book of 50 pictures. [illustration] concord, n. h.: rufus merrill. child's book of 100 pictures. [illustration] concord, n. h.: rufus merrill. [illustration: chinese.] book of pictures. [illustration: peacock.] the peacock is a very pretty bird, and its tail feathers are three feet long. [illustration: cow and calf.] [illustration: a fine colt.] [illustration: the lion roars.] [illustration: the zebra is a small horse.] [illustration: monkey drinking from a glass.] [illustration: ox] [illustration: mule] [illustration: cow] [illustration: turkey] [illustration: goose] [illustration: duck] [illustration: turtle] [illustration: beehive] [illustration: lamb] [illustration: engine] [illustration: bell] [illustration: steamship] [illustration: boy and horse.] [illustration: dog barking.] [illustration: an ox.] [illustration: car] [illustration: engine] [illustration: cart] [illustration: vase] [illustration: pocket-book] [illustration: pitcher] [illustration: horse] [illustration: watch] [illustration: dog] [illustration: wheat] [illustration: bonnet] [illustration: rose] [illustration: hat] [illustration: house] [illustration: moon] [illustration: ship] [illustration: stove] [illustration: mexican war horse.] [illustration: kangaroo.] [illustration: the owl.] [illustration: ship going to sea.] [illustration: fox and owl.] [illustration: bird and bee.] [illustration: cat and dog.] [illustration: mouse and monkey.] [illustration: bird singing.] [illustration: boys at play.] rufus merrill, opposite gass' hotel, concord, n. h. manufactures diaries for each year, family expenditure diaries, tuck memorandums of all sizes, blank note books, blank receipt books, court dockets, town records, inventory books, county records, blank deeds, leases, court and justice writs, and all other blanks used by sheriffs, justices, selectmen, &c. &c. r. m. is general agent for all reviews, magazines, and periodicals, and will furnish them at the publishers' prices. transcriber's note: there is a discrepancy between the cover and the title page; there are actually 50 pictures, not 100. the medley. [illustration] portland: bailey & noyes the medley. [illustration] portland: bailey & noyes. [illustration] anchor. i love to look on an anchor. like a good friend who helps you in trouble, it holds the ship steady in a storm. its flukes sink deep into the bottom of the sea, or cling to the rocks, and nothing but a great storm can separate it from the cable which is fastened to the vessel. anchors are of solid iron and very heavy; and cables are made of hemp or of iron chain. large ships have four anchors, small vessels two. hope is called the anchor of the soul, because, as the ship is held by the anchor which lies in the sea, so the soul is supported by hope which is cast in heaven. [illustration] wind-mill. the wind-mill has sails fixed to very long poles, and when the wind blows strong, round go the wings. as the wings blow round, they carry round a large stone inside the house; this stone rubs on top of another mill-stone, and corn is put between them, which is thus broken and ground into meal. we cannot eat corn till it is ground; but horses can. some mill-stones are likewise carried round by a stream of running water, and some by the steam of boiling water. there are a number of water-mills on the mill-dam which leads from boston to roxbury. there is a wind-mill in boston, which stands in sea-street, near the new bridge to south-boston. there is a steam-mill next to the iron-works at south-boston, which grinds corn and grain. [illustration] [illustration] flag. here waves the flag, which all nations respect. it is sometimes called the colours. in war, the soldiers carry a flag waving over their heads, to show, that, as long as it is raised, they are not beaten; and the soldiers look to it as a place or rallying point where they must all join if forced to separate. flags are hoisted on a ship's mast to tell to what nation she belongs, and every nation has a different one. the american flag has thirteen stripes, to show how many states first formed the united states, and it has as many stars as there are states at this time. [illustration] tent did you ever see a tent? this sort of house is common in warm climates. the israelites, of whom you read in the bible, lived in tents forty years. soldiers live in tents, when they march from home; and at night they take the canvass out of their waggons or baggage-carts, and pitch the tents in any convenient field. four soldiers live in one tent, and lie upon clean straw, taking their knapsacks for pillows. their guns and their swords are hung around overhead. [illustration] [illustration] cannon. when the cannon is fired only for the purpose of noise, no ball is put in; nothing but powder and the wad. on washington's birth-day, on the fourth day of july, and on some training days, cannon are used to make a noise, and the louder it is so much the better. never be afraid of the cannon noise when there is no ball to hurt you. [illustration] clock. you all know what a clock is, and how it strikes every hour. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. it then begins one again, and so goes on, and has no end. in the middle of the day it strikes twelve, and in the middle of the night also. when it strikes five in summer mornings, then you must rise. when it strikes seven in winter mornings, then you must rise; at eight, eat breakfast; dine at two; and sup at five; go to bed at eight; sleep whilst the clock ticks all night, and wake in the morning to hear it strike again. [illustration] barge. [illustration] a barge is a large boat driven along with oars, and rowed by eight or ten men, with one man at the helm to steer her course through the sea. it belongs to a ship of war, or to a fort, and is used for the purpose of carrying officers to the shore. the barge has what is called a round house, on her quarter deck to keep off the hot sun or the rain. how sweet, in a calm day, to sail on the water, feeling the soft wind blowing health and cheerfulness into our cheeks! but many accidents happen on the water through carelessness. [illustration] [illustration] http://www.archive.org/details/eightstoriesfori00portiala eight stories for isabel. [illustration] portland: bailey & noyes. [illustration] steam boat. here is a steam boat sailing on the water. how fast she moves. she is carried along by wheels. see the smoke coming from the chimney. there is a great fire in the boat, and large boilers, which hold sixty hogsheads of water; and when this water boils, the steam comes from it so swift and strong that it can be made to move the great wheels which are on the outside of the boat, and these great wheels have wide paddles to them, that are all the time beating water back. [illustration] [illustration] the chair. you all know what this picture is; a chair. it has a back and a seat and four legs. i knew a little girl that got upon the back of a chair, when her brother was sitting in it eating his breakfast, and he rose up as soon as he had done, and the chair fell back to the floor, and his little sister's head was so hurt that she died. you must never get upon the back of a chair, nor pull one away when any body is going to sit down, for the fall may break the person's back. [illustration] [illustration] the ship. this ship is carried along by the wind, which blows against her white sails, which you can see all spread from the mast. her hull sits on the water and slides along throwing the waves on each side. the great whale, and the porpoise, and the hungry sharks, all play round the great ship, and seem to wonder what mighty thing it is that is swimming through the sea and keeps always on the top of the water, not sinking down and coming up again as they do. [illustration] [illustration] the well. this is the picture of a well. it is pretty, and all around it are flowers growing upon its grey and mossy stones. it has a wheel, and bucket, and a rope; and water is got from it by putting down the bucket, and pulling the rope over the wheel. did you ever hear of the giddy girl who fell into the well, and of naughty john green who threw the poor puss into the well, and of good jack stout who took her out? you can read their story in many books. [illustration] [illustration] arm and hammer. this is the picture of a very strong arm, holding a great hammer. it is such arms as this that do all the most useful work in the world. it must be such an arm that beats out the hard iron, that hammers the rough stone and makes it smooth, that cuts down with an axe the largest trees, and that builds all our houses. it is this arm that guides the plough and that mows the grass, and that tames the wild colt and the fiery bull, and makes them obedient, to drag our carts and chaises. [illustration] [illustration] the cat. puss is seeing her pretty face in the looking-glass. perhaps she will wash her face in the bowl that stands by her side. cats will always wash their faces once a day, and look clean and neat, and when they take a walk out of doors, they never step in the wet. little girls must keep their shoes and frocks and stockings and hands and face clean, and never play in the dirt. cats are not fond of dogs. her tail will puff out as big as your arm, when she sees one. [illustration] [illustration] brown cow. god made the cow, the cow gives milk, the woman makes butter and cheese from the milk, and children eat butter, and cheese, and milk. cows cannot read but you must read. [illustration] white horse. here is a white horse, with his black mane and long tail. he trots in the chaise, he walks with the tracks and the carts, and he canters and gallops in the saddle. a b c d e f l k j i h g m n o p q r x w v u t s y z a b c d e f g n m l k j i h o p q r s t u z y x w v [illustration] file was made using scans of public domain works in the international children's digital library.) tower's little primer, for the youngest class in primary schools. [illustration] by anna e. tower. boston: brown, taggard & chase. 1857. entered according to act of congress, in the year 1857, by anna e. tower, in the clerk's office of the district court for the district of massachusetts. electrotyped at the boston stereotype foundry. preface. teachers will observe that only a few letters _at a time_ are given to the pupil, and with them _words_ formed of those _few letters_. thus the alphabet as presented to a child in detached portions, and each successive portion practically used in _words_ before the next is learned. this method is claimed as a peculiar feature of this book, except so far as it is used in the "gradual primer." the alphabets at the beginning of the book are for those who prefer to teach in the old way, and for all to learn the old order of arrangement. no word is used in the book till it has first been given to the pupil in a spelling lesson. this book will be an easy introduction to the "gradual primer," the first reader of tower's series; also to his "pictorial primer;" and, in short, to _any_ series of readers. it is especially designed for the lowest class in the primary schools, to encourage children by making their first step simple, easy, attractive, and interesting. january, 1857. +---+---+---+---+ | a | b | c | d | +---+---+---+---+ | e | f | g | h | +---+---+---+---+ | i | j | k | l | +---+---+---+---+ | m | n | o | p | +---+---+---+---+ | q | r | s | t | +---+---+---+---+ | u | v | w | x | +---+---+---+---+ [illustration]| y | z |[illustration] +---+---+ +-----+-----+----+-----+ | a a | b b | c c | d d | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | e e | f f | g g | h h | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | i i | j j | k k | l l | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | m m | n n | o o | p p | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | q q | r r | s s | t t | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | u u | v v | w w | x x | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ [illustration]| y y | z z |[illustration] +-----+-----+ +---+---+---+---+ | a | b | c | d | +---+---+---+---+ | e | f | g | h | +---+---+---+---+ | i | j | k | l | +---+---+---+---+ | m | n | o | p | +---+---+---+---+ | q | r | s | t | +---+---+---+---+ | u | v | w | x | +---+---+---+---+ [illustration]| y | z |[illustration] +---+---+ [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | e | | m | | w | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | m e, me | | w e, we | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | me | | we | +----+ +----+ [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ | e | | b | | h | | y | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | h e, he | | b e, be | +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | y e, ye | +---------+ +----+ +----+ +----+ | he | | be | | ye | +----+ +----+ +----+ me, we, he, be, ye. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ | i | | y | | b | | m | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | m y, my | | b y, by | +---------+ +---------+ +---+ +----+ +----+ | i | | my | | by | +---+ +----+ +----+ i, by, my. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | l | | n | | o | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | n o, no | | l o, lo | +---------+ +---------+ +---+ +----+ +----+ | o | | no | | lo | +---+ +----+ +----+ o, lo, no, i, by, my. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | o | | g | | s | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | g o, go | | s o, so | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | go | | so | +----+ +----+ o no. go so. i go so. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | o | | d | | t | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | d o, do | | t o, to | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | do | | to | +----+ +----+ i do, we do; i do so. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | a | | m | | n | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | a m, am | | a n, an | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | am | | an | +----+ +----+ do we go? no; i am to go. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ | a | | s | | t | | x | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | a t, at | | a s, as | +---------+ +---------+ +---------+ | a x, ax | +---------+ +----+ +----+ +----+ | at | | as | | ax | +----+ +----+ +----+ [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | i | | n | | s | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | i n, in | | i s, is | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | in | | is | +----+ +----+ am i in? no. he is in. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | i | | f | | t | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | i f, if | | i t, it | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | if | | it | +----+ +----+ is it he? it is he. it is in. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | o | | n | | f | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | o n, on | | o f, of | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | on | | of | +----+ +----+ i am on it, he is in it. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | o | | r | | x | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | o r, or | | o x, ox | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | or | | ox | +----+ +----+ it is an ox, he is my ox. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | u | | p | | s | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---------+ +---------+ | u p, up | | u s, us | +---------+ +---------+ +----+ +----+ | up | | us | +----+ +----+ lo, it is up. he is up. [illustration] +---+ +---+ +---+ | c | | v | | z | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ | j | | k | | q | +---+ +---+ +---+ ye do go. we go so. we do go on. we do so. [illustration] +-----------+ +-----------+ | b ee, bee | | s ee, see | +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+ | sh e, she | | th e, the | +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ | bee | | see | | she | | the | +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ it is a bee. see the bee. +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | am | | an | +-----+[illustration] +----+ | at | | ax | +-----+ +-----+ | if | | in | +-----+ +-----+ | is | | it | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | of | on | or | ox | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | up | us | by | my | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | go | no | lo | so | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | be | he | me | we | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | ye | to | do | as | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ | bee | see | the | she | +-----+-------+-------+-----+ [illustration] +-----+-----+-----+ | her | run | can | +-----+-----+-----+ i am on it. ye go on. we go on. it is on. it is up. see me go on. she is up. he is on. she is by me. i see it. see her go. i can see it run. [illustration] +-----+-----+-----+ | cat | hen | egg | +-----+-----+-----+ it is a hen. we can see the hen. a hen can eat. the hen can go. a hen can see. she is up. see her go on. it is my hen. we can eat the egg of a hen. [illustration] +-----+-----+-----+ | boy | and | dog | +-----+-----+-----+ the boy and his dog. it is my dog. see me and my dog. the dog is by me. he can run, and so can i run. the dog can eat. i am to go, and my dog is to go. [illustration] +-----+-----+-----+ | man | bag | put | +-----+-----+-----+ i see a man and a bag. he can put the bag in. the man can do it. i am in. she is in. put the bag in, so we can go on. kate is in, and she is to go. the man is to go. +------+------+--------+-------+ | bind | will | things | all | +------+------+--------+-------+ | him | flat | great | sit | +------+------+--------+-------+ | not | hold | small | yet | +------+------+--------+-------+ | old | feed | kind | how | +------+------+--------+-------+ | wet | tree | loves | close | +------+------+--------+-------+ | but | skin | home | draw | +------+------+--------+-------+ | may | this | with | like | +------+------+--------+-------+ | get | load | once | full | +------+------+--------+-------+ | for | glad | more | good | +------+------+--------+-------+ | sky | fly | side | now | +------+------+--------+-------+ | put | way | who | get | +------+------+--------+-------+ [illustration] +------+-----+------+ | doll | new | here | +------+-----+------+ here is a doll. it is a new doll. the new doll is for kate. can the doll see? no, but we can see the doll. kate is glad to get the new doll. [illustration] +------+-------+------+ | look | mouth | poor | +------+-------+------+ look at the cat. she has a bird in her mouth. she will eat the bird. poor bird! it can not fly now. see the cat run. [illustration] +------+------+------+ | rain | line | fish | +------+------+------+ here is a man in the rain. he is by the tree. he will be wet to the skin. i see his line, but i do not see a fish yet. look at him! how close he is now to the old tree. [illustration] +-------+------+-----+ | skate | sled | ice | +-------+------+-----+ jane is on the ice. she can skate. kate can not skate, but she may sit on the sled. john can skate and draw her on the sled. [illustration] +-------+-------+------+ | horse | white | ride | +-------+-------+------+ see grace ride on her white horse. it is good for her to ride. the dog is glad to run by her side. [illustration] +------+------+------+ | boat | pond | sail | +------+------+------+ see the boat sail on the pond. it is a flat boat. i see a man sit on the side. the boat is full. [illustration] +-----+-------+------+ | rye | field | cart | +-----+-------+------+ here is jane in a field; her dog is with her. the men load the cart with rye. a man is on the cart. [illustration] +-------+------+------+ | tries | does | calf | +-------+------+------+ look at the great boy; see him hold the calf. the small boy tries to feed the calf, but the calf will not eat; he does not like this new way. the calf is a great pet. [illustration] +--------+------+-------+ | points | asks | gives | +--------+------+-------+ here is kate once more. she points up to the sky, and asks if it is the home of god, who is so good and kind to all, who loves us, and gives us all things. [illustration] fire-side picture alphabet of humour and droll moral tales or words & their meanings illustrated boston mayhew & baker. 208 washington st. * * * * * mayhew & baker, 208 washington st., boston, publish the following list of new and beautiful illustrated juveniles, for children: king jollyboy's royal story book, for little folks. large quarto, printed in red and black, on thick, heavy paper, and unsurpassed for style of printing by any american publication. new and delightful moral stories, with comic illustrations. price 50 cents. * * * * * a companion to "five little pigs." * * * * * the wonderful adventures of the little man and his little gun. there was a little man, and he had a little gun, and the bullets were made of lead, lead, lead; he went to the brook, and he shot a little duck, and he hit her right through the head, head, head. with new and original comic illustrations, music, &c. * * * * * mayhew and baker, 208 washington street, and all booksellers. * * * * * amusement for children. * * * * * home pastimes, or the child's own toy maker. [illustration] beautifully printed in colors, on thick pasteboard, with full directions to cut out and paste together, making an assortment of wheelbarrows, cabs, railway cars, carriages, windmills, &c., that can be made to move. now ready, no. 1. charlie's wheelbarrow. no. 3. miss hattie's french bedstead. no. 2. frank's sledge. no. 4. tom thumb's carriage. new toys in preparation. * * * * * a manual of cricket and base ball, illustrated with plans for laying out the grounds and forming clubs, to which are added rules and regulations for cricket, adopted by the marylebone club. also, rules and regulations which govern several base ball clubs. price 25 cents. sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt of the price in stamps. * * * * * mayhew and baker, 208 washington street, and all booksellers. * * * * * entered according to act of congress, in the year 1858, by mayhew & baker, in the clerk's office of the district court of the district of massachusetts. printed by alfred mudge & son, _no. 34 school st., opp. city hall, boston._ * * * * * engraved by john andrew * * * * * [illustration: laugh and learn] * * * * * the fireside picture alphabet. [illustration] boston: mayhew & baker, 208 washington street. * * * * * poetical preface to the fireside picture alphabet. * * * * * to preceptors. with learning may laughter be found; "'tis good to be merry and wise;" to gayly get over the ground, as higher and higher we rise. some children their letters may learn, while others will surely do more, as the subjects suggestively turn to matters not thought of before. descriptions and pictures combined are here made attractive and clear; so suited that children may find from error the truth to appear. * * * * * [illustration] a a. ablution, _the act of cleansing_. the little sweep has washed his face, but not as we advise; for black as soot he's made the soap, and rubbed it in his eyes. * * * * * [illustration] b b. barter, _exchange_. here's master mack presenting fruit, of which he makes display; he knows he'll soon have lucy's rope, and with it skip away. * * * * * [illustration] c c. catastrophe, _a final event_, (_generally unhappy_.) "o, here's a sad catastrophe!" was mrs. blossom's cry; then--"water! water! bring to me- or all my fish will die." * * * * * [illustration] d d. delightful, _pleasant_, _charming_. these boys are bathing in the stream when they should be at school; the master's coming round to see who disregards his rule. * * * * * [illustration] e e. eccentricity, _irregularity_, _strangeness_. we often see things seeming strange; but scarce so strange as this:- here every thing is mis-applied, here every change amiss. * * * * * [illustration] f f. fraud, _deceit_, _trick_, _artifice_, _cheat_. here is pat murphy, fast asleep, and there is neddy bray; the thief a watchful eye doth keep until he gets away. * * * * * [illustration] g g. genius, _mental power_, _faculty_. a little boy with little slate may sometimes make more clear the little thoughts that he would state than can by words appear. * * * * * [illustration] h h. horror, _terror_, _dread_. this little, harmless speckled frog seems lady townsend's dread; i fear she'll run away and cry, and hide her silly head. * * * * * [illustration] i i. j j. ichabod at the jam. ichabod, _a christian name_. jam, _a conserve of fruits_. enough is good, excess is bad; yet ichabod, you see, will with the jam his stomach cram, until they disagree. * * * * * [illustration] k k. knowing, _conscious_, _intelligent_. tho' horses know both beans and corn, and snuff them in the wind, they also all know jemmy small, and what he holds behind. * * * * * [illustration] l l. lucky, _fortunate_, _happy by chance_. we must admire, in lovebook's case, the prompt decision made, as he could not have gained the wood if time had been delayed. * * * * * [illustration] m m. mimic, _imitative_, _burlesque_. the gentleman, who struts so fine, unconscious seems to be of imitation by the boy who has the street-door key. * * * * * [illustration] n n. negligence, _heedlessness_, _carelessness_. the character tom slowboy bears would much against him tell, for any work that's wanted done, or even play done well. * * * * * [illustration] o o. obstinacy, _stubbornness_, _waywardness_. the obstinacy of the pig is nature--as you see; but boys and girls who have a mind should never stubborn be. * * * * * [illustration] p p. pets, _favorites_, _spoilt fondlings_. some people say that aunty gray to animals is kind; we think, instead, they are over fed, and kept too much confined. * * * * * [illustration] q q. quandary, _a doubt_, _a difficulty_. dame partlett's in difficulty, and looks around with doubt; let's hope, as she some way got in, she may some way get out. * * * * * [illustration] r r. rivalry, _competition_, _emulation_. in every competition prize this should be kept in view- whoever wins should be the one who does deserve it too. * * * * * [illustration] s s. sluggard, _an inactive, lazy fellow_. to lie so many hours in bed you surely must be ill, and need some physic, master ned, as birch, or draught, or pill! * * * * * [illustration] t t. topsy-turvy, _upside down_, _bottom top_. here's topsy-turvy, upside down, the ceiling seems the base; reverse the ground and 'twill be found the things are out of place. * * * * * [illustration] u u. v v. uncommon vegetation. uncommon, _rare_, _not frequent_. vegetation, _the power of growth_. th' uncommon vegetation, here, with art has much to do; the trees are nature, but the fruit uncommon and untrue. * * * * * [illustration] w w. wonder, _admiration_, _astonishment_. the wise may live and wonder still, however much they know, but simple giles has wonder found within the penny show. * * * * * [illustration] x x. no english word begins with this letter. xantippe, _a greek matron_, _wife of socrates_. here's socrates and xantippe- philosopher and wife- for gentleness renowned was he; she, better known for strife. * * * * * [illustration] y y. yearn, _to grieve_, _to vex_. miss cross has tried to reach the grapes, she's tried and tried again- and now she's vexed to think that all her efforts are in vain. * * * * * [illustration] z z. zany, _a buffoon_, _a merry andrew_. here's zany reading in a book, with heels above his head; and, judging by his laughing look, finds fun in what he's read. * * * * * "here's a nice book for the holidays." * * * * * willis, the pilot, a sequel to the swiss family robinson; or, adventures of an emigrant family wrecked on an unknown coast of the pacific ocean; interspersed with tales, incidents of travel, and illustrations of natural history. beautifully illustrated. * * * * * from the many favorable notices of the press, read the following: "the scene is laid chiefly in the south seas, and the narrator illustrates the geography and ethnology of that section of the far west. some of the adventures are marvellous indeed, and willis is a rich specimen of a hardy, fearless, and honest tar." "this book takes up the story of 'the swiss family robinson,' and carries it forward to a happy termination. the style and spirit of the story is preserved with admirable effect; and if any thing, 'willis, the pilot,' is of greater interest and more instructive than the charming story out of which it grows." "'the swiss family robinson' never seemed to quite finish its story, and the author of 'willis, the pilot,' has hit upon a happy idea in carrying out and completing the tale; and he has executed the work exceedingly well, and will confer a new delight upon the thousands who have been entranced by the tale of the swiss family, and will here pursue the narrative of their adventurous life. the publishers of the volume have dressed it up in very attractive style. the illustrations are numerous, spirited, and handsomely done." "abundance of adventures, serious and comic, funny expedients and devices, odd turns of fortune, all combine to charm and fix the attention of the young reader; while science and fact are skilfully inwoven with the details of the story. a pleasant book for a christmas gift, and just the thing for the long winter nights." mayhew and baker, 208 washington street, and all booksellers. * * * * * a game for all seasons. * * * * * nearly ready, the new game of tournament & knighthood, printed in colors, on thick pasteboard, with embossed counters. two games on one board. * * * * * the combats of the knights, in the days of chivalry, on "the field of the cloth of gold," served to display the skill and dexterity of the combatants in feats of arms. the new tournament, or _bloodless_ battle, is so arranged that, while it requires both skill and dexterity in one game, the other is both simple and amusing. one will require considerable shrewdness in an old chess or whist player, while the other can be played by small children. full directions accompany each game. price 75 cents. sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt of the price. * * * * * mayhew and baker, 208 washington street, and all booksellers. * * * * * aunt mary's primer adorned with a hundred and twenty pretty pictures 1851 [illustration: front cover] [illustration: frontispiece: angling. shooting. a donkey race. hunting the hare. children at play. a country ride.] [illustration] a few words to the teacher. when little mary (or any other little girl or boy) knows all the letters perfectly, let the teacher turn over a page and pronounce one of the mono-syllables. do not say _a, m, am_--but say _am_ at once, and point to the word. when the child knows that word, then point to the next, and say _as_, and be sure to follow the same plan throughout the book. spelling lessons may be taught at a more advanced age; but it will be found that a young child will learn to read much more quickly if they be dispensed with in the primer. in words of more than one syllable, it is best to pronounce each syllable separately, _car, pet_,--_po, ker_,--and so on. in the lesson on "things in the room," point out each thing as the child reads the word, and indeed, wherever you can, try to associate the word with its actual meaning. show a child the word _coach_ as a coach goes past, and she will recollect that word again for ever. in the "lesson on the senses," make the child understand how to feel cold and heat, by touching a piece of cold iron or marble, and by holding the hand to the fire,--how to smell, to hear, to see, and to taste. in the "lesson on colours," be sure to show each colour as it is read; and endeavour to make every lesson as interesting as you can. _never weary a child with long lessons_. the little poem at the end is intended to be read to the child frequently, that she may gradually learn it by heart. j.c. * * * * * a a b b c c d d e e f f g g h h i i j j k k l l m m n n o o p p q q r r s s t t u u v v w w x x y y z z _f n w b e h a p r y s v z c k d x o j u g i l q m t_ _q o f m e g v p a h n y x b i w c j l s u d k t r z_ * * * * * am eg if ok ud as eb il or um an ed ip ot up and eke its old use are end ire oft urn arm elf imp ore uns an et ig od up man met gig god pup can pet big sod cup pan set pig pod sup at og an ar ir cat dog van are ire rat log vane hare fire grate clog vanes hares fires * * * * * [illustration] here is a cat, and here is a rat. [illustration] the hare runs from the dog. [illustration] the fox will eat the hen. * * * * * ail eat eel oil mail feat feel toil paid seas reed coil bait peas beer soil oat out ein bee boat rout rein been groat flout vein coo float trout skein moon lap-dog ink-stand wind-mill peg-top wood-cut wild-duck sky-lark sun-shine birds-nest ool ight arth hool eight earth chool might dearth school wright growth * * * * * [illustration] a mad bull runs fast. the girl makes lace. [illustration] a cart-load of hay. the horse trots well. [illustration] the man breaks the ice. here are some pigs. * * * * * here are the names of some things in the room. ta-ble car-pet can-dle po-ker but-ton bas-ket so-fa pic-ture kit-ten work-box side-board hearth-rug cot-ton fen-der tea-urn book-case scis-sors cur-tain * * * * * am i to go out for a walk? yes, you are to go