The maid and her kittens
“It’s a very great ways,” says the dear little maid,“To Strawberry town, and I’m so afraid.”And so as companions, to keep her from harm,She takes two fat kittens, one under each arm.She trudges along with brown eyes opened wide,The kittens hugged sociably up to each side;With ears sticking up and tails hanging down,She carries them bravely to Strawberry town.MARY A. ALLEN, M.D.
“It’s a very great ways,” says the dear little maid,“To Strawberry town, and I’m so afraid.”And so as companions, to keep her from harm,She takes two fat kittens, one under each arm.
She trudges along with brown eyes opened wide,The kittens hugged sociably up to each side;With ears sticking up and tails hanging down,She carries them bravely to Strawberry town.
MARY A. ALLEN, M.D.
Flossie and her shoe-boat
Flossie took to the sea very early. She did not like to be bathed, but she was very fond of playing in the water.
One day, when she was at her bath, her mother’s back was turned, and little Miss Flossie turned her slipper into a boat and set it afloat in her little bath-tub. Then she pushed it about and made believe it was sailing. By and by it got full of water and sank, crew and all. This made her cry, and that made her mother look round. Flossie’s shoe-boat was taken from her, and then she cried more. Her mother knew best, and was very firm. Miss Flossie had to give up being a sailor, and put on her pink dress and go downstairs.
R. W. L.
Little Nellie lived in California. Her papa was going on a visit to his old home in Maine, but Nellie was to stay at home with her mamma. Just before her father left, her mother took his great-coat, brushed it, and said, “I have put some handkerchiefs in this pocket, and in the other one is a nice lunch of cake and fruit.”
The father and mother were so busy that they took no notice of Nellie. But she had heard what mamma said. Her first thought was that she must put something in papa’s pocket, too.
Nellie makes lunch for her father
Her mother had been changing Nellie’s clothes, and a soiled little stocking lay on the floor. The child had a small cake of maple sugar in her hand that she was eating. She took up the stocking and crammed the sugar down into the toe. She then rolled it up tight and tucked it down in one corner of her papa’s pocket. No one saw her do it. The first that was known of what she had done was one day after her papa had reached his old home. He was searching his pocket for something when he felt the little stocking. He took it out, and when he saw what it was, what a good laugh he had! And how it made him think of his little Nellie, who was so far away!
Nellie’s papa showed me the little stocking and the cake of sugar. He said he would save them until Nellie was older, and she could then see what a nice lunch she had put up for her papa.
NELLIE BURNS.
A portrait of Dime
Bow-wow! Here I am again! I told you before that my name is Dime; but the baby calls me “Bow-wow.” Do you know why? It is because I always say “Bow-wow.” It is all the word I know how to say.
Do you know our baby? She has big black eyes, and her mouth looks like a pink rosebud. She is a sweet little girl. I love her dearly. I did not like her when she first came. That was a long time ago. My master was very fond of her. That made me feel cross. I used to bark at baby and show all my teeth. After that they did not let me come near her. I did not see the baby for a long time. I did not care for that.
My master did not seem to like me then. When he saw me, he said, “Go away, Dime! Go away, bad dog! You are not good tothe baby.” So I was not happy. I made up my mind to bite that baby.
It was a long time before I got a chance to bite her; but one day I found her alone. She was in her little crib. I put my paws on her crib.
But I did not bite her, after all. Shall I tell you why? She was too pretty to bite. So I kissed the baby, and I have loved her ever since.
Dime looks at the sleeping baby
Now, my master likes me again. He pats my head and says, “Good old dog! Good Dime! You love the baby, don’t you?”
I am glad I am not a cross dog now. I feel better when I am good. Don’t you?
S. E. SPRAGUE.
“Come, Freddie, time you were in bed long ago,” said mamma.
“Don’t want to go!” cried Fred. “I wish I never had to go to bed!”
But in a few moments Fred was snugly tucked away. Everything grew dim, and Fred’s eyes began to close. Very soon he heard a little voice from somewhere, and started up.
Perched on his knee was the queerest little man he had ever seen. In one hand he held a long pin, and this he often thrust at Fred.
“What are you doing that for?” asked Fred. “To keep you awake,” said the little dwarf. “You are in Wide-Awake Land, and no one goes to sleep here.”
Freddie is wide awake
Fred sat up in bed and looked about. Was it really Wide-Awake Land? Needn’t he ever go to bed again? “O, I am glad!” he said.
There were many other boys and girls in this queer land, and most of them looked very unhappy.
“What is the matter?” asked Fred of a little boy who was crying hard.
