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"WHAT is going on in the attic?" asked old Mr. Davidson one afternoon as he wakened from his after-dinner nap and heard some unusual sounds about the old mansion.
"Oh! did the children waken you? I am sorry," replied old Mrs. Davidson.
"Well, I reckon I have slept long enough," was the good-natured reply, and you will know by this that the old gentleman was good-natured, for it is well understood that to be wakened from an after-dinner nap is a test.
"I gave the young folks permission to look over the big chests in the attic," said Mrs. Davidson. "And I presume they will appear dressed in some of those old costumes."
Mr. Davidson was apparently satisfied with the explanation of the unusual noise, and settled himself over his newspaper. Presently a young girl fluttered down the staircase and entered the room where the elderly couple sat.
"Grandpa," said a fresh young voice, "we want to come and call upon you."
"Call upon me! Well, what is to hinder?"
"Well, we want to have it a sort of tableau; we want you and grandma to be the Emperor of Germany, and cousin John is to be the Crown Prince, and I am to be 'Vicky,' and we are to call upon you in state. Lannie is making your epaulettes. She will come and fix you and grandma, and tell you where to stand, then when we get dressed we will enter."
The old people laughed, but grandpa said:
two men, two women and four childrenCARRYING OUT THE PROGRAMME.
CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAMME.
"All right!" and when his wife would have demurred a little, he said, "We must make things lively for the young folks or they get homesick." The programme was carried out. The satin dress and mantle came out of the old chest, but those epaulettes and stars and badges! Let me tell you a secret, they were home-made, but you would never have guessed it. Cousin John upon inspecting the work, exclaimed, "Lannie, you are a genius; how did you know the way to do it?"
"Oh! there are ways of knowing things," returned Lannie, with a good-natured laugh.
After the formalities of the call had been carried out grandpa said:
"Now, will some one tell us who we are?"
"Not know yourself!" said one, laughing; "Lannie, tell grandpa who he is."
"Yes, Lannie, who am I, and what have I done to deserve the honor of this occasion?"
"Why, you are Emperor William the First, and this is a long time ago when you were younger and your grandchildren here were notgrown up. And on the whole, I think this is before the war with France, at which time you gained great popularity. This is your son, the Crown Prince of Prussia, and this is his wife, the daughter of Queen Victoria. And these are your grandchildren."
"Thank you! I feel better acquainted with myself."
They all laughed at this and the callers withdrew. Mr. Davidson settled to his newspaper again, but presently he looked up to say:
"That was play. But we do belong to a royal house, eh, mother?" And the wife and mother smiled; she understood.
Theodocia.
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THIS is a real Johnny. He was born one hundred years ago in England. When a very little fellow he was fond of the water. He would make little ships like the one in our picture, and slip away back of the barn and down through the bars, which he didn't always put up in his hurry to the pond among the trees. Here with his ship he would spend hours seeing the wind blow it from shore to shore. When there was no wind to make it skip over the water, he would puff sharp blasts from his cheeks against the sails.
He learned a great deal watching his ship. And he thought, may be, he would some day have a big one, be its captain, sail away off upon the ocean, visit distant lands and see strange people and strange things. And he did.
But he was going to school, learning fast and making many friends by his good conduct. His father told him one day when he came from school, right after tea, when they were sitting about the bright fire, that he wanted him to learn all he could and make haste and grow up a good man and be a minister of Christ.
But though our boy thought it would be a grand thing to spend his life telling about Jesus and his love, yet he thought also he could do it as well in a ship as in a pulpit. And when his father saw how much he loved the sea, how much he knew about ships, and how well he could sail his own little vessel, he consented. Soon after Johnny was taken on board the shipPolyphemusas midshipman. He was a sort of servant, or acadet, to carry the commands of the captain. Of course he was very happy. This was a first step to being captain himself.
But thePolyphemuswas a war ship. There was war at that time and many battles in which brave men suffered much and died.