out for a walk. will you go with me? no, i can not go with you. will jane go for a walk with me? yes, jane and the dog will go with you. * * * * * a first lesson on the senses. [illustration] snow is white, and soft, and cold. do you feel cold? the fire is red and is very hot. do you feel hot? this is a pretty book. do you see the pictures? roses, violets, and pinks smell very sweetly. the coach makes a noise as it goes. did you hear it? plum-cake is very nice. would not you like to taste it? * * * * * a first lesson on colours. [illustration: a black-bird.] the rose is red. this ribbon is blue. papa's coat is black. the violet is purple. [illustration: a yellow-hammer.] gold is yellow. the grass is green. milk is white. the book-case is brown. * * * * * a first lesson in writing. ask mama for a sheet of paper and a pencil. make a line like this *i. what letter is it like? it is like the letter i. now put another line across the top *t. what letter is that like? it is like t. now draw two lines thus *l. now another two lines, thus *v, and thus *x. now three lines, thus *n, now thus *h, now *f, now like this *k, now *a, now *y, now *z, now draw four lines, thus *w, now *m, now *e, now make a ring *o--like mama's ring, now make a line *i, add half a ring to it *d. now make this *p, now this *b, now this *r, now *c, now *g, now *q, now *s, now *u. here are all the large letters of the alphabet. **(bold these into a larger sans-serif script, heavy)** * * * * * a first lesson in numbers. one six eleven fifty two seven twelve sixty three eight twenty seventy four nine thirty eighty five ten forty ninety how many stars are here * * * how many here * * * * * * * * there are twenty-four hours in a day. there are seven days in a week. there are four weeks in a month. there are twelve months in a year. these are the seven days,--sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday. these are the twelve months,--january, when it is often very cold; february, when it is dull and dirty; march, when the winds blow; april, when the flowers begin to come; may, when the trees are in bloom; june, when the hay is made: july, when it is so hot; august, when it is harvest time; september, when apples are ripe; october, when the farmers brew their best beer; november, when london is covered with fog; and december, when christmas comes. * * * * * large things that we see. [illustration: here is a house close to a country church.] [illustration: the barn stands behind the road-side inn.] [illustration: this is a water-mill, and this is a wind-mill.] [illustration: betty is in the dairy, and robert is beating a walnut-tree.] [illustration: a rustic bridge, close by some men making a hay-stack.] [illustration: a pigeon-house.] [illustration: a man lighting a gas-lamp.] country employments. [illustration: a man ploughing.] [illustration: a farmer sowing seed.] [illustration: two men reaping.] [illustration: a man thrashing corn.] [illustration: men and women making hay.] [illustration: two girls gleaning.] [illustration: betty milks the cows, while john cuts down trees.] [illustration: women picking hops.] [illustration: cows drinking water.] [illustration: they wash sheep before they cut off their wool.] london cries. [illustration: fruit! oranges and apples.] [illustration: buy my straw-berries!] [illustration: any chairs to mend?] [illustration: come and see the giant!] [illustration: remember the sweeper.] [illustration: pray think of poor jack.] [illustration: dust o! dust o!] [illustration: who will buy my flowers?] [illustration: fish o! all alive!] [illustration: do you want a link. sir?] [illustration: any knives to grind?] [illustration: who'll buy my images?] travelling by land. [illustration: the lord mayor's coach, and an omnibus.] [illustration: this cab is going faster than the brewer's dray.] [illustration: what a pretty market-cart behind the waggon.] travelling by water. [illustration: a ship on the sea, and a steam-boat on the river.] [illustration: those boats are going fast.] [illustration: her is a coal-barge.] [illustration: a man on a raft.] [illustration: a handsome state-barge.] wild animals. [illustration: a large elephant, and a tall giraffe.] [illustration: the lion is handsome.] [illustration: bisons run in herds.] [illustration: the tiger is very fierce.] [illustration: camels are very docile.] [illustration: the wild ass is beautiful.] [illustration: so is the leopard.] [illustration: the zebra is very wild.] [illustration: some deer are in our parks.] [illustration: the wild-boar lives in forests.] [illustration: a long-tailed monkey.] large birds. [illustration: the golden eagle is larger than the vulture.] [illustration: the ostrich is the largest bird.] [illustration: owls fly at night.] [illustration: the heron loves fish.] [illustration: storks build nests in chimneys.] [illustration: swans are graceful birds.] [illustration: the cock has fine feathers.] [illustration: the goose hisses.] [illustration: turkey is good for dinner.] [illustration: the duck says quack!] [illustration: men shoot partridges.] domestic animals. [illustration: the cow gives us milk.] [illustration: the ass brays.] [illustration: the horse runs fast.] [illustration: the greyhound runs faster.] [illustration: the goat jumps among the rocks.] [illustration: sheep give us wool.] [illustration: the mule is very sure-footed.] [illustration: the sow is dirty.] [illustration: this dog is called a spaniel.] [illustration: the squirrel cracks nuts.] [illustration: the guinea-pig squeaks.] [illustration: the mouse is fond of cheese.] small birds. [illustration: the cuckoo comes in the spring.] [illustration: a king-fisher.] [illustration: the turtle-dove lives in the woods.] [illustration: a swallow.] [illustration: the goldfinch is pretty.] [illustration: the nightingale sings sweetly.] [illustration: the red-breast picks up crumbs, so does the sparrow.] [illustration: the water wag-tail.] [illustration: the lark flies high in the air.] [illustration: the bull-finch is handsome.] [illustration: the wren is a small bird.] rural amusements. (_see the frontispiece._) do you see the man angling. he is trying to catch fish with a hook and a line. that man is shooting partridges. the dog finds them for him in the fields. oh, what fun! two boys riding a race on donkeys to see which will get home first. the poor hare runs away from the dogs. i fear they will catch her. here are some boys and girls at play. the man is smoking his pipe at the door. what a pleasant ride they will have in the park on those donkeys. * * * * * [illustration] my mother. who fed me from her gentle breast, and hush'd me in her arms to rest, and on my cheek sweet kisses prest? my mother. when sleep forsook my open eyes, who was it sung sweet lullaby, and soothed me that i should not cry? my mother. who sat and watch'd my infant head, when sleeping on my cozy bed; and tears of sweet affection shed? my mother. who lov'd to see me pleased and gay, and taught me sweetly how to play, and minded all i had to say? my mother. who ran to help me when i fell. and would some pretty story tell. or kiss the place and make it well? my mother. who taught my infant heart to pray, and love god's holy book and day; and taught me wisdom's pleasant way? my mother. and can i ever cease to be affectionate and kind to thee, who was so very kind to me, my mother? ah, no! the thought i cannot bear, and if god please my life to spare, i hope i shall reward thy care, my mother. and when i see thee hang thy head, 'twill be my turn to watch thy bed, and tears of sweet affection shed, my mother. for god, who lives above the skies, would look with vengeance in his eyes, if i should ever dare despise my mother. [illustration] monkey jack and other stories edited by palmer cox monkey jack. a lit-tle maid weeps pit-e-ous-ly, in dire dis-tress de-mand-ing aid; her pre-cious ball is up a tree, and ev-ery boy shrinks back a-fraid. it hangs a-loft, a shin-ing thing, caught by the ve-ry top-most spray, where slen-der branch-es ta-per-ing 'neath the light bur-den move and sway. hur-rah! he comes whom all ad-mire, whose nim-ble legs, and lis-som back, and read-y pluck, that naught can tire, win him the name of "mon-key jack." see how he leaps from bough to bough to gain that most be-lov'd of balls! his out-stretch'd hand has caught it now; the branch gives way--the he-ro falls! the fright-en'd chil-dren ut-ter cries, but e-ven yet he does his best; his vic-tor hand re-tains the prize, and clasps it to his faith-ful breast. laid on his bed, com-pos'd, though sad, with bro-ken leg and in-jured back, we find a lit-tle pa-tient lad, a-las, no long-er "mon-key jack!" [illustration] with books and toys, what-e'er is best, his com-rades seek him, one and all, and shy-ly peep-ing through the rest, poor lit-tle ro-sa brings her ball. placed at the win-dow, day by day, while pil-lows raise his wea-ry head, his wist-ful eyes be-hold the play which once with joy-ous heart he led. and in his hand the ball is laid, and if to fling it is his whim, the sig-nal is at once obey'd, with ea-ger feet they run to him. [illustration] but more than this they glad-ly do- each coin they get they save with care, and ro-sa brings her six-pence, too, to swell the splen-did treas-ure there. mon-ey can pur-chase any-thing. the hap-py chil-dren send to town, and to the crip-ple's bed they bring a sur-geon of the first re-nown. oh, beau-ti-ful tri-um-phant day! when light of heart and free from pain, the pa-tient lad has slipped away, and "mon-key jack" climbs trees again! [illustration] here are a num-ber of lit-tle tots, and what do you think they are do-ing? i think the lit-tle girl on her knees is pay-ing for-feits. a pair of friends. [illustration] tab-by and rover are very good friends, so that she is not at all a-fraid to eat out of his dish when-ev-er she has not din-ner e-nough of her own. a rain-y day. rain, rain, rain! how it did rain! the great drops ran down the glass in streams. tom, jack, and lit-tle meg watched it for a long time. "o dear!" they said at last, "do you think it will nev-er clear? we want to go out and play." [illustration] "why do you not go up to the gar-ret, and play?" asked their mam-ma. that struck them as a fine plan; and off they trooped, pound-ing up the bare stairs with their nois-y feet. they found three old brooms, and be-gan to play soldier,--tom first, then jack, with meg last of all. the gar-ret was ver-y large; and their mam-ma could hear them as they tramped a-long, and could hear tom's com-mand to right a-bout face when they had reached the farth-er end. by and by they tired of play-ing sol-dier; and then they pulled down some old dress-es and hats that hung on a peg, and put them on, and made be-lieve that they were grown peo-ple. then, out of an old box, they dragged a scrap-book full of pic-tures, and sat them down to look them o-ver. [illustration] mean-time their friend rose had come, all wrapped up, through the rain, to make them a call. she brought a bas-ket, in which were her two kit-tens. "the chil-dren are in the gar-ret," said their mam-ma. so rose ran up to find them. she did find them; but what do you think?--they were fast a-sleep. [illustration] sweet is the voice that calls from bab-bling wa-ter-falls in mead-ows where the down-y seeds are fly-ing, and soft the breez-es blow, and ed-dy-ing come and go, in fad-ed gar-dens where the rose is dy-ing the quarrel. [illustration] grace and bell have had a quar-rel. bell was most at fault, but now she is ver-y sor-ry for what she has done. so she kiss-es her sis-ter, and the trou-ble is all o-ver. old winter. [illustration] old win-ter is com-ing; a-lack, a-lack! how i-cy and cold is he! he's wrapped to the heels in a snow-y white sack; the trees he has lad-en till read-y to crack; he whis-tles his trills with a won-der-ful knack, for he comes from a cold coun-tree. a fun-ny old fel-low is win-ter, i trow, a mer-ry old fel-low for glee: he paints all the no-ses a beau-ti-ful hue, he counts all our fin-gers, and pinch-es them too; our toes he gets hold of through stock-ing and shoe; for a fun-ny old fel-low is he. old win-ter is blow-ing his gusts a-long, and mer-ri-ly shak-ing the tree: from morn-ing to night he will sing us his song, now moan-ing and short, now bold-ly and long; his voice it is loud, for his lungs are so strong, and a mer-ry old fel-low is he. old win-ter's a rough old chap to some, as rough as ev-er you'll see. "i with-er the flow-ers when-ev-er i come, i qui-et the brook that went laugh-ing a-long, i drive all the birds off to find a new home i'm as rough as rough can be." a cun-ning old fel-low is winter, they say,- a cun-ning old fel-low is he: he peeps in the crev-i-ces day by day, to see how we're pass-ing our time a-way, and mark all our do-ing from so-ber to gay; i'm a-fraid he is peep-ing at me! [illustration] [illustration] the hard lesson. "i can nev-er, nev-er learn it," said bell; and she burst in-to tears. "car-rie has learned it," said miss gray; "and i am sure you can. try, try a-gain." "yes, bell," said car-rie; "and then per-haps we can have a romp in the hay-field. you will have to hur-ry, for the men are cart-ing it in-to the barn." thus urged, bell made a fresh ef-fort; and soon the les-son was learned and re-cit-ed. off scam-pered the two girls to the hay-field. soon miss gray fol-lowed, but there was noth-ing to be seen of them. she looked all a-bout, and at last walked up to the man who was load-ing the hay on the cart. [illustration] "can you see an-y thing of two lit-tle girls from where you are?" she asked. "i don't see them," he an-swered, stand-ing up and look-ing a-round. miss gray turned a-way, when all at once she heard a laugh be-hind her. she looked back, and there were the laugh-ing fa-ces of bell and car-rie. they had been on the cart, all hid-den un-der the hay in or-der to play a lit-tle joke on miss gray. then they scram-bled down, and came run-ning to her. the man on the cart smiled to see their fun. then he said sadly, "dear me, i wish my lit-tle lass could run a-bout like that." [illustration] "is she ill?" asked car-rie. "yes," said the man; "but she is get-ting bet-ter now." "we'll ask mam-ma to take us to see her," said bell. the ver-y next day their mam-ma did take them. they found ruth sit-ting pil-lowed up in a chair, ver-y pale and white. bell had picked her a bunch of flow-ers, which she seemed ver-y glad to get; and the three girls soon be-came good friends. car-ree found a lit-tle gray kitten with which she played. the vis-it seemed to do ruth a great deal of good; for a pink flush came in her cheeks, and she e-ven laughed, which her moth-er said she had not done before for weeks. they came a-gain the ver-y next day. miss gray was with them, and car-ried a bas-ket on her arm in which were some dain-ties to tempt the sick girl's ap-pe-tite. she was glad to see them, and told them they should have the kit-ten for their ver-y own. so pus-sy went back in the bas-ket which had brought the dain-ties. near-ly ev-er-y day af-ter this the chil-dren went to see ruth, for at least a week. by that time she was well e-nough to be out, and some-times came to see them. [illustration] what is it that these lit-tle tots are all so anx-ious to see? it must be a christ-mas-tree. rob jackson's dog. [illustration] rob jack-son's dog jumped off the lit-tle bridge in-to the mill pond to fetch a stick that hal jones threw for him. the wheel was in full mo-tion, and jack, for that was the dog's name, was drawn in toward it. rob was a-fraid that jack was go-ing to be drowned and was just a-bout to jump in af-ter him, when one of the mill hands held him fast. "wait a bit," said the man, and he held out a long pole to jack who clutched it with his teeth and was drawn safely to land. [illustration] the wives of brixham. the merry boats of brixham go out to search the seas; a staunch and sturdy fleet are they, who love a swinging breeze; and before the woods of devon, and the silver cliffs of wales, you may see, when summers evenings fall, the light upon their sails. but when the year grows darker, and gray winds hunt the foam, they go back to little brixham, and ply their toil at home. and thus it chanced one winter's night, when a storm began to roar, that all the men were out at sea, and all the wives on shore. then as the wind grew fiercer, the women's cheeks grew white, it was fiercer in the twilight. and fiercest in the night. the strong clouds set themselves like ice, without a star to melt, the blackness of the darkness was darkness to be felt. the storm like an assassin went on its wicked way, and struck a hundred boats adrift, to reel about the bay. they meet, they crash--god keep the men! god give a moment's light! there is nothing but the tumult, and the tempest and the night. the men on shore were anxious, they dreaded what they knew; what do you think the women did? love taught them what to do! out spake a wife, "we've beds at home, we'll burn them for a light: give us the men and the bare ground! we want no more to-night." [illustration] they took the grandame's blanket, who shivered and bade them go; they took the baby's pillow, who could not say them no; and they heaped a great fire on the pier, and knew not all the while if they were heaping a bonfire, or only a funeral pile. and fed with precious food, the flame shone bravely on the black, till a cry rang through the people, "a boat is coming back!" staggering dimly through the fog, come shapes of fear and doubt, but when the first prow strikes the pier, cannot you hear them shout? then all along the breadth of flame dark figures shrieked and ran, with "child, here comes your father!" or, "wife, is this your man?" and faint feet touch the welcome stone, and wait a little while; and kisses drop from frozen lips, too tired to speak or smile. so, one by one they struggled in, all that the sea would spare; we will not reckon through our tears the names that were not there; but some went home without a bed, when all the tale was told, who were too cold with sorrow to know the night was cold. author of poem written for a child. [illustration] agrippa. this is the picture of a kit-ten who lived once at a farm-house. he was such a pret-ty lit-tle cat as to be made a great pet and used to trot a-bout af-ter the peo-ple like a lit-tle dog. his name was a-grip-pa and he knew it quite well. to this farm-house came a boy and girl named ned and lau-ra, to spend the sum-mer. both were fond of pets and both played so much with a-grip-pa that he grew rath-er la-zy and did not try to catch ma-ny mice. ned and lau-ra were ver-y good friends, but it happened now and then that both want-ed the same thing and then, sad to say, some loud words might be heard. ned would say, "give me grip-pa," and lau-ra would an-swer, "you shan't have grip-pa!" and ned would say a-gain, "i will have grip-pa," and so it would go on till some-times poor grip-pa would run a-way. but they al-ways made up and were friends a-gain. grip-pa grew up a large, fine cat, and lived some years. but he was at length taken ill. he came no more to the house, but stayed in the barn and grew ver-y weak, till he could hard-ly walk. at last, one day he came walk-ing fee-bly to the house. he went in-to the kitch-en, then to the pan-try, then to the din-ing room. in-to all the rooms went grip-pa, and in each room sat down and looked a-round, as if tak-ing a last fare-well; then slow-ly walked out of doors. it was in-deed his last vis-it. next morn-ing poor grip-pa was found dead. [illustration] frank's boy. frank more had been out skat-ing near-ly the whole af-ter-noon, for there was no school this week, and the ice was in fine or-der. it was al-most dark, and he was go-ing home, skates in hand, when a poor boy a-bout as large as him-self came up and be-gan to beg from him. [illustration] "go home with me," said frank, "and you shall have some sup-per." the boy went glad-ly, and on the way frank asked him ma-ny ques-tions. when they ar-rived, frank took him to the kitch-en, where jane the cook gave him a warm seat and plen-ty of sup-per, for his thin face made her feel sor-ry. when frank had seen him com-fort-a-bly set-tled, he went up stairs to tell his fa-ther and moth-er a-bout the lad. "don't you think, fa-ther," he said, "that grand-pa would like such a boy? he says he will be glad to work, and if moth-er will let me give him my old suit, i can take him to see grand-pa in the morning." "well, frank, you may try," said his fa-ther. so poor sam had a good bed to sleep in that night, and next morn-ing the two boys went to see a-bout work for him. dressed in the warm clothes frank's moth-er gave him, he looked like quite a dif-fer-ent boy, and was ve-ry grate-ful for her kind-ness. it was soon set-tled that sam should live at old mr. more's. he had a good ma-ny things to do: to help take care of the chick-ens, the sheep and lambs, the cows and horses; and be-sides all this, he went to school, and with all the other boys, had great fun at coast-ing and skat-ing when school was out. but he worked as well as he played, and proved so trust-y, that grand-ma said: "frank's boy was a boy worth hav-ing." so sam found a good home and frank had the pleas-ure of know-ing that he had helped one boy to be both use-ful and hap-py. joey's exploit. jo-ey hart was a boy who was sent by his fath-er to spend the sum-mer with an un-cle in the coun-try. jo-ey had been ill, and the doc-tor said that there was noth-ing like coun-try air to make him well a-gain. so he set off one bright morn-ing, and be-fore night was safe at his un-cle's farm. his pa-pa had thought that jo-ey might go to school dur-ing the sum-mer, but when the doc-tor heard of it he said no. "let the boy run wild for three months. he will learn twice as fast next win-ter." he was wild with joy when he was at last at his un-cle's. he was so hun-gry, and the bread and but-ter and milk tast-ed so nice-ly, that he thought he should nev-er have e-nough. each day he was up with the sun, and by night had played so hard that al-most be-fore it was dark he was read-y to go to bed. it was great fun to watch the men in the fields at work. some-times his un-cle let him ride the mow-ing ma-chine, and at such times he was ve-ry proud. then it was ve-ry ex-cit-ing to ride on the top of a great sway-ing load of hay, right in on to the barn floor. la-ter on, when the hay was all gath-ered, the wheat be-gan to rip-en, and the men were bu-sy cut-ting it and gath-er-ing it in-to sheaves. the birds act-ed as if they thought it was cut for them on-ly, for they came in such swarms that it looked as if they would eat it all and leave none for the farm-er. [illustration] some-times his aunt would ask him to take their lunch-eon to the men at work in the fields, for dur-ing hay-ing and har-vest when the work is heav-i-est the men al-ways have a lunch at ten in the morn-ing. now on one day when jo-ey took his bas-ket and left the house for the fields, he got him-self in-to trou-ble, and this was the way. close by his un-cle's house on the main street lived a gen-tle-man who had a fine gar-den. all a-round it was a high fence and a no-tice was post-ed up, "tres-pas-sers will be pros-e-cu-ted." that no-tice was be-cause the school house was not far a-way, and the boys some-times helped them-selves to the old gen-tle-man's ap-ples. jo-ey had to pass di-rect-ly by the gar-den wall, and it so hap-pened that his bas-ket was heav-y and he set it down to rest. what took place you can see in the pic-ture on the next page bet-ter than i can tell you. jo-ey got the ap-ples but a bad fall, and when he went to get up he found that he could not stand and that one an-kle hurt him se-vere-ly. how long he would have staid there i can not tell, had not the men in the field grown hun-gry and sent one of their num-ber to see what had be-come of their lunch. the mes-sen-ger found jo-ey, and picked him up and car-ried him home. then, com-ing back, he took the bas-ket and all the ap-ples that lay a-bout, and went back to the field and the men ate them all for lunch-eon. and so jo-ey not on-ly got no ap-ples but had to lie in bed for a week be-fore his an-kle got well e-nough for him to run a-bout a-gain. [illustration: "oh, i say! and pippins too!!" "i'll help myself to some of these, see if i don't mister notice." joey helps himself to more than he intended.] [transcriber's notes: welcome to the schoolroom of 1900. the moral tone is plain. "she is kind to the old blind man." the exercises are still suitable, and perhaps more helpful than some contemporary alternatives. much is left to the teacher. explanations given in the text are enough to get started teaching a child to read and write. counting in roman numerals is included as a bonus in the form of lesson numbers. don kostuch ] eclectic educational series. mcguffey's[registered] eclectic primer. revised edition. [illustration: two children in hammock.] mcguffey editions and colophon are trademarks of john wiley & sons, inc. new york chichester weinheim brisbane singapore toronto copyright, 1881, by van antwerp, brag & co. copyright, 1896, by american book company. copyright, 1909, by henry h. vail. ep 179 preface the flattering success of mcguffey's revised readers, and the inquiry for more primary reading matter to be used in the first year of school work, have induced the publishers to prepare a revised primer, which may be used to precede the first reader of any well arranged series. the method pursued is the same as that in mcguffey's revised readers, and the greatest possible care has been taken to insure a gradation suited to the youngest children. only about six new words are to be mastered in each lesson. these new words and the new elementary sounds are always to be found in the vocabulary of the lesson in which they are first used. the plan of the book enables the teacher to pursue the phonic method, the word method, the alphabet method, or any combination of these methods. illustrations of the best character have been freely supplied, and the skilled teacher will be able to use them to great advantage. the script exercises throughout the book and the slate exercises at the close, have been specially written and carefully engraved for this primer; they may be used to teach the reading of script, and as exercises in learning to write. in the full confidence that the public will appreciate a cheap and attractive primer of this character, the publishers have spared no expense to make this book equal, in type, paper, and illustrations, to any that have been issued from their press. (iii) the alphabet. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z the alphabet. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z [illustration: cat watching moth.] mcguffey's eclectic primer lesson 1 a and cat rat a e d n r t [illustration: rat] a rat a cat a cat a rat a cat and a rat. a rat and a cat. lesson ii. at the ran has ann h th s [illustration: cat] the cat the rat the cat has a rat. the rat ran at ann. ann has a cat. the cat ran at the rat. lesson iii. nat hat fan can f [illustration: children playing at the seashore.] a fan a hat ann and nat. ann has a fan. nat has a hat. ann can fan nat. lesson iv. man cap lad sat l m p s [illustration: boy running and old man, with gout, sitting.] a cap the lad a man and a lad. the man sat; the lad ran. the man has a hat. the lad has a cap. lesson v.--review. the cat and the rat ran. ann sat, and nat ran. a rat ran at nat. can ann fan the lad? the man and the lad. the man has a cap. the lad has a fan. has ann a hat? ann has a hat and a fan. [illustration: script exercise: a at rat sat can cap lad and the cat ran. ann ran. the man has a hat. ] lesson vi. dog rab fat nat's o b g [illustration: boy and dog watching cat on post.] nat's cap a fat dog has the lad a dog? the lad has a fat dog. the dog has nat's cap. nat and rab ran. rab ran at a cat. lesson vii. see sees frog on log e [illustration: boy sitting on fence, watching frog sitting on log.] a log the frog see the frog on a log. rab sees the frog. can the frog see rab? the frog can see the dog. rab ran at the frog. lesson viii. it stand ann's is lamp mat i [illustration: mother with girl holding cat, by lamplight.] a mat the stand see the lamp! it is on a mat. the mat is on the stand. the lamp is nat's, and the mat is ann's. lesson ix. tom nag not him catch he his ch [illustration: boy and dog chasing horse.] see the nag! it is tom's nag. can tom catch his nag? he can not catch him. the dog ran at the nag, and the nag ran. lesson x.--review. tom's nag is fat; his dog is not fat. nat is on tom's nag. nat's dog, rab, can not catch the rat. see the frog on the log. a lad sees the frog. the lad can not catch it. a cat is on the mat; the cat sees a rat. ann's fan is on the stand. the man has a lamp. a dog ran at the man. ann sat on a log. [illustration: script exercise: tom sees nat's dog. a fat frog is on the log. can not rab catch it? ] lesson xi nest this eggs she in get box hen e x sh [illustration: cat watching hen, watching eggs in nest.] the box a nest this is a fat hen. the hen has a nest in the box. she has eggs in the nest. a cat sees the nest, and can get the eggs. lesson xii. old run fox o u [illustration: dog chasing fox away from a hen.] can this old fox catch the hen? the fox can catch the hen, and get the eggs in the nest. run, rab, and catch the fox. [illustration: script exercise: this nest has eggs in it. ] lesson xiii. pond ducks them feed nell i by will i y ch w [illustration: girl watching ducks on pond.] nell is by the pond. i see ducks on the pond. nell sees the ducks, and will feed them. she can not get the ducks lesson xiv. holds to blind mary hand kind a o k y [illustration: girl lead old, blind man.] this old man can not see. he is blind. mary holds him by the hand. she is kind to the old blind man. lesson xv.--review. i see ducks on the pond; tom will feed them. tom is blind; he holds a box in his hand. nell is kind to him. this old hen has a nest. mary will run and get the eggs. lesson xvi. sue doll dress new her let e u ew [illustration: two girls sitting by tree, playing with dolls.] sue has a doll. it has a new dress. she will let ann hold the doll in her hands, and ann will fan it. sue is kind to ann. lesson xvii. there five bird tree rob do e i v [illustration: cat watching bird and eggs in nest on tree top.] a bird is in the tree. it has a nest there. the nest has five eggs in it. do not rob the nest. will the bird let the cat get her five eggs? lesson xviii. cage pet sing lives so loves o g ng [illustration: bird perched on girl's hand.] this is a pet bird. it lives in a new cage. it will stand on sue's hand, and sing. sue loves her pet bird. so do i love it. lesson xix. are you yes fast too like boys of (ov) play a a y oy [illustration: boys playing in snow by a canal. town in background.] do you see the boys at play? yes, i see them; there are five of them. tom is too fat to run fast. nat can catch him. i like to see boys play. lesson xx.--review. sue has a doll and a pet bird. her doll has a new dress and a cap. sue loves mary, and will let her hold the doll. the pet bird lives in a cage. sue and mary will stand by the cage, and the bird will sing. there are birds in the tree by the pond. can you see them? yes; there are five of them in a nest. tom will not rob a bird's nest. he is too kind to do so. [illustration: script exercise: nell will feed the ducks. sue has a new dress. ] lesson xxi. what night owl day an but well big eyes best a ow wh [illustration: owl perched on tree branch.] what bird is this? it is an owl. what big eyes it has! yes, but it can not see well by day. the owl can see best at night. nat pond has a pet owl. lesson xxii. grass they come off barn shade hot cows out e ou [illustration: cows standing under a tree.] the day is hot. the cows are in the shade of the big tree. they feed on the new grass. our cows do not run off. at night they come to the barn. lesson xxiii. soon sun neck set way bell one (wun) their oo [illustration: cows leaving pasture at subset.] the sun will soon set. the cows are on their way to the barn. one old cow has a bell on her neck. she sees our dog, but she will not run. our dog is kind to the cows lesson xxiv. brave if ship boat drown men rock save [illustration: men rowing through storm to shipwreck.] the ship has run on a rock. five men are on the ship. if the boat can not get to them, they will drown. the boat has brave men in it. they will save the five men. lesson xxv.--review. come, boys, and feed the cows. the sun has set, and they are at the barn. sue has a bell on the neck of her pet cat. one hot day ann and nell sat on the grass in the shade of a big tree. they like to rock their dolls, and sing to them. the brave men in our boat are on their way to the ship. they will save the men in the ship, if they can. they will not let them drown. what bird has big eyes? the owl. can an owl see at night? yes, an owl can see best at night. lesson xxvi. fall ice skates cry with had stone did a c sk [illustration: children skating on pond in winter.] the boys are on the ice with their skates. there is a stone on the ice. one boy did not see it, and has had a fall. but he is a brave boy, and will not cry. [illustration: sawmill near river; town and hillside in background. two children playing near river in foreground.] lesson xxvii. look go john here all wheel mill have round oo j look! there are john and sue by the mill pond. they like to see the big wheel go round. they have come to play on the logs and in the boat. john and sue will play here all day. [illustration: script exercise: the cows like grass. they stand in the shade. ] lesson xxviii. or jane girls floor roll some which black o here are some girls with skates; but they are not on the ice. their skates roll on the floor. which way do you like to skate,--on the ice, or on the floor? the girl with the new black dress is jane bell. [illustration: four girls roller-skating.] lesson xxix. for out as how try horse should hurt ears be o no u [illustration: train approaching railroad crossing; two boys and a horse and wagon waiting to cross tracks.] look out for the cars! how fast they come! no horse can go as fast as the cars. i will not try to catch them, for i should fall and be hurt. see the horse look at the cars. will he not run? lesson xxx.