we'll have our dear old friends. Patrick shall harness th

up, old friend. Here I am!

i! Ho! Isn't it great, May? I

]. And I shal

Remsen, I am glad, so very glad, that you ha

e we all came together. [Opening the door.] Come!

N and her childre

ely run to T

Welcome, welcome, dea

tmas Eve is wha

hat Christmas would not bring love and joy for us this year.

to interrupt that "peace on earth" of which th

all my heart. We'll not let a

! We'd better d

Come, let us sing our Christmas carol. It will be sweeter than eve

ond'ri

ise m

in Heaven

ith d

ceful

the angel

na, H

a to H

ght o

trave

the lowl

mble

in wa

ous littl

na, h

a to H

ill is

orld

nd hallow

till

ery t

ls' song

na, h

a to H

eaven

ray

land is

all no

holy

e earth i

na, h

a to H

N-THE-

cold for any but a Scribner Jack-in-the-Pulpit to be out-of-d

ut ST. NICHOLAS likes to get a good start. He has Dutch blood in his veins, an

th,-for that is their season of gift-giving,-and when the 25th comes to you, with its ho

w

IND

Jack-in-the-Pulpit; so I hand it over to you, my chicks. It strikes me that it has the gist of some of Dea

s, and accept hospitalities of the humblest kind in a hearty and appreciative manner; avoid giving offense, and if you do offend, have the manliness to apologize; infuse as m

RED AND

other day, but I don't believe the girl told it altogether right

bsorbed in watching a spider which had tried to weave its web eleven times and succeeded on the t

mond! what mischi

"I cannot tell a lie; I di

cried she,

ank heaven!" said he, bu

E SCHOO

like to tell the Little Schoolma

tries to make school pleasant to us, and a while ago she put a box on her desk, and said, when we had any questions to ask, or complaints to make, we might write them on a slip of paper and put it in that box, which was locked and had a hole in the top. Sometimes she answers the questions publicly, and sometimes she writes them and puts them in the "letter-box." The scholar who has the best record for a month keeps the key the next month, and once a week opens the box and distributes the contents. It is quite an honor to be "postmistress," but no one can have it

E AS A

a little girl say that she "wished

r, for the matter of that,-who are as industrious as the birds. How many people would be willing to begin their daily labors as e

ters,-almost eighteen

abor of love to bring dainty bits to their hungry

heir long, long day, made no less than four hundred and seventy-five trips, of ab

all that hunting, and fetching,

IRST C

of Paradise, I'm told, is "own first cousin" to the-Crows. And the Crows are n

ES ON ST. J

on County,

r-sweet fruit. I will now tell you what I was doing on that river. I was pressing out the juice of the sour oranges and boiling it, for making citric acid. We use

, such as opossums, wild cats, raccoons, d

ers." There were always shells on the mounds, which in some instances appeared to be made entirely of shells. Some

t for myself, I cannot tell you what kind they were. They are unlike any that I have seen elsewhere, an

LIND

is so ill-written that the sorters can't make it out, the letter is taken to a man they call the "Blind Clerk," and he generally deciphers it. Why they call him "blind" I don't

vin

te Qui

no

for your merry crowd. You shall have an answer in that same postscript; but I sh

rained to p

y the gir

s grove I

trees in nine

row five tre

ore behold

art, lend

his most ex

ably will be new to thousands of y

AUGHT B

ather the water-fowl of the lake become so encrusted with salt that they cannot fly, and the Indians wade into the water and simply catch the birds with their hands. The coating taken from one duck weighed six pounds,-enough to have drowned it, even if its eyes and bill had not been so covered as to blind and choke it. When the weath

dvantage of the birds in that way. However, "circumstances alter cases," a

UPON K

eport

average inhabitant to write correctly; but it is. From the New York Independent I learn that the following

een, caroscene, crosen, carecene, carizoein, keriscene, karosin, kerocine, keressean, keriseene, kerasene, kerosen, kereseen, kerison, kerriseen, kerricene, kerosee

onishing?-Yours si

YEBRO

supercilious," which is derived from supercilium, the Latin for "eyebr

he bigger girls laughed, for the little girl had raised her eyebrow in a most "supercilious" expression, giving the best possible proof of the appropriateness of the word. For,

