0076m
Here is a picture of a scene in Jamaica. These two black fellows have been out in the woods, and they suddenly see a snake wriggling itself away through the thick bushes. One has got such a fright, that he has dropped his axe; but the other is springing forward to kill it before it bites.
0077m
Oh dear, look here! Ha! ha! ha! Old Mother Hubbard must have forgiven her naughty dog for spoiling her spinning-wheel. We know what a cunning fellow he is, and we are not at all surprised that he has got the good old dame-to dance a polka with him before she goes to bed.
0078m
Here is a very different kind of picture, and one that almost makes us shudder. We can hardly believe that there are men who can trust themselves to cross from one side of a ravine to the other by such a slender-looking rope. How sore their hands and feet must be! and how glad they must be when they get to the other side in safety! It is a good thing there are such hardy, brave men in the world; for it helps to make it move on more smoothly.
0079m
An English hay-field! See how busy the reapers are mowing down the sweet hay. I hope the little boy under the tree has been helping, and that he is resting after his labours rather than being lazy. It is so nice to toss up the hay when it is dry,—its smell is so sweet.
0080m
Here is a busy group, at any rate. See what a lot of nice sticks they have been gathering in the wood. They are too poor to buy coals, so they go out and gather the broken branches. The farmer does not object to them taking them, because he knows such thrifty, diligent people never destroy the trees; and he often tells the forester to order the workmen to leave as many of the small branches as possible. In this time of dear coals, and dear provisions of every kind, I hope you remember the poor. I know of an old woman in London, who comes twice a week for the old tea-leaves a little boy saves for her.
0081m
This must be a garden in France, I think. The people there are very fond of the open air, and sometimes take their food in the tea-gardens. They are certainly very merry; but I rather think we, who are accustomed to home comforts, would soon get tired of this noisy out-of-door life. The climate there is so much warmer than ours, that it must be pleasant to have such a nice garden to go to; and the children cannot but enjoy it much.
0082m
Ithink these must be very nice children, because of one thing,—their dog seems to be very fond of them. He has come back from a good scamper, and is looking up in their faces, sure of being praised.
0083m
Here is a very funny picture. This monkey has found his way into the drawing-room, where sits one of his mistress's visitors. She is rather afraid of him, but thinks it is wiser to keep on friendly terms with him, and is offering him some sweet cake she intended to give to the children. Mr. Monkey, who wants to be thought like his master rather than like a little child, is shaking his head and making all sorts of queer faces and sounds in his throat. It is no wonder the poor visitor is somewhat alarmed.
0084m
Oh dear, what a sad scene is here! A vessel in distress, with her crew clinging to the sides of the deck. If she is wrecked, I hope they will get off in time in their boats, with a good compass and plenty of food and water to serve till they reach some safe haven, or some land. What dark clouds, and what an angry sea! It is no wonder people are fond of sailors, and like to see them walking about the streets. When we think of the dangers they have to endure, they must enjoy getting back to land again, especially to their own homes, where their wives and children are ready to give them, oh how hearty a welcome!
0085m
What is the matter? is anybody killed? I rather fear this stupid fellow has fired off his gun in fun and has wounded somebody. His little brother has fainted with fright.
0086m
Here is a young lady going a long journey. She is sitting on her trunk watching the busy crowds of people coming and going. Every-thing is so new and strange to her, that she has no time to feel sad.
0087m
How busy old Tim is in the threshing-floor! Only look how his flail is swinging over his head. Ah, how cunning the ducks are! They have left the pond, and have gathered round the door, ready to pick up any stray grains of com that Tim may send out. The hens, too, have perched themselves on the ledge, and are keeping a sharp look-out.
0088m
Here is poor little Johnnie Green crying on his door-step. But why is he crying, you would like to know. Well, because a naughty boy who was passing, snatched off his cap and tossed it somewhere out of Johnnie's reach. It is well that his big brother is close at hand to get it for him, after he hears the cause of his tears.
0089m
Move on! move on!" That is what the policeman is saying to this strange-looking man. He is blind; but I fear he is only pretending, and is not such an honest man as the old sailor with the wooden leg I showed you before. His dog, too, looks rather sly; though, poor beast, it is trying to do its duty to its master, and is holding out the tin dish very carefully. The man is roaring so loud, that he is frightening the ladies who are passing; so no wonder he is told to move on.
0090m
This is a canoe belonging to the Friendly Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean. When you are old enough, you will be able to read all about them, and how Captain Cook thought this would be a good name for them, because the natives all seemed to live on such friendly terms with one another, and from their politeness to strangers. They live upon cocoa-nuts, yams, hogs, fowls, fish, and shell-fish. They are very fond of bathing themselves in ponds; and even though stagnant, they prefer them to the water of the sea.
