DEAR Mr. Editor,—I am writing to tell you of a hen who had a good memory. She had some ducks' eggs put under her, which she sat on and hatched; she was very proud of her brood, and accordingly she took them out into the yard. In the yard was a pond, which the young ducks immediately ran to, and in they went. She was in a great fright, and flew from the shore to an island there was in the middle of the pond incessantly, and ran round and round, and called them, but in vain. After a time they came out of the pond, and she brought them up quite safely.
Again she was set on duck's eggs, and again they went into the pond and put her in a terrible fright. These she reared as before. After this she was set upon hen's eggs, and she hatched them all. Then she took the chickens into the yard, expecting them to go into the pond as the ducklings had; but they would not go near. So she called to them, and flew backwards and forwards from the island; and when they would not go in she actually took each one and tipped it over into the water! Thus she drowned all her brood—a very queer thing for a hen to do.
Florence J. Meddlycot.(Aged 12¾.)
Hill Vicarage, Falfield, R. S. O., Gloucestershire.
DEAR Mr. Editor,—A friend of mine many years ago was walking with her brothers and sisters, when she found a young rabbit which had been slightly hurt. She picked it up and resolved to take it home and keep it. But now the question arose, How was she to feed it? Suddenly a bright idea seized her. The cat at home had lately had kittens, and some of them being drowned, she (the girl) determined to put the rabbit with the survivors. She did so, and to her delight the cat brought it up as one of her own.
Sidney H. Duxbury.(Aged 13¾.)
Locksley, Southborne-on-Sea, near Christchurch, Hants.
DEAR Mr. Editor,—My mother had a horse which she used to drive called "Jacky," who disliked being groomed. The stable-men kept their brushes in a little cupboard near his stall; but sometimes when they came to groom him they could not find them. So one day they watched him, and saw him slip his halter and go to the cupboard and knock with his nose until he got it open. Then he took out the brushes and hid them under his straw!
Adelaide Bentinck.(Aged 11.)
Froyle House, Alton, Hants.
DEAR Mr. Editor,—Last year, when we were staying at Amiens, I was very much struck by a great friendship between a duck and a heron, both of which were in the hotel garden. The heron looked very ill and weak, and used to remain in the same spot for a long time, standing first on one leg and then the other, the duck lying a little distance off. When the heron wished to walk about it gave a feeble croak, and the duck would immediately join it, and the two commenced walking round the garden. When the heron was tired, it gave another croak, and the two companions stopped their walk. The only time that the duckleft the heron entirely was for its meals, as the two birds were fed at different times. The heron had a great aversion to rain, and at the least drop would shiver, and shake its feathers. So, when it began to rain, the duck hurried its companion on until they reached the little shed where they slept. Sometimes the heron would begin walking without giving its croak for the duck to accompany it. This annoyed the duck dreadfully, and it used to waddle after the heron, quacking very angrily. If the heron appeared more unwell than usual, the duck redoubled its attention. It was most curious and interesting to watch them.
Muriel Nash.(Aged 14¼.)
Tudor House, Belvedere Road, Upper Norwood, S. E.
Note.—Each Story, Anecdote, &c., when sent to the Editor, must be certified by a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, as being bothTrue and Original.
LittleFreddie Mayton's father lived in America, but Freddie did not live with him, for he was very delicate, and his father's home was among the rice plantations, and it was not at all healthy; so Freddie went away and lived with his mother, about seven miles from his father.
Not being very strong he was allowed to run about as he liked, and he got fond of the negro servants who worked about his home, but one especially, whom he called "Uncle Sam."
Uncle Sam was a powerful-looking old man, but he was now getting past work, and he could not get his liberty, so he was obliged to work on.
He was as fond of Freddie as Freddie was of him, and he was always ready to do anything for the little boy, from carrying him on his back (for Freddie was only six years old) to picking oranges for him to eat as he sat on the grass beneath the cool shade of a tree. Freddie's seventh birthday had come round, and his father had sent him a kind little letter saying that if he wanted almost anything he could get him he should haveit.
Freddie was delighted, and began to think what he should ask for. He had everything a reasonable boy could wish for. At last he thought of something. It was this he would ask for—Uncle Sam's freedom.
He sat down at once and wrote a note to his father saying the thing he most wished for was Uncle Sam's freedom, and he should be very pleased if his father would grant it to him. Then he sealed it up, and running out told a servant to ride with it to his father.