NC

that the bees, with the aid of Latin, have given us a beautiful word: "Si

our kind words and good actions be

OF "HOME, S

about to be played in London. In this play was a very pretty scene for which he had an air in his mind. He had to conjure up some words to suit the tune, and so he wrote the verses of "Home, Sweet Home." He also said that the very next day after the song had been brought out at the theater it was

thy gentle

beyond the

stretched God

eaven's 'Home

's tomb-stone in Tunis, Africa; but I am not su

BY

es has the

three, f

up in the li

han bees

gers has lit

a little

under the bed

ack Frost

yes has th

hining an

under the lit

em a loving

AND H

hose house was three or four miles away from Arthur's home. He staid there a week, and when he came hom

e not tired, how would

rthur. "I'd like a ride eve

"I meant for you to t

drive," said

think we can manage it. Here, Joseph!" he called ou

on him. He's wooden, and I was tired of him long ago. I thought you meant f

e comes the horse on which you are to take i

mp little black pony, with a long tail and m

and delighted that at f

ou think of him?

y horse?"

all yo

ny. He turned and ran into the hous

've got a pony-a real pony! Aunt Rachel! I've g

"Come now, get on and try your new hors

pt on telling his father how glad he was to get it, and how ever so much obliged he was to him for it, and what a good

d shortened the stirrups so that they should be the right length for him, and put the

t do that. You do not know how to rid

as the little boy rode off, sitting up straight in the saddle, and holding proudly to the reins, his mother and

wn, and the next day his father took him out again,

ony was trotting gently; and before long he rode all over the

s father felt quite willing to trust his little boy to

ernoon, there came along a party of gentlemen, who were hunting a fox. When they galloped away,

ut he was soon left behind, for his pony could not gallo

ot into the wrong field, and soon fou

of whom he could ask his way home. He first turned his pony this way and then that way, bu

ng no attention to Arthur's pulls and tugs, and did not stop

Horses and dogs seldom lose their wa

nd he was not allowed to ride again for three days, for he had been to

ON HI

d his feet nearly touched the ground as he sat in the sad

as this pony, which was his own, real

RIBUTORS'

UNG MA

a Young Co

O-L

courted the Y

t he would sta

feathers of si

is love i

oo! to

ly wi

eet C

s the

e gayly forth

hen an arr

bird's soft y

with a si

oo! to

ue Jay

shal

ve is

cold and stil

t all hel

rd-defender

er a litt

oo! to

sorrow

gentle

by th

Y

AND HE

riti

d a litt

say each line, is unalloyed gol

-bloom; and the rest of the poem assures us, that by making Mary's name an index to Ma

as an emblem of meekness. Not at all. The lamb is not only a lamb-it is a little lamb. Thus never in the whole course of the poem can we by any oversight look upon Mary's treasure as a sheep; it retains its infantile sweetness and

to a detailed account of Mary's parentage, her appearance, place of residence, or, at least, the manner in which she became possessed of the lamb. But no; all is left to

e was whit

as a companion of Mary-gentle, affectionate, pure lit

where that

was sur

In the depth of its misery we see Mary's sweet face bending pityingly over it; she raises it, takes it home, it revives, and loves her; she loves it in return.

equent punishment. This is, indeed, a master-

d her to sc

against

school one day." How innocent an act that seems!-how natural! Then we read the next line,-"Which was against the rule," and the lamb's action is turned from innocence to guilt. Mary's favorite, that we have seen heretofore in only a good light, violates deliberately a rule of the school which Mary att

school-house bu

e children l

lamb at

rous error in lessons occur; but when a lamb trots soberly in,-not gamboling now; conscience already whispers; remorse eats at the little creature's peace of mind,-it is not to be expected that order can be longer maintained, and the school, with the exception of Mary, runs riot.