--review. there is ice on the pond, and the mill wheel can not go round. the boys are all out on the ice with their skates. i will let you and tom try to skate; but do not fall, for you will be hurt. look! here come the cars. john and nat try to skate as fast as the cars go, but they can not. john has had a fall. the girls are not on the pond; but some of them have skates which roll on the floor. [illustration: script exercise: how fast the cars go! can you see them? ] lesson xxxi. work ax pile ned think wood saw hard cut o th n [illustration: two boys, one sawing, the other chopping logs.] ned and john are hard at work. john has a saw, and ned has an ax. they will try to cut all of the wood which you see in the pile. do you think they can do this in one day lesson xxxii. noise air hear gone may walk cool two a oi [illustration: two girls walking near a lake. men working and boys playing in background.] two girls have gone out for a walk. it is may, and the air is cool. they hear the birds sing in the trees, and they hear the noise of the frogs in the pond. they see men at work and boys at play. lesson xxxiii. pull cart goats bess up ride hill u [illustration: girl riding in small cart pulled by two goats.] bess has a cart and two goats. she likes to ride in her cart. see how the goats pull! bess is so big, i think she should walk up the hill. the goats love bess, for she feeds them, and is kind to them. lesson xxxiv. blaze put yet house fire roof call ring we z [illustration: boys running in front of burning house.] this house is on fire. look! the roof is in a blaze. run, boys, and ring the bell. call some men to put out the fire. we may yet save the house, if we work hard lesson xxxv.--review. bess, do you hear a noise? yes, tom; what is it? it is the mill by our house; logs are cut there. how do they cut the logs, tom,--with an ax? not with an ax, bess; it is too hard work; they cut them with a saw. may we not go and see the mill at work, tom? yes, i think so. the air is cool, and we can walk in the shade. we should go soon, bess, or the pile of wood will be gone. our two goats and the cart are here, tom; we can ride to the mill. it is not up hill, and the goats can pull us fast. lesson xxxvi. miss wants would tells rule keep good that each u [illustration: six children surrounding young woman.] the girls and boys all love miss may; she is so kind to them. miss may tells them there is a rule that she wants them to keep. it is, "do to each one as you would like each one to do to you." this is a good rule, and all boys and girls should keep it. lesson xxxvii. school child church when books skates [illustration: several people standing in front of school that appears similar to a small church.] what kind of house is this? do you think it is a schoolhouse, or a church? it looks like a church, but i think it is a schoolhouse. i see the boys and girls with their books and slates. when the bell rings, they will go in. a good child likes to go to school. lesson xxxviii. quail quick seen kill me oh eat first know henry qu [illustration: quail in brush.] "john! come here. be quick, and tell me what kind of bird this is." "do you not know, henry?" "oh, no! what is it?" "it is a quail." "it is the first quail i have seen. is it good to eat?" "yes; but i should not like to kill it." lesson xxxix. kate dear name blue baby near shut crib sit [illustration: baby sleeping in crib.] is not this a dear baby in the crib? her name is kate, and she has big, blue eyes. you can not see her eyes, for they are shut. kate is a good baby; but she will cry if she is hurt, or if she is not well. bess likes to sit near the baby, and to rock her in the crib. lesson xl.--review. henry black and ned bell live near our house. they go to school, and i see them go by each day with their books and slates. miss may tells the girls and boys that they should be at the schoolhouse when the bell rings. so henry walks fast, and is first at school. he is a good boy, and wants to keep the rule of the school. ned is not a good boy. i do not think he likes to go to school or to church. i saw him try to kill a quail with a stone. the quail is too quick a bird for that, and ned did not hurt it; but i know that a good child would not try to kill a bird. [illustration: script exercise: there is a baby at ned's house. her name is kate. ned is not a good boy, but he loves kate, and i do not think he would hurt her. ] lesson xli. light far its high where sea tall were the tall house which you see on that high rock is a lighthouse. at night its light is seen far out at sea, and the men on ships can tell where to go. if it were not for this, they would run on the rocks. how would you like to live in a lighthouse? [illustration: lighthouse on cliff above pounding surf.] lesson xlii. wrong wolf us my took sheep more watch lambs [illustration: sheep grazing under a tree. two boys watching from fence in the background.] let us watch the sheep as they feed on the hills. they like to eat the new grass. do you see my two lambs? i had two more; but an old wolf took them one night. i love my pet lambs. it would be wrong to hurt them lesson xliii. laugh snow head fun mouth made pipe gh (as f) [illustration: three boys making a snowman; two children in foreground carrying water buckets.] the boys have made a big snow man. they have put a tall hat on his head, and an old pipe in his mouth. hear them laugh as they play! it is good fun for the boys. they would like to have it snow all day and all night. lesson xliv. sweets mean please bee buzz vine could said (sed) once (wuns) [illustration: bee flying near vine.] "buzz! buzz!" a bee said to mary. "what do you mean?" said mary. "please tell me once more." "buzz! buzz! buzz!" but mary could not tell its wants. i think it said, "please let me get some sweets in this vine. lesson xlv.--review. one day nat and i sat on the high hill by the sea, where the tall lighthouse stands. we could look far out, and could see the ships at sea. as we sat there, we saw a man near by, with some sheep and lambs. the man had a pipe in his mouth. he sat with us, and let the sheep eat the grass. what fun it is to see lambs play! it made us laugh to see them. the man said that once, when the sheep and lambs were out in the snow, an old wolf took one of the lambs, and ran off with it. i think that men should watch their sheep, so that a wolf can not catch them. lesson xlvi. while might time things done right your halves [illustration: script exercise: work while you work, play while you play, one thing each time, that is the way. all that you do, do with your might, things done by halves, are not done right. ] lesson xlvii. went fish fell safe arms sprang was thank got [illustration: boy fishing from log.] one day john went to the pond to fish. his dog, watch, went with him. john sat on a log for a time, but did not catch a fish. as he got up to go, he fell off the log. watch sprang in to save him. john put his arms round the dog's neck, and was soon safe on the log once more. "thank you, my brave old dog," said john to watch. lesson xlviii. james asks warm town then drives been(bin) show [illustration: girl talking to boy leading horse and wagon.] james has been to the mill. the day is warm, and he lets his horse stand in the shade. a girl asks him to show her the way to the town. he tells her the way, and then drives on. lesson xlix. i'll she'll don't puss pur pat fur harm deeds [illustration: kitten.] i love my dear puss, her fur is so warm; and, if i don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm. i'll pat my dear puss, and then she will pur, and show me her thanks for my kind deeds to her. lesson l. now wreaths who queen woods shall crown [illustration: children playing in wood. two boys in foreground playing a fife and drum.] it is the first of may. the boys and girls have gone to the woods to have a good time. see them at their play. the girls have wreaths in their hands. now they will crown some one queen of the may. who shall it be? it should be the best girl, and that is kate. lesson li. god small from world moon shine nut long ago [illustration: small girl watching a tree. two acorns shown in inset.] do you see that tall tree? long ago it sprang up from a small nut. do you know who made it do so? it was god, my child. god made the world and all things in it. he made the sun to light the day, and the moon to shine at night. god shows that he loves us by all that he has done for us. should we not then love him? lesson lii. lord smile joys tears nigh morn griefs woes stars say [illustration: sunset; lake in foreground; moon and stars.] when the stars, at set of sun, watch you from on high; when the light of morn has come, think the lord is nigh all you do, and all you say, he can see and hear; when you work and when you play, think the lord is near. all your joys and griefs he knows, sees each smile and tear; when to him you tell your woes, know the lord will hear slate exercises [illustration: script exercise: n u n nun u r n urn s u n sun c o w cow s a w saw r i m rim c a t cat l a d lad b o x box h e n hen k i d kid q u o quo p e n pen j a r jar e y e eye g u n gun v i z viz i v y ivy f a n fan ] script alphabet [illustration: script exercise: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s y u v w x y z a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z script figures 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ] the bird-woman of the lewis and clark expedition a supplementary reader for first and second grades by katherine chandler author of "habits of california plants" and "in the reign of coyote: folk-lore from the pacific" 1905 to my friend genevra sisson snedden whose interest in this little book has encouraged its completion preface. because children invariably ask for "more" of the stories they find interesting, this little book of continuous narrative has been written. every incident is found in the lewis and clark journals, so that the child's frequent question, "is it true?" can be answered in the affirmative. the vocabulary consists of fewer than 700 words. over half of these are found in popular primers. therefore, the child should have no difficulty in reading this historical story after completing a first reader. the illustrations on pages 13, 15, 29, 64, and the last one on page 79, are redrawn from catlin's "letters and notes on the manners, customs, and conditions of the north-american indians." my acknowledgments are due miss lilian bridgman, of san francisco, for help in arranging the vocabulary. katherine chandler. san francisco, california. july 1, 1905. contents the bird-woman who the white men were why sacajawea went west at fort mandan the black man sacajawea's baby making friends with the indians sacajawea saves the captains' goods sacajawea's river the first sight of the rocky mountains sacajawea is ill how the indians hunted buffalo the falls of the missouri the cache near the falls of the missouri how sacajawea cured rattlesnake bites going around the falls grizzly bears at the top of the falls the cloud-burst at the source of the missouri sacajawea finds roots and seed sacajawea's people sacajawea's brother sacajawea's people will show the way the indians try to leave the whites crossing the rocky mountains at the columbia river how the indians dried salmon the wappatoo to the pacific ocean the pacific ocean sacajawea on the ocean beach the whale sacajawea's belt at fort clatsop the start home at camp chopunnish over the rocky mountains going home east of the rocky mountains again sacajawea says good-bye to the soldiers the centennial [illustration: the statue of sacajawea, the bird woman, unveiled at the lewis and clark centennial, in portland, oregon, in 1905] a go hun dred sa ca ja we a years the bird-woman. the bird-woman was an indian. she showed the white men the way into the west. there were no roads to the west then. that was one hundred years ago. this indian woman took the white men across streams. she took them over hills. she took them through bushes. she seemed to find her way as a bird does. the white men said, "she goes like a bird. we will call her the bird-woman." her indian name was sacajawea. clark a mer i can lew is met cap tains part sol diers twen ty nine peo pie mis sou ri riv er who the white men were. the white men sacajawea went with were soldiers. there were twenty-nine soldiers. there were two captains. the name of one captain was lewis. the name of the other captain was clark. they were american soldiers. [illustration: captain clark.] [illustration: captain lewis.] they carried the american flag into the west. no white men knew about that part of the west then. the captains wished to learn all about the west. they wished to tell the people in the east about it. they had been going west a long time before they met sacajawea. they had rowed up the missouri river. they had come to many little streams. they did not know what the indians called these streams. so they gave them new names for the white men. camp fourth of ju ly man dan cheered french man rest ed ice in de pend ence creek hus band kan sas snow on fourth of july they named one stream fourth of july creek. they named another independence creek. we still call this stream by that name. you can find it on the map of kansas. on fourth of july the men rested. the soldier who woke first fired a gun. then they all woke up and cheered for the fourth of july. at night they fired another gun. then the soldiers danced around the camp fire. after a time the ice and snow would not let them go on. they made a winter camp near the mandan indians. here they met sacajawea and her husband. her husband was a frenchman who knew a little about the west. sacajawea was the only one there who had been to the far west. lewis and clark told the frenchman they would pay him to go with them. he said he would go. then he and sacajawea came to live at the soldiers' camp. be longed roots tribe mar ried snake twelve rocky mountains thought war why sacajawea went west. sacajawea belonged in the west. her tribe was called the snake indians. they lived in the rocky mountains. sacajawea lived in the mountains until she was twelve years old. then her tribe went to war with the mandans from the east. one day sacajawea and some other girls were getting roots. they were down by a stream. some mandans came upon them. the girls ran fast to get away. [illustration: mandan drawing on a buffalo robe] sacajawea ran into the stream. an indian caught her. he took her up on his horse. he carried her away to the east, to the country of the mandans. there she married the frenchman. there the americans found her. she was glad when her husband said he would go west with lewis and clark. she thought she would see her own tribe again. an i mals coun try friends med i cine read y chiefs froz en plants wrote fort sweat house at fort mandan. the soldiers called their winter camp fort mandan. they had a hard winter there. it was so cold that many men were ill. they had no time to be ill. they had to work to be ready to go west when spring opened. the captains wrote in their books about the indians and animals and plants they had seen. they made maps of the country they had come through. they had long talks with the indian chiefs. they made friends with the indians by giving them medicine. an indian boy had his feet frozen near the soldiers' camp. the captains kept him until his feet were well again. his people all came and thanked the captains. [illustration: an indian sweat-house] the indians told each other about the white men's medicine. they said, "the white men's medicine is better than our sweat-house." so they came for miles to the white camp to get the medicine. they gave the captains food. they wanted to be friends with them. ar rows din ner hunt ed mon ey beads fid dle knives pie ces blan kets gal lons med als stove the soldiers hunted animals for food and for their skins. one soldier cut an old stove into pieces. the indians wanted these pieces to make arrows and knives. they would give eight gallons of corn for one piece. the indians did not know what money was. the captains did not carry money with them. they took flags and medals, knives and blankets, looking-glasses and beads, and many other things. with these they could get food from the indians. on christmas day, 1804, the soldiers put the american flag up over the fort. they told the indians not to come to see them on that day. they said it was the best day of their year. it was a cold day, with much ice and snow. they had a good dinner and after dinner the soldiers danced. on new year's day, 1805, they fired off all their guns. the captains let the soldiers go to the mandan camp. they took their fiddle and danced for the indians. one soldier danced on his hands with his head down. the indians liked this dancing very much. they gave the soldiers some corn and some skins. sur prised hair paint ed stran ger fin ger wa ter helped york the black man. captain clark had his black man, york, with him. the indians were always surprised to see the black man. they thought he was stranger than the white men. one mandan chief said, "this is a white man painted black." he wet his finger and tried to wash the black off york's skin. the black would not come off. then york took off his hat. the chief had not seen such hair before. then the chief said, "you are not like a white man. you are a black man." the indians told each other of this black man. they came from far to see him. york helped make them friends with the whites. the captains named a river for york. the river had only a little water in it. they named it york's dry river. bas ket laugh weeks born su gar sacajawea's baby. at fort mandan, sacajawea's baby boy was born. he was only eight weeks old when the white men began to go to the far west. sacajawea made a basket of skins for her baby. she put it on her back. the baby could sleep in the basket as sacajawea walked. the soldiers liked the baby. they gave it sugar. they made it playthings of wood. they danced to make it laugh. indian babies do not laugh much and they do not cry much. once in the west the baby was ill. then the soldiers camped for some days. they were very still. captain lewis gave the baby medicine. this made the baby well again. then the men laughed. they said, "let us sing and dance for the baby." the baby laughed as it looked at the men. a pril par ty shot broke shoot warm the warm april sun broke up the ice in the missouri river. then the party got into their boats and rowed on up the river. from this time on, sacajawea and her baby were a help to the soldiers. when the indians saw a woman and a baby with the men, they knew it was not a war party. indians would not take a woman and baby to war. only men go to war. the indians did not shoot at the men. they came up to see what they wanted. if sacajawea had not been there, they would have shot the white men. the indians thought that all strangers wanted war. they thought this until the strangers showed that they were friends. bare foot ed cov ered prick ly threw cor ners pears same moc ca sins true making friends with the indians. sacajawea showed the captains how to make friends with the indians. the indians on the upper missouri river and in the rocky mountains showed that they wanted to be friends in the same way. when they saw strangers, they stood still and talked to each other. if they wished to be friends, the chief walked out ahead of his people. he took off his blanket. he took hold of it by two corners. he threw it up high. then he put it on the ground. this showed that he was putting down a skin for a friend to sit on. he did this three times. then the strangers came up to him. they sat down together. they took off their moccasins. this showed that they wished to be true friends. if they were not true friends, they would go barefooted all their days. they thought it hard to go barefooted. the ground was covered with prickly pears. the prickly pears would hurt their feet. great pres ents smoked pipes send wash ing ton when the strangers had their moccasins off, they smoked some pipes together. then they gave each other presents. then they told each other why they had come together. captain lewis and captain clark always told the indians: "we have come from the great father in washington. he sends you these presents. he wants you to be friends with the white men. he wants you to be friends with the other indians. when you all are friends, the men can get many animals and the women can get many roots. the great father will send you out the white men's goods when you are all friends." the indians always said to lewis and clark: "we are glad to hear from the great father in washington. we like his presents. we shall be glad to get the white men's goods. we will be friends with all men with indians and with white men." a fraid com pass canoe straight ened turned hit rud der sacajawea saves the captains' goods. going up the missouri, the compass, the books, and the maps were in one canoe. the captains had the compass to find the west. one day a big wind hit this canoe and turned it nearly over. sacajawea's husband was at the rudder. he was afraid and let go. the water came into the canoe. the maps and books came up to the top of the water. sacajawea saw them going out into the river. she took the compass into her lap. she caught the books. she called to her husband. he took the rudder again. he straightened the boat again. then sacajawea caught the maps that were on top of the river. crook ed mon ta na wide hand some saved yards sacajawea's river. as the maps and books were wet, the soldiers had to camp two days. they put the maps and the books and the compass in the sun. when these were dry, they went on again. ten days after, they came to a river that no white man had seen before. captain lewis wrote in his book, "it is a handsome river about 50 yards wide." they did not know the indian name for it. the captains were so glad sacajawea had saved their things that they named it for her. they said, "we will call it the sacajawea or bird-woman's river." this river is still running. look on a map of montana. do you see a stream named "crooked creek?" that is the stream lewis and clark named sacajawea's river. which do you think is the prettier name? which do you think we should call it? blew elk pleas ure cross plains steep buf fa lo mos qui toes sight the first sight of the rocky mountains. going up the missouri, the party had to drink the river water. it was not good and it made them ill. the sand blew in their eyes. the mosquitoes bit them all the time. but still the soldiers were happy. they carried their goods in boats. they walked when they wished to. they hunted buffalo and elk on the plains near the river. they had all they wanted to eat. one day in may, captain lewis was out hunting. he went up a little hill. then far off to the west he saw the rocky mountains high and steep. captain lewis was the first white man to see these mountains. he wrote in his book that he felt a great pleasure on first seeing them. he knew they would be very hard to cross. they were all white with snow. but he was ready to go on so as to get to the west. he went back to the boats and told the others about the mountains. the men were happy and worked harder to get near them. grew fell hot sul phur worse sacajawea is ill. going up the missouri, sacajawea fell ill. she could not eat. she grew worse each day. captain clark gave her some medicine. it did not make her well. the soldiers had to camp until she could go on. they could not go on without her. they wanted her with them to make friends with her tribe. one day the soldiers found a hot sulphur spring. they carried sacajawea to this spring. the water made her well. in a week she could go on. bank killed hole to ward how the indians hunted buffalo. on the plains of the missouri there were many buffaloes. sacajawea told the soldiers how the indians hunted them. an indian put on a buffalo skin. the buffalo's head was over his head. he walked out to where the buffaloes were eating. he stood between them and a high bank of the river. the other indians went behind the buffaloes. the buffaloes ran toward the man in the buffalo skin. he ran fast toward the river. then the buffaloes ran fast toward the river. at the high bank the man ran down and hid in a hole. the buffaloes came so fast that they could not stop at the bank. they fell over the bank on to the rocks near the river. many were killed. then the indians came around the bank. they skinned the buffaloes. they dried the meat. they dried the skins to make blankets and houses. june won der ful draw pic ture spray write cache the falls of the missouri. one june day captain lewis was walking ahead of the boats. he heard a great noise up the river. he pushed on fast. after walking seven miles, he came to the great falls of the missouri. he was the first white man to see these falls. he sat down on a rock and watched the water dash and spray. he tried to draw a picture of the falls. he tried to write about it in his book. but he said it was so wonderful that he could not draw it well nor picture it in words. when the men came up, they could not take their boats near the falls. the falls are very, very high. the highest fall is eighty-seven feet high, and the water comes down with a great rush. so the soldiers had to go around the falls. that was a long, long way. it would be hard to carry all their things around the falls. the captains said, "we will make a cache here. "we will put in the skins and plants and maps. "we can get them all again when we are coming home." the soldiers made two caches. in these they hid all the things they could do without. without so much to carry, it would not be so hard to go around the falls. dried dug ring sod bot tom branch es earth sides the cache near the falls of the missouri. to make a cache, the soldiers made a ring on the ground. they took up the sod inside the ring. they dug straight down for a foot. they put dried branches on the bottom and at the sides of this hole. they put dried skins over the branches. then they put their goods into the hole, or cache. they put dried skins over the goods. then they put the earth in. then they put the sod on. the ring did not look as if it had been dug up. the indians would not think to look there for goods. bite fresh rat tle snakes cure morn ing sev en teen beat how sacajawea cured rattlesnake bites. near the falls of the missouri, the party met many rattlesnakes. the snakes liked to lie in the sun on the river banks. some times they went up trees and lay on the branches. one night captain lewis was sleeping under a tree. in the morning he looked up through the tree. he saw a big rattlesnake on a branch. it was going to spring at him. he caught his gun and killed it. it had seventeen rattles. sometimes the soldiers had to go barefooted. the snakes bit their bare feet. sacajawea knew how to cure the bite. she took a root she called the rattlesnake root. she beat it hard. she opened the snake bite. she tied the root on it. she put fresh root on two times a day. it cured the snake bite. the root would kill a man if he should eat it, but it will cure a snake bite. ax les even hail tongues bears e nough knocked wheels griz zly cot ton wood mast wil low going around the falls. the party had to go up a high hill to get around the falls. it would take too long to carry the canoes on their backs. they could see only one big tree on the plains. it was a cottonwood. the soldiers cut it down. they cut wheels and tongues from it. the cottonwood is not hard enough for axles. the soldiers cut up the mast of their big boat for axles. they began to go up the hill. in a little time the axles broke. they put in willow axles. then the cottonwood tongues broke. then the men had to carry the goods on their backs. it was very hot. the mosquitoes and blow-flies bit them all the time. the prickly pear hurt their feet. it hurt them even through their moccasins. if they drank water, they were ill. one day it hailed hard. the hail knocked some of the men down. at night the grizzly bears took their food. load point ed large safe mouth roared fierce waist grizzly bears. after many hard days, they got all the goods to the top of the falls. the party saw many grizzly bears near the falls. they were the first white men to see the grizzly bear. they found it a very large and very fierce bear. one day captain lewis was out hunting. he had killed a buffalo for dinner. he turned around to load his gun again. he saw a big bear coming after him. it was only twenty feet away. he did not have time to load his gun. there was no tree near. there was no rock near. the river bank was not high. captain lewis ran to the river. the bear ran after him with open mouth. it nearly caught him. captain lewis ran into the river. he turned around when the water was up to his waist. he pointed his gun at the bear. it stopped still. then it roared and ran away. captain lewis did not know why the bear roared and ran, but he was glad to be safe. body de feat ed shoul der brave ly ing angry one day six of the soldiers saw a big bear lying on a little hill near the river. the six soldiers came near him. they were all good shots. four shot at him. four balls went into his body. he jumped up. he ran at them with open mouth. then the two other men fired. their balls went into his body, too. one ball broke his shoulder. still he ran at them. the men ran to the river. two jumped into their canoe. the others hid in the willows. they loaded their guns as fast as they could. they shot him again. the shots only made him angry. he came very near two of the men. they threw away their guns and jumped down twenty feet into the river. the bear jumped in after them. he nearly caught the last one. then one soldier in the willows shot the bear in the head. this shot killed him. the soldiers pulled the bear out of the river. they found eight balls in him. they took his skin to show the captains. they said he was a brave old bear. they named a creek near-by for him. they called it "the brown-bear-defeated creek." be cause fright ened climb kicked wait one day a grizzly bear ran after a soldier. the soldier tried to shoot the bear. his gun would not go off. the gun was wet because he had been in the river all day. he ran to a tree. he got to the tree just in time. as the soldier climbed, he kicked the bear. the grizzly bear can not climb a tree. this grizzly sat at the foot of the tree to wait until the soldier would come down. the soldier called out loud. two other soldiers heard him. they came running to help him. they saw the man in the tree. they saw the bear at the foot of the tree. they shot off their guns and made a big noise. the grizzly grew frightened. it ran away. then the soldier came down from the tree. he was glad that his friends had come to his help. a ble beans su et ba con dump lings played a mused them selves shake at the top of the falls. after the men had carried all the goods to the top of the falls, they made canoes to take them up the river. they were camping at the top of the falls on the fourth of july, 1805. captain lewis wrote that they had a good dinner that day. he said they had as good as if they were at home. they had "bacon, beans, buffalo meat, and suet dumplings." after dinner a soldier played the fiddle. captain lewis wrote: "such as were able to shake a foot amused themselves in dancing on the green." burst fif teen ra vine cloud clothes wave the cloud-burst. one day captain clark took sacajawea and her husband with him to look over the top of the falls. sacajawea's baby was in his basket on her back. captain clark saw a black cloud. he said, "it will rain soon. let us go into that ravine." they sat under some big rocks. sacajawea took off the baby's basket and put it at her feet. all the baby's clothes were in the basket. sacajawea took the baby in her lap. it began to rain a little. the rain did not get to them. it rained harder. then the cloud burst just over the ravine. the rain and hail made a big wave in the little ravine. captain clark saw the wave coming. he jumped up and caught his gun in his left hand. with his right hand he pushed sacajawea up the bank. the wave was up to their waists. they ran faster and got to the top of the bank. then the wave was fifteen feet high. it made a big noise as it ran down the ravine. soon it would have caught them and carried them over the falls. it did carry away the baby's basket and his clothes, and captain clark's compass. the next day a soldier found the compass in the