He could not escape now if he had wished to. He did not wish to. One day thePolyphemusmet an enemy's ship and the cannon were soon sending shot into each other like leaden hail. Many dropped dead. Johnny did every thing he was told to, often going right in the midst of danger. He was brave. Not a shot, however, hit him. He was in many other dreadful battles on the sea where the shot were flying all about him; but he always came off unhurt.
boy sailing toy ship"SIR JOHN AND THE EREBUS."
"SIR JOHN AND THE EREBUS."
Then, being now a man, he was put in command of a ship. He had sailors and soldiers under him. He said to one "go here or there," and he went; to another, "do this," and he did it. He was captain over a big ship, and at the call of his country, away he sailed over the great ocean to the North to find out what he could about things in that strange icy land. Hewas gone several years, and travelled many thousand miles. One day as his wife and some friends stood on the wharf where the ships land and looked out upon the ocean, they saw a little thing no bigger than your hand. Then as they kept looking and wondering what it might be, it grew larger and larger, and came nearer, and through their spy glass they saw masts, sails, and flags flying from the very tops, and then, behold! they read the name of the ship and they knew that it was the very ship on which, not Johnny, nor John, but Sir John—for that was his name now—had sailed more than three years before.
How the ship soon rode into the harbor and dropped her strong anchor into the water to hold her fast, and how the soldiers and sailors and Sir John came on land, and what he did and said and what his happy wife, Jane, did, and how handsome she looked I can't tell you.
But there's another part I will tell you next time.
C. M. L.
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SEVERAL years ago, an effort was made to collect all the chimney-sweepers in the city of Dublin, for the purpose of education. Amongst others came a little fellow who was asked if he knew his letters.
"O yes, sir," was the reply.
"Do you spell?"
"O yes, sir," was again the answer.
"Do you read?"
"O yes, sir."
"And what book did you learn from?" continued his interrogator.
"O, I never had a book in my life, sir," said the manly little fellow.
"And who was your schoolmaster?"
"O, I never was at school."
Here was a singular case. A boy could read and spell without a book or master. But what was the fact? Why, another little sweep, a little older than himself, had taught him to read by showing him the letters over the shop doors which they passed as they went through the city. His teacher, then, was another little sweep like himself, and his book the sign-boards on the houses. What may not be done by trying?
ROUND THE FAMILY LAMP
Dear Pansies:
I want to propose a new game for to-night. Let us all see how much good our lessons on American History, and our knowledge of the life of George Washington, "first in the hearts of his countrymen," have done us.
You know that all our studying is for some good purpose; that it is to enable us to do grand service for God, and for others. You know every bit of knowledge upon any good subject is a powerful weapon to help us in the battle of life. God gives us our privileges, our schooldays, our fitting-time. Let us see to it that we make good use of them all—every one.
Now then, here is the game. Choose a bright boy or girl, one who loves history, and who has been careful to come to the class-room pretty well prepared the last year. You know who these nice scholars are. Now send Winthrop or Lucy as the case may be, out of the room, and all the rest of you get up as many questions concerning the early history of our country, before, during, and just after the War of the Revolution, being careful to let the interest centre in George Washington himself, his character, and services to America.
Now call Winthrop or Lucy in, and launch the questions, beginning at one end of your circle of players, and going in turn around the circuit, each player only asking one question, and the boy or girl who stands in the centre of the circle having three moments allowed in which to answer a question. If there is no clock in the room some one must give out the time—fatheror mother, or aunt Susan will doubtless be willing to do this. If the boy or girl cannot answer the question, he or she must be fined a forfeit. Then proceed with the next one in the circle asking a question—and so forth.
If it is answered correctly the one who asked it must go out, and the successful Winthrop or Lucy can hop into his place.
After this has been played as long as you like, save the questions (which some one in the room can write down, with the answers) and let every girl and boy look over them, and see if they could be answered better, in fewer words giving more information, and more correctly. In this way you will learn to make your knowledge available, and you will be quite astonished to find how much you do know about this subject.
Now for the forfeits, for you will probably have a fine pile to redeem. Let some one be blindfolded and seated in a chair in the centre of the room, while another player holds up each article, and dispensing with the other usual questions, asks, "What shall the owner do?"