e teacher tu

, reader; judge

l he ling

t forbidden,-to wait f

ed patien

ry did

answered it." He has turned over a new leaf, and wandering aimlessly about, now nibbling a cowslip, now rolling in the young grass to

the lamb lo

r childr

it. The teacher answers in words that prove

loves the la

cher di

her school-mates and her teacher. More poems like this, sentiments so pure clad in plain Saxon words, would make our world-wonderful and beautiful, a

M

OF PRINC

prince nam

ad a sis

g o'er the En

Channel

er had g

de the bo

t struck u

shock to t

rybody

rybody

everybod

rybody m

iam rushed

lords

steering fo

he dark

of the gene

his sis

de the bo

uld not l

got near

s touching

side of t

ody di

t the li

l for su

the peop

people t

nt the

mast in

erson were

e a man cli

f this man

a butcher

help of a b

of the wate

ing some fi

red him fr

he was r

he told

ard of the death

d away fo

hat day he

s seen t

.

'S SU

ighed Allie. "I wish it would clear off

ing quietly for more than an hour, she laid down the book, exclaiming: "I can and will try to be of some use in the world. I do nothing but mope when it rains,

would let her go to Miss Davies's. While she is gone I will tell you briefly who she is. H

's tiny cottage. She knocked, and a cheery voice bade her enter. She walked into a neat room, barely but cleanly furnished. At one end of it, beside a window, around which an ivy was growing, sat a bright

her, "I have learned the true secret of happiness at last." By doing good to others you will forget your own u

.

UR MOTHER KNO

a Young Co

LETT

work in drawing for the little folks. It would have been impossible, therefore, to find a hand more skillful in the kind of art desired, or better fitted to put upon the cover of ST. NICHOLAS just the things to suit the best tastes and fancies; and of Mr. Crane's success we think

dainty things with lovely pictures and hearty verses upon them. Friends and lovers send them to one another, children send them

1, which was drawn by Miss L. Greenaway, a London artist, who has drawn many

His Bee." But some of our older boys and girls may be able to put them to another use,-which, also, would cause much fun and merriment,-for these

each one with the forefinger, secure them in their places until the outlines can be traced on the glass. Fill up all the space outside the tracings with black paint, and, this done, put in the s

ed; and if, when they are exhibited, some one will read the story aloud, so as to de

hina, Augus

write for your magazine. The little boys of China have no such magazine as yours. I wish they had; it would make better boys of them. The children of the better class of Chinese go to school. There they learn to commit to memory the Chinese characters. In repeating the characters, they sway back and forth; it's real comical to see them. They repeat in a sing-song tone. They go to school at six in the morning. They have a rest at noon, after which they rem

ST. NICHOLAS, f

STON

bout the Sea-Serpent in ST. NICHOLAS for August last, may l

ew York "I

y to forty feet in length. The other sketch is of the creature as seen "end on," and shows only the head, which was "bullet-shaped and quite six feet thick," and a couple of flappers, one on each side. The creature was, says Lieutenant Osborne, at least fifteen or twenty feet wide across the back, and "from the top o

al Teachers' Mon

feet in length, the head twelve feet, and the tail one hundred and fifty. It seemed to be a huge salaman

OF FAGOT-

" which has been described in print before, but it makes so much fun th

t-Gatherer" slip proceeds in a serious, business-like way to bundle the fagots. He, or she, chooses four or five girls and boys, standing them together to represent a fagot, and then makes similar groups of the rest in other parts of the room. This done, he begins to "bind the fagots" by walking slowly around each group, making with his arms such motions as a real fagot-binder would make. The "sticks" are quiet until the binder lets his arms fall, but then comes a sudden change; the "good woods" run to their seats, but the "snappers" chase the "binder" and try to touch him before he can begin to bind another "fagot;" failing in this, they have to

a, Septembe

there was nothing but cakes of all sorts. Now, being a member of the school, I was a little hurt at the injustice done to our school. I know there is something else but cake,-fruit, milk, soup, sandwiches, etc., being among the other things that are spread on the lunch-table, provided by the janitor, and sold to the girl