He did not tell Uncle Sam anything about it, for fear his father would not grant his request.
When his birthday came, he had a present from his mother and some little things from nearly all the servants of the household (for they all liked him), but there was no letter.
After breakfast, he wandered out into the garden, and walked towards some high ground to see whether he could see anything of a messenger. Yes! there sure enough was a horseman riding towards the house, and by the time Freddie had got to the door the man had reached it. He handed Freddie a letter, which he eagerly tore open.
When he had read it, he ran quickly to Uncle Sam's hut, for his father had said that though it was rather a surprising request he would grant it, for Uncle Sam had served him for more than forty years.
When Freddie reached the hut Uncle Sam was sitting on a stone outside the cottage door, smoking his pipe. Freddie leaned against his knee and read him the letter, and when Uncle Sam heard it he thanked his little benefactor so much that Freddie declared he had never enjoyed a birthday present so much.
Edith E. Lucy.(Aged 12.)
Thornleigh, 50, Woodstock Road, Oxford.Certified byAlice Lucy(Mother).
First Prize(Divided):—Half-Guinea Book, with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour, toC. Maude Battersby(15), Cromlyn, Rathowen, Co. West Meath, Ireland;and Half-Guinea Book with Officer's Medal toMary Johnson(15¾), Boldmere Road, Chester Road, near Birmingham.Second Prize (Seven-Shilling-and-Sixpenny Book), with Officer's Medal:—Edith E. Lucy(12), Thornleigh, 50, Woodstock Road, Oxford.Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal:—Kate S. Williams(15), 96, Oakfield Road, Penge;Gertrude E. Butler(12½), 34, Lorne Street, Fairfield, Liverpool;Louie W. Smith(15), 11, Woodstock Terrace, Glasgow;Margaret Simpson(12), Elmhurst, near Garstang, N. Lancashire;Mary Welsh(14), 1, Barton Terrace, Dawlish; Winifred L. Coventry (11¾), Severn Stoke Rectory, near Worcester;Kate Chandler(14), 1, The Terrace, Champion Hill;William R. Burnett(15), Scotby Vicarage, Carlisle.
METAGRAMS.
1. Pin. Tin. Gin. Fin. Bin. Sin.
2. Red. Bed. Wed. Fed. Led.
MENTAL HISTORICAL SCENE.
Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, King of Argos, in Greece.
WHEEL PUZZLE.—Lincoln.
1.Lion. 2.Iron. 3.Noon. 4.Chin. 5.Owen.
6.Lean. 7.Noun.
MISSING LETTER PUZZLE.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,'Life is but an empty dream!'For the soul is dead that slumbers,And things are not what they seem."Longfellow,A Psalm of Life.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,'Life is but an empty dream!'For the soul is dead that slumbers,And things are not what they seem."Longfellow,A Psalm of Life.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,'Life is but an empty dream!'For the soul is dead that slumbers,And things are not what they seem."Longfellow,A Psalm of Life.
GEOGRAPHICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
1.CognaC. 2.OmagH. 3.TripolI. 4.SundaL.
5.WillemstadT. 6.OusE. 7.LeicesteR. 8.DevoN.
HIDDEN PROVERB.
"The least said, the soonest mended."
DIAMOND PUZZLE.—Liverpool.
1.L. 2. TIn. 3. DaVid. 4. AppEars. 5.LIVERPOOL.
6. TemPlar. 7. ScOne. 8. DOg. 9.L.
DOUBLETS.
1. Book, boot, blot, plot, plat. 2. Fire, fare, care, cart, cast. 3. Tub, tun, tan, pan.
4. Fare, fame, lame, lamp. 5. Bad, bid, bin, fin. 6. Soap, soar, sour, four, foul, foal.
A BIRD VIGNETTE.
Head of a Rook.
Music - Three Little Squirrels by Charles Bassett
Three Little Squirrels.
Humorously.
Words and Music byCharles Bassett.
1. Oh! three little squirrels lived in a big wood—Three naughty young fellows, who called themselves good, And thought it not wrong to play all day long, Instead of hunting for food. Their father and mother worked hard ev'ry day, Providing for winter—while they were at play—With care adding more each day to the store Of acorns and nuts hid away.
2. One day they were merry as merry could be, No time then for work had these idle young three; So, wanting a meal, they thought they would steal The nuts stored up in the tree. When laden and weary at setting of sun, Their father came home and saw what they had done, He scolded them roundly, and whipp'd them all soundly, And soon put an end to their fun.