He (or she) shall tell when George Washington's Birthday was first celebrated.
He (or she) shall tell some little anecdote of George Washington (not the cherry-tree episode). And so on, to end with a grand march two and two, through the parlors and hall, to the gayest tunes that a deft-fingered performer can give on the piano.
May you enjoy this "Washington-Birthday-Game" heartily.
Margaret Sidney.
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JOAN OF ARC, as we call her in English; Jeanne D'Arc, as she was called in her native country; "The Maid of Orleans," as she is called in history, was the daughter of a French peasant. In her childhood and through her girlhood she was often employed in tending sheep, and so lived much alone. She grew dreamy and imaginative; and her young heart was much given to religious exercises. It is said that she used to spend hours at her devotions, and when she was thirteen years old her mind had dwelt so much upon the superstitious legends of those days that it was not strange she should in one of those exalted moods of religious fervor imagine that she had a vision, and heard voices speaking to her of the wonderful exploits she was to achieve. The people among whom she lived were ignorant and superstitious, and could very easily be made to believe in anything which had a tinge of the supernatural. Mythical stories of the saints, accounts of the doings of fairies and demons were told around every fireside, and the children eagerly drank in the strange tales. What you boys and girls would turn away from with a decidedly skeptical shrug of your shoulders, declaring, like a boy I know, "Ghost stories are no good!" these children of a dreamy, visionary people drank in as truth, and very solemn truth too. And so when Joan, walking in the shadow of the chapel, fancied she heard a voice and saw a great light, or when standing at the altar of the Catholic church she imagined the pictures of the saints coming out of their frames speaking to her, it is not surprising that the people of that neighborhood believed she really saw and heard these things. And when she imagined that she heard St. Michael speaking to her and telling her that she was sent to deliver her country from the English, some of the people believed it—but it appears her father with more practical sense than the others declared it was only a delusion, and sought to convince her of the absurdity of her wild idea. But she could not be persuaded out of it, and at length when she was twenty years old the king hearing of her and of what she considered her mission, sent for her and placed her at the head of the French army. A number of curious things are said to have occurred upon the occasion of her interview with the king. For one thing she recognized him at once among his courtiers though she had never seen him before. Then she told him of a certain sword hidden in an old chapel which it was necessary to bring out for her use, though it is said she never struck a blow; she only led the army, so I suppose an old rusty sword would do as well as any.
The city of Orleans was besieged by the English. This city was a stronghold of great importance to the French, but the starving inhabitantssaw no hope of relief and would very soon have been forced to surrender. But Joan, the peasant girl, mounted upon a white horse, and wearing a suit of glittering armor, rode boldly forward until they reached the city. The French soldiers were so inspired by her courage that they fought their way bravely and the English on the contrary were frightened. Believing this young girl to be a witch, they were easily overcome, though their commander declared that her pretensions as to having had a revelation from heaven were all nonsense. But you see the English soldiers were superstitious as well as the French. And doubtless it was partly owing to their fright that the English gave way and the siege was at an end. Thus having delivered Orleans, the peasant girl was henceforth known as "the Maid of Orleans." She continued to lead the army on to victory, and finally the coronation of Charles the Seventh, took place in Rheims. Then Joan felt that her work was done and asked to be allowed to go home. But the king would not allow this and still kept her in the army. But she no longer heard voices. Her enthusiasm and courage were gone, and no longer successful, she was at length taken prisoner, tried and condemned to be burned as a sorceress. The sentence was carried out, the king whom she had helped to establish upon his throne never interfering to save her.
As a visionary enthusiast, we may not hold up Joan of Arc as a model; but as a noble, earnest-hearted girl, true to what she believed to be her heaven-given mission, facing difficulties and dangers in order to carry out what she deemed to be the plans of her Lord, we must admire her and do her honor. At one time she said, "I would far rather be spinning beside my poor mother; but I must do this work because my Lord wills it."