mud. a live be stride min er als be gin ning ra pid nar row source co lum bia at the source of the missouri. when the canoes were ready, the party started up the river above the falls. as they reached the mountains, the river grew narrow. it was not deep, but it was rapid. the soldiers had to pull the canoes with ropes. the river did not run straight. one day the men dragged the canoes twelve miles. then they were only four miles from where they had started. they had to walk in the river all day. their feet were cut by the rocks. they were ill from being wet so much. it was hot in the day and cold at night. they had no wood but willow. they could not make a good fire. but they had enough to eat. then the river grew very narrow. the canoes could not go up it. the soldiers put the canoes under water with rocks in them. they made another cache. in it they put skins, plants, seeds, minerals, maps, and some medicines. captain lewis and some men went ahead. they were looking for indians. they wanted to buy some horses. after a time the river grew so narrow that a soldier put one foot on one bank and his other foot on the other bank. then he said, "thank god, i am alive to bestride the mighty missouri." before this, people did not know where the missouri began. a little way off was the beginning of the mighty columbia river. the soldiers reached this place in august. captain lewis was very happy as he drank some cold water from the beginnings of these two rivers. captain clark and the other men were coming behind. sacajawea was with them. they had all the goods and walked slowly. a nise grease pound bread mixed pow der hun gry mush roast ed tastes um brel la yamp sacajawea finds roots and seeds. far up on the missouri, sacajawea knew the plants that were good to eat. the captains and soldiers were glad that she did. they had only a little corn left, and there were not many animals near. sacajawea told captain clark all about the yamp plant, as her tribe knew it. it grew in wet ground. it had one stem and deeply cut leaves. its stem and leaves were dark green. it had an umbrella of white flowers at the top of the stem. the indian women watched the yamp until the stem dried up. then they dug for the roots. the yamp root is white and hard. the indians eat it fresh or dried. when it is dry, they pound it into a fine white powder. the indian women make the yamp powder into a mush. indian children like yamp mush as much as white children like candy. it tastes like our anise seed. the soldiers liked the yamp mush that sacajawea made. sacajawea also made a sunflower mush. she roasted sunflower seeds. then she pounded them into a powder and made a mush with hot water. she made a good drink of the sunflower powder and cold water. she mixed the sunflower powder with bear grease and roasted it on hot rocks. this made a bread the soldiers liked very much. without sacajawea the soldiers would have been hungry. they did not know the plants. some plants would kill them. but sacajawea knew those good to eat. meet sang sucked own short taken sacajawea's people. one day near the head of the missouri, sacajawea stopped short as she walked. she looked hard to the west. she saw far away some indians on horseback. she began to dance and jump. she waved her arms. she laughed and called out. she turned to captain clark and sucked her fingers. this showed that these indians were her own people. she ran ahead to meet them. after a time a woman from the indians ran out to meet sacajawea. when they came together, they put their arms around each other. they danced together. they cried together. this woman had been sacajawea's friend from the time when they were babies. she had been taken east by the same indians that took sacajawea. on the way east she got away from these indians. she found her way home. she had been afraid she would never see sacajawea again. now they were happy to meet. they danced and sang and cried and laughed with their arms around each other. broth er sent tied sell shells sacajawea's brother. the party went with sacajawea's people to their camp. captain clark was taken to the chief's house. the house was made of a ring of willows. the chief put his arms about captain clark. he made him sit on a white skin. he tied in his hair six shells. each one then took off his moccasins. then they smoked without talking. when they wanted to talk, they sent for sacajawea. she came into the house and sat down. she looked at the chief. she saw that he was her brother. she jumped up and ran to him. she threw her blanket over his head. she cried aloud in joy. he was glad to see her. he did not cry nor jump. he did not like to show that he was glad. sacajawea told him about the white men. she said they wanted to go across the rocky mountains to the big water in the west. she did not know the way across the mountains. the indians could help them. they could sell them horses and show them the way across the steep mountain tops. ca me ah wa it kind sacajawea said the white men had many things the indians would like. if they found a good way over the mountains, the white men would send these things to the indians each summer. sacajawea said the white men were kind to her and her baby. if they had not taken care of her when she was ill, she would not have seen her brother again. her brother said he was glad that the white men had been kind to her. he would help them over the mountains. he would talk to his men about it. he said to captain clark: "you have been kind to sacajawea. i am your friend until my days are over. you shall own my house. you shall sit on my blanket. you shall have what i kill. you shall bear my name. my name belonged to me only, but now it is yours. you are cameahwait." after that, all this tribe called captain clark "cameahwait." ah hi e! death oars pleased bought nev er sad dles sacajawea's people will show the way. cameahwait told his people how good the white men were. he told them what good things they had. he said, "if we sell them horses and take them over the mountains, they can get back soon. no goods will come to us until they go back to their home. if we do not help them, they cannot cross the mountains. they do not know the way. they cannot carry food enough. they will meet death in the mountains. then we shall never get their goods. shall we help them, my brothers?" and the people said, "ah hi e! ah hi e!" that means, "we are pleased." they got horses to carry the goods. they could not get enough horses to give the men to ride. the captains bought a horse for sacajawea to ride. the soldiers made saddles from the oars tied together with pieces of skins. then they started up the steep mountain. heard must to-night slipped the indians try to leave the whites. when they were in the mountain tops, sacajawea overheard some indians talking. they said: "we do not want to go across the mountains with the whites. we want to go down to the plains and hunt buffalo. we are hungry here. on the plains are many buffalo. we must hunt them now for our winter food. we do not care for the white men's goods. our fathers lived without their goods. we can live without them. we will go off to-night and leave them. they will meet death in the mountains. in the spring we can come back and get their goods." sacajawea went to captain lewis. she told him what she had heard. he called the chiefs together. they smoked a pipe together. sacajawea slipped a piece of sugar into cameahwait's hand. as he sucked it, she said, "you will get this good thing from the white men if you are friends with them." gone land word keep prom ise yes then captain lewis said, "are you men of your word?" the indians said, "yes." he said, "did you not promise to carry our goods over the mountains?" the indians said, "yes." "then," he said, "why are you going to leave us now? if you had not promised, we would have gone back down the missouri. then no other white man would come to your land. you wish the whites to be your friends. you want them to give you goods. you should keep you promise to them. i will keep my promise to you. you seem afraid to keep your promise." the chiefs said, "we are not afraid. we will keep our promise." they sent out word to all their men to keep their promise. captain lewis thanked sacajawea. if she had not told him, the indians would have gone off in the night. the whites would have been left in the steep rocky mountains with no horses and no way of getting food. stiff pa cif ic o cean melt sharp trip crossing the rocky mountains. the trip across the mountains was very hard. the mountain tops were steep. there was no road. the ground was made of sharp rocks. the horses slipped and fell down. the men's feet were cut and black and blue. it rained many days and snowed nights. they had no houses. before they could start on each day, they had to melt the snow off their goods. the men grew stiff from the wet and the cold. the only way they could get warm was to keep on walking. they had little food. they had only a little corn when they started across the mountains. this was soon gone. there were no animals, no fish, and no roots on the way. they had to kill their horses. they had only horsemeat to eat. the soldiers grew sick. some could hardly stand. but they did not want to turn back. they knew the indians could find the way down to the columbia river. then they could get to the pacific ocean without the indians. so they went on. sud den ly fun salm on watch at the columbia river. at last they got across the mountains and down on the columbia river. the indians who had showed them the way went home again. there were other indians near the columbia. these indians gave the men salmon and roots. they ate so much that they were ill. the captains and all the soldiers were ill. but they started to make canoes to ride down the columbia. they did not get well. so they bought some dogs. they cooked the dogs and ate them. for days they could eat only dog. the indians laughed at them for eating dog. they said, "dogs are good to watch the camp. they are not good to eat. we do not eat them. what poor men these must be to eat dog!" suddenly the captains fired off their guns and a soldier played the fiddle. then the indians stopped laughing. they had never heard a gun before. they had never before heard a fiddle. they thought the white men must be wonderful people to have guns and fiddles. they wished to be friends with such wonderful people. so they did not make fun of them any more. full grass stones how the indians dried salmon. the soldiers left their horses here on the columbia river. they asked the indians to keep them until they should come back from the west. then they started down the river in canoes. on the columbia, the party saw some indians drying salmon. they opened the fish. then they put it in the sun. when it was well dried, they pounded it to powder between two stones. then they put it into a basket. the basket was made of grass. it had dried salmon skin inside. the indians pounded the powdered salmon down hard into the basket. when a basket was full, they put dried salmon skin on the top. then the basket was put where it would keep dry. the salmon powder would keep for years. only one tribe of indians knew how to make it well. the other tribes bought it from them. all the tribes liked it. the white men, too, liked it. gath ered ar row head sum mer wap pa to pond toes the wappato. the party found a root new to them on the lower columbia. the indians called it wappato. captain clark called it arrowhead. the wappato grew all the year. the indian women gathered it. a woman carried a light canoe to a pond. she waded into the pond. she put the canoe on the water. with her toes she pulled up the wappato from the bottom of the pond. the woman caught it and put it in the canoe. she was in the water many hours, summer and winter. when her canoe was full, she put it on her head and carried it home. she roasted the wappato on hot stones. it tasted very good. the soldiers said it was the best root they had tasted. the indian women used to put some wappato in grass baskets and sell it to the tribes up the river. anx ious cheer ful view break ing dis tinct ly shores to the pacific ocean. the party went down the columbia river in canoes. it was a hard trip. it rained all the time. each day the men were wet to the skin. they had to carry their goods around some rapids. they could not be very cheerful. one day it stopped raining for a little time. the low clouds went away. the party saw that the river was very wide. they rowed on. then they saw the great ocean lying in the sun. they became very happy. they cheered and laughed and sang. they rowed on very fast. captain lewis wrote in his book: "ocean in view! o! the joy! we are in view of the ocean, this great pacific ocean, which we have been so long anxious to see. the noise made by the waves breaking on the rocky shores may be heard distinctly." half for got jour ney troub les the pacific ocean. the party saw that they had come to the end of their journey. they had come 4,134 miles from the mouth of the missouri river. it had taken them a year and a half to come. but now they forgot their troubles. they forgot the times they had been hungry. they forgot their cut feet and their black and blue backs. they forgot the bears and the snakes and the mosquitoes. they saw the pacific ocean before them. they sang because they were the first white men to make this journey. they did not care for the troubles going back. they knew that they could go home faster than they had come. and they sang together, "the ocean! the ocean! o joy! o joy!" beach blub ber line thun der clat sop salt whale sand sacajawea on the ocean beach. the party made a winter camp at the mouth of the columbia river. they called it fort clatsop. the indians near-by were the clatsop tribe. these indians gave the whites some whale blubber. they said that a whale was on the ocean beach. captain clark and some men got ready to go to see it. sacajawea came to captain clark and said, "may i go, too? i have come over the mountains with you to find the great water and i have not been to it yet. now i would see the big animal and the great water, too." captain clark was glad to have her go. he wrote in his book that this was the only time she asked for anything. she took her baby on her back and walked with captain clark. when she got near the ocean, she was afraid. the noise seemed to her like thunder. she always had been afraid of thunder. when she saw the waves, she was afraid they would come over the earth. she had never before seen any big body of water. she had seen only rivers and ponds. the ocean looked very big. she would not go near the waves. then captain clark showed her the high water line. he told her that the waves would not go over that line. she sat down on the sand with her baby in her lap. she watched the waves a long time. then she was not afraid. she walked out to the waves. when they came to shore, she ran before them. she let them come over her feet. she took some ocean water in her hand and tasted it. she did not like its salt taste. but she did like to run after the waves. bags oil wood en eight y pork trough the whale. captain clark and his party walked all day before they came to where the whale lay. the waves had carried it up on the shore. it was a very big animal. it was longer than most houses. it was eighty feet long. the indians were cutting it up. they put the meat into a large wooden trough. then they put hot stones into the trough. the hot stones melted out the oil. the indians put the oil into skin bags. they used it to eat with roots and mush. they did not wish to sell the oil. but after a time, they did sell some oil to captain clark. they sold him some blubber, too. the blubber was white and looked like pork fat. the soldiers cooked some and ate it. they liked it very much. sacajawea was happy to see the whale. she walked all around it. she made her baby to look well at it. she told him he might never see one again. the baby did not care for the whale, but he laughed because sacajawea laughed. beau ti ful robe sor ry belt sea-ot ter wear sacajawea's belt. the clatsop chief came to fort clatsop to see the captains. he had on a robe made of two sea-otter skins. the skins were the most beautiful the captains had yet seen. they wanted the chief to sell the robe. he did not want to sell it, as sea-otters are hard to get. they said they would give him anything they had for it. still he would not sell it. sacajawea saw him looking at her blue bead belt. she had made this belt from beads captain clark had given her. she used to wear it all the time. she said to the clatsop chief, "will you sell the robe for my belt?" he said, "yes, i will sell it for the chief beads." the indians called blue beads "chief beads." sacajawea thought a little time. then she gave her belt to him. he put it around his neck. he gave her his sea-otter robe. she gave it to captain clark for a present. she was sorry to give up her belt. the captains had no more blue beads to give her to make another. but she was glad to give captain clark the beautiful sea-otter skins. boiled crust five pairs burned filled kegs treat at fort clatsop. at fort clatsop, the captains wrote in their books. they wrote about all they had seen coming to the pacific. they wrote about things near fort clatsop. they made maps of the land near the missouri river, in the rocky mountains, and on the banks of the columbia. some of the men hunted. they made the skins of animals into clothes and moccasins. they made between three and four hundred pairs of moccasins. they saved these to wear on the way home. five soldiers were sent down to the ocean beach to make salt. each had a big kettle. they filled the kettles with ocean water. they burned a fire under the kettles day and night. in time, the water all boiled away. a crust of salt was left on the inside of the kettles. the soldiers gathered this salt into wooden kegs. it took seven weeks to make enough salt for their journey home. captain lewis wrote, "this salt was a great treat to many of the party." he liked salt very much. captain clark wrote that he did not care if he had salt or not. hand ker chief un der wear wea sel mer ry wak en wel come on christmas day, 1805, the soldiers got up without making any noise. they fired their guns all at one time to waken the captains. then they sang an old christmas song. then they wished the captains "merry christmas." they gave each other presents. captain clark wrote that he had twelve weasel tails, some underwear, some moccasins, and an indian blanket for his christmas presents. he gave a handkerchief or some little present to each man. there was no snow and no ice, but there was much rain. the soldiers had to stay in their log fort all day. they had only poor elk, poor roots, and some bad dried salmon for dinner. but they were cheerful. they danced and sang into the night. on new year's day, they fired their guns to welcome in the new year. they had more to eat than on christmas day. the captains wrote, "our greatest pleasure to-day is thinking about new year's, 1807. then we shall be home." game or der let ters stol en the start home. in march, the elk left the woods near fort clatsop. the soldiers could not get enough to eat. the captains said, "it is time to start home." they bought a canoe with a soldier-coat and some little things. they took another canoe from the clatsops for some elk meat that the indians had stolen. they had not many things left to get food and horses with on the way home. but their guns were in good order. they had good powder and balls. they could kill game on the way. they cut up their big flag into five robes. they could sell them robes for food. the captains gave the clatsops letters to give to any white men who should come there. these letters told about the party's trip out west. they told how they were going back east. the clatsops promised to give these letters to the first white men who should come. then the party said good-bye to the clatsops. this was in the month of march. they started up the columbia river, singing. they were happy because they were going home. awl nee dles skeins cho pun nish ounce thread knit ting-pin rib bon ver mil ion at camp chopunnish. on the way up the columbia, the soldiers killed game. they gave some to the indians for roots. they came to the foot of the mountains in may. there was too much snow then for them to cross they made a camp near the chopunnish indians. they called it camp chopunnish. they sent out to get the horses they had left when camping there before. they tried to get enough food to last them over the mountains. many of the indians were ill. captain clark gave them medicine. they gave him food and horses for the medicine. captain lewis talked with the indian chiefs all day. they promised to let some young indians show the way over the mountains. the captains gave each soldier some of their goods and sent him out to get food. captain lewis wrote that each man had "only one awl and one knittingpin, half an ounce of vermilion, two needles, a few skeins of thread, and a yard of ribbon." two of the men took their goods with them in a canoe. the canoe turned over. they lost all their goods. they just saved their lives. bot tles bush els pris on ers' base box es but tons raft ra ces two other men went up the river with their goods on a horse. the horse slipped down a steep bank into the river. he got safe to the bank across the river. an indian made him swim back to the two soldiers. on the way, most of the goods were lost. the paint melted, and the horse's back was all red. the indians on the bank across the river saw what the soldiers wanted. they loaded some roots and bread on a raft. they tried to cross to the soldiers. a high wind sent the raft on a rock. the raft turned over. the roots and bread were lost. then the captains and men felt unhappy. they cut the buttons from their clothes. they gathered up all the bottles and medicine boxes they had. with these things, two soldiers went out to get food. they got three bushels of roots and some bread. the other men hunted. they dried some meat, and gave some to the indians for roots. they became good friends with the chopunnish indians. they used to run fast races together. both soldiers and indians could run fast. the soldiers took sides and played prisoners' base. ear ly sec ond fold ed means yo me kol lick la ter over the rocky mountains going home. the party wanted to start over the mountains in early june. the indians were not ready to go with them then. the party started to go without the indians. they could not find food for the horses. there was snow all over the ground. they had to turn back and camp where there was grass. a week later the indians were ready to go with them. they started a second time. the indians showed them the way. they found food for the horses each night. the trip across the mountains was not so hard as it had been the year before. now the snow covered all the sharp rocks. the snow was so hard that the horses could walk on it. now they had enough food. all the men had horses. they went many miles each day. all were happy. one of the indians liked captain lewis so much that he gave him his name, "yomekollick." [illustration: yomekollick] this means "white bear-skin folded." the indians thought their names were the best thing they could give to any one. dif fer ent di vide ser vice third good-bye south yel low stone east of the rocky mountains again. before they left the mountains, the captains said: "we will divide our party. then we can go different ways. then we shall see more of the country east of the rocky mountains." so captain lewis and nine men started in a straight line to the falls of the missouri. captain clark and the others went more to the south. sacajawea went with captain clark. the two parties promised to meet again down on the missouri. they said good-bye to each other on july third. on the next day, captain clark wrote that they had a good fourth of july dinner. they had fat deer and roots. then they went on until time to sleep. they had no time to dance now. they were going home. captain lewis and his men pushed on all day. he did not write that they thought of the fourth of july. captain clark sent ten men down the missouri river the way they had come west. he went with sacajawea and ten other men across to the yellowstone river. sacajawea found the way for him. she also found roots good to eat. captain clark wrote that she was of "great service" to him. captain clark's party went down the yellowstone river to the missouri river. here they met two white men. these were the first white men besides themselves that they had seen for a year and four months. they were glad to hear news from the east. soon after they met these white men, captain lewis and the other soldiers came down to them. this was in august. captain lewis had been shot by one of his best men. the man thought that captain lewis was an elk, because his clothes were brown. the man was very sorry for having shot him. captain lewis soon got well. the soldiers were happy to be together again. they forgot their troubles. they went down the missouri, singing. [illustration: the white-fronted goose as drawn by captain lewis in his journal] they were glad they had gone west. they had taken the country for the americans. they had made friends with the indians. they knew where food could be found. they knew about the animals and plants. now other people could find the way from the maps the captains had made. dol lars vil lage sacajawea says good-bye to the soldiers. sacajawea's husband would not go to the captains' home. he wanted to live with the mandans. [illustration: a mandan earth lodge] so sacajawea had to say good-bye to the soldiers. the captains gave her husband five hundred dollars. they did not give sacajawea any money. in those days, people did not think of paying women. all the party were sorry to leave sacajawea and the baby. sacajawea was sorry to stay behind. she stood on the bank of the river watching the soldiers as long as she could see them. the soldiers went down the missouri to its mouth. when they saw the village there, they fired off all their guns. the people came out to see them and cheered that they were home again. cen ten nial port land or e gon for est ry build ing not ed fair hon or stat ue suc cess the centennial. the american people have always been glad that lewis and clark made this long, hard journey. that was just one hundred years ago. in this year of 1905, the american people are holding a centennial fair in honor of the lewis and clark journey. the fair is at portland, oregon, because lewis and clark reached the pacific ocean in oregon. at the fair, there is a statue of sacajawea and her baby. this statue is put there because lewis and clark wrote in their books: "the wonderful bird-woman did a full man's share to make the trip a success, besides taking care of her baby. she was one of the best of mothers." some day, you can read these books for yourself, and learn more about sacajawea and captains lewis and clark. [illustration: the forestry building, lewis and clark centennial] the forestry building is made from the large trees for which oregon is noted. fort clatsop was built from the large trees of oregon, too, but the soldiers did not know how to make such a fine building as this one hundred years ago. child land [illustration] with 200 illustrations * * * * * child land. * * * * * [illustration: frontispiece.] * * * * * child land: picture-pages for the little ones. _containing nearly 200 designs by oscar pletch,_ _m. richter, &c., &c._ london: s. w. partridge & co., 9, paternoster row. * * * * * messrs. watson and hazell, printers, london and aylesbury. * * * * * [illustration] contents. page a musical evening 9 the harvest field 101 the little cooks 10 taking a walk 102 the wheel off 11 wind and rain 103 the broken cup 12 watching the gardener 104 baby and his doll 13 ellen's new bible 105 the kind brother 14 not hurt, i hope 106 curious john 15 the sick boy 107 fast asleep 16 under the umbrella 108 dolly's party 17 the meeting 109 don't be greedy 18 medicine for the baby 110 the pump 19 the broken cradle 111 the lost ball 20 more kissing 112 learning to walk 21 playing at bowls 113 the sick doll 22 the strolling fiddler 114 feeding the birds 23 the dunce 115 helping mother 24 the windmill 116 what's in the cupboard? 25 making jam 117 all to ourselves 26 our shop 118 the washing-tub 27 exchanging dolls 119 "teach me to draw, please" 28 lion's kennel 120 dressed up 29 learning the lessons 121 the grocer 30 who'll have the apple? 122 "it doesn't tick" 31 the reverie 123 just the size 32 king of the castle 124 dolly's washing 33 the stew pan 125 the interruption 34 our half-holiday 126 lucy's new bonnet 35 on the wall 127 the concert 36 "shall we ring the bell?" 128 the broken doll 37 brushing sister's hair 129 the nosegay 38 baby brother 130 baby brother 39 out in the garden 131 ready for school 40 feeding the rabbits 132 "there's a good doggie" 41 as mama does 133 feeding the fowls 42 offended 134 being washed 43 just like grandpapa 135 the ropery 44 off to school 136 the broken watering-pot 45 floating the ducks 137 shoeing the horse 46 albert's horse 138 the new jacket 47 waiting for the rain 139 the pet bird 48 breakfast for mama 140 fast asleep 49 "mama, i do love you so" 141 the apple cupboard 50 making a pudding 142 half-holiday 51 "how do you do, poll?" 143 "don't forget me" 52 john's new toy 144 the bakery 53 the secret 145 the two little sisters 54 ellen's dream 146 "wake up, driver" 55 quarrelling 147 coming out of school 56 diligent charles 148 baby's flowers 57 tired of it 149 helping to cook 58 the sulky girl 150 the snow man 59 the sick dolls 151 the artist 60 "what shall we do?" 152 teasing mama 61 an afternoon nap 153 the visit to grandmama 62 the pump 154 asleep 63 the playthings 155 what shall i do next? 64 grandmama 156 the little lamb 65 helping cook 157 "hold it fast, prince" 66 in the summer-house 158 the tinman 67 the empty pocket 159 blind-man's-buff 68 a strange seat for dolly 160 washing hands 69 studious herbert 161 a rough ride 70 waiting 162 making snow-balls 71 "you shan't come in" 163 the new game 72 caught 164 half afraid 73 "be a good dolly" 165 grandpapa 74 the little squirrel 166 the organ man 75 nearly dressed 167 do you want a carpenter? 76 the kites 168 how polite! 77 the pets 169 teasing 78 the bookseller 170 baby's bath 79 taking a photograph 171 baby and rattle 80 rather tight 172 very happy 81 "a letter, sir" 173 wayside flowers 82 musing 174 the confectioner's 83 the winged letter-carrier 175 out in the garden 84 watching pussy 176 being washed 85 the sledge 177 only a toadstool 86 a, b, c 178 watching the moon 87 little alfred's prayer 179 first steps 88 "which is the way, please?" 