“I’m tired and sleepy,” sobbed the boy.
“Why don’t you go to sleep then?” asked Fred.
“Humph! I guess you haven’t been here long, or you’d know.”
“No, I’ve just come; I think it’s nice.”
“Wait till you get sleepy,” said the boy. “I used to think Wide-Awake Land would be nice. I believe Sleepy Land would be nicer now.”
Freddie and the other little boys
“Yes,” added Fred; “but why can’t you go to sleep?”
“Because the little men that you see everywhere carry pins. They prick us when we try to sleep. O, I wish I hadn’t come!” And the boy began to cry again. Fred thought he was very silly, and ran off to find some other new-comer.
Night came at last. Big lamps were hung on the trees and made the place as light as day. The little men were flying about to keep the sleepy ones awake.
Fred got sleepy at last, and began to nod. A little man thrust a big pin into him. “You must keep awake,” he said. Fred tried hard, but his eyes would shut, and then would come the wicked pin. At last he screamed aloud.
“Why, Fred! what is the trouble?” and he looked up. There was mamma.
“I don’t like Wide-Awake Land,” cried Fred. “I will go to sleep when you want me to after this.”
“I think you are dreaming, Fred,” replied mamma.
“I was, but I am awake now.”
“Well, dear, you are in Sleepy Land now. So good night, and pleasant dreams.”
ELIZA M. SHERMAN.
A little girl wearing a hat
Lulu was six years old last spring. She came to make a visit at her grandfather’s, and stayed until after Thanksgiving.
Lulu had lived away down in Cuba ever since she was a year old. Her cousins had written to her what a good time they had on Thanksgiving Day; so she was very anxious to be at her grandfather’s at that time. They do not have a Thanksgiving Day down in Cuba. That is how Lulu did not have one until she was six years old.
The family at table waiting for the turkey to be carved
She could hardly wait for the day to come. Such a grand time as they did have! Lulu did not know she had so many cousins until they came to spend the day at her grandfather’s. It did not takethem long to get acquainted. Before time for dinner they felt as if they had always known each other.
The dinner was the grand event of the day. Lulu had never seen so long a table except at a hotel, nor some of the vegetables and kinds of pie.
Playing blind-man's-buff
Lulu had never tasted turkey before. Her grandmother would not have one cooked until then, so she could say that she had eaten her first piece of turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
After dinner they played all kinds of games. All the uncles and aunts and grown-up cousins played blind-man’s-buff with them.
In a land where summer lingers,Far from Northern rains and snows,Where, like loving, clasping fingers,Twines the jasmine with the rose,
In a land where summer lingers,Far from Northern rains and snows,Where, like loving, clasping fingers,Twines the jasmine with the rose,
A little girl with a bunch of flowers
There I found a little maiden:Oh! her eyes were black as night,And her tiny hands were ladenDown with blossoms pearly white.Sought she all along the wayside,’Mong the ferns and waving palms,Where the tiniest flower might hideFrom her sweet protecting arms.“What fresh treasure are you seeking?”Asked I of the little one,For a myriad blooms were peepingThrough the mosses to the sun.“Have you never heard, dear lady,Of the sweetest flower that blooms,—It is neither proud nor stately,Like the lily and the rose;“But it brightens every pathway,Springing ’neath your careless tread.Till the sun, with quickening ray,Kisses soft its drooping head.“Then its petals quick unclosing,Freshly sweet with morning dew,—It is left for our supposingThat the story must be true,—“How it shyly waits the comingOf the glorious King of Day,And that hence the pretty namingOf a Sun-Kiss, so they say?”ELIZABETH A. DAVIS.
There I found a little maiden:Oh! her eyes were black as night,And her tiny hands were ladenDown with blossoms pearly white.
Sought she all along the wayside,’Mong the ferns and waving palms,Where the tiniest flower might hideFrom her sweet protecting arms.
“What fresh treasure are you seeking?”Asked I of the little one,For a myriad blooms were peepingThrough the mosses to the sun.
“Have you never heard, dear lady,Of the sweetest flower that blooms,—It is neither proud nor stately,Like the lily and the rose;
“But it brightens every pathway,Springing ’neath your careless tread.Till the sun, with quickening ray,Kisses soft its drooping head.
“Then its petals quick unclosing,Freshly sweet with morning dew,—It is left for our supposingThat the story must be true,—
“How it shyly waits the comingOf the glorious King of Day,And that hence the pretty namingOf a Sun-Kiss, so they say?”
ELIZABETH A. DAVIS.
[1]Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South.