"Joan of Arc was no wilful impostor. She fully believed that she beheld the faces of departed saints, and heard the voices of beings from the unseen world. The result of her wonderful career was that Charles ultimately won back to the royal house of Valois the whole kingdom of France. An imposing mausoleum in the city of Orleans perpetuates her memory, but her name stands above mortality, independent of bronze."
Faye Huntington.
Countryside with bridge and villageROUEN.—ENGLISH LOST POSSESSION OF, 1419, EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER THEIR SACRIFICE OF JOAN OF ARC.
ROUEN.—ENGLISH LOST POSSESSION OF, 1419, EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER THEIR SACRIFICE OF JOAN OF ARC.
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The P.S. Corner
Dear Pansies:
How I wish I could coax each one of you to read this Corner carefully, so you would not bother your little brains by asking me the same questions over and over again, which I answer here! Will you each try it?
To become a member of the P. S. one must subscribe forThe Pansy, at one dollar a year, send a letter to the editor (Mrs. G. R. Alden, Chapel street, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio) mentioning some fault or faults which he will pledge himself to try to overcome; and promising to try each day to "do some kind act, or say some kind word which will help somebody," always making the Whisper Motto, "For Jesus' Sake," the strong motive of all words and acts, not only, but of thoughts as well.
If you would rather not mention the special fault which you mean to try to conquer, you have a right to be silent about it; but I can help you more understandingly if you let me know your temptations.
All such pledgers will be sent badges, and their names enrolled on the pledge book. Their letters will be answered in due time in the magazine; and the editor will be always glad to hear from them, and will try to keep her eyes open in search of that which will help them.
There is also a list of books, games, etc., which are offered at special prices to the members of the P. S.
Brothers and sisters of subscribers, or even young friends of theirs who have the reading ofThe Pansy, but are not subscribers, may join the P. S. by writing to the editor, as described above, and enclosing ten cents for their badges. Only enrolled subscribers to the magazine have badges sent free of charge. Neither can these members get the P. S. books and games at special prices. Such privileges are reserved for those who take the magazine.
An officer's badge is somewhat prettier than the "private's," and has gold fringe. Any one who secures five or more subscribers toThe Pansy, and pledges from each, is entitled to an officer's badge.
Officers of a P. S. are expected to call the members together at stated times, and hold meetings, for work or reading, or to spend the time profitably in whatever way they may plan; always remembering their pledge, and their Whisper Motto; so, being sure to choose no occupation that the great Leader under whose banner they serve might not approve.
Such an organization is expected to have a secretary whose duty it shall be to report to the editor ofThe Pansy, from time to time—say every three months, giving a brief account of their meetings, what they are trying to do, and how they succeed.
Now will you study this letter with great care, and see if you fully understand it?
Another thing, will you try to be as patient as possible about receiving answers to your letters? Please remember that while you have but one letter to write, the editor has at least five thousand to answer! Indeed, I think there must be more than that number waiting their turn. I look at the great and ever-increasing army, and shake my head, and tell them to lie still and be patient. Then I push into eachPansyas many as I possibly can!
Don't conclude from this that you must not write any more letters. I don't mean that, at all. I am only cautioning you to be as patient as meek little pansies should be, and await your turn. Meantime, of course, I want to get your letters; the more the merrier, so that you don't frown and scold because I do not answer youallat once.
Good-by, my Blossoms!Pansy.
Lucilefrom Missouri. I do hope, dear little girlie, that we have rescued those poor fingernails from any further bad treatment. I made all haste I could, as soon as I heard of yourneeds. It is really wonderful how many naughty teeth there are in our P. S. biting what they ought not to touch!
Mentonfrom Massachusetts. That is right. A well "governed" tongue is a most useful member of society. I know a great many tongues that were sadly neglected when they were young, and now are engaged in making all the people around them uncomfortable. I am glad yours will never be in that list.
Annafrom Georgia. Yes, my dear, all members of the P. S. are subscribers toThe Pansy; except the little brothers and sisters of subscribers, who have the use of the magazine in their homes; those we receive as members, and they can have badges by sending in their pledges and ten cents each to pay for the badges. Subscribers receive the badges free of charge. I was much pleased with your letter. As a rule, I know, letters should be written with pen and ink; but yours was very plain. I hope you are a faithful scholar in your school.