180 the ducklings 89 "can't go out yet" 181 susan's shop 90 the schoolmaster 182 in the nursery 91 the saw-pit 183 sunday morning 92 the sledge-chair 184 giving doggie a ride 93 off to sea 185 the gentle cow 94 "want anything to-day?" 186 the bookbinder's 95 don't be afraid 187 how dark it is! 96 showing baby the pictures 188 playing at see-saw 97 "rather feverish" 189 a ride down-hill 98 ringing the bell 190 the thief asleep 99 school over 191 breakfast time 100 the boot cupboard 192 [illustration] * * * * * [illustration] a musical evening. this is a very pleasant way of spending a winter evening, and my young friends like it much. all young folks should learn music. [illustration] the little cooks. lucy and jane are fond of playing at cooks, and seem very busy this morning. lucy is standing on a stool stirring something in a pot, and jane is watching the cups on the little stove. i hope the children will not burn themselves, nor make a mess on the floor, or mama will be very cross. [illustration] the wheel off. oh dear, another accident! only yesterday the third wheel came off the lamb that little sister used to drag about the room. and now a wheel has come off the pretty chaise in which dolly rides. but do not cry, baby; we must ask papa to mend it, and then the chaise will go as well as ever. [illustration] the broken cup. laura looks very grave this morning, and no wonder, for she has broken a tea-cup. [illustration] baby and his doll. baby is busy this morning with his doll. "bruno" is watching by his side, ready to bark at any one who comes near. [illustration] the kind brother. edward is a good kind brother, for, though he has his own lessons to learn, he is holding the thread for his sister kate, whom he is very fond of, and tries to please as much as he can. [illustration] curious john. you are too impatient and curious, master john. far better to have waited till papa had himself shown you the pretty toys he has brought you from the fair. [illustration] fast asleep. the sun has been up long ago, but baby is still asleep, with dolly by his side. we will not wake him, for he went to bed last night very tired. he had been out all day playing in the garden, and seemed quite glad when it was time for him to go to bed, so we will let him sleep a little longer. this will do him more good just now than being out in the hot sun. [illustration] dolly's party. this is dolly's party. the two little girls have been invited to tea with her, and they have each brought their dolls with them. i hope it will be a pleasant party, though of course our two little friends must do all the talking, as miss dolly, though she sits there in such state, cannot speak a single word. but i dare say they can talk for her and themselves too. [illustration] don't be greedy. harriet has had some apples given her, but she is so greedy she wishes to keep them all herself. she has two lying on the sofa already, and yet she does not seem willing to give the third to her little brother. i am ashamed of you, greedy girl! [illustration] the pump. lucy is trying to pump up some water for her little sister, but she should be careful, for the water may run out suddenly and wet little mary's dress. if this happens mama will be angry, for her dress is a very nice one indeed, and almost new. [illustration] the lost ball. oh dear, oh dear, what shall we do, for we have lost the ball? the water-butt is deep, and now we cannot play at all. [illustration] learning to walk. mama is giving little mary her first lesson in walking. she is of course rather timid, but she will learn presently, when she has got a little more confidence. [illustration] the sick doll. the doctor has just come in to see the sick doll, and is feeling her pulse. he tells mary not to be alarmed, for her doll is no worse, and will be quite well in a day or two if she is kept quiet. i am sure mary will attend to this, as she is very anxious about her doll, and would be sorry to lose her. [illustration] feeding the birds. well done, well done, thoughtful jane, at your morning work again, feeding thus with grain and crumbs every hungry bird that comes: well they know you, i can see, or they would more timid be. [illustration] helping mother. well done, emma! dinner is just over, and emma is folding up the cloth, and tidying up. [illustration] what's in the cupboard? mama has just caught the children prying into the cupboard. she will be angry with them, i am sure, for being so inquisitive. [illustration] all to ourselves. little emma and george have shut themselves into an up-stairs room this morning, and are pretending to be papa and mama. they have got papa's great boots on the floor, and emma has dressed the boot-jack like a doll, and placed mama's bonnet on her head. mama down-stairs will wonder presently what has become of her two little pets. [illustration] the washing-tub. our little friends are busy this morning, for dolly's washing must be done before dinner. but there are two of them, and they have got a nice large tub, so they will soon get it done. it will be well for poor dolly when her clothes are washed and ironed, for she must be very uncomfortable lying there on the floor. [illustration] "teach me to draw, please." the children have come to see their uncle, the artist. they like to come and look at his pictures, and they are asking him to teach them to draw. it is a nice thing to be able to draw well. [illustration] dressed up. little richard has been dressing himself up in some old clothes, and has got a big walking-stick. his brother is amused, but baby does not seem to know him. [illustration] the grocer. mr. sweet, the grocer, is serving his customers. james has just had some treacle, but he has put his finger into the jug, and is sucking it. naughty boy! [illustration] "it doesn't tick." mama, my watch does not tick, as papa's does. i wish you would make it tick. [illustration] just the size. our two little friends have been out to-day with their mama, to buy some stockings for their dolls. they have just returned, and are fitting them on, and find they are just the size. the youngest of the doll family is snug in her cradle; but the doll lying on her face on the drawers, must, i fear, be very uncomfortable. they will notice it presently, i dare say. [illustration] dolly's washing. it is a very serious affair when the day comes round to do dolly's washing. lines are hung up in the nursery, with a great tub to hold the wet clothes, and, after that, they are hung across the lines to dry. our two little friends are as busy as they can be, and they must make haste, for papa would not like to find his little girls absent when he comes home. [illustration] the interruption. do not interrupt our play, brother tom. please go back to your lessons. [illustration] lucy's new bonnet. that bonnet is too smart, lucy. i fear you are too fond of dress. [illustration] the concert. the children have got papa's music books, and are pretending to sing from them. even dolly is stuck up against the wall, as if she were one of the singers. the dog is listening, as though he would ask what is the meaning of all this strange noise, and is barking, himself, very dismally, to add to it. [illustration] the broken doll. this is a sad affair indeed. little jane dropped her pretty new doll on the floor while she was playing with her cousin, and now it is broken and spoiled. she is crying as if she would break her little heart over the disaster, but all her tears will not mend dolly again. but perhaps papa will buy her another, if she asks him. [illustration] the nosegay. little laura has just opened the garden gate, and is hurrying off to school. she has a nosegay in her hand, which she is taking to her governess, whom she is very fond of. i dare say the governess will like her little present, for every one is fond of flowers, and still more the kindness which prompted her to bring it. [illustration] baby brother. our little baby brother is quite a romp. he is full of fun, and it is hard to keep him out of mischief. he kicks his boots off, pulls off his socks, and his new little woolly lamb and cart were soon torn to pieces. he plays with bruno in a very rough way, and it is a wonder the dog bears it so patiently. this morning he has seized tom by the hair, and seems highly pleased to have the chance of giving it a good pull. [illustration] ready for school. mama is plaiting ellen's hair this morning, and then she will be ready for school. though her toys are on the floor beside her, yet she stands quite still, like a good girl. [illustration: "there's a good doggie."] [illustration] feeding the fowls. baby is giving some bread-crumbs to the fowls this morning. the cock looks up as though he would say "thank you." [illustration] being washed. baby is screaming because he does not like to be washed. this is very naughty. [illustration] the ropery. poor little james has come down to the ropery, to see the men make string. he has got a great ball of string to fly his kite with. [illustration] the broken watering-pot. susan is very sad this evening, for she has broken her little watering-pot, and so she does not know how to water her flowers. [illustration] shoeing the horse. let him have a good shoe, please, mr. farrier, and take care you don't hurt him, for he is a noble fellow. [illustration] the new jacket. this is a tailor's shop, and master albert is being measured for a new jacket. his young brother robert is to have one too. [illustration] the pet bird. how pleased baby is with the pet bird perched on the back of the chair! [illustration: fast asleep.] [illustration] the apple cupboard. the children have just found out where mama keeps her apples. [illustration] half-holiday. it is half-holiday, and, as it is wet, master fred is lounging about in-doors. [illustration] "don't forget me." baby is sitting in the out-house eating a piece of bread-and-butter. bob is putting his paw gently upon him, as much as to say, "don't forget me, baby, but give me a bit, please." [illustration] the bakery. mary has come to the baker's to buy a new loaf this morning, and she has peeped into the bakery to see how the men make the bread. she must not stay long though, for they are all waiting at home to have their breakfast. [illustration] the two little sisters. these two little girls are sisters, and they are very fond of one another, as sisters should be. [illustration] "wake up, driver." little andrew is out early with his grandfather this morning, to take a long ride to the next town. they are asking the driver of a coach to take them, but he is fast asleep on the box. [illustration] coming out of school. the clock has just struck the hour, and the children are coming out of school. they seem to have forgotten that the snow is on the ground, and that it is very slippery. three of them have fallen down, but i do not think they have hurt themselves, as they seem very merry. [illustration: baby's flowers.] [illustration] helping to cook. little lucy is helping mama to make the nice jams this morning. [illustration] the snow man. the children have made a great snow man, and they are lifting up dolly to look at him. [illustration] the artist. the artist is sitting on a camp-stool, taking a sketch of the cottages yonder. he has put up his umbrella to shelter himself from the sun. the boys seem greatly interested in his work. [illustration] teasing mama. the children seem very troublesome and noisy this afternoon. it is well for them that mama has much patience, or she would be very angry indeed at their bad behaviour. [illustration] the visit to grandmama. the children are come to-day on a visit to grandmama. she is telling them they have grown very much lately. but miss pry ought not to open grandmama's drawers. [illustration] asleep. maria has been sitting on the sofa this evening, looking through some picture books. but it is late, and mama has not yet come home, and she has fallen fast asleep with dolly behind her. [illustration] what shall i do next? it is a wet day, and little laura cannot go out. so she has been playing in-doors, and been amusing herself with her dolls. but it still rains, and she is tired of her dolls, and is asking herself what she shall do next to amuse herself. she must have patience, and papa will be home to tea presently. [illustration: the little lamb.] [illustration] "hold it fast, prince." this is alfred, the hunter's little son, who has dressed himself up in his father's belt and hat. prince seems to know what alfred says to him. [illustration] the tinman. the tinman is very busy to-day, with his little hammer, shaping a piece of tin. on the floor around him lie watering-pots, coffee-pots, tin pipes, and a variety of useful articles, all made out of tin. [illustration: blind-man's-buff.] [illustration] washing hands. mama does not like to see her children dirty, so she is washing their hands, and then they can play about again. baby is looking at his hands to see if they are dirty, and alice is examining her doll's hands. [illustration] a rough ride. baby is having a ride this morning on his brother's back. it is a rather rough ride, and shakes him very much when his brother runs. but he likes the fun, and will be sorry when his brother is tired, and puts him down. carlo is barking beside him with all his might. [illustration] making snow-balls. it is very cold, and the fields are all covered with snow. the children are on their way to school, but they have laid their books down for a few minutes. the boys are in high glee, for they cannot make snow-balls every day, and there is plenty of snow on the ground just now. i dare say they will be sorry when the snow melts. [illustration] the new game. arthur is a clever lad, as every boy and girl in the village knows. he has just invented a new game, and his playfellows are listening to him while he explains it to them. they are to meet him on the common this afternoon after school, and try if they can play at it. [illustration: half afraid.] [illustration] grandpapa. it is grandpapa's birthday, and the children have come to congratulate him. [illustration] the organ man. here, poor organ man, here is a penny for you, and i will sit down with my dolly, on this log of wood, and listen to your pretty tunes. [illustration] do you want a carpenter? little william has dressed himself up as a carpenter, and his sister is pretending to be a fine lady. william is asking her if she wants a carpenter, as he has his tools with him, and will be very glad of a job. susan is sitting outside pretending to be keeping a coffee-stall. [illustration] how polite! richard's little cousin has called in this afternoon, and richard, who is very kind and polite, is handing her some cake, and asking her to have a slice. [illustration] teasing. master sydney is, i am sorry to tell you, very fond of teasing. this is not a nice habit, for, although it may begin in fun, it often ends in a quarrel. his little sister does not like it, and he has been teasing her so long that she is now crying. if she tells his papa of it he will be very angry, as he has often reproved sydney for this bad habit before, and i was hoping he had broken it off. sydney ought to do all he can to please his little sister, rather than thus take delight in vexing and annoying her. [illustration] baby's bath. baby is sitting in his little bathing tub, waiting for his sister to come up and wash him. he is beginning to like the water now, and is quite pleased to sit in it and be washed. at first he did not like it at all, and began to scream at the sight of the tub, but he has now more confidence, and likes it very much. it is nice to have a good wash, especially in hot weather, and all children should early be taught to like cleanliness. [illustration] baby and rattle. baby is highly amused to hear his rattle making a noise. the dog seems amused too, for he is jumping up to see what it is all about. [illustration: very happy.] [illustration] wayside flowers. it is a pity there is not more interest taken in wayside and field flowers, some of which are so very beautiful. [illustration] the confectioner's. this is the shop of mr. sweet, the pastrycook. the children have just bought some sweets, and his lad is taking out a large cake on a tray. [illustration] out in the garden. it is half-holiday to-day, but it is too warm to run about the fields. so susan and emma are sitting in the wheelbarrow, at the kitchen door, and enjoying themselves as much as if they were sitting in a fine arbour. they have got puss with them, who seems to like it as much as they do. when the sun sets they will water their flowers, for they have got a nice flower-bed of their own, and some of the flowers are just beginning to blossom. [illustration] being washed. baby brother is being washed this morning. he does not sit so quiet as he ought to do, and so his sister has, quite by accident, put the sponge in his eye. no wonder he should be making a wry face over it, and crying. if he had been still this would probably not have happened, as his sister is very careful not to hurt him. i hope the next time he is washed he will try to keep himself quiet. [illustration] only a toadstool. the children are out early this morning in the wood, to gather mushrooms, and have brought a basket to put them in. they have just found something among the roots of this old tree, which they thought at first was a mushroom, but i fear it is only a toadstool, it looks so very strange. [illustration] watching the moon. it is time to put baby to bed, but her sister is showing her the moon, shining out so brightly to-night in the deep blue sky. baby is looking up at it, and is perhaps wondering what it is up there in the sky, so bright and round. it will shine into her little bed-room nearly all the night long. [illustration] first steps. baby is learning to walk, and is stepping out boldly. puss looks on quietly, but tiny is barking with joy. [illustration: the ducklings.] [illustration] susan's shop. susan is playing at shop, and has placed herself behind a large chair, and is looking out for customers. she has dressed baby up in cook's great bonnet and jacket, and she is supposed to be the customer. and susan is asking her what she will buy, as her scales are all ready to weigh up anything she wants. baby is asking her if she sells barley-sugar, as, if she does, she would like to have some. [illustration] in the nursery. the two little sisters are having fine fun in the nursery this morning. baby dolly is to have a bath presently. the other dolls have at last got dressed in their new clothes, that have been so long making, and they are being jumped about and walked along as if they were really alive. the children are so fond of their dolls, they seem never tired of playing with them. [illustration] sunday morning. it is sunday morning, and everything is quiet in the village. the blacksmith's hammer is still, the horses are in the stable, and the plough lies in the corner of the field. the children are hastening to the sunday-school, with their bible and hymn-book under their arm. walter rose is reading a psalm to his wife and children, and then they will get ready for church. [illustration] giving doggie a ride. the little sisters have been giving dolly a ride in their basket-chaise. and now they think it is doggie's turn, and they are putting him in the chaise for a ride too. i am afraid he will not sit very nicely, but will be a troublesome rider. poor dolly is lying on the floor, on her back. i hope she is not hurt. [illustration] the gentle cow. the cow is a quiet creature, and is one of the most useful of all animals. we have to thank the cow for our nice milk, and fresh butter. mary often carries baby to the window of the cow-shed, and baby takes hold of the cow's horn, it is so harmless and gentle. [illustration] the bookbinder's. the children have called in to see the bookbinder's shop, and are looking at a map, which he has varnished for them. arthur is telling his little sister he thinks he should like to be a bookbinder, it seems such a nice business. [illustration] how dark it is! mama is going to put baby to bed, but she is taking her first to the window to show her how dark it is. and now baby must go to bed, for it is late. the little birds are already asleep beneath the roof, for they go to rest early at night, and rise very early in the morning. it is not so dark as this every night, but to-night the moon is not visible. [illustration: playing at see-saw.] [illustration] a ride down-hill. master clarence is giving his sister kate a ride in a wheelbarrow, but, as they are going down-hill, i am afraid she will not have a very comfortable ride, and will be very much jolted. and the next time he takes her out for a ride i hope he will find her something larger and pleasanter to ride in. i dare say she will be very glad to get out and walk presently. [illustration] the thief asleep. giles scroggs is a lumpish farmer's boy, fat, silly, and lazy. he has but a faint idea of the use of a book, but he understands well the worth of an apple-dumpling. one morning the sly rogue got up very early to steal some apples, but climbing the wall to return he fell asleep on the top, with three rosy apples at his side, just as our artist has drawn him. [illustration] breakfast time. it is breakfast time, and this is a family just seated round the table. one of the little boys has put his plate upon his head, i suppose to attract attention to his wants. baby stands on mama's knee, and seems determined he will not be forgotten. papa will have enough to do to cut bread-and-butter for them all. [illustration] the harvest field. it is very hot in the open fields to-day, and the reapers are weary. so they are sitting in the shadow of the sheaves, and are drinking some water, as working in the heat has made them very thirsty. the sun will go down presently, and then it will be cool and pleasant for them to walk home over the fields. [illustration] taking a walk. it is a pleasant spring morning, and the children are out early, taking a walk with mama. she is carrying the baby, and little alice is taking her new doll by the hand to try and teach her to walk. albert is riding his wooden horse, and rover is barking at him, he is so pleased. they are not going far, and will turn back to breakfast presently. [illustration] wind and rain. how it rains! i am afraid our party in the picture will all be wet to the skin. it is a pity they have only one umbrella among them, and they have a long distance to go before they reach home. it was fine when they started, so they were not prepared for such a storm. but perhaps it will soon be fine again. [illustration] watching the gardener. gardening is a nice employment, and so little maria thinks, as with folded arms she watches the gardener attending to his plants. she is thinking how she should like to be putting plants into pots, watching for the seeds to come up, and the buds to expand into blossoms. [illustration: ellen's new bible.] [illustration] not hurt, i hope. the road is so slippery this morning, after the frost, that little harriet has just had a fall. [illustration] the sick boy. master thomas is very unwell to-day, so he has to stay at home and take some physic. [illustration] under the umbrella. ellen and maria are enjoying themselves in-doors this afternoon. they are sitting on the floor in the nursery, and have put up cook's old market umbrella to cover them. it is so large it makes quite a tent for them to sit under. they have two apples beside them, so i suppose they will have a feast presently. [illustration] the meeting. susan has long been expecting her little cousin from the country, and she has just arrived. when susan has done kissing her, she will tell her how glad she is to see her, and show her her pretty doll and her playthings. the dog too is jumping up at her and barking, as though he would give her a welcome also. [illustration] medicine for the baby. james has come to the chemist's shop this morning for medicine for the baby, who is sick. [illustration] the broken cradle. harriet has just brought her doll's cradle to the carpenter, to get it mended. he is telling her to leave it, and he will soon repair it. [illustration] more kissing. mama and baby are always kissing one another, and there will be kissing again when papa comes home. [illustration: playing at bowls.] [illustration] the strolling fiddler. poor old man! he is playing away merrily, though i dare say he is tired, and has perhaps walked many a mile this hot day. if he does not play very well, his music pleases the baby at the window. here, poor man, is a penny for you. [illustration] the dunce. i am sorry to see that boy with the dunce's cap standing there in the middle of the school. i should think he must feel very much ashamed to be the laughing-stock of his schoolfellows. i do hope he will pay more attention. [illustration] the windmill. the sails go round, and the corn is ground. [illustration] making jam. mama has been boiling some fruit to make jam for the winter, and given the children a large pan which has been used to make it. they are busy getting out every morsel of the syrup, for it is so nice and sweet. [illustration] our shop. the tailor's children are having some fun, and, with the help of an old chair and their father's sleeve-board, have made themselves a shop. [illustration] exchanging dolls. the two cousins are each of them tired of their own doll, and are wanting to exchange. but they do not seem to like to trust one another, and so each is holding out her hand to the other, and neither of them seems willing to give her doll first. even the dog looks as if he was surprised at them. [illustration] lion's kennel. robert is cleaning out lion's kennel this afternoon, for he is very fond of his dog. lion seems to know well what robert is doing for him. [illustration] learning the lessons. george and ellen are both fond of learning, and never neglect their lessons for anything. they learned them perfectly last night, and this morning they are looking them over again before going to school. i have no fear that either george or ellen will grow up to be dunces. [illustration] who'll have the apple? reuben is a clever little boy, and for his age knows very much. he has mounted a tree-stump in the garden, and is asking his brothers and sisters some questions. whoever gives him the best answers is to have that nice apple he is holding up. they all seem puzzled, even the dog and cat. [illustration] the reverie. little martha has just come up into her bed-room, and is leaning her head against the chair, thinking of her dream last night. she dreamed that her uncle had invited her to pay him a visit, and she is just now wondering whether her dream will come true, as she likes going there. [illustration] king of the castle. tom has fastened the gate, and is laughing at his little playfellows, because they cannot get over the palings to him. [illustration] the stew pan. mama has just gone out of the kitchen, and miss pry is looking to see what is in the stew-pan. this is very naughty. [illustration] our half-holiday. this is half-holiday, and the four children are going to have a merry game in the fields. even baby sister is going with her little dolly, and doggie seems determined he will not be left behind. i hope they will spend a pleasant afternoon, and not get into any mischief. [illustration] on the wall. what a daring little boy that young edward is! he has climbed to the top of the wall, and his young cousins are cheering him. i hope he will not fall, and hurt himself. [illustration] "shall we ring the bell?" poor little boys, they have no one to care for them, for their father and mother are drunken and idle, and send them about to beg. the children have been told that a kind christian man lives at this house, and they are going to pull the bell and ask him to help them. [illustration] brushing sister's hair. little emmeline has just been washed and dressed by her mama. so now she has got the hair-brush, and is standing on a chair brushing her sister caroline's hair. caroline has very long hair, so i hope emmeline will not break it, for of course she does not quite understand how to handle the brush. [illustration] baby brother. baby brother is a great pet, i can tell you. mama is afraid to lose sight of him, for fear any accident should happen to him. jane and robert watch for his waking up, so eager are they to nurse him, and even doggie jumps up as if he would say "can i do anything for you?" [illustration] out in the garden. julia is playing with her young brother in the garden. the little bird perched up there is looking as if he would like to play with them too. he has a nest in the trees behind, but i dare say he thinks the children are too kind and gentle to molest his pretty little family. [illustration] feeding the rabbits. the children are busy in the yard this morning feeding the rabbits. they have opened the rabbit-hutch, and are going to give the rabbits some fresh vegetables. the cat behind is looking slyly on, as though she would like to pounce down among them. [illustration] as mama does. little bertha is having a tea party. the children have been playing, and now they are having tea, and bertha is pouring it out for them. even dolly is seated at the table, but they have forgotten to take her bonnet off. when tea is over they will go out and play in the garden. [illustration] offended. something has offended master joseph, and he is leaning there in a sullen mood, and refuses to play any more. his little sisters are coaxing him to play with them again, and one of them in fun has taken his hat off his head. i hope he will not continue to be angry and sullen, for i am sure they did not mean to offend him. [illustration] just like grandpapa. master samuel is full of fun, and having found his grandpapa's red cap and spectacles, has seated himself very gravely on one of the kitchen chairs, and is pretending to be grandpapa. i hope he will grow up to be as good a man as his grandpapa is. i can wish nothing better for him, i am quite sure. [illustration] off to school. the clock has just struck, and amy, with her school satchel behind her, is just bidding good-bye to her little sister. she wanted to tell her how to dry her doll's clothes, but she cannot stay now. [illustration] floating the ducks. baby is highly amused this evening. papa has brought him home two little toy ducks, and mama has put them in some water in a large tub, where they are floating about. [illustration] albert's horse. albert is fond of striding a wooden horse, with a horn at his side. [illustration] waiting for the rain. the children were just starting for school, when the rain suddenly came on, and prevented them. but it will be over presently. [illustration] breakfast for mama. mama is not well this morning, for she took cold yesterday going over the wet fields to visit the poor man who is dying. so she is not up so early as usual, and harriet is taking her a cup of hot coffee. harriet will not let the servant wait on her mama when she is ill, because she can herself pay her more attention. she is walking on tip-toe to avoid making a noise, as sick persons like to be quiet. [illustration] "mama, i do love you so." ethel is a loving little girl, and is always clinging about her mama. mama wishes to do some knitting just now, but ethel is clinging to her, and is saying, "mama, i do love you so." i am afraid mama will not be able to do much knitting while ethel interrupts her in this manner. [illustration] making a pudding. mama is busy this morning making a pudding, and the children are watching the process with great interest. richard is asking her whether she is going to use all that great loaf of lump sugar in making it. tom seems to know better, and is telling him if she were to put all that in the pudding it would be so sweet that they would not like to eat it. [illustration] "how do you do, poll?" "poll" is a fine parrot, and seems very happy and contented, swinging there on his perch. he likes to be talked to, and can answer very plain. if you say to him, "how do you do, poll?" he will answer you, "quite well, thank you, and how are you?" poll is quite a companion, he is so intelligent. [illustration] john's new toy. john is in high glee, for his aunt has bought him a new toy. it is a figure made of paste-board, and it throws out its legs and arms. [illustration] the secret. emma seems whispering something in her sister's ear as if it was a secret. i do not know why she should whisper, for no one seems near to overhear them. i suppose it is something about their dolls, else about little fan, who is lying beside them on the floor, and who seems to be very tired. [illustration] ellen's dream. ellen is very fond of animals, and likes to read about them. papa has just bought her a pretty book, in which she has been reading a good deal about sheep and shepherds. i suppose it is owing to this that she dreamed last night she was a shepherdess, with a crook in her hand, and her sheep lying in the fields around her, just as our artist has drawn in the picture. [illustration] quarrelling. this is a sad scene. the two little sisters are quarrelling over their playthings, and i am afraid the dolls will get damaged in their angry strife. the little lamb lies upset on the chair, the little dolly is sprawling on the floor, and the dress of the bigger one will certainly be torn. it is a pity the two sisters should quarrel in this manner, and about such trifles too. [illustration] diligent charles. charles is one of the most diligent boys in his school. he does not dislike a good game in the playground, but, when you see him there, you may be sure his lessons have all been learned first. the diligent schoolboy generally becomes a successful man, but a dunce seldom gets on in after-life. [illustration] tired of it. arthur jones has been writing some exercises in grammar this morning. he has not done much, but he is quite tired of it already. he wishes the clock would strike twelve, that he might leave off, and spin the top at his side. shame on you, lazy arthur! [illustration] the sulky girl. here is a little party of children, playing in the wood-yard this afternoon. they have been having some merry games, and had just arranged to meet again next half-holiday. suddenly one of the little girls took offence at something, and walked away, and would not play any more. it is a pity she is sulky, and so apt to take offence. i dare say her little friends did not intend to offend her. [illustration] the sick dolls. the two little sisters are making a great fuss just now about their sick dolls. they have been making something warm for them, and are now about to put them to bed in the cradle. one of them is being hushed to sleep. they are taking pains to have the mattress smooth and well shaken up, so that the dolls may have a soft bed. but i am afraid the cradle is not quite big enough for both of them, and if so they will not be very comfortable. [illustration] "what shall we do?" the poor children have just accidentally broken their pitcher. no wonder they are so sad. [illustration] an afternoon nap. lucy has just been asleep in the great arm-chair. she little thinks what pussy is about. [illustration] the pump. the children are up early this morning getting some water at the pump. the geese are watching them, as if they were longing to have a little of it. perhaps the little girl will give them some when she has filled her jar, for she is very thoughtful for dumb animals, and they all like her very much, and follow her about. it is a good sign when children are kind to animals. [illustration] the playthings. little ellen seems ill at ease just now. she has got a nice doll, a chest of drawers, and a doll's cradle. but she is coveting her little brother's playthings besides, and seems cross because she cannot have his horse and stable, and little cart. this is very wrong. we should be content with what we have, and not covet what belongs to others. [illustration] grandmama. mama has brought