[1]Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South.
A dragonfly and leaves
Two calves
Mrs. Brown read a little article in the newspaper one evening, about “Country week for poor children.”
“Husband,” said she, “I have an idea. We have such a good farm, and so many nice things, suppose we take some boarders this summer, who can’t afford to pay anything.”
When she told him what she meant, Mr. Brown thought it a very good idea, indeed.
“The currants and raspberries are ripe. I’ll see if Mrs. Anderson knows of some nice children, who will have to stay in the hot streets of the city all summer. We will ask them to come here.”
Of course, Mrs. Anderson knew of some nice children. She belonged to a mission-school, and knew dozens of them. So, the next Wednesday, when Mr. Brown drove down to the station, there she was, and two little ones with her, Lina and Carl Schmidt. Carl was almost a baby, and went to sleep as soon as they were in the carriage; but Lina held her breath with delight as she rode to the farm. She was half afraid, too, and held on very tightly if old Billy went faster than a walk. As Mr. Brown watched the bright little face he began to think his wife’s idea was a splendid one.
“Well, little one,” said Mrs. Brown to Lina, when they reached the house, “what do you think of the country?”
“Oh, I do want to take such long breaths!” said Lina, “I wish my mamma could see it too.”
“The first thing for these small folks,” added Mrs. Brown, “is some of Brindle’s nice milk.”
The family watch the cow being milked
Carl waked up long enough to drink some, and say, “Dood, dood.” Then he grew sleepy again, and Mrs. Brown laid him on a shawl upon the grass, under the trees. The hens gathered around him, looked at each other and clucked, as much as to say, “What kind of a queer creature is this?” Young Mr. Bantie was about to peck him to find out, when they heard a little voice calling “Biddy, Biddy, Biddy!” from the barn. Off they went, half flying and half running.
Mrs. Brown had given Lina a tin pail, with corn in it to scatter to the hens. They came from all directions, and got around her so closely that she was afraid to stir. She had taken out one handful of the corn, but was afraid to throw it. Then the greedy hens began to peck her hand, and try to get it out of the pail. She began to cry so loud that every one ran out of the house to see what was the matter. It was funny enough to see her, standing in the middle of that greedy crowd of hens, with her eyes shut very tightly, and her mouth very wide open.
When Carl waked up, he wanted some more milk. Mrs. Brown said, “We’ll go down and see Brindle milked, and you shall have it nice and warm.” Lina had seen pictures of cows, but never a live one. She had no idea they were so big. Mrs. Brown asked her if she would like to milk; but she thought she would rather stand at a little distance. As for Carl, he shut up his eyes, and tried to get out of sight of the creature. However, he liked the warm milk very much.
Lina spent most of the next day in the garden. She helped pick the peas and beans, and stem the currants. She went with Mr. Brown to find the eggs, and held Billy’s halter while he drank at the trough. Every day was full of pleasure, and Mr. and Mrs. Brown had just as good a time as the children. At the end of the week they couldn’t bear to let them go; so it came about that the children’s week, for Lina and Carl, lasted all summer.
J. A. M.
A sprig of berries
[FROM THE GERMAN.]
In winter, when it freezes,In winter, when it snows,The road to school seems long and drear,O’er which the school-boy goes.But when the pleasant summer comes,With birds and fruit and flowers,The road to school, how short it is!And short the sunny hours!But to the boy who loves to learn,And wisdom strives to gain,The road to school is always short,In sunshine, snow, or rain.L. A. B. C.
In winter, when it freezes,In winter, when it snows,The road to school seems long and drear,O’er which the school-boy goes.
In winter, when it freezes,In winter, when it snows,The road to school seems long and drear,O’er which the school-boy goes.
But when the pleasant summer comes,With birds and fruit and flowers,The road to school, how short it is!And short the sunny hours!But to the boy who loves to learn,And wisdom strives to gain,The road to school is always short,In sunshine, snow, or rain.L. A. B. C.
But when the pleasant summer comes,With birds and fruit and flowers,The road to school, how short it is!And short the sunny hours!
But to the boy who loves to learn,And wisdom strives to gain,The road to school is always short,In sunshine, snow, or rain.
L. A. B. C.
Sammy Brown had a monkey. He bought him of an organ-player. He named him Billy.
Sammy and Billy
Sammy’s mother did not know what a naughty monkey he was. If she had, she would not have given Sammy the money to buy him.
Sammy thought he was very cunning. All the boys at school thought so too. They all wanted one just like him. Sammy had him out every Saturday afternoon. He was dressed in a gay little uniform. He would play on a drum. He was fond of mischief; and when no one was watching him he would do some very queer things. He would take the spools from Mrs. Brown’s work-basket. He would carry them away and hide them.