3. The winter came quickly, and made them feel sad, For sometimes there scarce was a meal to be had; Then vowed they no more to steal from the store, But hard to work would be glad. So let me this piece of advice give to you, "Don't steal from the cupboard or that you'll soon rue; Waste not, for 'tis wrong, and want brings ere long: You can'teatandhaveyour cake too!"
RIDDLE-ME-REE.
Myfirst is in vase, but not in glass.My second is in iron, but not in brass.My third is in goodness, but not in sin.My fourth is in coal, but not in tin.My fifth is in sleet, but not in snow.My sixth is in hit, but not in blow.My whole is a flower that most people know.
Gertie Heaver.(Aged 13.)
164, Dereham Road, Norwich.
SINGLE ACROSTIC.
Theinitials form the name of a man or boy.1. A girl's name.2. A lair.3. That which fishes live in.4. Part of the body.5. A contest.6. A water bird.
M. E. Dansey.(Aged 9¾.)
Ampney Park, Cirencester.
Poetical Rebuspoetical rebus.The Answer is a verse from a well-known Poem.
poetical rebus.The Answer is a verse from a well-known Poem.
TRANSPOSED LETTER PUZZLE.
Placethese letters aright, and you will see three proverbs come to view.1. Aadegghiillllnoorssttttt.2. Aaadeefhiillllprvw.3. Aaadddeeehhhimmnnooosssstt.
Milson R. Rhodes.(Aged 12¾.)
Crefeld Villa, Withington, near Manchester.
HIDDEN PROVERB.
Ihavelost every one of my shells.That cloud prophesies a storm.He has just received your note.George, let us go for a walk.James has given me a silver pencil.I have torn the lining of my coat.
Edwin Potter.(Aged 10½)
Price Street, York.
ARITHMOREM.
57 + EGNOSNT = an explorer.150 + 50 + PAEA = a mathematician.1051 + ONT = a poet.1101 + AREA = a continent.1100 + NAUNHUS = a composer.550 + NOON = a city.
Alice Mossman.(Aged 13.)
Daisy Hilly Bradford, Yorks.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
Thesecond letter of each word, and the last letter but one of each word, read downwards form the names of two fishes.1. Asserts.2. An exclamation.3. A vehicle.4. Oxen.5. Something that points.6. To stick.7. To handle.8. One of the parts of speech.
Bessie Nicholson.(Aged 10¼.)
202, Evering Road, U. Clapton.
MISSING LETTER PUZZLE.
A verse by Coleridge.
I × e × r × h × e × n × i × n × m × r × n × r!× f × a × t × y × k × n × y × a × d!× n × t × o × a × t × o × g × n × l × n × a × d × r × w ×,a × i × t × e × i × b × d × e × s × n ×.
I × e × r × h × e × n × i × n × m × r × n × r!× f × a × t × y × k × n × y × a × d!× n × t × o × a × t × o × g × n × l × n × a × d × r × w ×,a × i × t × e × i × b × d × e × s × n ×.
Christabel G. Marshall.(Aged 12¼).
10, Worcester Terrace, Clifton.
SQUARE WORD.
1. A girl's name. 2. An open space. 3. The back part. 4. Spun wool.
Lily Walpole.(Aged 13½.)
James Road, Stornoway, N.B.
Duringthe next six months we propose to make a variation in our Prize Competitions which will, we think, prove an additional attraction to our readers both at home and abroad. In the place of Two Quarterly Competitions there will be Three Competitions, each extending over two months, as below:—
I.The Summer Competition, consisting of Puzzles appearing in the present (July) and the August Numbers.
II.The Home and Foreign Competition, specially introduced for the purpose of giving readers residing abroad an opportunity of competing on favourable terms. Particulars of this will appear in the September Number.
III.The Winter Competition, consisting of Puzzles appearing in the November and December Parts.
Prizes.
I. In theSummer Competitionthere will be a First Prize of a Guinea Volume; a Second Prize of a Half-Guinea Volume; a Third Prize of a Five-Shilling Volume, awarded inEach Division, viz., theSenior Divisionfor girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 (inclusive), and theJunior Divisionfor thoseunder14 years of age. There will also be awards of Bronze Medals, of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour to the three next highest of the Competitors following the Prize-winners ineachDivision.