the children to see grandmama this afternoon. she is so glad to see them. one of them is handing her some tea. [illustration] helping cook. the children are spending an hour in the kitchen with cook. it is fine fun for them. [illustration] in the summer-house. baby is hugging and kissing his sister in the summer-house. it is a nice cool place to play in. [illustration] the empty pocket. the children are buying some fruit at the fruit stall. poor little richard and his sister are walking sadly away, for they have no money. [illustration] a strange seat for dolly. baby has strayed up into a spare room, where papa keeps some of his old books, and she is having rare fun here all by herself. she has brought up her two dolls, one of which she has seated in a basket, and is finding a seat for the other on a great old clasped book. papa little thinks what baby is about, but i dare say she will be missed presently, and then they will find her very busy up here. [illustration] studious herbert. herbert is a studious boy, fond of books, and is very careful to learn his lessons well. these long winter evenings are very nice for learning, and just now herbert is making great progress. it is late this evening, but he is not willing to go up to bed till he has learned all his lessons for to-morrow. he would have learned them earlier but he has been to tea with his cousins, and so when he came home just now he lit the lamp, and sat down to his work. when herbert leaves school i dare say he will get a good situation, as any one will be glad to employ him. [illustration] waiting. maria is waiting for her little cousin to come and play with her in papa's bed-room. she is standing on the top of the stairs listening, and is wondering why she does not come. she will come up presently, i suppose, and then they will have a nice game all to themselves, without disturbing any one in the house. [illustration] "you shan't come in." the boys are at home just now for their holidays, and mama is half distracted with their noise. when it is fine they prefer to be in the fields, but when it is wet they are chasing one another about all the day long. one of them has just run up into this room, and is telling his brothers outside they shall not come in. [illustration] caught. master andrew has just been caught by the old gentleman, who is giving him a few smart strokes with his cane. i am glad of it, for he is a mischievous lad. he was sent to school just now, but instead of hastening there he thought he would stroll through the plantation and see if he could find any birds' nests. now the old gentleman is very fond of his birds, and will not have them molested. hearing the crashing of the boughs, he soon discovered the offender, and after a short chase caught him. this beating serves andrew right, and i hope he will in future leave the poor birds alone. [illustration] "be a good dolly." louisa is so fond of her dolls. she has two of them, and places a pillow in her little basket chaise, and draws them about the garden. she is as attentive to them as if they were two little babies, and takes more care of them than some thoughtless mothers do of their children. she is going to take them out for a ride this morning, and is kissing them. i hope she will make them a comfortable seat on the pillows, or else they will not have a very nice ride. [illustration] the little squirrel. the children are offering some bread to a pretty squirrel their father found in the wood. [illustration] nearly dressed. matilda is nearly dressed. she will be ready for her breakfast now in a few minutes, and then must make haste to school. [illustration] the kites. there is a nice breeze this afternoon, and this hill-side is just the place for flying a kite. two kites are already flying merrily up in the sky, and our two young friends will fly theirs when they get a little higher up, near the windmill. [illustration: the pets.] [illustration] the bookseller. the boys like to call on mr. leaf, because he has such nice books. but sometimes they merely sit down and read them. [illustration] taking a photograph. the squire has called at the studio to-day to have his carte taken, and the photographer is placing him in the best position. [illustration] rather tight. richard has come for a pair of boots, and is trying a pair on, but he thinks they are rather too small for him. [illustration] "a letter, sir." a messenger has just brought the student a letter. the dog is looking at the man rather suspiciously. [illustration] musing. little hester is leaning on the palings this afternoon, with her head on her hand, as if in a deep study. i wonder what she is musing about. i dare say if the little bird above her could speak he would ask her the subject of her thoughts. i hope they are good, hopeful, cheerful thoughts, and i think they are, judging from her serene and happy countenance. [illustration] the winged letter-carrier. the pigeon is a pretty creature, and is sometimes useful in carrying letters very long distances. little susan is quite overjoyed this morning to find one of papa's pigeons dropping at her feet a letter which it must have carried very many weary miles. [illustration] watching pussy. pussy is very sly in her movements, and little john is watching from the window, to see whether she is up to any mischief. the dog seems, from his look, as if he half suspected her also. the little birds on the bough just above her had better take care of themselves, for pussy would soon be after them if she once saw them. but she is not likely to catch them, for pussy has no wings to follow them when they fly away. [illustration] the sledge. it is a cold winter morning, and the children are amusing themselves by riding in a sledge over the frozen snow. the birds are huddling together on the bare branches, as if they felt the cold very keenly. it is pleasant, no doubt, for the riders, but whether it is for our little friend who is drawing the sledge, i am not sure. at all events, it will warm him this cold morning, and that will no doubt do him good. [illustration] a, b, c. a, b, c, are, as you know, the first three letters of the alphabet, and the children in the picture are just beginning to learn them. it seems hard to them at first, but it will be easy presently. they will soon learn the name and shape of all the letters, and then will go on to learn what letters make a word, and then what meaning the word has. thus they will soon be able to read and spell every word, and sit down and read the nice books in papa's library. [illustration] little alfred's prayer. my heavenly father, i thank thee for all thy care and kindness, for all thy mercy and love. i thank thee for my home and friends, for my comforts and blessings. i commit myself to thy continued care and kind keeping. i pray that thou wilt keep all evil from me. and bless my dear friends, and all who are about me. help me to be sorry for my sins, to please thee in all things, and to grow in all virtue and godliness. hear me, my father, for my dear saviour's sake. amen. [illustration] "which is the way, please?" edwin has had a long walk in the country, but in returning home has wandered out of the way, and lost himself. he is just now standing on an eminence in the road, and, seeing some travellers, is shouting to them, and asking them to direct him. [illustration] "can't go out yet." it is pouring heavily, though the boy with the basket does not seem to mind it. annie is impatient, but she must wait till the rain is over. [illustration] the schoolmaster. the old schoolmaster is busy with his pupils this afternoon, and is reading something which they are writing out. some of the words puzzle little joseph, and he does not know how to spell them. his tiny brother, who sits at his side, is making straight strokes. [illustration] the saw-pit. it is dinner-time, and the children have just brought their father's dinner to the saw-pit, and are spreading a clean cloth for him on a large log of wood. [illustration] the sledge-chair. harriet is giving her little sister a ride in a sledge-chair, and she has got her mama's muff to put her hands in. the rude schoolboys are stopping to quiz the funny chair, but harriet does not mind their laugh, for she knows her little sister will like the ride. [illustration] off to sea. sidney has just bidden his friends good-bye, and is off for his first voyage. he is so fond of the sea that nothing else would please him. his ship is lying out there in the distance, and he is just going on board, as the vessel sails to-morrow for china. [illustration] "want anything to-day?" the poor old man is hobbling along from door to door, to see if he can sell anything. [illustration] don't be afraid. amy has got a penny for the lad who has swept the path, but she is quite afraid of him. [illustration] showing baby the pictures. mama is always ready to please her little baby girl in any way she can. she has just got a nice picture-book, and is going to show baby the pictures. baby is so eager to see them that she has thrown aside her little mug, and trumpet, and woolly lamb, in order to look at them. how pleased she will be for mama to take her on her knee, and explain them to her! [illustration] "rather feverish." master edmund is lying on the sofa this morning unwell. they have sent for the doctor, who is feeling his pulse, and looking at his tongue. the doctor will send him some medicine presently, but he does not know that it is all through eating too much of that currant tart yesterday. [illustration] ringing the bell. little may is but a dot of a child to walk down the street all by herself, and ring the school bell. but she can do this quite safely, and does it nearly every day. the bell is rather high up for her to reach it, but she can just stretch her little fat fingers up to it, and pull it, and then some one opens the door for her. she is very fond of going to school, and always contrives to be there early. [illustration] school over. the clock has just struck, and the children are coming down-stairs to go home. they are glad to go, the more so as it is half-holiday to-day, and as it is fine weather they want to be at their games in the fields. the little girl coming down the stone stairs is leaning over the rails looking for her brother, who is just below and does not see her. he will wait for her, i am sure, for he would not be so unkind as to go home without her, for he is very fond of his little sister. [illustration] the boot cupboard. this is our boot cupboard, where we keep the blacking and brushes, and papa's boot-jack. i will tell you whom they belong to, all these five pairs. the tall big ones belong to dear papa, as you may suppose, and are strong ones, as he has to walk very much. mama's boots are not kept here, but in her own bed-room. then the next tall pair belong to brother richard, and are almost as large as papa's. the pair between richard's boots belong to sister mary; and the pair nearer the door, to little susan. the tiny pair next the door, are dear little baby's, but they are not of much use to him, for his fat little feet need a larger pair. * * * * * printed by watson & hazell, london and aylesbury. [illustration: the pig brother. [_frontispiece._] the pig brother and other fables and stories a supplementary reader for the fourth school year by laura e. richards author of "the golden windows," "the silver crown," "in my nursery," "the joyous story of toto," etc., etc. illustrated boston little, brown, and company 1932 _copyright, 1881, 1885, 1890, by roberts brothers._ _copyright, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, by the century co._ _copyright, 1895, by estes and lauriat._ _copyright, 1903, 1906, 1908, by little, brown, and company_ _all rights reserved_ printed in the united states of america contents page the pig brother 1 the golden windows 5 the coming of the king 11 swing song 15 the great feast 17 the owl and the eel and the warming-pan 20 the wheat field 21 about angels 24 the apron string 29 the shadow 32 the sailor man 34 "go" and "come" 37 child's play 39 little john bottlejohn 42 a fortune 44 the stars 46 buttercup gold 48 the patient cat 57 alice's supper 60 the quacky duck 62 at the little boy's home 65 new year 67 jacky frost 71 the cake 72 "oh, dear!" 75 the useful coal 84 song of the little winds 92 the three remarks 93 hokey pokey 106 the tangled skein 119 a song for hal 122 for you and me 125 the burning house 127 the naughty comet 129 day dreams 141 the pig brother there was once a child who was untidy. he left his books on the floor, and his muddy shoes on the table; he put his fingers in the jam-pots, and spilled ink on his best pinafore; there was really no end to his untidiness. one day the tidy angel came into his nursery. "this will never do!" said the angel. "this is really shocking. you must go out and stay with your brother while i set things to rights here." "i have no brother!" said the child. "yes, you have!" said the angel. "you may not know him, but he will know you. go out in the garden and watch for him, and he will soon come." "i don't know what you mean!" said the child; but he went out into the garden and waited. presently a squirrel came along, whisking his tail. "are you my brother?" asked the child. the squirrel looked him over carefully. "well, i should hope not!" he said. "my fur is neat and smooth, my nest is handsomely made, and in perfect order, and my young ones are properly brought up. why do you insult me by asking such a question?" he whisked off, and the child waited. presently a wren came hopping by. "are you my brother?" asked the child. "no indeed!" said the wren. "what impertinence! you will find no tidier person than i in the whole garden. not a feather is out of place, and my eggs are the wonder of all for smoothness and beauty. brother, indeed!" he hopped off, ruffling his feathers, and the child waited. by and by a large tommy cat came along. "are you my brother?" asked the child. "go and look at yourself in the glass," said the tommy cat haughtily, "and you will have your answer. i have been washing myself in the sun all the morning, while it is clear that no water has come near you for a long time. there are no such creatures as you in my family, i am humbly thankful to say." he walked on, waving his tail, and the child waited. presently a pig came trotting along. the child did not wish to ask the pig if he were his brother, but the pig did not wait to be asked. "hallo, brother!" he grunted. "i am not your brother!" said the child. "oh, yes, you are!" said the pig. "i confess i am not proud of you, but there is no mistaking the members of our family. come along, and have a good roll in the barnyard! there is some lovely black mud there." "i don't like to roll in mud!" said the child. "tell that to the hens!" said the pig brother. "look at your hands, and your shoes, and your pinafore! come along, i say! you may have some of the pig-wash for supper, if there is more than i want." "i don't want pig-wash!" said the child; and he began to cry. just then the tidy angel came out. "i have set everything to rights," she said, "and so it must stay. now, will you go with the pig brother, or will you come back with me, and be a tidy child?" "with you, with you!" cried the child; and he clung to the angel's dress. the pig brother grunted. "small loss!" he said. "there will be all the more wash for me!" and he trotted on. the golden windows all day long the little boy worked hard, in field and barn and shed, for his people were poor farmers, and could not pay a workman; but at sunset there came an hour that was all his own, for his father had given it to him. then the boy would go up to the top of a hill and look across at another hill that rose some miles away. on this far hill stood a house with windows of clear gold and diamonds. they shone and blazed so that it made the boy wink to look at them: but after a while the people in the house put up shutters, as it seemed, and then it looked like any common farmhouse. the boy supposed they did this because it was supper-time; and then he would go into the house and have his supper of bread and milk, and so to bed. one day the boy's father called him and said: "you have been a good boy, and have earned a holiday. take this day for your own; but remember that god gave it, and try to learn some good thing." the boy thanked his father and kissed his mother; then he put a piece of bread in his pocket, and started off to find the house with the golden windows. it was pleasant walking. his bare feet made marks in the white dust, and when he looked back, the footprints seemed to be following him, and making company for him. his shadow, too, kept beside him, and would dance or run with him as he pleased; so it was very cheerful. by and by he felt hungry; and he sat down by a brown brook that ran through the alder hedge by the roadside, and ate his bread, and drank the clear water. then he scattered the crumbs for the birds, as his mother had taught him to do, and went on his way. after a long time he came to a high green hill; and when he had climbed the hill, there was the house on the top; but it seemed that the shutters were up, for he could not see the golden windows. he came up to the house, and then he could well have wept, for the windows were of clear glass, like any others, and there was no gold anywhere about them. a woman came to the door, and looked kindly at the boy, and asked him what he wanted. "i saw the golden windows from our hilltop," he said, "and i came to see them, but now they are only glass." the woman shook her head and laughed. "we are poor farming people," she said, "and are not likely to have gold about our windows; but glass is better to see through." she bade the boy sit down on the broad stone step at the door, and brought him a cup of milk and a cake, and bade him rest; then she called her daughter, a child of his own age, and nodded kindly at the two, and went back to her work. the little girl was barefooted like himself, and wore a brown cotton gown, but her hair was golden like the windows he had seen, and her eyes were blue like the sky at noon. she led the boy about the farm, and showed him her black calf with the white star on its forehead, and he told her about his own at home, which was red like a chestnut, with four white feet. then when they had eaten an apple together, and so had become friends, the boy asked her about the golden windows. the little girl nodded, and said she knew all about them, only he had mistaken the house. "you have come quite the wrong way!" she said. "come with me, and i will show you the house with the golden windows, and then you will see for yourself." they went to a knoll that rose behind the farmhouse, and as they went the little girl told him that the golden windows could only be seen at a certain hour, about sunset. "yes, i know that!" said the boy. when they reached the top of the knoll, the girl turned and pointed; and there on a hill far away stood a house with windows of clear gold and diamond, just as he had seen them. and when they looked again, the boy saw that it was his own home. then he told the little girl that he must go; and he gave her his best pebble, the white one with the red band, that he had carried for a year in his pocket; and she gave him three horse-chestnuts, one red like satin, one spotted, and one white like milk. he kissed her, and promised to come again, but he did not tell her what he had learned; and so he went back down the hill, and the little girl stood in the sunset light and watched him. the way home was long, and it was dark before the boy reached his father's house; but the lamplight and firelight shone through the windows, making them almost as bright as he had seen them from the hilltop; and when he opened the door, his mother came to kiss him, and his little sister ran to throw her arms about his neck, and his father looked up and smiled from his seat by the fire. "have you had a good day?" asked his mother. yes, the boy had had a very good day. "and have you learned anything?" asked his father. "yes!" said the boy. "i have learned that our house has windows of gold and diamond." the coming of the king some children were at play in their play-ground one day, when a herald rode through the town, blowing a trumpet, and crying aloud, "the king! the king passes by this road to-day. make ready for the king!" the children stopped their play, and looked at one another. "did you hear that?" they said. "the king is coming. he may look over the wall and see our playground; who knows? we must put it in order." the playground was sadly dirty, and in the corners were scraps of paper and broken toys, for these were careless children. but now, one brought a hoe, and another a rake, and a third ran to fetch the wheelbarrow from behind the garden gate. they labored hard, till at length all was clean and tidy. "now it is clean!" they said; "but we must make it pretty, too, for kings are used to fine things; maybe he would not notice mere cleanness, for he may have it all the time." then one brought sweet rushes and strewed them on the ground; and others made garlands of oak leaves and pine tassels and hung them on the walls; and the littlest one pulled marigold buds and threw them all about the playground, "to look like gold," he said. when all was done the playground was so beautiful that the children stood and looked at it, and clapped their hands with pleasure. "let us keep it always like this!" said the littlest one; and the others cried, "yes! yes! that is what we will do." they waited all day for the coming of the king, but he never came; only, towards sunset, a man with travel-worn clothes, and a kind, tired face passed along the road, and stopped to look over the wall. "what a pleasant place!" said the man. "may i come in and rest, dear children?" the children brought him in gladly, and set him on the seat that they had made out of an old cask. they had covered it with the old red cloak to make it look like a throne, and it made a very good one. "it is our playground!" they said. "we made it pretty for the king, but he did not come, and now we mean to keep it so for ourselves." "that is good!" said the man. "because we think pretty and clean is nicer than ugly and dirty!" said another. "that is better!" said the man. "and for tired people to rest in!" said the littlest one. "that is best of all!" said the man. he sat and rested, and looked at the children with such kind eyes that they came about him, and told him all they knew; about the five puppies in the barn, and the thrush's nest with four blue eggs, and the shore where the gold shells grew; and the man nodded and understood all about it. by and by he asked for a cup of water, and they brought it to him in the best cup, with the gold sprigs on it: then he thanked the children, and rose and went on his way; but before he went he laid his hand on their heads for a moment, and the touch went warm to their hearts. the children stood by the wall and watched the man as he went slowly along. the sun was setting, and the light fell in long slanting rays across the road. "he looks so tired!" said one of the children. "but he was so kind!" said another. "see!" said the littlest one. "how the sun shines on his hair! it looks like a crown of gold." swing song as i swing, as i swing, here beneath my mother's wing, here beneath my mother's arm, never earthly thing can harm. up and down, to and fro, with a steady sweep i go, like a swallow on the wing, as i swing, as i swing. as i swing, as i swing, honey-bee comes murmuring, humming softly in my ear, "come away with me, my dear! in the tiger-lily's cup sweetest honey we will sup." go away, you velvet thing! i must swing! i must swing! as i swing, as i swing, butterfly comes fluttering, "little child, now come away 'mid the clover-blooms to play; clover-blooms are red and white, sky is blue and sun is bright. why then thus, with folded wing, sit and swing, sit and swing?" as i swing, as i swing, oriole comes hovering. "see my nest in yonder tree! little child, come work with me. learn to make a perfect nest, that of all things is the best. come! nor longer loitering sit and swing, sit and swing!" as i swing, as i swing, though i have not any wing, still i would not change with you, happiest bird that ever flew. butterfly and honey-bee, sure 't is you must envy me, safe beneath my mother's wing as i swing, as i swing. the great feast once the play angel came into a nursery where four little children sat on the floor with sad and troubled faces. "what is the matter, dears?" asked the play angel. "we wanted to have a grand feast!" said the child whose nursery it was. "yes, that would be delightful!" said the play angel. "but there is only one cooky!" said the child whose nursery it was. "and it is a very small cooky!" said the child who was a cousin, and therefore felt a right to speak. "not big enough for myself!" said the child whose nursery it was. the other two children said nothing, because they were not relations; but they looked at the cooky with large eyes, and their mouths went up in the middle and down at the sides. "well," said the play angel, "suppose we have the feast just the same! i think we can manage it." she broke the cooky into four pieces, and gave one piece to the littlest child. "see!" she said. "this is a roast chicken, a brown bantam. it is just as brown and crispy as it can be, and there is cranberry sauce on one side, and on the other a little mountain of mashed potato; it must be a volcano, it smokes so. do you see?" "yes!" said the littlest one; and his mouth went down in the middle and up at the corners. the play angel gave a piece to the next child. "here," she said, "is a little pie! outside, as you see, it is brown and crusty, with a wreath of pastry leaves round the edge and 'for you' in the middle; but inside it is all chicken and ham and jelly and hard-boiled eggs. did ever you see such a pie?" "never i did!" said the child. "now here," said the angel to the third child, "is a round cake. _look_ at it! the frosting is half an inch thick, with candied rose-leaves and angelica laid on in true-lovers' knots; and inside there are chopped-up almonds, and raisins, and great slices of citron. it is the prettiest cake i ever saw, and the best." "so it is i did!" said the third child. then the angel gave the last piece to the child whose nursery it was. "my dear!" she said. "just look! here is an ice-cream rabbit. he is snow-white outside, with eyes of red barley sugar; see his ears, and his little snubby tail! but inside, i _think_ you will find him pink. now, when i clap my hands and count one, two, three, you must eat the feast all up. one--two--three!" so the children ate the feast all up. "there!" said the angel. "did ever you see such a grand feast?" "no, never we did!" said all the four children together. "and there are some crumbs left over," said the angel. "come, and we will give them to the brother birds!" "but you didn't have any!" said the child whose nursery it was. "oh, yes!" said the angel. "i had it all!" the owl and the eel and the warming-pan the owl and the eel and the warming-pan, they went to call on the soap-fat man. the soap-fat man he was not within: he'd gone for a ride on his rolling-pin. so they all came back by the way of the town, and turned the meeting-house upside down. the wheat-field some children were set to reap in a wheat-field. the wheat was yellow as gold, the sun shone gloriously, and the butterflies flew hither and thither. some of the children worked better, and some worse; but there was one who ran here and there after the butterflies that fluttered about his head, and sang as he ran. by and by evening came, and the angel of the wheat-field called to the children and said, "come now to the gate, and bring your sheaves with you." so the children came, bringing their sheaves. some had great piles, laid close and even, so that they might carry more; some had theirs laid large and loose, so that they looked more than they were; but one, the child that had run to and fro after the butterflies, came empty-handed. the angel said to this child, "where are your sheaves?" the child hung his head. "i do not know!" he said. "i had some, but i have lost them, i know not how." "none enter here without sheaves," said the angel. "i know that," said the child. "but i thought i would like to see the place where the others were going; besides, they would not let me leave them." then all the other children cried out together. one said, "dear angel, let him in! in the morning i was sick, and this child came and played with me, and showed me the butterflies, and i forgot my pain. also, he gave me one of his sheaves, and i would give it to him again, but i cannot tell it now from my own." [illustration: the wheat field. [_page 22._] another said, "dear angel, let him in! at noon the sun beat on my head so fiercely that i fainted and fell down like one dead; and this child came running by, and when he saw me he brought water to revive me, and then he showed me the butterflies, and was so glad and merry that my strength returned; to me also he gave one of his sheaves, and i would give it to him again, but it is so like my own that i cannot tell it." and a third said, "just now, as evening was coming, i was weary and sad, and had so few sheaves that it seemed hardly worth my while to go on working; but this child comforted me, and showed me the butterflies, and gave me of his sheaves. look! it may be that this was his; and yet i cannot tell, it is so like my own." and all the children said, "we also had sheaves of him, dear angel; let him in, we pray you!" the angel smiled, and reached his hand inside the gate and brought out a pile of sheaves; it was not large, but the glory of the sun was on it, so that it seemed to lighten the whole field. "here are his sheaves!" said the angel. "they are known and counted, every one." and he said to the child, "lead the way in!" about angels "mother," said the child; "are there really angels?" "the good book says so," said the mother. "yes," said the child; "i have seen the picture. but did you ever see one, mother?" "i think i have," said the mother; "but she was not dressed like the picture." "i am going to find one!" said the child. "i am going to run along the road, miles, and miles, and miles, until i find an angel." "that will be a good plan!" said the mother. "and i will go with you, for you are too little to run far alone." "i am not little any more!" said the child. "i have trousers; i am big." "so you are!" said the mother. "i forgot. but it is a fine day, and i should like the walk." "but you walk so slowly, with your lame foot." "i can walk faster than you think!" said the mother. so they started, the child leaping and running, and the mother stepping out so bravely with her lame foot that the child soon forgot about it. the child danced on ahead, and presently he saw a chariot coming towards him, drawn by prancing white horses. in the chariot sat a splendid lady in velvet and furs, with white plumes waving above her dark hair. as she moved in her seat, she flashed with jewels and gold, but her eyes were brighter than her diamonds. "are you an angel?" asked the child, running up beside the chariot. the lady made no reply, but stared coldly at the child: then she spoke a word to her coachman, and he flicked his whip, and the chariot rolled away swiftly in a cloud of dust, and disappeared. the dust filled the child's eyes and mouth, and made him choke and sneeze. he gasped for breath, and rubbed his eyes; but presently his mother came up, and wiped away the dust with her blue gingham apron. "that was not an angel!" said the child. "no, indeed!" said the mother. "nothing like one!" the child danced on again, leaping and running from side to side of the road, and the mother followed as best she might. by and by the child met a most beautiful maiden, clad in a white dress. her eyes were like blue stars, and the blushes came and went in her face like roses looking through snow. "i am sure you must be an angel!" cried the child. the maiden blushed more sweetly than before. "you dear little child!" she cried. "some one else said that, only last evening. do i really look like an angel?" "you _are_ an angel!" said the child. the maiden took him up in her arms and kissed him, and held him tenderly. "you are the dearest little thing i ever saw!" she said. "tell me what makes you think so!" but suddenly her face changed. "oh!" she cried. "there he is, coming to meet me! and you have soiled my white dress with your dusty shoes, and pulled my hair all awry. run away, child, and go home to your mother!" she set the child down, not unkindly, but so hastily that he stumbled and fell; but she did not see that, for she was hastening forward to meet her lover, who was coming along the road. (now if the maiden had only known, he thought her twice as lovely with the child in her arms; but she did not know.) the child lay in the dusty road and sobbed, till his mother came along and picked him up, and wiped away the tears with her blue gingham apron. "i don't believe that was an angel, after all," he said. "no!" said the mother. "but she may be one some day. she is young yet." "i am tired!" said the child. "will you carry me home, mother?" "why, yes!" said the mother. "that is what i came for." the child put his arms round his mother's neck, and she held him tight and trudged along