0091m
Pretty cockatoo." The little girls like to pay him a visit, for he is such a very funny bird. He is pure white, with such a lovely yellow crest; and when he is pleased, he makes it stand up on his head till you can see every feather quite distinctly. Unfortunately, when he does that he almost always gives a terribly loud screech, which forces you to put your hands to your ears to shut out the ugly sound. When he gets a piece of sugar, or a bit of the yolk of an egg, he is so pleased, and makes a sound like giving you a kiss, to show his thanks. I hope the little girl who is holding up her finger is not teazing him, because he may lose his temper in a moment, and give her a severe bite.
0092m
Really, Miss Mary, this is a very strange way to use your doll, holding her up by her poor hand, and letting her curls almost sweep the floor. Miss Mary is in a cross humour, and so she is cross with her doll; which is very stupid of her, I am sure you will say. You take very great care of your doll, I am certain; and put her to bed every night, folding up her clothes as you do your own, and teaching her to be a very tidy, well-behaved doll. And you call her by a pretty name, don't you?
0093m
Iknow you will like to see this picture. Isn't this a dear little pet of a squirrel? He has come down from the trees to enjoy the warmth of the sun before it sets, and is eating his supper with much content. All day he has been very busy laying up a store of acorns in a hollow of a tree; for God has taught him to know that "winter, dreary winter, is coming, and that he must be active in the autumn, else he will starve when the snow comes.
0094m
This is a picture of a nautilus; and I am sure papa will be delighted to tell you about this strange creature. We can
"Learn of the little nautilus to sail,
Spread the thin oar, or catch the driving gale."
"This is the ship of pearl, which poets feign
Sails the unshaded main—
The venturous bark that flings
On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings."
0095m
Ah, here is a sad sight. This is a cabin where the slaves live, on a cotton plantation. I am glad to say there are no slaves in America now; and the overseer dare not use that great long whip to force them to work, as he did only a very few years ago. These men have been sent to tie up and whip one of the women, because she did not do as much work as the overseer thought she ought to have done. How glad the negroes must be now to think they cannot be whipped, or sold away from their children and homes; and that they can sing, "No more auction block for me."
0096m
This is an island in the South Pacific, called Tahiti. The canoes seem to be very different from those of the Friendly Islands; but the people are very different. They used to be in manners quite savages; but the missionaries have done them a great deal of good, and they are becoming just like people in this country. All sorts of roots and plants grow here, and fragrant sandal-wood.
0097m
This is the picture of the interior of a saloon of one of the steamers to Dublin. It has just newly started, and the passengers are beginning to feel uncomfortable, at least some of them are. The stout old lady is too angry with the gentleman opposite her to think of anything, and scarcely feels the motion of the vessel. She thinks he is very rude because he keeps staring at her granddaughter, who is so sad about leaving her mamma and papa, that she can think of nothing else. And though she promised to make ever so many sketches, she lets her portfolio lie idly in her lap.
0098m
Oh, shocking!" Gertrude is quite right to say so to this cruel boy, for taking away the bird's nest. He likes Gertrude, and intended to make her a present of it; but when he sees how sorry she is, it is to be hoped he will put it safely back in the bush again.
0099m
Here is a picture of an English squire walking in his garden. He is very fond of flowers, and keeps a gardener to look after them. Tom the gardener is as proud of the garden as his master is, and always does his best to attend to the flowers. He tenderly carries some of the delicate ones into the green-house the moment the sun sets, lest they should get chilled and die.
0100m
Really, did ever any one wear such a funny bonnet as this young lady?" Oh yes; not many years ago, either; and very comfortable it was, too, I do assure you. I think the gentleman is her father, and is an officer; and she is very proud of walking out with him. He has taught her to walk very neatly, and so she is pointing out her toe as prettily as she can. Her father is a very polite man, and is carrying her bag, and even her parasol, which is rather a comical one.
0101m
Now, here is such a very pretty picture that I must tell you a story about it. This is Julia Mayton, the squire's little daughter. She sometimes tires of being in the garden, though she likes the pretty flowers, and is allowed to wander by herself through the wood out to the edge of the common where the shepherd has his sheep feeding. The moment she appears, Help, the shepherd's dog, bounds off to greet her. He likes to be patted by her; and to show that it is only for affection he comes, he always refuses to take any cake or bits of biscuit. He keeps a sharp look-out, too, upon the flock, and if he sees one straying he bounds away back to his duty.
0102m
Here are two sisters sitting on one of the garden seats. The younger has brought out her new book of history her kind grandpapa gave her for a Christmas present; but she has quite startled her elder sister by saying that she really does not like to read it. She calls it a stupid book.