Joannafrom Michigan. Thank you for the card. It was very pretty. I was much interested in your letter. Yes, I am glad to hear anything interesting about birds and animals of every kind. I will copy your letter for the Pansies to enjoy. It gave me a great deal of pleasure to notice the resolve you made. If you keep it, you will have a good and happy life.
Annafrom Iowa. Here is another Blossom who "wants her own way." Shall I tell you how to always have it? Just decide that your way shall be the one that the Saviour of the world wants you to have, and then it will be the right way, and you will always get what you want. There is a beautiful secret hidden in that thought; I hope you will hunt for it until you find it.
Annafrom Wisconsin. Dear little friend, I am afraid you expect too much of the P. S., if you hope that joining it will keep you from being "selfish" and "spunky." It will help, but you must do your part, you know. You would make poor work of mending the hole in your apron without a needle and thread, but just imagine what a mess the needle and thread would make of it without your hands to help!
Maudfrom Pennsylvania. "Dreaming" is really very pleasant, but you are right, it does not help work along very well. The best time to dream is at night when your eyes are tightly closed. I know a little girl who sat dreaming she was a fairy, and when she wanted anything had only to wave her wand and it would come to her; and she let the water boil from the potatoes, and they burned to the kettle and were spoiled; so because of this naughty fairy, the family had to eat their dinner without potatoes.
Auburnfrom Pennsylvania. My boy, that is a splendid pledge to take. As I watch the boys at play, I am constantly wondering what pleasure they can find in being so "rough" that lookers-on will be sure to say: "What a disagreeable boy that is! I should think his mother would teach him how to behave better than that." I wonder if the boys know how constantly mothers are blamed when they do wrong? I think it would make some boys who love their mothers more careful. Don't you?
Minniefrom Minnesota. Were you named for the State, my dear, or was the State named for you? What a question! We receive your name with pleasure. I wish I knew about some of the "kind acts." Tell us their story.
WalterandLaurafrom New Jersey. We are very happy to welcome this brother and sister to our ranks. I wonder if I met you last summer? I saw a great many boys and girls when I was at the seaside where you live. Perhaps you were among them. I remember a sweet-faced little girl who was trying to speak gentle words to two older ones who were in ill humor about something. They called her Laura. Perhaps it was you, little Blossom. Be sure that you both shed fragrance about you for Jesus.
Fanniefrom Illinois. Your pledge reminds me of two boys who were under my window not long ago. They were very angry; they called each other hard names, and threw mud at each other, and at last they took off their little jackets and began to fight with their strong little fists. When they were separated, and peace was declared, it was discovered that they had been disputing as to whether a small brown bug which they had found, had four legs or six! But as the bug had crawled away, I am afraid it will never be known which was right.
Maxwellfrom Ohio. Yes, indeed, I sent you a badge, with pleasure. The more boys we canget to pledge each day to do a "kind act" the better are we pleased. I believe a boy who honestly tries to do one good kind act each day, will grow into the habit of it, so that, some day, he will do a great many. Don't you think so?
Clarafrom New York. I do not know that I have ever received a pledge which gave me more pleasure than yours. To help to lead others to give themselves to the Lord Jesus, is the greatest work we can do in this world. God bless you in your efforts!
Corafrom New Hampshire. Thank you for your very high opinion ofThe Pansy. I believe all the Pansies are fond of it. I like to think of their bright faces when I am writing anything that I think will please them. I do everything I can think of, to make it a good and helpful magazine for them.
Stellafrom Ohio. Oh! not at all too old. We have many who are older than you. What an astonishing age your "chicken" reached! I have never heard of such a thing before. I should think it would have forgotten how to be a chicken! Orderly people are very pleasant to live with. I really do not know much about it by experience, but I know all about what it is to travel after a disorderly young person, and put away hat, and coat, and books, and blocks. I send my congratulations to your mother.