II. In theHome and Foreign CompetitionSpecial and Additional Prizes will be offered, of which full particulars will be given in the September Number.
III. A List of Prizes in theWinter Competitionwill appear in the November and December Numbers.
Regulations.
Solutions of the Puzzles published in this number must reach the Editor not later than July 8th (July 12th for Competitors residing abroad), addressed as under:—
The Editor of "Little Folks,"La Belle Sauvage Yard,Ludgate Hill,London, E. C.Answers to Puzzles.Junior [or Senior] Division.
Solutions to Puzzles must be accompanied by certificates from a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, stating that theyare the sole and unaided workof the competitor. No assistance must be given by any other person.Competitors can be credited only under their own name.The decision of the Editor ofLittle Folkson all matters must be considered final.The names and addresses of Prize and Medal winners will be duly published inLittle Folks.
GAME PUZZLE FOR JULY.
OurGame Puzzle for this month will be in the form of a little story. Four children were one bright summer afternoon standing together in an old-fashioned garden. There was Millicent, aged fourteen, upon whom sat a weight of care, for it was her task to look after and amuse the other three, viz., her two brothers Harry and Arthur, aged ten and eight respectively, and little Beatrice, aged five. The children seemed altogether out of sorts, they were cross, petulant, teasing, and would settle to nothing. At last Milly thought of the toys indoors, and said, "Now we will go and have a good game in the nursery."
"No," said Bee, stoutly, "me don't want to do and play wiz dolly to-day. I 'ike ze darden best."
In this fashion answered the others.
Then, said Milly, an idea dawning on her,"shallwe try a new game out of doors?"
"A new game out of doors—just the thing," the boys chimed in.
"Let us all stand," said Milly, "together by this bower, and in turn think of some flower. I will begin, and so show you the way. I think of a polyanthus, and I say, 'Who will first touch a poly?' Then I count three, and if any of you can guess the word during that time we shall all start together for the nearest polyanthus, and when we reach it call 'polyanthus.' Who reaches the flower first scores a mark. Do you understand?"
Yes, they all thought that would do, and so they tried it quite successfully. Such shouts of "Fuchsia," "Dahlia," "Geranium," "Snapdragon," &c. &c.; but when it came to Beatrice's turn they thought she wasn't old enough to think of a flower on her own account, and so suggested all kinds of words.
"No, me tell one myself," she said, and then grandly pronounced "Wo."
"What's that?" they all exclaimed, and whilst Bee counted three they all puzzled to find it out.
Then little Bee ran a few yards and stopped at the nearest Rose-bush. "Why, that's aRose," said Harry.
"Tourse it is, silly boy, didn't I say 'Wo?' and isn't it a 'Wosy Posy?'"
And so they all played on, and their little faces brightened into smiles, and fretfulness was forgotten in a good game as it always is; and by tea-time they were all thoroughly tired, and ready to go indoors when mamma called them.
There's the game, now for the Puzzle. You will find below a quantity of syllables in squares. Those syllables, if sorted out correctly, will make a certain number of wild and garden flowers, briefly described below, and all you have to do is to pick them out and place them in their proper order.
Senior Division.
The following flowers can be made from the above syllables:--1. A small pink wild flower, bitter to taste, found in dry pastures--June to September. 2. Many flowers on one stem. 3. Its name is derived from a Latin word meaning mimic or ape. 4. A small but important order, including the poppy and many poisonous plants. 5. With open mouth behold this favourite flower. 6. Erect flowering-stems, found in damp hedgerows, moist woods, edges of streams--June to August. 7. Its name is derived from a word meaning sensitive to cold. 8. A beautiful purple or white flower, seen on the walls of many homes. 9. "A plant ever young." 10. Touch the stamens with the point of a pin, and they all spring forward and touch the pistil.
Junior Division.
The following flowers can be made from the above syllables:—1. A pretty yellow flower, found in damp fields, meadows, and brooks. 2. A white or yellow flower found on houses. 3. A pretty little yellow flower, on high flowering-stems, sweet in scent. 4. A "divine" flower. 5. Bell-shaped—blue, purple, or white. 6. Purple, red, and yellow, sometimes white. The fruit is a pod containing many seeds. 7. Sometimes eaten as salads, the leaves and stems being flavoured with oxalic acid. 8. Named from the resemblance of its seed to a small beetle. 9. A beautiful little crimsonflower, covering the fields in summer. 10. A beautiful white spring flower, found in copses and hedgerows. 11. A beautiful pale blue flower, found especially on sand or chalk.