He would take her thimble and wax, and hide them too.
Sometimes he would bring them back again. Sometimes Mrs. Brown would have to find them herself. This gave her a good deal of trouble.
At last Billy acted so badly, that Mrs. Brown told Sammy that she could not have him in the house any longer. One morning Mrs. Brown went away to spend the day.
She thought the monkey was fastened out of the house. But he got in through a window. When Mrs. Brown came home she did think of Billy. She opened the door of her pantry. She saw a dreadful sight. She knew at once that Billy had been there. He had moved the dishes all about, from one shelf to another. He had poured milk and sugar over the floor. He had emptied bottles of medicine into clean dishes. He had broken up a whole loaf of cakeand scattered it around. He had eaten out the middle of a pie, and turned it over in the plate. Mrs. Brown could not find her spoons and forks anywhere. But she found them afterwards in the cellar.
Now Mrs. Brown had to go right to work and clean her pantry. After she had put that in order, she made a fire in the stove. All this time Billy was not seen anywhere.
Billy pouring milk on the floor
The fire had been burning a few minutes, when Mrs. Brown heard a terrible scratching in the oven, and out jumped Billy as spry as ever.
He ran out of doors. He was not seen again until the next morning.
Then Mrs. Brown told Sammy that the monkey had made so much work for her, that she could not have him any longer.
Sammy saw that his mother was very much in earnest.
So he sold Billy to a pedler who came along the next day.
The pedler gave him fifty cents for Billy.
Sammy was sorry to let him go, but he wanted to please his mother.
M. M. H.
An owl
A cottage, birds and butterflies
Bessie Lee was six years old when she went to the mountains of North Carolina with her father.
What Bessie liked best of all were the nice donkey rides every morning. The poor donkeys didn’t get much rest, for the little folks kept them busy all day. Bessie was kind to them, but some of the children were not. Bessie liked a donkey named Kate best of all.
Kate is unhappy at being ridden
One day Bessie’s father put her in the saddle, and Kate kicked up. When Bessie was lifted off, and the saddle removed, a great bleeding sore was found on the poor donkey’s back.
Bessie felt very sorry for poor Kate, and said, “Papa, I don’t want to ride to-day, but please do not send Kate back to the stables.”
“Why not, Bessie?” said Mr. Lee.
“O, papa, the man will let her to some of the rough boys, and they will hurt her back.”
Mr. Lee was pleased to see his little daughter’s kindness to the poor dumb donkey; but he wished to know if Bessie would deny herself for Kate.
“Well, Bessie,” said her father, “if you have any money, give itto the man when he comes for the donkey. Tell him you wish to keep Kate all day.”
“I have the money you gave me for ice-cream,” said Bessie. “Will that pay the man?”
It was enough, and was given to the man. Bessie kept the donkey all day. She led Kate to the greenest places in the yard, and let her eat the grass. She divided her apples with Kate, and carried her a little pail of water.
Bessie feeds an apple to Kate
At night Bessie told her father she had been happy all day. He made her still happier by telling her she could keep Kate every day while she was in the mountains.
Bessie kissed her father and was soon fast asleep. She dreamed of riding in a little carriage drawn by six white donkeys.
AUNT NELL.
A spray of flowers
Pauline had no little brothers or sisters, and no little playmates. Her father’s home was away out in the country, far away from any neighbors. Being so much alone, Pauline thought of all sorts of queer ways to amuse herself. One day she invited her papa and mamma to go down to see her “Nursery,” as she called it. It was a little, square piece of ground, enclosed by a neat low fence, made of narrow slats, placed close together. All kinds of flowers were planted around it. Besides, there were some little, flat buildings all along one side.
Toads
Pauline plays outdoors with her pets
PAULINE’S STRANGE PETS.
What do you think they saw there? Toads of all sorts and sizes, from the wee baby toads to the great big grandfathers. Thensuch a strange array of garments!—for they were all dressed. Pauline had made for her pets all kinds of clothes. There they were, hopping around, some in bright calico dresses, and some in the funniest red flannel pants and coats you ever saw.
Toads in costume
Day after day Pauline went to her “Nursery” to feed and play with her strange little pets. But one morning she ran down as usual, after breakfast, to find all of the toad family had disappeared. The fence that enclosed her “Nursery” was completely broken down. Not a single toad was left of the funny creatures who had lived there.