Carriefrom Minnesota. Bless her heart! You certainly do have need of patience. Five little people to copy all you say and do. If you chance to slam a door, or bang a book down hard, or say, "Oh, dear!" in a sharp sort of way, just as likely as not five doors will slam! and five "oh dears!" will be singing around the room. Yet, my Blossom, there is a very sweet side to it; what a chance you have to help the little lives to grow up pure, and sweet, and patient. May the dear Saviour give you a fresh blessing every day!
Marionfrom —— You do not give me the State, so I have to "guess" at it. It always gives me pleasure to hear of a Missionary Blossom. I wish you had told us the subject of your Bible reading. Did you select the verses yourself? Suppose you send me a copy for the Pansies? Thank you for the sweet bit of good news which you gave me at the close of your letter. Nothing better could have been told.
Fredfrom Massachusetts. Your letter gave me great joy. When I can write down one of the P. S. members as a servant of the Lord Jesus, I always feel so safe and glad. May you be a brave soldier as long as you live.
Lizziefrom Nebraska. Welcome. May the "kind words" you are pledged to speak echo so far that we shall catch their music and send them on until they reach around the earth. Nay, they will reach further than that; every one of them echoes around God's throne.
Agnesfrom Massachusetts. Do you know I think it is a very good hint as to a girl's character, when she says she always likes her teacher? It is apt to prove that she behaves herself in such a manner that her teacher can be kind and gentle to her. Is that it? Remember the "kind words" you are pledged to speak.
Alicefrom New York. It is a great trial to a teacher to have whispering girls in her school. I know how your teacher will rejoice that you have chosen to break yourself of that habit. I suspect you will find it hard to do. Don't get discouraged.
Chauncyfrom Massachusetts. Another boy with a temper! As soon as I get time, I am going to count the number of boys in the P. S. who have already taken that pledge. Then I shall know the number who are sure to be better men than they would have been without that resolve.
Maryfrom Nebraska. I wish you had given me the name of the fault, my dear Blossom. I could so much better understand what your temptations are, and perhaps be able to help you. Still, you are welcome to all the privileges of the P. S. Will you let us hear how you succeed?
Oscarfrom Pennsylvania. That is right, my boy. "By-words," beside being senseless things, are very apt as you say, to lead one at last into using profane by-words. I heard an old man who was trying hard to break himself of that dreadful habit, say that he began by constantly using the by-word, "My goodness!" until the time came when it did not seem to be strong enough to express his feelings, and he took a worse form of the same sin.
Minniefrom Pennsylvania. Another "dreamer." "I dreamed I was a great merchant," said a boy to his father, one morning. "Well, you will never be one," said his father, "for you willspend your time sitting and dreaming how nice it would be if you were somebody, instead of setting to work with a will, and being somebody."
This habit of talking about others is one very easily formed. If we would always say good and sweet things of them, I suppose it would do no harm. Did you ever hear of the dear old lady who was in the habit of always saying something good about every one who was mentioned in her hearing? One day, a daughter said of her, "I believe mother would find something good to say about Satan himself, if we should try it." So they agreed to try the experiment, and when their mother entered the room they were talking about how he tempted people constantly to do wrong. "Yes," said the dear mother, "I have often thought we might learn a lesson from his perseverance. He doesn't waste any time!" As to wearing the badge, you must be your own judge of when. Some of the Pansies only wear them at their weekly meetings; others wear them when they think there is a reason that they will be specially tempted to break the pledge. Others wear them all the time, and when they are soiled, send ten cents to have them renewed.
Maryfrom Kentucky. How sorry I am for your disappointment! I do not know how it happened. We always attend to the badges as soon as the letters come. But about answers to letters, sometimes the poor little Blossoms have to wait until I am afraid they will almost wilt in their impatience! You see there are so many thousands of them, that, try as hard as I can, it is impossible to keep "caught up." We must each take a pledge of patience, and try to live up to it.
Anniefrom Massachusetts. That is good news. It is a great joy to me to hear from my Pansies that their badges are really helping them. A great many forget to tell me anything about it. I hope you will have a very pleasant visit. When you lie in your hammock under the trees, looking up into the blue sky, I hope you will have sweet and helpful thoughts.