The flowers must be named in the order given in the two lists.
Answer to Puzzle No. 17.
Senior Division.
1. Christopher Sly. 2. Carolina Skeggs, Wilhemina. 3. Shallow, 4. René 5. Prester John. 6. Nahum Tate. 7. St. Loy. 8. Petronel Flash.
Class I.—Consisting of those who have gained eight marks:—F. G. Callcott.Class II.—Consisting of those who have gained seven marks or less:—M. Bradbury, N. Besley, C. Burne, H. Blunt, A. Bradbury, G. Clayton, J. Cooper, M. Cooper, H. Coombes, Ellen Corke, A. Chappell, G. Dundas, E. B. Forman. C. Gilbert, E. Griffiths, H. Gill, A. Garnham, M. Heddle, C. Hart, D. von Hacht, E. Hobson, H. Leake, B. Law, E. Lloyd, A. M. Lynch, H. Leah, J. Lewenz, C. Morin, M. More, C. Mather, E. Maynard, E. McCaul, E. Prate, M. Addison-Scott, K. Stanton, A. Solomon, M. Somerville. M. Trollope, Una Tracy, B. Tomlinson, Harold Watson, W. Wilson, E. Woolf, E. Wedgewood, K. Williams, A. Wilson.
Junior Division.
1. Sir Torre. 2. Pip. 3. Humphrey Clinker. 4. Zem. 5. Bore. 6. Cæsar. 7. Troilus. 8. Duergar.
Class I.—Eight marks:—D. Blunt, M. McCalman Turpie.Class II.—Consisting of those who have gained seven marks or less:—A. Allsebrook, R. G. Bell, E. E. Borchard, L. Besley, C. Burne, E. Blackbourne, E. Burdett, F. Boreham, E. Brake, F. Burne, L. Biddle, F. Cooper, M. Cooper, A. Coombs, C. Crawford, E. Coombes, M. Callcott, E. Carrington, F. Clayton, H. Chappell, J. Chapman, S. Coventry, V. Coombes, C. D'Almeida, R. Dutton, E. Elston, E. Evans, C. Fullford, M. Foreman, M. Frisby, L. Forrest, A. Gilbert, L. Gill, G. Griffith, E. Gruning, A. Howard, F. Howard, P. Hale, E. Hanlon, K. Hawkins, W. Hobson, W. Johnson, A. Kino, A. King, A. McKelly, A. Leah, K. Lynch, J. Laneum, W. Lewenz, E. Morgan, H. Mayer, J. Moore, M. Meredith, G. Morris, C. Moody, N. Maxwell, F. Medlycott, E. Nicholson, G. Neame, E. Neame, F. Newman, E. Quilter, S. Rolfe, M. Crompton-Roberts, E. Stanton, K. Simson, L. Stibbs, E. Stanley, G. Stallybrass, H. M. Smith, M. Wood-Smith, F. Todd, M. Wiper, K. Wedgwood, F. Woolf, L. Walpole, W. Wigram, J. Williamson.Note.—The following Competitors were credited in our Register with Solutions to Puzzle No. 16, but by an oversight their names were omitted from the list published in the May Number:—Seniors. W. Besley, H. Cornfield, G. H. Dundas, E. M. G. Gill, C. G. Hill, H. Leah, C. J. Mather, C. G. Rees, H. R. Stanton, M. C. Welland, B. Wright, E. L. Wilkinson, E. H. Wilkinson.Juniors. E. Elston, L. L. Gill, W. Goligher, M. A. Howard, F. S. Howard, M. Jenkins, A. Leah, F. J. Medleycott, E. L. Metcalf, H. J. Nix, E. A. Neame, G. Price, C. Roberts, E. Stanton, M. W. Smith, M. C. Tonge,M. Turpie(K. Lynch should have been in Class I. instead of Class II.)