Pauline felt very sorry to lose them. She told her mamma she was sure they would all die of shame when they found other toads did not wear any clothes at all.
H. C. LARNED.
Large mushrooms
Little Fred Mason’s father took him to an exhibition of wild animals.
After they had looked at the elephants, lions, tigers and bears, they went to see the monkeys. On the way, Mr. Mason bought two large oranges and gave them to Fred.
There were six cages of small animals. One of them was for the “happy family.” Fred thought the creatures in it must be called the “happy family” because the dogs, cats and monkeys were all the time teasing and plaguing one another. One monkey had a rat in his lap. He tended it as a mother does her baby. The monkey was happy, but Mr. Mason did not think the rat liked it very well.
Fred put one orange in his side pocket. He could not wait until he got home to eat the other. As he walked along among the cages he seemed to care more for the fruit than for the animals. He sucked the orange with all his might till he came to a cage with three monkeys in it.
One of them looked very sober and solemn. One opened his mouth and seemed to be laughing. All of them looked at Fred and held out their hands.
They could not talk; if they could they would have said, “Go halves!”
The orange was nice and sweet; Fred did not wish to “go halves.” He turned away, for he did not like to be asked for that which he was not willing to give. The monkeys put their hands out for some of the oranges, but Fred looked the other way.
Fred should have looked at the monkeys, for the one nearest to him put out his long arm and snatched the orange from his hand. Fred tried to get it again. While he was doing so, the solemn monkey reached down and took the orange from his pocket. Fred did not think how near he was to the cage.
Fred began to cry. The laughing monkey had no orange. He was afraid of the solemn monkey, but he chased the one that had stolen the orange Fred was eating all over the cage. He got it at last.
Fred’s father bought two more oranges for him, and he did not go near the cages again.
MARY BLOOM.
The monkeys in the cage, and Fred eating his orange
“GO HALVES!”
Children play ring-around-a-rosy
“Ring—a—round—a—rosy!”Cheeks just like a posy;Eyes that twinkle with delight,—Could there be a fairer sight?Little feet that dance in glee;Voices singing merrily.Won’t you stop a little while?At my question you will smile:“Rosy I have never seen,—Tell me, is she some fair queen?Have your lily hands now crowned her,While you formed a ring around her?“Why ‘draw buckets of waterFor my lady’s daughter’?Has she spoiled her pretty dress?Ah! to wash her face, I guess!Very hard ’tis to unravelWhat is meant, dears, by ‘green gravel.’Then, you say, ‘How barley growsYou, nor I, nor nobody knows;’Oats, peas, beans, too, you include:If the question be not rude,Darlings, tell why this is done.”“Ha! ha!” laugh they; “it’s such fun!”GEORGE COOPER.
“Ring—a—round—a—rosy!”Cheeks just like a posy;Eyes that twinkle with delight,—Could there be a fairer sight?Little feet that dance in glee;Voices singing merrily.Won’t you stop a little while?At my question you will smile:“Rosy I have never seen,—Tell me, is she some fair queen?Have your lily hands now crowned her,While you formed a ring around her?
“Why ‘draw buckets of waterFor my lady’s daughter’?Has she spoiled her pretty dress?Ah! to wash her face, I guess!Very hard ’tis to unravelWhat is meant, dears, by ‘green gravel.’Then, you say, ‘How barley growsYou, nor I, nor nobody knows;’Oats, peas, beans, too, you include:If the question be not rude,Darlings, tell why this is done.”“Ha! ha!” laugh they; “it’s such fun!”
GEORGE COOPER.
Something very strange happened at our house the other day. In our cold country we keep a stove in our sitting-room all summer. Sometimes we have to build a fire, even in July and August.
One afternoon I was surprised to hear a great scratching in the room. After looking about a little, I found it came from the stove. Scratch, scratch, scratch, as if some creature was trying hard to get out. I called my boy of eight years. For a few moments all was still, and we concluded the poor thing had got out as it had come in.
But we were mistaken; soon came that same clattering noise again. We removed the top of the stove and peeped in; nothing was to be seen in the darkness. We then made bold to open the door and poke about; but with no better result. After listening, we decided that the creature was between the lining and outside.
But how were we to get at it? Annie came in from the kitchen armed with a poker. We took out the damper and poked out all the soot and ashes. We brought to the front—what do you think? Why, a little bird, a chimney swallow, chirping and fluttering, poor thing, with fright.
One wing seemed to droop a little; so we took it up and put it in a box. If we supposed it was going to stay there we were much mistaken. Soon the bird began to recover, and with a little hop wasupon the edge of the box cocking its head and looking with its big, bright eyes all about, as if on the alert for any new danger.