Nelliefrom Pennsylvania. My dear, your pretty things that you make for those who have none, are to be sent wherever you please. Some of the Pansies send them to the great cities, in all of which there are hospitals for the sick poor children who have no parents to take care of them. Some select homes in their own town where they think their gifts would do good, and send them there. If you have anything to send, you might select the city nearest you, and address the package to the matron of the Children's Hospital, sending a letter of explanation with it.
Juliafrom Virginia. We are glad that you find so much pleasure inThe Pansy. Hope you will succeed with your "club." It is those who try who are always the successful ones. I congratulate the "teeth." I know they are shining over their good fortune at this moment.
Ettiefrom California. You have a "giant" to fight, it is true; but there is a happy thought—you are sure of success if you wear the armor which the great Captain has provided. Have you read a careful description of the armor? And are you clothed in it from head to foot? We should like to hear something about the country you live in; the birds, the flowers, the fruits, anything which interests you.
H. A. M. W.from Wisconsin. Dear friend, what an honor you have bestowed on the P. S. A "Blossom" which has been cultivated for threescore years must have a wonderful record of perfume shed for the glory of the Master! I regret that your young friends should have had to wait so long for their badges. There is some misunderstanding or it would not have occurred. We try to be very careful, but in a family of sixty thousand some mistakes will happen.
Carrollfrom Vermont. You have plenty of company. The people who "start right off" to do things are few and delightful. They are the people who will, one of these days, do things that the world will be proud of. In other words, in this busy world, one must be "diligent in business" if he wants to accomplish much. As to the "hectoring," if you decide to attend promptly to all your duties, you will find that you have not so much time for that occupation, and I shouldn't wonder if it would also lose its interest to you. Do you know a little couplet—
Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do?
Clarafrom Michigan. So you don't mean to tell us what that "worst fault" is? Well, tellit to Jesus, and ask his hourly help; then you will overcome it. I hope the badge will remind you of your Helper.
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I HOPE that name pleases you, my dear Pansies, and I wish each one of you had a copy of the book to which it belongs. Let me describe the one which now lies on my desk. A lovely colored binding, I don't know whether the artists call it "olive" or "old gold" or "crushed strawberry" or what. It isn't exactlyanycolor, but reminds me of sunshine and autumn leaves. There is a medallion in gold on the upper half, and the monogram of the publishers on the lower right-hand corner. There are three hundred and eighty-three pages of good clear print, and some excellent pictures.
It is a book which retails for one dollar and fifty cents; and now comes my special bit of news which ought to rejoice your hearts. Every subscriber toThe Pansywho is also a member of the P. S. can secure it for eighty-five cents, by sending that amount to D. Lothrop & Co. with their order!
As for the things which it talks about, of course you know that in so many pages many interesting topics can be handled; for instance, "Christmas Cards," and "Newspapers," and "Camphor," and "Umbrellas," and "Combs," and "Thunderstorms," (!) and "Brooms," and "Lace," and a dozen other things. The fact is, if you take one article, no matter how simple, and seat yourself in a corner to think about it, you can get up twenty questions, right away, which you wish somebody would answer for you. Well, this book answers those very questions.
Now I am going to copy for you a bit right out of the heart of a story in it, which I know will delight the boys; the name of the story is:
When boys live some distance apart, it is pleasant to be able to communicate with each other by means of signals. Many and ingenious have been the methods devised by enthusiastic boys for this purpose. But it can be brought much nearer perfection than has yet been done, by means of a very simple system.
At the age of fourteen, I had an intimate friend who lived more than a mile away, but whose home was in plain sight from mine. As we could not always be together when we wished, we invented a system of signalling requiring a number of different colored flags; but we were not quite satisfied with it, for we could send but few communications by its use. Then, when we came to test it, we found the distance was too great to allow of the different colors being distinguished. The white one was plainly visible. It seemed necessary, therefore, that only white flags should be used. We studied over the problem long and hard, with the following result. We each made five flags by tacking a small stick, eighteen inches long, to both ends of a strip of white cloth, two feet long, by ten inches wide. Then we nailed loops of leather to the side of our fathers' barns, so that, when the sticks were inserted in them, the flags would be in the following positions:
signal flags
The upper left-hand position was numbered 1, upper right 2, lower right 3, lower left 4, centre, 5. Notice, there was no difference in theflags; thepositionsthey occupied, determined the communication.