LASSES PRIMARY DEPARTME

CE AT

okl

of your most delighted readers; and I am glad of the present

ing around them day by day, and that in taking advantage of them they will not only find great enjoyment and add to t

ly telling the dry facts about their subject, but, with pictures and plain speech, they explain how almost any boy or girl may, at small cost, make his or her

beautiful of scientific studies,-in which he tells how to make the instruments and conduct the experiments yourself. And, as if that were not enough, Mr. Curt W. Meyer, of the Bible House, New York, has arra

s will to your young folks this coming Christmas,-we'd have saved up our pocket money and gone ahead alone. I know that I made all my own electrica

, although it is as long as most old men

THER

ica,

Yesterday I was reading a book, and in it there was an article headed "Showers of Stars." I read it, and at the end

but of various dimensions, is sweeping around the solar focus in an orbit, which periodically cuts the

nd out, and I hope it is correct.-

A.

on's Cyclopaedia," under the items "Aerolite" and "Meteor," where admirably clear and condensed accounts

M ST. NICHOL

, Novemb

do I, for your monthly visits make our house brighter and pleasanter to u

and "The man all tattered and torn that married the maiden all forlorn;" that was on p. 652 of the volume for 1876: "The Minuet," in January, 1877: "Hagar in the Desert," in June, 1877; my aunty did that, and it was lovel

or our Sunday-school entertainments. A number of people belonging to the schoo

HOLAS, would surely like to know about this, and I hope

A B

in the October "Riddle-Box," but her answers came

dge, Passaic

bang. There, there he stands now behind the barn with his hands full of lumps of coal watching for one that killed his chicken a month ago. O dear, if he would only stop killing cats what a good boy he would be! He always gives me half of his candy, and he raises such nice melons in his garden. O, O,

E BA

Yo

s story to The letter box that I wro

TLE

er name it was May was sitting in her mothers lap Mama said she what makes everybody act so to me? Dear said her mother it is because you are so proud and get angry so easily then said May if I should try to be good would they like me Yes said

L. L

va,

n bridge, it says that trains go across on it. This is a mistake, as that bridge is only used for carriages, horse-cars and pedestrians, the ste

S.

, Cal., Sep

flower. Last spring we discovered a humming-bird's nest in one of the trees in our orchard. It was very pretty, being no larger than half of a hen's egg. The first time I saw it the little mothe

R. I

eton,

professor told us was the ice piled up around the north pole; Saturn with its rings, seen with wonderful clearness, and shining pale and far off in comparison with Mars; Jupiter with its two dark bands around the center, and three of its satellites plainly visible; and, last, the moon with its curiously indented surface and r

H.

OF NEW

Little Folks," and although the readers of this magazine know that there have been many good things in that department, they can have no idea, until they see it gathered together in this book, what a wealth of pictures, stories, funny little poems and jingles have been offered the litt

one by Mr. Mitchell for the boys and girls who came into this world too late to hear in their original freshness all the good stories that were the delight of their fathers and mothers when they were children. And these fine old stories are all so nicely warmed up (if we may so express it) by the author of the book, and so daintily and att

by Jansen, McClurg & Co., of Chicago. It is called SIX LITTLE COOKS; or, Aunt Jane's Cooking-Class,-and, while it is really an interesting narrative in itself, it delightfully teaches girls just h

. The three stories which make up the book will delight fairy-loving boys and girls. They are illustrated by Mrs. Lucy G. Morse, the author of "The Ash-

bout the pranks of a merry little girl and her boy-cousin. There is plenty of good fun and goodwill throughout, especially in the parts that tell of the doi

ing, and helpful; and the Bodley folks have already gained so many friends and admirers that the book will be sure to make its way. We said of the former volume that it was charming, but the new one is

ories by English writers. It is meant for papas and mammas rather than little folks, but some of our older boys and girls may enjo

RIDD

SS PU

. NICHOLAS for February, 1874. By beginning at the right word and going from square to square as a knight mo

n

lose your b

a

e chain

rough so sil

a

es, break,

o

in Bind kne

o

er prove

u

ri- your ne

ac

ers leave te

MERICAL

The 1 2 is a word signifying "Behold!" The 1 2 3 is cheap. The 2 3 4 is to be i

.