A tree was the best and safest place, and Hervin carried it out and set it gently down.
It rose, feebly at first, then soared away over the tops of the houses.
Wasn’t that a queer place to find a birdie? You are glad it got out, for that very night we had to have a fire.
MRS. W. S. AMSDEN.
Two cherubs
THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET.John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boats themselves. They are made out of flat chips. They are whittled round at one end and pointed at the other. Each boat has a mast and a sail.Sometimes they tie these boats together, and call them theJohn and Lincolnfleet; they call each other “Captain John” and “Captain Lincoln.” They have a big boat called theMary; aunt Mary gave it to them. TheMaryis their flagship.CAPTAIN JOHN AND THE MARY.One day the fleet were all out when a storm came. The wind blew, the rain fell, and the waves were big. Six of the little boats were wrecked on a rock. But theMaryonly plunged a little. It was great fun. What, a storm at sea great fun! Yes, because John and Lincoln made the storm themselves. They made the wind with the bellows; they poured the big raindrops from the watering-pot; and they made the high waves by dragging shingles through the water.
John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boats themselves. They are made out of flat chips. They are whittled round at one end and pointed at the other. Each boat has a mast and a sail.
Sometimes they tie these boats together, and call them theJohn and Lincolnfleet; they call each other “Captain John” and “Captain Lincoln.” They have a big boat called theMary; aunt Mary gave it to them. TheMaryis their flagship.
CAPTAIN JOHN AND THE MARY.
One day the fleet were all out when a storm came. The wind blew, the rain fell, and the waves were big. Six of the little boats were wrecked on a rock. But theMaryonly plunged a little. It was great fun. What, a storm at sea great fun! Yes, because John and Lincoln made the storm themselves. They made the wind with the bellows; they poured the big raindrops from the watering-pot; and they made the high waves by dragging shingles through the water.
THE YACHT STARLIGHT.TheStarlightwas in Gloucester harbor for three days, and Rob and Phyllis went on board with mamma one day, to lunch with Arthur and Helen and their mamma. They had never been on a yacht before. They were surprised to find it so pretty. It was finished in beautiful mahogany with a great deal of brass-work, the latter brightly shining, too, for the housekeeping on a yacht is always first-rate.The ceiling of the cabin was of blue satin, and so were the curtains, which hung before the funny little windows, and at the doors. On each side of the cabin was a long seat covered with blue satin cushions.These cushions lifted up, and underneath were kept books, dishes, clothes, in fact, all sorts of things. Every bit of room on a vessel is always precious, there can be so little of it, anyway. Helen showed Phyllis her sleeping room. It was a mite of a place, about half as big as the bed Phyllis slept in at home. The walls were lined with blue satin and the bed was covered with blue satin, and it was a real blue satin nest for a little girl, instead of for a bird.Then they went on deck to watch the sailors, who were running up and down the rigging. Arthur has been on his father’s yacht so much, for his father owns theStarlight, that he can run up and down the ratlines almost as fast as the sailors can. The ratlines are the rope ladders you see in the picture. There was on board a big Newfoundland dog named Gil. Arthur’s aunt Lou told them a story about Gil.Men climb the riggingTHE YACHT STARLIGHT.THE STORY OF THE DOG ON THE YACHT STARLIGHT.NOW Gil once belonged to an officer in our Navy and he sometimes went to sea with his master.Once when he went on a voyage a little kitten went too. She was everybody’s pet and a very friendly kitty. She was afraid of Gil, though, and would never let him come near her, but would make such a loud spitting and growling at him, when he tried to play with her, that poor Gil had to go away and play by himself.One day kitty fell overboard and Gil saw her and plunged into the sea to save her. Kitty thought it was bad enough to fall into the water, but to see Gil come jumping after her was too much, and she was ready to die with fright.When he opened his great mouth to take her and hold her above water, she felt sure that her last moment had come, and she fought and scratched so, that Gil could not get hold of her.The officers stood watching Gil and pussy. Poor little mistaken pussy was getting very tired and would soon sink if she did not let good old Gil save her.Suddenly Gil dove down out of sight and then rose again just under kitty, so that she stood on his back. Puss was so glad to feel something solid under her little tired legs, that she clung to it with all her nails. Then Gil swam slowly to meet the boat which had been sent to pick him up.
TheStarlightwas in Gloucester harbor for three days, and Rob and Phyllis went on board with mamma one day, to lunch with Arthur and Helen and their mamma. They had never been on a yacht before. They were surprised to find it so pretty. It was finished in beautiful mahogany with a great deal of brass-work, the latter brightly shining, too, for the housekeeping on a yacht is always first-rate.