Thirty combinations of these positions can be made.
These combinations were written down, and opposite each, was written the question or answer for which it stood. The answers likely tobe used most, we placed opposite the shortest combinations, to save time in signalling. My old "Code" lies before me, from which I copy the following examples:
(Then follows a list, and an interesting account of a flag conversation which you can read for yourselves when you get the book.)
We usually spent our noon hour conversing in this manner; and, when it became necessary for either to leave his station, all the flags, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, were put out, signifying "gone."
One combination, 1, 2, 3, 4, was, by mutual consent, reserved for a communication of vital importance, "Come Over!" It was never to be used except in time of trouble, when the case would warrant leaving everything to obey the call. We had little expectation of its ever being used. It was simply a whim; although, like many other things, it served a serious purpose in the end.
Not far from my father's house stood a valuable timber lot, in which he took an especial pride. Adjoining this was an old apple orchard, where the limbs of several trees that had been cut down, and the prunings of the remainder, had been heaped together in two large piles to be burned at a favorable opportunity. One afternoon, when there was not the slightest breath of wind, we armed ourselves, father and I, with green pine boughs and set the brush-heaps a-fire. We had made the heap in as moist a spot as possible, that there might be less danger of the fire spreading through the grass. While the flame was getting under way, I busied myself in gathering stray bits of limbs and twigs—some of them from the edge of the woods—and throwing them on the fire.
"Be careful not to put on any hemlock branches!" shouted my father from his heap. "The sparks may snap out into the grass!"
Almost as he spoke, a live coal popped out with a loud snap, and fell at my feet, and the little tongues of flame began to spread through the dead grass. A few blows from my pine bough had smothered them, when snap, snap, snap! went three more in different directions. As I rushed to the nearest, I remembered throwing on several dead hemlock branches, entirely forgetting their snapping propensity.
Bestowing a few hasty strokes on the first spot of spreading flame, I hastened to the next, and was vigorously beating that, when, glancing behind me, I saw to my dismay that the first was blazing again. Ahead of me was another, rapidly increasing; while the roaring, towering flame at the heap was sputtering ominously, as if preparing to send out a shower of sparks. And, to make matters worse, I felt a puff of wind on my face. Terror-stricken I shouted: "Father! The fire is running! Come quick!"
In a moment he was beside me, and for a short time we fought the flame desperately.
"It'll reach the woods in spite of us!" he gasped, as we came together after a short struggle. "There isn't a neighbor within half a mile, and before you could get help it would be too late! Besides, one alone couldn't do anything against it!"
A sudden inspiration seized me. "I'm going to signal to Harry!" I cried. "If he sees it, he'll come, and perhaps bring help with him."
"Hurry!" he shouted back, and I started for the barn. The distance was short. As I reached it, I glanced over to Harry's. There were some white spots on his barn. He was signalling, and of course could see my signal. Excitedly I placed the flags in 1, 2, 3, 4, and without waiting for an answer, tore back across the fields to the fire. It was gaining rapidly. In a large circle, a dozen rods across, it advanced toward the buildings on one hand, and swept toward the woods on the other. We could only hope to hinder its progress until help should arrive.
Fifteen minutes of desperate struggle, and then, with a ringing cheer, Harry and his father dashed upon the scene. Their arrival infused me with new courage; and four pairs of hands and four willing hearts at length conquered the flame, two rods from the woods!
My father sank down upon a rock, and as he wiped the perspiration from his smutty face, he said:
"There, boys, your signalling has saved the prettiest timber lot in the town of Hardwick! I shall not forget it!"
For the way in which the father proved his gratitude, and what resulted, and a great deal more which is delightful reading, I must refer you to the book; for I have already taken too much space.
Pansy.
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