the road, singing the song he liked best. suddenly he looked up in her face. "mother," he said; "i don't suppose _you_ could be an angel, could you?" "oh, what a foolish child!" said the mother. "who ever heard of an angel in a blue gingham apron?" and she went on singing, and stepped out so bravely on her lame foot that no one would ever have known she was lame. the apron-string once upon a time a boy played about the house, running by his mother's side; and as he was very little, his mother tied him to the string of her apron. "now," she said, "when you stumble, you can pull yourself up by the apron-string, and so you will not fall." the boy did that, and all went well, and the mother sang at her work. by and by the boy grew so tall that his head came above the window-sill; and looking through the window, he saw far away green trees waving, and a flowing river that flashed in the sun, and rising above all, blue peaks of mountains. "oh, mother," he said; "untie the apron-string and let me go!" but the mother said, "not yet, my child! only yesterday you stumbled, and would have fallen but for the apron-string. wait yet a little, till you are stronger." so the boy waited, and all went as before; and the mother sang at her work. but one day the boy found the door of the house standing open, for it was spring weather; and he stood on the threshold and looked across the valley, and saw the green trees waving, and the swift-flowing river with the sun flashing on it, and the blue mountains rising beyond; and this time he heard the voice of the river calling, and it said "come!" then the boy started forward, and as he started, the string of the apron broke. "oh! how weak my mother's apron-string is!" cried the boy; and he ran out into the world, with the broken string hanging beside him. the mother gathered up the other end of the string and put it in her bosom, and went about her work again; but she sang no more. the boy ran on and on, rejoicing in his freedom, and in the fresh air and the morning sun. he crossed the valley, and began to climb the foothills among which the river flowed swiftly, among rocks and cliffs. now it was easy climbing, and again it was steep and craggy, but always he looked upward at the blue peaks beyond, and always the voice of the river was in his ears, saying "come!" by and by he came to the brink of a precipice, over which the river dashed in a cataract, foaming and flashing, and sending up clouds of silver spray. the spray filled his eyes, so that he did not see his footing clearly; he grew dizzy, stumbled, and fell. but as he fell, something about him caught on a point of rock at the precipice-edge, and held him, so that he hung dangling over the abyss; and when he put up his hand to see what held him, he found that it was the broken string of the apron, which still hung by his side. "oh! how strong my mother's apron-string is!" said the boy: and he drew himself up by it, and stood firm on his feet, and went on climbing toward the blue peaks of the mountains. the shadow an angel heard a child crying one day, and came to see what ailed it. he found the little one sitting on the ground, with the sun at its back (for the day was young), looking at its own shadow, which lay on the ground before it, and weeping bitterly. "what ails you, little one?" asked the angel. "the world is so dark!" said the child. "see, it is all dusky gray, and there is no beauty in it. why must i stay in this sad, gray world?" "do you not hear the birds singing, and the other children calling at their play?" asked the angel. "yes," said the child; "i hear them, but i do not know where they are. i cannot see them, i see only the shadow. moreover, if they saw it, they would not sing and call, but would weep as i do." the angel lifted the child, and set it on its feet, with its face to the early sun. "look!" said the angel. the child brushed away the tears from its eyes and looked. before them lay the fields all green and gold, shining with dewdrops, and the other children were running to and fro, laughing and shouting, and crowning one another with blossoms. "why, there are the children!" said the little one. "yes," said the angel; "there they are." "and the sun is shining!" cried the child. "yes," said the angel; "it was shining all the time." "and the shadow is gone!" "oh, no!" said the angel; "the shadow is behind you, where it belongs. run, now, and gather flowers for the littlest one, who sits in the grass there!" the sailor man once upon a time two children came to the house of a sailor man, who lived beside the salt sea; and they found the sailor man sitting in his doorway knotting ropes. "how do you do?" asked the sailor man. "we are very well, thank you," said the children, who had learned manners, "and we hope you are the same. we heard that you had a boat, and we thought that perhaps you would take us out in her, and teach us how to sail, for that is what we wish most to know." [illustration: the sailor man. [_page 34._] "all in good time," said the sailor man. "i am busy now, but by and by, when my work is done, i may perhaps take one of you if you are ready to learn. meantime here are some ropes that need knotting; you might be doing that, since it has to be done." and he showed them how the knots should be tied, and went away and left them. when he was gone the first child ran to the window and looked out. "there is the sea," he said. "the waves come up on the beach, almost to the door of the house. they run up all white, like prancing horses, and then they go dragging back. come and look!" "i cannot," said the second child. "i am tying a knot." "oh!" cried the first child, "i see the boat. she is dancing like a lady at a ball; i never saw such a beauty. come and look!" "i cannot," said the second child. "i am tying a knot." "i shall have a delightful sail in that boat," said the first child. "i expect that the sailor man will take me, because i am the eldest and i know more about it. there was no need of my watching when he showed you the knots, because i knew how already." just then the sailor man came in. "well," he said, "my work is over. what have you been doing in the meantime?" "i have been looking at the boat," said the first child. "what a beauty she is! i shall have the best time in her that ever i had in my life." "i have been tying knots," said the second child. "come, then," said the sailor man, and he held out his hand to the second child. "i will take you out in the boat, and teach you to sail her." "but i am the eldest," cried the first child, "and i know a great deal more than she does." "that may be," said the sailor man; "but a person must learn to tie a knot before he can learn to sail a boat." "but i have learned to tie a knot," cried the child. "i know all about it!" "how can i tell that?" asked the sailor man. "go" and "come" "little boy," said the nurse one day, "you would be far better at work. your garden needs weeding sadly; go now and weed it, like a good child!" but the little boy did not feel like weeding that day. "i can't do it," he said. "oh! yes, you can," said the nurse. "well, i don't want to," said the little boy. "but you must!" said the nurse. "don't be naughty, but go at once and do your work as i bid you!" she went away about her own work, for she was very industrious; but the little boy sat still, and thought himself ill-used. by and by his mother came into the room and saw him. "what is the matter, little boy?" she asked; for he looked like a three-days' rain. "nurse told me to weed my garden," said the little boy. "oh," said his mother, "what fun that will be! i love to weed, and it is such a fine day! mayn't i come and help?" "why, yes," said the little boy. "you may." and they weeded the garden beautifully, and had a glorious time. child's play once a child was sitting on a great log that lay by the roadside, playing; and another child came along, and stopped to speak to him. "what are you doing?" asked the second child. "i am sailing to the southern seas," replied the first, "to get a cargo of monkeys, and elephant tusks, and crystal balls as large as oranges. come up here, and you may sail with me if you like." so the second child climbed upon the log. "look!" said the first child. "see how the foam bubbles up before the ship, and trails and floats away behind! look! the water is so clear that we can see the fishes swimming about, blue and red and green. there goes a parrot-fish; my father told me about them. i should not wonder if we saw a whale in about a minute." "what are you talking about?" asked the second child, peevishly. "there is no water here, only grass; and anyhow this is nothing but a log. you cannot get to islands in this way." "but we _have_ got to them," cried the first child. "we are at them now. i see the palm-trees waving, and the white sand glittering. look! there are the natives gathering to welcome us on the beach. they have feather cloaks, and necklaces, and anklets of copper as red as gold. oh! and there is an elephant coming straight toward us." "i should think you would be ashamed," said the second child. "that is widow slocum." "it's all the same," said the first child. presently the second child got down from the log. "i am going to play stick-knife," he said. "i don't see any sense in this. i think you are pretty dull to play things that aren't really there." and he walked slowly away. the first child looked after him a moment. "i think _you_ are pretty dull," he said to himself, "to see nothing but what is under your nose." but he was too well-mannered to say this aloud; and having taken in his cargo, he sailed for another port. little john bottlejohn little john bottlejohn lived on the hill, and a blithe little man was he. and he won the heart of a pretty mermaid who lived in the deep blue sea. and every evening she used to sit and sing on the rocks by the sea, "oh! little john bottlejohn, pretty john bottlejohn, won't you come out to me?" little john bottlejohn heard her song, and he opened his little door. and he hopped and he skipped, and he skipped and he hopped, until he came down to the shore. and there on the rocks sat the little mermaid, and still she was singing so free, "oh! little john bottlejohn, pretty john bottlejohn, won't you come out to me?" little john bottlejohn made a bow, and the mermaid, she made one too, and she said, "oh! i never saw any one half so perfectly sweet as you! in my lovely home 'neath the ocean foam, how happy we both might be! oh! little john bottlejohn, pretty john bottlejohn, won't you come down with me?" little john bottlejohn said, "oh yes! i'll willingly go with you. and i never shall quail at the sight of your tail, for perhaps i may grow one too." so he took her hand, and he left the land, and plunged in the foaming main. and little john bottlejohn, pretty john bottlejohn, never was seen again. a fortune one day a man was walking along the street, and he was sad at heart. business was dull; he had set his desire upon a horse that cost a thousand dollars, and he had only eight hundred to buy it with. there were other things, to be sure, that might be bought with eight hundred dollars, but he did not want those; so he was sorrowful, and thought the world a bad place. as he walked, he saw a child running toward him; it was a strange child, but when he looked at it, its face lightened like sunshine, and broke into smiles. the child held out its closed hand. "guess what i have!" it cried gleefully. "something fine, i am sure!" said the man. the child nodded and drew nearer; then opened its hand. "look!" it said; and the street rang with its happy laughter. the man looked, and in the child's hand lay a penny. "hurrah!" said the child. "hurrah!" said the man. then they parted, and the child went and bought a stick of candy, and saw all the world red and white in stripes. the man went and put his eight hundred dollars in the savings-bank, all but fifty cents, and with the fifty cents he bought a hobby-horse for his own little boy, and the little boy saw all the world brown, with white spots. "is this the horse you wanted so to buy, father?" asked the little boy. "it is the horse i have bought!" said the man. "hurrah!" said the little boy. "hurrah!" said the man. and he saw that the world was a good place after all. the stars a little dear child lay in its crib and sobbed, because it was afraid of the dark. and its father, in the room below, heard the sobs, and came up, and said, "what ails you, my dearie, and why do you cry?" and the child said, "oh, father, i am afraid of the dark. nurse says i am too big to have a taper; but all the corners are full of dreadful blackness, and i think there are things in them with eyes, that would look at me if i looked at them; and if they looked at me i should die. oh, father, why is it dark? why is there such a terrible thing as darkness? why cannot it be always day?" the father took the child in his arms and carried it downstairs and out into the summer night. "look up, dearie!" he said, in his strong, kind voice. "look up, and see god's little lights!" the little one looked up, and saw the stars, spangling the blue veil of the sky; bright as candles they burned, and yellow as gold. "oh, father," cried the child; "what are those lovely things?" "those are stars," said the father. "those are god's little lights." "but why have i never seen them before?" "because you are a very little child, and have never been out in the night before." "can i see the stars only at night, father?" "only at night, my child!" "do they only come then, father?" "no; they are always there, but we cannot see them when the sun is shining." "but, father, the darkness is not terrible here, it is beautiful!" "yes, dearie; the darkness is always beautiful, if we will only look up at the stars, instead of into the corners." buttercup gold oh! the cupperty-buts! and oh! the cupperty-buts! out in the meadow, shining under the trees, and sparkling over the lawn, millions and millions of them, each one a bit of purest gold from mother nature's mint. jessy stood at the window, looking out at them, and thinking, as she often had thought before, that there were no flowers so beautiful. "cupperty-buts," she had been used to call them, when she was a wee baby-girl and could not speak without tumbling over her words and mixing them up in the queerest fashion; and now that she was a very great girl, actually six years old, they were still cupperty-buts to her, and would never be anything else, she said. there was nothing she liked better than to watch the lovely golden things, and nod to them as they nodded to her; but this morning her little face looked anxious and troubled, and she gazed at the flowers with an intent and inquiring look, as if she had expected them to reply to her unspoken thoughts. what these thoughts were i am going to tell you. half an hour before, she had called to her mother, who was just going out, and begged her to come and look at the cupperty-buts. "they are brighter than ever, mamma! do just come and look at them! golden, golden, golden! there must be fifteen thousand million dollars' worth of gold just on the lawn, i should think." and her mother, pausing to look out, said, very sadly,-"ah, my darling! if i only had this day a little of that gold, what a happy woman i should be!" and then the good mother went out, and there little jessy stood, gazing at the flowers, and repeating the words to herself, over and over again,-"if i only had a little of that gold!" she knew that her mother was very, very poor, and had to go out to work every day to earn food and clothes for herself and her little daughter; and the child's tender heart ached to think of the sadness in the dear mother's look and tone. suddenly jessy started, and the sunshine flashed into her face. "why!" she exclaimed, "why shouldn't i get some of the gold from the cupperty-buts? i believe i could get some, perfectly well. when mamma wants to get the juice out of anything, meat, or fruit, or anything of that sort, she just boils it. and so, if i should boil the cupperty-buts, wouldn't all the gold come out? of course it would! oh, joy! how pleased mamma will be!" jessy's actions always followed her thoughts with great rapidity. in five minutes she was out on the lawn, with a huge basket beside her, pulling away at the buttercups with might and main. oh! how small they were, and how long it took even to cover the bottom of the basket. but jessy worked with a will, and at the end of an hour she had picked enough to make at least a thousand dollars, as she calculated. that would do for one day, she thought; and now for the grand experiment! before going out she had with much labor filled the great kettle with water, so now the water was boiling, and she had only to put the buttercups in and put the cover on. when this was done, she sat as patiently as she could, trying to pay attention to her knitting, and not to look at the clock oftener than every two minutes. "they must boil for an hour," she said; "and by that time all the gold will have come out." well, the hour did pass, somehow or other, though it was a very long one; and at eleven o'clock, jessy, with a mighty effort, lifted the kettle from the stove and carried it to the open door, that the fresh air might cool the boiling water. at first, when she lifted the cover, such a cloud of steam came out that she could see nothing; but in a moment the wind blew the steam aside, and then she saw,--oh, poor little jessy!--she saw a mass of weeds floating about in a quantity of dirty, greenish water, and that was all. not the smallest trace of gold, even in the buttercups themselves, was to be seen. poor little jessy! she tried hard not to cry, but it was a bitter disappointment; the tears came rolling down her cheeks faster and faster, till at length she sat down by the kettle, and, burying her face in her apron, sobbed as if her heart would break. presently, through her sobs, she heard a kind voice saying, "what is the matter, little one? why do you cry so bitterly?" she looked up and saw an old gentleman with white hair and a bright, cheery face, standing by her. at first, jessy could say nothing but "oh! the cupperty-buts! oh! the cupperty-buts!" but, of course, the old gentleman didn't know what she meant by that, so, as he urged her to tell him about her trouble, she dried her eyes, and told him the melancholy little story: how her mother was very poor, and said she wished she had some gold; and how she herself had tried to get the gold out of the buttercups by boiling them. "i was so sure i could get it out," she said, "and i thought mamma would be so pleased! and now--" here she was very near breaking down again; but the gentleman patted her head and said, cheerfully, "wait a bit, little woman! don't give up the ship yet. you know that gold is heavy, very heavy indeed, and if there were any it would be at the very bottom of the kettle, all covered with the weeds, so that you could not see it. i should not be at all surprised if you found some, after all. run into the house and bring me a spoon with a long handle, and we will fish in the kettle, and see what we can find." jessy's face brightened, and she ran into the house. if any one had been standing near just at that moment, i think it is possible that he might have seen the old gentleman's hand go into his pocket and out again very quickly, and might have heard a little splash in the kettle; but nobody was near, so, of course, i cannot say anything about it. at any rate, when jessy came out with the spoon, he was standing with both hands in his pockets, looking in the opposite direction. he took the great iron spoon and fished about in the kettle for some time. at last there was a little clinking noise, and the old gentleman lifted the spoon. oh, wonder and delight! in it lay three great, broad, shining pieces of gold! jessy could hardly believe her eyes. she stared and stared; and when the old gentleman put the gold into her hand, she still stood as if in a happy dream, gazing at it. suddenly she started, and remembered that she had not thanked her kindly helper. she looked up, and began, "thank you, sir;" but the old gentleman was gone. well, the next question was, how could jessy possibly wait till twelve o'clock for her mother to come home? knitting was out of the question. she could do nothing but dance and look out of window, and look out of window and dance, holding the precious coins tight in her hand. at last, a well-known footstep was heard outside the door, and mrs. gray came in, looking very tired and worn. she smiled, however, when she saw jessy, and said,-"well, my darling, i am glad to see you looking so bright. how has the morning gone with my little housekeeper?" "oh, mother!" cried jessy, hopping about on one foot, "it has gone very well! oh, very, _very, very_ well! oh, my mother dear, what do you think i have got in my hand? _what_ do you think? oh, what _do_ you think?" and she went dancing round and round, till poor mrs. gray was quite dizzy with watching her. at last she stopped, and holding out her hand, opened it and showed her mother what was in it. mrs. gray was really frightened. "jessy, my child!" she cried, "where did you get all that money?" "out of the cupperty-buts, mamma!" said jessy, "out of the cupperty-buts! and it's all for you, every bit of it! dear mamma, now you will be happy, will you not?" "jessy," said mrs. gray, "have you lost your senses, or are you playing some trick on me? tell me all about this at once, dear child, and don't talk nonsense." "but it isn't nonsense, mamma!" cried jessy, "and it did come out of the cupperty-buts!" and then she told her mother the whole story. the tears came into mrs. gray's eyes, but they were tears of joy and gratitude. "jessy dear," she said, "when we say our prayers at night, let us never forget to pray for that good gentleman. may heaven bless him and reward him! for if it had not been for him, jessy dear, i fear you would never have found the 'buttercup gold.'" the patient cat when the spotted cat first found the nest, there was nothing in it, for it was only just finished. so she said, "i will wait!" for she was a patient cat, and the summer was before her. she waited a week, and then she climbed up again to the top of the tree, and peeped into the nest. there lay two lovely blue eggs, smooth and shining. the spotted cat said, "eggs may be good, but young birds are better. i will wait." so she waited; and while she was waiting, she caught mice and rats, and washed herself and slept, and did all that a spotted cat should do to pass the time away. when another week had passed, she climbed the tree again and peeped into the nest. this time there were five eggs. but the spotted cat said again, "eggs may be good, but young birds are better. i will wait a little longer!" so she waited a little longer and then went up again to look. ah! there were five tiny birds, with big eyes and long necks, and yellow beaks wide open. then the spotted cat sat down on the branch, and licked her nose and purred, for she was very happy. "it is worth while to be patient!" she said. but when she looked again at the young birds, to see which one she should take first, she saw that they were very thin,--oh, very, very thin they were! the spotted cat had never seen anything so thin in her life. "now," she said to herself, "if i were to wait only a few days longer, they would grow fat. thin birds may be good, but fat birds are much better. i will wait!" so she waited; and she watched the father-bird bringing worms all day long to the nest, and said, "aha! they must be fattening fast! they will soon be as fat as i wish them to be. aha! what a good thing it is to be patient." at last, one day she thought, "surely, now they must be fat enough! i will not wait another day. aha! how good they will be!" so she climbed up the tree, licking her chops all the way and thinking of the fat young birds. and when she reached the top and looked into the nest, it was empty!! then the spotted cat sat down on the branch and spoke thus, "well, of all the horrid, mean, ungrateful creatures i ever saw, those birds are the horridest, and the meanest, and the most ungrateful! mi-a-u-ow!!!!" alice's supper far down in the meadow the wheat grows green, and the reapers are whetting their sickles so keen; and this is the song that i hear them sing, while cheery and loud their voices ring: "'tis the finest wheat that ever did grow! and it is for alice's supper, ho! ho!" far down in the valley the old mill stands, and the miller is rubbing his dusty white hands; and these are the words of the miller's lay, as he watches the millstones a-grinding away: "'tis the finest flour that money can buy, and it is for alice's supper, hi! hi!" downstairs in the kitchen the fire doth glow, and maggie is kneading the soft white dough, and this is the song that she's singing to-day, while merry and busy she's working away: "'tis the finest dough, by near or by far, and it is for alice's supper, ha! ha!" and now to the nursery comes nannie at last, and what in her hand is she bringing so fast? 'tis a plate full of something all yellow and white, and she sings as she comes with her smile so bright: "'tis the best bread-and-butter i ever did see! and it is for alice's supper, he! he!" the quacky duck the quacky duck stood on the bank of the stream. and the frogs came and sat on stones and insulted him. now the words which the frogs used were these,- "ya! ha! he hasn't any hind-legs! ya! ha! he hasn't any fore-legs! oh! what horrid luck to be a quacky duck!" these were not pleasant words. and when the quacky duck heard them, he considered within himself whether it would not be best for him to eat the frogs. "two good things would come of it," he said. "i should have a savoury meal, and their remarks would no longer be audible." so he fell upon the frogs, and they fled before him. and one jumped into the water, and one jumped on the land, and another jumped into the reeds; for such is their manner. but one of them, being in fear, saw not clearly the way he should go, and jumped even upon the back of the quacky duck. now, this displeased the quacky duck, and he said, "if you will remove yourself from my person, we will speak further of this." so the frog, being also willing, strove to remove himself, and the result was that they two, being on the edge of the bank, fell into the water. then the frog departed swiftly, saying, "solitude is best for meditation." but the quacky duck, having hit his head against a stone, sank to the bottom of the pond, where he found himself in the frogs' kitchen. and there he spied a fish, which the frogs had caught for their dinner, intending to share it in a brotherly manner, for it was a savoury fish. when the quacky duck saw it, he was glad; and he said, "fish is better than frog" (for he was an english duck)! and, taking the fish, he swam with speed to the shore. now the frogs lamented when they saw him go, for they said, "he has our savoury fish!" and they wept, and reviled the quacky duck. but he said, "be comforted! for if i had not found the fish, i should assuredly have eaten you. therefore, say now, which is the better for you?" and he ate the fish, and departed joyful. at the little boy's home it was a very hot day, and the little boy was lying on his stomach under the big linden tree, reading the "scottish chiefs." "little boy," said his mother, "will you please go out in the garden and bring me a head of lettuce?" "oh, i--can't!" said the little boy. "i'm--too--_hot_!" the little boy's father happened to be close by, weeding the geranium bed; and when he heard this, he lifted the little boy gently by his waistband, and dipped him in the great tub of water that stood ready for watering the plants. "there, my son!" said the father. "now you are cool enough to go and get the lettuce; but remember next time that it will be easier to go at once when you are told, as then you will not have to change your clothes." the little boy went drip, drip, dripping out into the garden and brought the lettuce; then he went drip, drip, dripping into the house and changed his clothes; but he said never a word, for he knew there was nothing to say. that is the way they do things where the little boy lives. would you like to live there? perhaps not; yet he is a happy little boy, and he is learning the truth of the old saying,- "come when you're called, do as you're bid, shut the door after you, and you'll never be chid." new year the little sweet child tied on her hood, and put on her warm cloak and mittens. "i am going to the wood," she said, "to tell the creatures all about it. they cannot understand about christmas, mamma says, and of course she knows, but i do think they ought to know about new year!" out in the wood the snow lay light and powdery on the branches, but under foot it made a firm, smooth floor, over which the child could walk lightly without sinking in. she saw other footprints beside her own, tiny bird-tracks, little hopping marks, which showed where a rabbit had taken his way, traces of mice and squirrels and other little wild-wood beasts. the child stood under a great hemlock-tree, and looked up toward the clear blue sky, which shone far away beyond the dark tree-tops. she spread her hands abroad and called, "happy new year! happy new year to everybody in the wood, and all over the world!" a rustling was heard in the hemlock branches, and a striped squirrel peeped down at her. "what do you mean by that, little child?" he asked. and then from all around came other squirrels, came little field-mice, and hares swiftly leaping, and all the winter birds, titmouse and snow-bird, and many another; and they all wanted to know what the child meant by her greeting, for they had never heard the words before. "it means that god is giving us another year!" said the child. "four more seasons, each lovelier than the last, just as it was last year. flowers will bud, and then they will blossom, and then the fruit will hang all red and golden on the branches, for birds and men and little children to eat." "and squirrels, too!" cried the chipmunk, eagerly. "of course!" said the child. "squirrels, too, and every creature that lives in the good green wood. and this is not all! we can do over again the things that we tried to do last year, and perhaps failed in doing. we have another chance to be good and kind, to do little loving things that help, and to cure ourselves of doing naughty things. our hearts can have lovely new seasons, like the flowers and trees and all the sweet things that grow and bear leaves and fruit. i thought i would come and tell you all this, because sometimes one does not think of things till one hears them from another's lips. are you glad i came? if you are glad, say happy new year! each in his own way! i say it to you all now in my way. happy new year! happy new year!" such a noise as broke out then had never been heard in the wood since the oldest hemlock was a baby, and that was a long time ago. chirping, twittering, squeaking, chattering! the wood-doves lit on the child's shoulder and cooed in her ear, and she knew just what they said. the squirrels made a long speech, and meant every word of it, which is more than people always do; the field-mouse said that she was going to turn over a new leaf, the very biggest cabbage-leaf she could find; while the titmouse invited the whole company to dine with him, a thing he had never done in his life before. when the child turned to leave the wood, the joyful chorus followed her, and she went, smiling, home and told her mother all about it. "and, mother," she said, "i should not be surprised if they had got a little bit of christmas, after all, along with their new year!" jacky frost jacky frost, jacky frost, came in the night; left the meadows that he crossed all gleaming white. painted with his silver brush every window-pane; kissed the leaves and made them blush, blush and blush again. jacky frost, jacky frost, crept around the house, sly as a silver fox, still as a mouse. out little jenny came, blushing like a rose; up jumped jacky frost, and pinched her little nose. the cake once a cake would go seek his fortune in the world, and he took his leave of the pan he was baked in. "i know my destiny," said the cake. "i must be eaten, since to that end i was made; but i am a good cake, if i say it who should not, and i would fain choose the persons i am to benefit." "i don't see what difference it makes to you!" said the pan. "but imagination is hardly your strong point!" said the cake. "huh!" said the pan. the cake went on his way, and soon he passed by a cottage door where sat a woman spinning, and her ten children playing about her. "oh!" said the woman, "what a beautiful cake!" and she put out her hand to take him. "be so good as to wait a moment!" said the cake. "will you kindly tell me what you would do with me if i should yield myself up to you?" "i shall break you into ten pieces," said the woman, "and give one to each of my ten children. so you will give ten pleasures, and that is a good thing." "oh, that would be very nice, i am sure," said the cake; "but if you will excuse me for mentioning it, your children seem rather dirty, especially their hands, and i confess i should like to keep my frosting unsullied, so i think i will go a little further." "as you will!" said the woman. "after all, the brown loaf is better for the children." so the cake went further, and met a fair child, richly dressed, with coral lips and eyes like sunlit water. when the child saw the cake, he said like the woman, "oh, what a beautiful cake!" and put out his hand to take it. "i am sure i should be most happy!" said the cake. "and you will not take it amiss, i am confident, if i ask with whom you will share me." "i shall not share you with any one!" said the child. "i shall eat you myself, every crumb. what do you take me for?" "good gracious!" cried the cake. "this will never do. consider my size,--and yours! you would be very ill!" "i don't care!" said the child. "i'd rather be ill than give any away." and he fixed greedy eyes on the cake, and stretched forth his hand again. "this is really terrible!" cried the cake. "what is one's frosting to this? i will go back to the woman with the ten children." he turned and ran back, leaving the child screaming with rage and disappointed greed. but as he ran, a hungry puppy met him, and swallowed him at a gulp, and went on licking his chops and wagging his tail. "huh!" said the pan. "oh, dear!" chimborazo was a very unhappy boy. he pouted, and he sulked, and he said, "oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!" he said it till everybody was tired of hearing it. "chimborazo," his mother would say, "please don't say, 'oh, dear!' any more. it is very annoying. say something else." "oh, dear!" the boy would answer, "i can't! i don't know anything else to say. oh, dear! oh, _dear_!! oh, dear!!!" one day his mother could not bear it any longer, and she sent for his fairy godmother, and told her all about it. "humph!" said the fairy godmother. "i will see to it. send the boy to me!" so chimborazo was sent for, and came, hanging his head as usual. when he saw his fairy godmother, he said, "oh, dear!" for he was rather afraid of her. "'oh, dear!' it is!" said the godmother sharply; and she put on her spectacles and looked at him. "do you know what a bell-punch is?" "oh, dear!" said chimborazo. "no, ma'am, i don't!" "well," said the godmother, "i am going to give you one." "oh, dear!" said chimborazo, "i don't want one." "probably not," replied she, "but that doesn't make much difference. you have it now, in your jacket pocket." chimborazo felt in his pocket, and took out a queer-looking instrument of shining metal. "oh, dear!" he said. "'oh, dear!' it is!" said the fairy godmother. "now," she continued, "listen to me, chimborazo! i am going to put you on an allowance of 'oh, dears.' this is a self-acting bell-punch, and it will ring whenever you say 'oh, dear!' how many times do you generally say it in the course of the day?" "oh, dear!" said chimborazo, "i don't know. oh, _dear_!" "_ting! ting!