FOR SAN

n acrostic which spells a holiday greeting. The letters, too, are

erry feet to

ice would block

vain his eage

laus is cur

not know what

mpt him, and

matrons, grandsi

f he warm his

Arrows from h

him choose! "Thes

ilver, tipped w

kill which Love

he center of t

us be slighted

EN W

s with two words which, joined together, w

- -- or reams?" -- one

not regard it as yo

in --, and lived like

QUADRUPL

seen in the central picture. Two other words relating to the central picture may also be found

.

TMAS

in Christmas decorations. 36 1 26 42 9 16 are rung, 44 41 7 38 39 31 16 are told, 24 4 6 2 12 are played, 10 11 33 26 21 2 5 12 is laid aside, 19 9 43 38 35 37 1

RS' N

respectively the nam

e old ladies' beverage. 4. A man's name and an island. 5. A teacher commanding one of his male scholars to

an eye; a Scotc

er's tool nicel

t closely, I thi

poet, histori

A bit, and a horse's cry. 13. A small nail and a Spanish title. 14. A boy's n

ty girl-names t

t lose, for "I ca

o poets at onc

.

LESS

. The half of each word, from the outside to the central letter (but not including that letter), forms a smaller word. The whole line of dots from 1a to 1b including the central letter, indicates the first of the four principal words

ant bird of South America. 3. An

2b. A relative. 3a. An article of summer use. 3b. Inv

DOMINO

of the other rows. Thus the topmost row, counting horizontally, contains eighteen spots; the one below it only four; the first row to the left, counting vertically, ten; the diagonal row, downward from left

.

NAL P

arrange these one above another in the order in which they occur in the sentences. They will then for

much to their happiness. No ordinary person is -- to him; and the legend -- us to the belief that he is well-nigh -- that

RB PU

the sense, and transpose them into an app

s, laughing at

out from his

ng -- distu

he -- as s

lighten his b

easures from

off, with

Christmas" you

LE ACR

Centrals, read downward, a portion; read upward, a snare. Finals,

stern of a ship. 3. An insect in

T.

IAMOND

ic animal; a singing bird; a light

OL

CAL EN

6 7 child, I feel sure that I ca

3 4 5 6 row?" sai

about the stem of, the vase, choose

11 12 for robbing the poor little

house to the 1 2 3 4

8,-1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8? Whichever it is to

, I shall always be interes

.

UZZLES IN NO

TIC.-Frankli

-ri

-os

-ld

util

nneb

-ar

-sl

ick

2. Offences-of fences. 3. Significant-s

NUMERICA

02,

080

,0

00,0

--

87,1

LASS P

GMA-Cleopatra

2. White, Whit, Hit, It, I. 3. Coral, Cora, Ora, Or, R

.-D, Cid, Clara, Di

E.-Str

Candytuft. 5. Snapdragon. 6. Wall-flower. 7. Sweet-pea. 8.

2. Oder, rode. 3. Wells, swell.

R after S-Rafters. 3. S and T-Stand. 4.

ham. 3. Cotton. 4. Linen. 5. Serge. 6.

OSTIC.-"The longest d

--e D

--yos

--y

--a

---

-ux V

-love

--y

--e

--ur

--ru

-ndi

--ar

ted from the November number, and are given here. REBUS: "Liars are not to be believed

M. Hall, Grant Squires, George Herbert White, William Kiersted, Maxwell W. Turner, Emma Elliott, H.V. Wurdemann, Alice B. Moore, "Clarinet," Sophie Owen Smi

, A.G. Cameron, "May," Rosie S. Palmer, Julia Lathers, Florence Wilcox, Edwin R. Garsia, Lizzie M. Knapp, Alice B. McNary, May Danforth, Kat