Thefollowing is a Complete List of theSeven Special Competitionsfor the present year in which—with the view of giving younger readers the same opportunities of success as older ones—there are Senior Divisions for those of the age ofFourteenandunder Seventeen, and Junior Divisions for thoseunder Fourteen:—
No.I.—Plain Needlework, as shown in Night-dresses and Cotton and Print Frocks for Children and Infants in Hospitals.[N.B.—In this Competition machine sewing is not allowed, and no article is to be washed.]No. II.—Illuminated Texts, suitable for hanging in the wards of Children's Hospitals and kindred Institutions.[N. B.—The Texts are to be limited to from three to nine words. Thedesignsare not to benecessarilyoriginal, butprinted outlineswill not be allowable.]No. III.—Single Dolls in Costume.—Historical, Military, Naval, representing Nationalities, &c.[N.B.—The clothes should be made to take off and put on.]No. IV.—Scrap-Albums.[In this Competition the Albums may include not only ordinary Scraps and Coloured and Plain Pictures, but also Pressed Flowers, Ferns, Seaweed, Christmas, New Year, Easter, and Birthday Cards, &c. &c. The Albums themselves may either be bought or made by the Competitors.]No. V.—Single Dolls(includingBaby Dolls), in Ordinary Clothes.[N.B.—The clothes should be made to take off and put on.]No. VI.—Toys, Made of Any Material, And Wool Playthingsas shown in Wool Balls, Knitted and Crocheted Reins, &c. &c.
Ineachof these Six Competitions (I. to VI.) Two Prizes in Books of the respective values ofTwo GuineasandOne Guineawill be awarded in the Senior Division, and Two Prizes of the respective values ofOne GuineaandHalf a Guineawill also be awarded in the Junior Division; making in all Four Prizes ineachCompetition of the value ofFour and a Half Guineas.
No. VII.—The "Little Folks" Special Illustrated Story Competition for 1884.[In this Competition (No. VII.) Prizes in Books and Medals ofexactly the same value and numberare offeredin each Divisionto those who shall send in theBest Original Illustrated Stories, account being also taken of the neatness of the writing and the arrangement of the Pictures. The following is the list (in each Division):—A First Prize of One Guinea and a Halfin Books for theBest Story; aSecond Prize of One Guineain Books for theSecond Best Story; aThird Prize of Half a Guineain Books for theThird Best Story; andTwelve Prizes of Half-Crown Booksto theNext Twelve Bestof the Competitors following the winner of the Third Prize; thus making in all, in the Two Divisions,Thirty Prizes. Further particulars and the Regulations were given in the January, 1884, Number ofLittleFolks.]
All Prize-winners in theSeven Competitionswill receive Bronze Medals constituting them Officers of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour; and in addition to the Prizes and Medals offered, some of the most deserving Competitors will be included in a Special List of Honour, and will be awarded Members' Medals of the Legion. All readers ofLittle Folks(if within the stipulated ages), whether Girls or Boys, may compete inany or allof the above Competitions, and the Regulations (which were given in full in the January Number) are, briefly, as follow:—
All work of every kind (including, of course, the Stories) to be certified by a Parent, Magistrate, Minister of Religion, Teacher, or other person in a responsible position, as the sender'sown unaidedwork. In the case of the Stories (for Competition VII.) a Certificate must be given that they areoriginal; and the printed conditions must be strictly observed. The age ofeveryCompetitor must also be attested.—All work to be carefully marked with the Competitor's name, age, and full address, and to be sent, accompanied by the Certificate, carefully packed andcarriage paid, addressed to "The Editor ofLittle Folks, La Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, London, E.C."—All the Competitions willfinally closeonSaturday, the 30th of September, 1884.
The whole of the work of every kind in theSeven Competitionswill be distributed among the little inmates of the principalChildren's HospitalsandKindred Institutionsthroughout the United Kingdom.
The foregoing are in addition to the regular "Picture Page" and Puzzle Competitions, &c. (see pages 61 and 64).
Questions and Answers
[The Editor requests that all inquiries and replies intended for insertion inLittle Folksshould have the words "Questions and Answers" written on the left-hand top corners of the envelopes containing them. Only those which the Editor considers suitable and of general interest to his readers will be printed.]
Prize Competitions, &c.
A Foreign Competitor.—[An announcement of a Prize Puzzle Competition, in addition to a "Picture Page Wanting Words" Competition, in both of which Extra Prizes will be given, and much longer time than usual allowed for sending in Answers, will appear in the September number ofLittle Folks. These two Competitions have been arranged, in response to repeated requests, in order that Competitors residing on the Continent, and in the United States,Canada, &c., (in additionto those living in Great Britain), may take part in them in much greater numbers than they are generally able to do.—Ed.]
Literature.