The ceiling of the cabin was of blue satin, and so were the curtains, which hung before the funny little windows, and at the doors. On each side of the cabin was a long seat covered with blue satin cushions.
These cushions lifted up, and underneath were kept books, dishes, clothes, in fact, all sorts of things. Every bit of room on a vessel is always precious, there can be so little of it, anyway. Helen showed Phyllis her sleeping room. It was a mite of a place, about half as big as the bed Phyllis slept in at home. The walls were lined with blue satin and the bed was covered with blue satin, and it was a real blue satin nest for a little girl, instead of for a bird.
Then they went on deck to watch the sailors, who were running up and down the rigging. Arthur has been on his father’s yacht so much, for his father owns theStarlight, that he can run up and down the ratlines almost as fast as the sailors can. The ratlines are the rope ladders you see in the picture. There was on board a big Newfoundland dog named Gil. Arthur’s aunt Lou told them a story about Gil.
Men climb the rigging
THE YACHT STARLIGHT.
NOW Gil once belonged to an officer in our Navy and he sometimes went to sea with his master.
Once when he went on a voyage a little kitten went too. She was everybody’s pet and a very friendly kitty. She was afraid of Gil, though, and would never let him come near her, but would make such a loud spitting and growling at him, when he tried to play with her, that poor Gil had to go away and play by himself.
One day kitty fell overboard and Gil saw her and plunged into the sea to save her. Kitty thought it was bad enough to fall into the water, but to see Gil come jumping after her was too much, and she was ready to die with fright.
When he opened his great mouth to take her and hold her above water, she felt sure that her last moment had come, and she fought and scratched so, that Gil could not get hold of her.
The officers stood watching Gil and pussy. Poor little mistaken pussy was getting very tired and would soon sink if she did not let good old Gil save her.
Suddenly Gil dove down out of sight and then rose again just under kitty, so that she stood on his back. Puss was so glad to feel something solid under her little tired legs, that she clung to it with all her nails. Then Gil swam slowly to meet the boat which had been sent to pick him up.
A child drawing on a wall, another child helping
THE YOUNG ARTIST.
THE NEW PARASOL.A little girlI’ve got a brand-new parasol(Of pink silk trimmed with lace),But auntie says ’twill never keepThe shine out ofmyface.Why not, I wonder: if it’s heldJust in the proper place,Why won’t it keep the sunshine outOf anybody’s face?She says thick clouds would hardly do(Much less pink silk and lace)To keep the merry sunshine outOf such a dimpled face.But mamma says, “Go take your walk,And never mind aunt Grace.”I ’spect I’ll have to let the sunKeep shining in my face!
A little girl
I’ve got a brand-new parasol(Of pink silk trimmed with lace),But auntie says ’twill never keepThe shine out ofmyface.Why not, I wonder: if it’s heldJust in the proper place,Why won’t it keep the sunshine outOf anybody’s face?She says thick clouds would hardly do(Much less pink silk and lace)To keep the merry sunshine outOf such a dimpled face.But mamma says, “Go take your walk,And never mind aunt Grace.”I ’spect I’ll have to let the sunKeep shining in my face!
I’ve got a brand-new parasol(Of pink silk trimmed with lace),But auntie says ’twill never keepThe shine out ofmyface.
Why not, I wonder: if it’s heldJust in the proper place,Why won’t it keep the sunshine outOf anybody’s face?
She says thick clouds would hardly do(Much less pink silk and lace)To keep the merry sunshine outOf such a dimpled face.
But mamma says, “Go take your walk,And never mind aunt Grace.”I ’spect I’ll have to let the sunKeep shining in my face!
THE MAN WHO WAS SHAKEN BY A LION.He was David Livingstone. He was a missionary, and a great traveller too.He lived almost all his life in Africa. In some parts of Africa there are lions. Once he was staying at a certain village. Every night the lions broke into the yards and carried off a cow or two. So a party of natives went out to hunt for them.A LION.Livingstone was with them. They saw some lions, and tried to surround them in a circle. But the lions got away.They were coming home when Livingstone saw a great lion. He was sitting on a rock not far away. He fired at him, but did not hit him. He stopped to load his gun again.He heard the men shout. He turned and saw the lion all ready to spring.(A lion crouches to spring, like a cat.)The lion sprang upon Livingstone, and seized his shoulder with his great teeth. He shook him just as a cat shakes a mouse.Was Livingstone frightened? He was frightened when the lion seized him. But after he shook him he wasn’t a bit afraid.He said the lion shook the fear all out of him. He felt as if he was in a pleasant dream. He only wondered what the lion would do next.He did not do anything next. He stood with his great paw on Livingstone’s head till another man fired at him. Then he sprang on that man and bit him.Then he sprang on a third man and bit him. And then—he rolled over, dead! So Livingstone escaped.Livingstone afterwards visited England. The little English children used to ask him to tell them the story of how the lion shook him.The lion belongs to the cat family. Does not the lion in the picture look like a big handsome cat?