0103m
This is a female dancer of Tahiti; and a very funny figure she has made of herself. The things like fans at her back must be intended for wings, I think, and will add much to her grace when she dances. She seems to have no shoes on her feet; but she has been careful to provide herself with a very fine head-dress. You must read all about this beautiful island when you grow bigger, and about its brave inhabitants. You will be very much amused, too, to hear about the strange pillow they lay their heads on when they go to sleep.
Oh, what a sleepy-headed mamma!" Ah, but baby is getting two new teeth, and they have been so troublesome during the night that poor mamma did not get a wink of sleep; and now that they have shot their little white points through the gums, poor baby is so relieved that he has popped off to sleep; and his mamma has followed his example, and dropped off too. You must beverycareful not to make any noise, in case you awake them. Slip about on tip-toe, and shut the doors very quietly.
0105m
Here is an old man teaching his son to read. In those days there were no printed books;—all were written; and so books were very scarce. Gentlemen used to send their sons to be educated by the monks. They used to have the most books. Nearly all the copies of the Bible were in their keeping. There was a copy chained to a pillar in old St. Paul's Church in London.
0106m
Ah, what is this now? Two anglers busy at work. I greatly fear some foolish trout must have spied out the glittering fly at the end of the line, and swallowed it Of course he does his best to make his escape, and darts under the bank; but the fisher is trying to force him to come out. He must do so, because the hook is sticking in his poor throat, and he can't bear the pain any longer. It is such a pity he was so greedy, else he might have swam about the pleasant river.
0107m
Here is a poulterer going round selling his fine turkeys and chickens. He is trying to get the doctor of the small town to buy one; but the doctor is telling him that the last was much too dear, and not at all good. Both the men seem surprised; but, of course, the doctor ought to know best.
0108m
How would you like to live up on the top of that high rock? The castle is quite a ruin now, and the ferryman's daughter takes many people in her boat to see it. She rows the boat about the lake all the day, and never seems weary.
0109m
Ireally think this is Old Mother Hubbard's dog again. You remember when she went out to the clothier's to buy him a coat, when she returned home to her own house he was riding on the back of her goat. It is just as well he has the sense to hold on by her horns, for Mrs. Nanny does not seem to be very well pleased, and I can't help thinking that she will toss him off the first moment she can.
0110m
This is really a very elegant lady; and what a lovely house she seems to live in! I wonder what she is thinking about. She looks rather grave, doesn't she? And this surprises us, because we often think that people who live in grand houses, and wear fine clothes, ought never to be anything but happy. But when we grow older, we find that even the very richest people are sad sometimes, and that they are tempted to envy the happy, contented life of some poor people.
0111m
This is a very rich little girl. Her father could buy her everything she could desire; but she is very delicate, and all his money cannot purchase health. She has to lie in bed almost all the day; but she has a kind little friend, the rectors daughter, who comes very often and sits beside her and reads to her. Though this little girl cannot run about, she has learned to be content.
0112m
Here is Arthur Young. He is leaving home for the first time in his life, and is going away to be a sailor on board a very large ship. He was so proud of his fine clothes when they came home, and was never tired of talking about the ship to his little brothers and sisters; but now he cannot help thinking that he will not see his dear, kind mother, for ever so long, and he is trying to listen very attentively to her last words of advice.
0113m
Here is another view of an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is called Raiatea. Do you notice what a number of strange-looking trees grow here? It would be very nice to be able to get fresh cocoa-nuts off the trees, and drink the sweet milk for breakfast. And then it would be delightful to paddle about in that canoe, and look through the clear water, down to the very bottom, and watch the lovely fishes swimming about, blue and yellow, and with crimson spots sometimes. How we should laugh, too, at the funny coloured crabs.
0114m
Here is a picture nearer home. These children have a half holiday, and are spending it in the woods. They have not forgotten to take their baby brothers and sisters with them; and as the little ones are tired, they are taking a rest. Henry wishes his sister Alice to blow very hard upon the white feathery head of the dandelion seed, to see if their mother requires her at home; but Alice is a little afraid, in case it should be true, and this makes them all laugh very much.
0115m
Heyday, and what's the matter here? I fear somebody has been naughty; and even though the governess is talking kindly, I fear somebody is in the sulks. Just look at them! I think they must have been quarrelling, and are both to blame. It is a great pity they are not friends, because it is so painful to quarrel with one's playmates; it makes everything feel wrong together. I do hope they will forgive each other.
0116m
Gathering pretty posies. Oh, do look at the dove taking a peep at her! and the squirrels know they need not scamper off, for she is too good to hurt them.