A Crocodilewrites in answer toMary Hodge, that the line—
"When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war,"
was written by Nathaniel Lee, and is to be found in his tragedy ofAlexander the Great, act iv., scene 2. Answers also received fromKitt, Thistle, Chloe, A Young Fiddler, andPop-a-top.
Flurumpus Flumpasks in what poem
"A boy's will is the wind's will"
"A boy's will is the wind's will"
is to be found, and what is the first verse.
Cookery.
Arielwrites, in reply toPrincess Ida, that the way to make jumbles is to rasp on some good sugar the rinds of two lemons; dry, reduce it to powder, and sift it with as much more as will make up a pound in weight; mix with it one pound of flour, four well-beaten eggs, and six ounces of warm butter; drop the mixture on buttered tins, and bake the jumbles in a very slow oven from twenty to thirty minutes. They should be pale, but perfectly crisp. Answer also received fromNora F.Maid of Athenswishes to have a recipe for oat-cakes.Pepper and Blossomwould like to know how to make cocoa-nut ice.
General.
White Anemonewrites, in answer toBluebell, who wishes to know when and by whom organs were invented: "Jubal is mentioned in Gen. iv. 21, as 'the father of all such as handle the harp and organ;' but neither the century of its invention nor the name of the inventor can be given. Hero and Vitruvius speak of a water-organ, invented or made by Ctesibius, of Alexandria, about 180 or 200 B.C., so that it may be inferred that other kinds of organs were then in existence. Aldhelm, an Anglo-Saxon writer, mentions that organs were used in England at the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century. The Byzantine emperor, Constantine VI., sent an organ to Pepin, the father of Charlemagne, about the year 757. In 812, Charlemagne had another one built in the same way. This is related by Eginhard, who was Charlemagne's secretary. In 880, Pope John VIII. had an organ from Germany, and an expert player was sent with it. It is supposed that this organ was the first ever used in Rome. Of the quality of these early organs little is known."—Answers also received fromF. Cropper, Gamba, Cherub, andClaudia.
The Duke of Omniumwrites, in answer toSister Snout, that a window-box may be very prettily arranged with nasturtiums (climbing ones) at each corner, andLobelia speciosa. Mignonette would make a border, or violets and sweet alyssum placed alternately. Red geraniums should be placed behind the smaller plants, and thus a very pretty box may be made with good, hardy plants.—Answers also received fromIolanthe, Cherub, H. B. Bodington, Dear Dumps, andCupid.
The Black Princewishes to have directions for making a cardboard model. [An article on this subject appeared inLittle Folks, Vol. XVII., page 205.—Ed.]
M. H. S. would be glad to know if maidenhair ferns need much water, and how often they ought to be watered.
The Duke of Omniumwrites, in answer toQueen Mab, that if her myrtle suffers from scale, the following is an excellent cure for it:—"Make some size or jelly glue water of moderate thickness. Dip the head of the plant in such water, or syringe it well all over. After this, the plant should be placed in a shady place for about two days, and then, after rubbing the dry head of the plant through your fingers so as to cause the insects and glue to fall off, syringe heavily with clear water at 120°."
Elaine.—[The meaning of "A E I" was given inLittle Folks, Vol. XVIII., page 63.—Ed.]
Natural History.
A Gentleman of Colourwould be glad to know if Indian meal is good for rabbits. [It can be used in turn with other dry food, but is too fattening to suit any animals kept in confinement for a permanency, unless they are to be fattened up.]
Snoutand M. S. R. wish to know what is the best food for goldfinches, and whether hemp-seed is injurious to them.—[A very little hemp-seed occasionally is good, and much is very bad, for nearly all birds. The best food is a mixture of canary, millet, oat-grits, and rape or maw-seed, putting about a dozen grains of hemp-seed on the top every day. The bird soon learns the plan, and leaves off scattering the other seed to get at the hemp, as he will otherwise do.]
Queen Mabwants to know how to tame her goldfinch. It is a last year's bird, and she has not had it long. It is fed on canary-seed and a little hemp.—[For food, see above, a little more variety being well. As to taming, it will soon get tame if you spend time often by it andkeep still, and always feed it yourself. Some children are too impatient—to bequietnear birds and animals is the main thing.]
Aguinea bookand an Officer's Medal of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour will be given for the best Story having special reference to the Picture below. A smaller Book and an Officer's Medal will be given, in addition, for the best Story (on the same subject)relatively to the age of the Competitor; so that no Competitor is too young to try for this second Prize.