Tales of the Toys, Told by Themselves

equire more care and pains, or entirely engross more workmen than I did in my construction. My architect-in-chief, I must tell you, was George

Polly, aged nine; Jeanie, usually termed "Jean," aged eight; Theodore, popularly christened "Dora," because he was a little give

. But he was very fond of all the little folks at Summerfield Rectory, and the days to the long vacation were nearly as eagerly counted by Uncle Gee, even amidst his more serious business, as by the flock of

its and share all their games as the veriest child amongst them. He was the best teacher of trapbat and rounders Bob and Tom knew for miles round; and yet he

ad gone on a visit to a friend first, and his young relations' calculations had been all put out, and they had been waiting day after day in the vain hope of seeing him. The noise and chatter round the tea table t

deaf, dumb, and blind, by all the voices talking in their loudest keys at once, or else would have expected to be torn in pieces by all the eager hands that clung to him and pulled him about. I think Papa and Mamma, a

but, to their great horror, they looked out and saw the sky covered with leaden clouds

n we wanted to try the new field, and Uncle G

'and I wanted to show him the new

tain,' said Jeanie, who was a

anted Baby, in her squeaky voi

d Papa, coming in; 'I'm too thankful for th

n Mamma; 'just think, children, how t

e children, 'and now Uncle Gee's come

s racket about a little rain! Why, I was just thinking, while

'O how stunning; O Uncle Gee,

amma's help perhaps we can manage it. I dare say she will let us have the school

Uncle Gee?' asked B

issing her, 'a very useful one too; you

g to cover the frame with, and lent her nice glue pot as well. Uncle Gee soon had the long table in the school-room covered with all sorts of things, and had set everybody to work as well. Bob and

whole concern. If we are to get the Kite made to-day, you must all obey orders. Mary, you and Jeanie can find me some

an smoothing and snipping the bits for the tail, and making the tassel for the end.

s by rubbing up a lot of colour on the back of a clean plate, I'll show you how;' and so to work

provided for the tail with its cross pieces of paper to serve as light weights, and they were now busily snipping some very

d Mamma to Uncle Gee, as she came in for awhile to h

playthings; and how seldom we were able to buy any real toys. I do t

hey?' replied George; 'but look, sister, won't this be a capital Kite? I think

carefully planned framework of slips of

orked in your service all the morning, it is high time you did for mine. I am going to write a letter, and have no more time t

d very sensibly dispersed, and amused themselves u

k their places round the great table, they were about as merry a party as you would fin

left for him; 'I peeped into the school-room as I came down, and I see it is drying fast a

yes as round as cricket balls; 'do make it

ed genuine-of old Bogey

Mary, 'with a star on her forehea

a ship with masts and sails painted for her, becaus

,' said Baby, 'or make

er is over we'll have a solemn council on the

a Kite?' enquired Papa; 'I think there ought

r. Franklin found out about lig

ight Tom; but what did he find o

find out something he wanted to know about lightning, and t

the end of his stick, and where his string ended he hung a key. During the next thunderstorm that happened he went out and flew his kite; and by these simple means found out what he had wanted to know. You would hardly understand what the question was, or how it was explained to him in this way, until you are rather older, and are able to understand a little more of all the curious phenomena of electricity. You are all very much frightened and roused when we have a heavy thunderstorm, because it is such a terrible thing, that you see the danger, but some day y

go to our work. I think if you were all to ask Papa very nicely, he might perhaps give you a simple expla

oom, where they found the great Kite stretched out like a large white bird or a windmil

A ship, a dragon, a Chinaman, or what? It is to be put

dragon would be a jolly thin

said Tom; 'a big ship,

ls and Dora; 'he is sure to make a capital thing of it

leave it to me,' said Uncle Gee, laughing, 's

d chattering among them all, and at last the

said she liked a ringdove, while Jeanie said it must be a peacock. Dora wanted a swan, and Baby bawled out for a rob

ey begun to press round him so, and make such queer suggestions, that he declared he would not do another stroke till they left him alone. So off they went to the other end of the table, and got the

exhibited a bird of such a kind as had never been seen before! It had the head of an owl, with its great staring eyes, the broad wings of

moment in utter surprise, and th

ll, and every one in particular. I am sure such a bird a

b and Tom, clapping their hands, while

will be a fine day after the rain, and we s

or the next morning's cruise, and then all went to bed t

and when Bob and Tom went to school, Uncle Gee thought it was not safe to trust me to Dora and the girls, so he promised to make them another some day, and he gave me to the Spensers! So here you have an end of my history, which contains, as you see now, no flying adventures at all.