He was David Livingstone. He was a missionary, and a great traveller too.
He lived almost all his life in Africa. In some parts of Africa there are lions. Once he was staying at a certain village. Every night the lions broke into the yards and carried off a cow or two. So a party of natives went out to hunt for them.
A LION.
Livingstone was with them. They saw some lions, and tried to surround them in a circle. But the lions got away.
They were coming home when Livingstone saw a great lion. He was sitting on a rock not far away. He fired at him, but did not hit him. He stopped to load his gun again.
He heard the men shout. He turned and saw the lion all ready to spring.
(A lion crouches to spring, like a cat.)
The lion sprang upon Livingstone, and seized his shoulder with his great teeth. He shook him just as a cat shakes a mouse.
Was Livingstone frightened? He was frightened when the lion seized him. But after he shook him he wasn’t a bit afraid.
He said the lion shook the fear all out of him. He felt as if he was in a pleasant dream. He only wondered what the lion would do next.
He did not do anything next. He stood with his great paw on Livingstone’s head till another man fired at him. Then he sprang on that man and bit him.
Then he sprang on a third man and bit him. And then—he rolled over, dead! So Livingstone escaped.
Livingstone afterwards visited England. The little English children used to ask him to tell them the story of how the lion shook him.
The lion belongs to the cat family. Does not the lion in the picture look like a big handsome cat?
THE LAUGHING JACKASS.He always begins his queer cry about an hour before sunrise.Then he is heard again just at noon, and again at sunset. So he has another name. He is called the “Bushman’s clock.”In Australia there are great tracts of land where few white people live. These tracts of land are called “The Bush;” and the settlers on these lands are called Bushmen.LAUGHING JACKASSES.The laughing jackass is a very sociable bird. He likes to watchthe Bushman at his work. He watches him as he pitches his tent, and builds his fire and cooks his supper. He is a kingfisher.Kingfishers generally live near the water. But this great brown fisher lives in the woods. He eats crabs and insects. He relishes lizards very much, and there are plenty of lizards in Australia.A man wearing a headclothHE LISTENS TO THE CRY OF THE LAUGHING JACKASS.He hates snakes. A great many snakes are found in Australia, and many of them are very poisonous.The laughing jackass is not a bit afraid of them. He kills them with his long, sharp bill.When he is angry he raises the crest on his head.His color is a fine chestnut brown mixed with white. His wings are slightly blue.The mother-bird lays her eggs in a hole in a gum-tree. She does not build a nest. She lays her eggs on the rotten wood at the bottom of the hole. Her eggs are a lovely pearl white.Here is one of the black men who live in Australia. He is listening to the cry of the laughing jackass.
He always begins his queer cry about an hour before sunrise.
Then he is heard again just at noon, and again at sunset. So he has another name. He is called the “Bushman’s clock.”
In Australia there are great tracts of land where few white people live. These tracts of land are called “The Bush;” and the settlers on these lands are called Bushmen.
LAUGHING JACKASSES.
The laughing jackass is a very sociable bird. He likes to watchthe Bushman at his work. He watches him as he pitches his tent, and builds his fire and cooks his supper. He is a kingfisher.
Kingfishers generally live near the water. But this great brown fisher lives in the woods. He eats crabs and insects. He relishes lizards very much, and there are plenty of lizards in Australia.
A man wearing a headcloth
HE LISTENS TO THE CRY OF THE LAUGHING JACKASS.
He hates snakes. A great many snakes are found in Australia, and many of them are very poisonous.
The laughing jackass is not a bit afraid of them. He kills them with his long, sharp bill.
When he is angry he raises the crest on his head.
His color is a fine chestnut brown mixed with white. His wings are slightly blue.
The mother-bird lays her eggs in a hole in a gum-tree. She does not build a nest. She lays her eggs on the rotten wood at the bottom of the hole. Her eggs are a lovely pearl white.
Here is one of the black men who live in Australia. He is listening to the cry of the laughing jackass.