_" the bell-punch rang twice sharply; and looking at it in dismay, he saw two little round holes punched in a long slip of pasteboard which was fastened to the instrument. "exactly!" said the fairy. "that is the way it works, and a very pretty way, too. now, my boy, i am going to make you a very liberal allowance. you may say 'oh, dear!' forty-five times a day. there's liberality for you!" "oh, dear!" cried chimborazo, "i----" "_ting!_" said the bell-punch. "you see!" observed the fairy. "nothing could be prettier. you have now had three of this day's allowance. it is still some hours before noon, so i advise you to be careful. if you exceed the allowance----" here she paused, and glowered through her spectacles in a very dreadful manner. "oh, dear!" cried chimborazo. "what will happen then?" "you will see!" said the fairy godmother, with a nod. "_something_ will happen, you may be very sure of that. good-by. remember, only forty-five!" and away she flew out of the window. "oh, dear!" cried chimborazo, bursting into tears. "i don't want it! i won't have it! oh, _dear_! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!!!" "ting! ting! ting-ting-ting-_ting_!" said the bell-punch; and now there were ten round holes in the strip of pasteboard. chimborazo was now really frightened. he was silent for some time; and when his mother called him to his lessons he tried very hard not to say the dangerous words. but the habit was so strong that he said them unconsciously. by dinnertime there were twenty-five holes in the cardboard strip; by tea-time there were forty! poor chimborazo! he was afraid to open his lips, for whenever he did the words would slip out in spite of him. "well, chimbo," said his father after tea, "i hear you have had a visit from your fairy godmother. what did she say to you, eh?" "oh, dear!" said chimborazo, "she said--oh, dear! i've said it again!" "she said, 'oh, dear! i've said it again!'" repeated his father. "what do you mean by that?" "oh, dear! i didn't mean that," cried chimborazo hastily; and again the inexorable bell rang, and he knew that another hole was punched in the fatal cardboard. he pressed his lips firmly together, and did not open them again except to say "good-night," until he was safe in his own room. then he hastily drew the hated bell-punch from his pocket, and counted the holes in the strip of cardboard; there were forty-three! "oh, _dear_!" cried the boy, forgetting himself again in his alarm, "only two more! oh, _dear_! oh, dear! i've done it again! oh----" "ting! ting!" went the bell-punch; and the cardboard was punched to the end. "oh, dear!" cried chimborazo, now beside himself with terror. "oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, _dear_!! what will become of me?" a strange whirring noise was heard, then a loud clang; and the next moment the bell-punch, as if it were alive, flew out of his hand, out of the window, and was gone! chimborazo stood breathless with terror for a few minutes, momentarily expecting that the roof would fall in on his head, or the floor blow up under his feet, or some appalling catastrophe of some kind follow; but nothing followed. everything was quiet, and there seemed to be nothing to do but go to bed; and so to bed he went, and slept, only to dream that he was shot through the head with a bell-punch, and died saying, "oh, dear!" the next morning, when chimborazo came downstairs, his father said, "my boy, i am going to drive over to your grandfather's farm this morning; would you like to go with me?" a drive to the farm was one of the greatest pleasures chimborazo had, so he answered promptly, "oh, _dear_!" "oh, very well!" said his father, looking much surprised. "you need not go, my son, if you do not want to. i will take robert instead." poor chimborazo! he had opened his lips to say, "thank you, papa. i should like to go _very_ much!" and, instead of these words, out had popped, in his most doleful tone, the now hated "oh, dear!" he sat amazed; but was roused by his mother's calling him to breakfast. "come, chimbo," she said. "here are sausages and scrambled eggs: and you are very fond of both of them. which will you have?" chimborazo hastened to say, "sausages, please, mamma,"--that is, he hastened to _try_ to say it; but all his mother heard was, "oh, _dear_!" his father looked much displeased. "give the boy some bread and water, wife," he said sternly. "if he cannot answer properly, he must be taught. i have had enough of this 'oh, dear!' business." poor chimborazo! he saw plainly enough now what his punishment was to be; and the thought of it made him tremble. he tried to ask for some more bread, but only brought out his "oh, _dear_!" in such a lamentable tone that his father ordered him to leave the room. he went out into the garden, and there he met john the gardener, carrying a basket of rosy apples. oh! how good they looked! "i am bringing some of the finest apples up to the house, little master," said john. "will you have one to put in your pocket?" "oh, _dear_!" was all the poor boy could say, though he wanted an apple, oh, so much! and when john heard that he put the apple back in his basket, muttering something about ungrateful monkeys. poor chimborazo! i will not give the whole history of that miserable day,--a miserable day it was from beginning to end. he fared no better at dinner than at breakfast; for at the second "oh, dear!" his father sent him up to his room, "to stay there until he knew how to take what was given him, and be thankful for it." he knew well enough by this time; but he could not tell his father so. he went to his room, and sat looking out of the window, a hungry and miserable boy. in the afternoon his cousin will came up to see him. "why, chimbo!" he cried. "why do you sit moping here in the house, when all the boys are out? come and play marbles with me on the piazza. ned and harry are out there waiting for you. come on!" "oh, dear!" said chimborazo. "what's the matter?" asked will. "haven't you any marbles? never mind. i'll give you half of mine, if you like. come!" "oh, dear!" said chimborazo. "well," said will, "if that's all you have to say when i offer you marbles, i'll keep them myself. i suppose you expected me to give you all of them, did you? i never saw such a fellow!" and off he went in a huff. * * * * * "well, chimborazo," said the fairy godmother, "what do you think of 'oh, dear!' now?" chimborazo looked at her beseechingly, but said nothing. "finding that forty-five times was not enough for you yesterday, i thought i would let you have all you wanted to-day, you see," said the fairy wickedly. the boy still looked imploringly at her, but did not open his lips. "well, well," she said at last, touching his lips with her wand, "i think that is enough in the way of punishment, though i am sorry you broke the bell-punch. good-by! i don't believe you will say 'oh, dear!' any more." and he didn't. the useful coal there was once a king whose name was sligo. he was noted both for his riches and his kind heart. one evening, as he sat by his fireside, a coal fell out on the hearth. the king took up the tongs, intending to put it back on the fire, but the coal said:-"if you will spare my life, and do as i tell you, i will save your treasure three times, and tell you the name of the thief who steals it." these words gave the king great joy, for much treasure had been stolen from him of late, and none of his officers could discover the culprit. so he set the coal on the table, and said:-"pretty little black and red bird, tell me, what shall i do?" "put me in your waistcoat-pocket," said the coal, "and take no more thought for to-night." accordingly the king put the coal in his pocket, and then, as he sat before the warm fire, he grew drowsy, and presently fell fast asleep. when he had been asleep some time, the door opened, very softly, and the high cellarer peeped cautiously in. this was the one of the king's officers who had been most eager in searching for the thief. he now crept softly, softly, toward the king, and seeing that he was fast asleep, put his hand into his waistcoat-pocket; for in that waistcoat-pocket king sligo kept the key of his treasure-chamber, and the high cellarer was the thief. he put his hand into the waistcoat-pocket. s-s-s-s-s! the coal burned it so frightfully that he gave a loud shriek, and fell on his knees on the hearth. "what is the matter?" cried the king, waking with a start. "alas! your majesty," said the high cellarer, thrusting his burnt fingers into his bosom, that the king might not see them. "you were just on the point of falling forward into the fire, and i cried out, partly from fright and partly to waken you." the king thanked the high cellarer, and gave him a ruby ring as a reward. but when he was in his chamber, and making ready for bed, the coal said to him:-"once already have i saved your treasure, and to-night i shall save it again. only put me on the table beside your bed, and you may sleep with a quiet heart." so the king put the coal on the table, and himself into the bed, and was soon sound asleep. at midnight the door of the chamber opened very softly, and the high cellarer peeped in again. he knew that at night king sligo kept the key under his pillow, and he was coming to get it. he crept softly, softly, toward the bed, but as he drew near it, the coal cried out:-"one eye sleeps, but the other eye wakes! one eye sleeps, but the other eye wakes! who is this comes creeping, while honest men are sleeping?" the high cellarer looked about him in affright, and saw the coal burning fiery red in the darkness, and looking for all the world like a great flaming eye. in an agony of fear he fled from the chamber, crying,- "black and red! black and red! the king has a devil to guard his bed." and he spent the rest of the night shivering in the farthest garret he could find. the next morning the coal said to the king:-"again this night have i saved your treasure, and mayhap your life as well. yet a third time i shall do it, and this time you shall learn the name of the thief. but if i do this, you must promise me one thing, and that is that you will place me in your royal crown and wear me as a jewel. will you do this?" "that will i, right gladly!" replied king sligo, "for a jewel indeed you are." "that is well!" said the coal. "it is true that i am dying; but no matter. it is a fine thing to be a jewel in a king's crown, even if one is dead. now listen, and follow my directions closely. as soon as i am quite black and dead,--which will be in about ten minutes from now,--you must take me in your hand and rub me all over and around the handle of the door of the treasure-chamber. a good part of me will be rubbed off, but there will be enough left to put in your crown. when you have thoroughly rubbed the door, lay the key of the treasure-chamber on your table, as if you had left it there by mistake. you may then go hunting or riding, but not for more than an hour; and when you return, you must instantly call all your court together, as if on business of the greatest importance. invent some excuse for asking them to raise their hands, and then arrest the man whose hands are black. do you understand?" "i do!" replied king sligo, fervently, "i do, and my warmest thanks, good coal, are due to you for this--" but here he stopped, for already the coal was quite black, and in less than ten minutes it was dead and cold. then the king took it and rubbed it carefully over the door of the treasure-chamber, and laying the key of the door in plain sight on his dressing-table, he called his huntsmen together, and mounting his horse, rode away to the forest. as soon as he was gone, the high cellarer, who had pleaded a headache when asked to join the hunt, crept softly to the king's room, and to his surprise found the key on the table. full of joy, he sought the treasure-chamber at once, and began filling his pockets with gold and jewels, which he carried to his own apartment, returning greedily for more. in this way he opened and closed the door many times. suddenly, as he was stooping over a silver barrel containing sapphires, he heard the sound of a trumpet, blown once, twice, thrice. the wicked thief started, for it was the signal for the entire court to appear instantly before the king, and the penalty of disobedience was death. hastily cramming a handful of sapphires into his pocket, he stumbled to the door, which he closed and locked, putting the key also in his pocket, as there was no time to return it. he flew to the presence-chamber, where the lords of the kingdom were hastily assembling. the king was seated on his throne, still in his hunting-dress, though he had put on his crown over his hat, which presented a peculiar appearance. it was with a majestic air, however, that he rose and said:-"nobles, and gentlemen of my court! i have called you together to pray for the soul of my lamented grandmother, who died, as you may remember, several years ago. in token of respect, i desire you all to raise your hands to heaven." the astonished courtiers, one and all, lifted their hands high in air. the king looked, and, behold! the hands of the high cellarer were as black as soot! the king caused him to be arrested and searched, and the sapphires in his pocket, besides the key of the treasure-chamber, gave ample proof of his guilt. his head was removed at once, and the king had the useful coal, set in sapphires, placed in the very front of his crown, where it was much admired and praised as a black diamond. song of the little winds the birdies may sleep, but the winds must wake early and late, for the birdies' sake. kissing them, fanning them, soft and sweet, e'en till the dark and the dawning meet. the flowers may sleep, but the winds must wake early and late, for the flowers' sake. rocking the buds on the rose-mother's breast, swinging the hyacinth-bells to rest. the children may sleep, but the winds must wake early and late, for the children's sake. singing so sweet in each little one's ear, he thinks his mother's own song to hear. the three remarks there was once a princess, the most beautiful princess that ever was seen. her hair was black and soft as the raven's wing; her eyes were like stars dropped in a pool of clear water, and her speech like the first tinkling cascade of the baby nile. she was also wise, graceful, and gentle, so that one would have thought she must be the happiest princess in the world. but, alas! there was one terrible drawback to her happiness. she could make only three remarks. no one knew whether it was the fault of her nurse, or a peculiarity born with her; but the sad fact remained, that no matter what was said to her, she could only reply in one of three phrases. the first was,-"what is the price of butter?" the second, "has your grandmother sold her mangle yet?" and the third, "with all my heart!" you may well imagine what a great misfortune this was to a young and lively princess. how could she join in the sports and dances of the noble youths and maidens of the court? she could not always be silent, neither could she always say, "with all my heart!" though this was her favorite phrase, and she used it whenever she possibly could; and it was not at all pleasant, when some gallant knight asked her whether she would rather play croquet or aunt sally, to be obliged to reply, "what is the price of butter?" on certain occasions, however, the princess actually found her infirmity of service to her. she could always put an end suddenly to any conversation that did not please her, by interposing with her first or second remark; and they were also a very great assistance to her when, as happened nearly every day, she received an offer of marriage. emperors, kings, princes, dukes, earls, marquises, viscounts, baronets, and many other lofty personages knelt at her feet, and offered her their hands, hearts, and other possessions of greater or less value. but for all her suitors the princess had but one answer. fixing her deep radiant eyes on them, she would reply with thrilling earnestness, "_has_ your grandmother sold her mangle yet?" and this always impressed the suitors so deeply that they retired, weeping, to a neighboring monastery, where they hung up their armor in the chapel, and taking the vows, passed the remainder of their lives mostly in flogging themselves, wearing hair shirts, and putting dry toast-crumbs in their beds. now, when the king found that all his best nobles were turning into monks, he was greatly displeased, and said to the princess:-"my daughter, it is high time that all this nonsense came to an end. the next time a respectable person asks you to marry him, you will say, 'with all my heart!' or i will know the reason why." but this the princess could not endure, for she had never yet seen a man whom she was willing to marry. nevertheless, she feared her father's anger, for she knew that he always kept his word; so that very night she slipped down the back stairs of the palace, opened the back door, and ran away out into the wide world. she wandered for many days, over mountain and moor, through fen and through forest, until she came to a fair city. here all the bells were ringing, and the people shouting and flinging caps into the air; for their old king was dead, and they were just about to crown a new one. the new king was a stranger, who had come to the town only the day before; but as soon as he heard of the old monarch's death, he told the people that he was a king himself, and as he happened to be without a kingdom at that moment, he would be quite willing to rule over them. the people joyfully assented, for the late king had left no heir; and now all the preparations had been completed. the crown had been polished up, and a new tip put on the sceptre, as the old king had quite spoiled it by poking the fire with it for upwards of forty years. when the people saw the beautiful princess, they welcomed her with many bows, and insisted on leading her before the new king. "who knows but that they may be related?" said everybody. "they both came from the same direction, and both are strangers." accordingly the princess was led to the market-place, where the king was sitting in royal state. he had a fat, red, shining face, and did not look like the kings whom she had been in the habit of seeing; but nevertheless the princess made a graceful courtesy, and then waited to hear what he would say. the new king seemed rather embarrassed when he saw that it was a princess who appeared before him; but he smiled graciously, and said, in a smooth oily voice,-"i trust your 'ighness is quite well. and 'ow did yer 'ighness leave yer pa and ma?" at these words the princess raised her head and looked fixedly at the red-faced king; then she replied, with scornful distinctness,-"what is the price of butter?" at these words an alarming change came over the king's face. the red faded from it, and left it a livid green; his teeth chattered; his eyes stared, and rolled in their sockets; while the sceptre dropped from his trembling hand and fell at the princess's feet. for the truth was, this was no king at all, but a retired butterman, who had laid by a little money at his trade, and had thought of setting up a public house; but chancing to pass through this city at the very time when they were looking for a king, it struck him that he might just as well fill the vacant place as any one else. no one had thought of his being an impostor; but when the princess fixed her clear eyes on him and asked him that familiar question, which he had been in the habit of hearing many times a day for a great part of his life, the guilty butterman thought himself detected, and shook in his guilty shoes. hastily descending from his throne, he beckoned the princess into a side-chamber, and closing the door, besought her in moving terms not to betray him. "here," he said, "is a bag of rubies as big as pigeon's eggs. there are six thousand of them, and i 'umbly beg your 'ighness to haccept them as a slight token hof my hesteem, if your 'ighness will kindly consent to spare a respeckable tradesman the disgrace of being hexposed." the princess reflected, and came to the conclusion that, after all, a butterman might make as good a king as any one else; so she took the rubies with a gracious little nod, and departed, while all the people shouted, "hooray!" and followed her, waving their hats and kerchiefs, to the gates of the city. with her bag of rubies over her shoulder, the fair princess now pursued her journey, and fared forward over heath and hill, through brake and through brier. after several days she came to a deep forest, which she entered without hesitation, for she knew no fear. she had not gone a hundred paces under the arching limes, when she was met by a band of robbers, who stopped her and asked what she did in their forest, and what she carried in her bag. they were fierce, black-bearded men, armed to the teeth with daggers, cutlasses, pistols, dirks, hangers, blunderbusses, and other defensive weapons; but the princess gazed calmly on them, and said haughtily,-"has your grandmother sold her mangle yet?" the effect was magical. the robbers started back in dismay, crying, "the countersign!" then they hastily lowered their weapons, and assuming attitudes of abject humility, besought the princess graciously to accompany them to their master's presence. with a lofty gesture she signified assent, and the cringing, trembling bandits led her on through the forest till they reached an open glade, into which the sunbeams glanced right merrily. here, under a broad oak-tree which stood in the centre of the glade, reclined a man of gigantic stature and commanding mien, with a whole armory of weapons displayed upon his person. hastening to their chief, the robbers conveyed to him, in agitated whispers, the circumstance of their meeting the princess, and of her unexpected reply to their questions. hardly seeming to credit their statement, the gigantic chieftain sprang to his feet, and advancing toward the princess with a respectful reverence, begged her to repeat the remark which had so disturbed his men. with a royal air, and in clear and ringing tones, the princess repeated,-"_has_ your grandmother sold her mangle yet?" and gazed steadfastly at the robber chief. he turned deadly pale, and staggered against a tree, which alone prevented him from falling. "it is true!" he gasped. "we are undone! the enemy is without doubt close at hand, and all is over. yet," he added with more firmness, and with an appealing glance at the princess, "yet there may be one chance left for us. if this gracious lady will consent to go forward, instead of returning through the wood, we may yet escape with our lives. noble princess!" and here he and the whole band assumed attitudes of supplication, "consider, i pray you, whether it would really add to your happiness to betray to the advancing army a few poor foresters, who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. here," he continued, hastily drawing something from a hole in the oak-tree, "is a bag containing ten thousand sapphires, each as large as a pullet's egg. if you will graciously deign to accept them, and to pursue your journey in the direction i shall indicate, the red chief of the rustywhanger will be your slave forever." the princess, who of course knew that there was no army in the neighborhood, and who moreover did not in the least care which way she went, assented to the red chief's proposition, and taking the bag of sapphires, bowed her farewell to the grateful robbers, and followed their leader down a ferny path which led to the farther end of the forest. when they came to the open country, the robber chieftain took his leave of the princess, with profound bows and many protestations of devotion, and returned to his band, who were already preparing to plunge into the impenetrable thickets of the midforest. the princess, meantime, with her two bags of gems on her shoulders, fared forward with a light heart, by dale and by down, through moss and through meadow. by-and-by she came to a fair high palace, built all of marble and shining jasper, with smooth lawns about it, and sunny gardens of roses and gillyflowers, from which the air blew so sweet that it was a pleasure to breathe it. the princess stood still for a moment, to taste the sweetness of this air, and to look her fill at so fair a spot; and as she stood there, it chanced that the palace-gates opened, and the young king rode out with his court, to go a-catching of nighthawks. now when the king saw a right fair princess standing alone at his palace-gate, her rich garments dusty and travel-stained, and two heavy sacks hung upon her shoulders, he was filled with amazement; and leaping from his steed, like the gallant knight that he was, he besought her to tell him whence she came and whither she was going, and in what way he might be of service to her. but the princess looked down at her little dusty shoes, and answered never a word; for she had seen at the first glance how fair and goodly a king this was, and she would not ask him the price of butter, nor whether his grandmother had sold her mangle yet. but she thought in her heart, "now, i have never, in all my life, seen a man to whom i would so willingly say, 'with all my heart!' if he should ask me to marry him." the king marvelled much at her silence, and presently repeated his questions, adding, "and what do you carry so carefully in those two sacks, which seem over-heavy for your delicate shoulders?" still holding her eyes downcast, the princess took a ruby from one bag, and a sapphire from the other, and in silence handed them to the king, for she willed that he should know she was no beggar, even though her shoes were dusty. thereat all the nobles were filled with amazement, for no such gems had ever been seen in that country. but the king looked steadfastly at the princess, and said, "rubies are fine, and sapphires are fair; but, maiden, if i could but see those eyes of yours, i warrant that the gems would look pale and dull beside them." at that the princess raised her clear dark eyes, and looked at the king and smiled; and the glance of her eyes pierced straight to his heart, so that he fell on his knees and cried: "ah! sweet princess, now do i know that thou art the love for whom i have waited so long, and whom i have sought through so many lands. give me thy white hand, and tell me, either by word or by sign, that thou wilt be my queen and my bride!" and the princess, like a right royal maiden as she was, looked him straight in the eyes, and giving him her little white hand, answered bravely, "_with all my heart!_" hokey pokey hokey pokey was the youngest of a large family of children. his elder brothers, as they grew up, all became either butchers or bakers or makers of candle-sticks, for such was the custom of the family. but hokey pokey would be none of these things; so when he was grown to be a tall youth he went to his father and said, "give me my fortune." "'will you be a butcher?' asked his father. "'no,' said hokey pokey. "'will you be a baker?' "'no, again.' "'will you make candlesticks?' "'nor that either.' "'then,' said his father, 'this is the only fortune i can give you;' and with that he took up his cudgel and gave the youth a stout beating. 'now you cannot complain that i gave you nothing,' said he. "'that is true,' said hokey pokey. 'but give me also the wooden mallet which lies on the shelf, and i will make my way through the world.' "his father gave him the mallet, glad to be so easily rid of him, and hokey pokey went out into the world to seek his fortune. he walked all day, and at nightfall he came to a small village. feeling hungry, he went into a baker's shop, intending to buy a loaf of bread for his supper. there was a great noise and confusion in the back part of the shop; and on going to see what was the matter, he found the baker on his knees beside a large box or chest, which he was trying with might and main to keep shut. but there was something inside the box which was trying just as hard to get out, and it screamed and kicked, and pushed the lid up as often as the baker shut it down. "'what have you there in the box?' asked hokey pokey. "'i have my wife,' replied the baker. 'she is so frightfully ill-tempered that whenever i am going to bake bread i am obliged to shut her up in this box, lest she push me into the oven and bake me with the bread, as she has often threatened to do. but to-day she has broken the lock of the box, and i know not how to keep her down.' "'that is easily managed,' said hokey pokey. 'do you but tell her, when she asks who i am, that i am a giant with three heads, and all will be well.' so saying, he took his wooden mallet and dealt three tremendous blows on the box, saying in a loud voice,- 'hickory hox! i sit by the box, waiting to give you a few of my knocks.' "'husband, husband! whom have you there?' cried the wife in terror. "'alas!' said the baker; 'it is a frightful giant with three heads. he is sitting by the box, and if you open it so much as the width of your little finger, he will pull you out and beat you to powder.' "when the wife heard that she crouched down in the box, and said never a word, for she was afraid of her life. "the baker then took hokey pokey into the other part of the shop, thanked him warmly, and gave him a good supper and a bed. the next morning he gave him for a present the finest loaf of bread in his shop, which was shaped like a large round ball; and hokey pokey, after knocking once more on the lid of the box, continued his travels. "he had not gone far before he came to another village, and wishing to inquire his way he entered the first shop he came to, which proved to be that of a confectioner. the shop was full of the most beautiful sweetmeats imaginable, and everything was bright and gay; but the confectioner himself sat upon a bench, weeping bitterly. "'what ails you, friend?' asked hokey pokey; 'and why do you weep, when you are surrounded by the most delightful things in the world?' "'alas!' replied the confectioner. 'that is just the cause of my trouble. the sweetmeats that i make are so good that their fame has spread far and wide, and the rat king, hearing of them, has taken up his abode in my cellar. every night he comes up and eats all the sweetmeats i have made the day before. there is no comfort in my life, and i am thinking of becoming a rope-maker and hanging myself with the first rope i make.' "'why don't you set a trap for him?' asked hokey pokey. "'i have set fifty-nine traps,' replied the confectioner, 'but he is so strong that he breaks them all.' "'poison him,' suggested hokey pokey. "'he dislikes poison,' said the confectioner, 'and will not take it in any form.' "'in that case,' said hokey pokey, 'leave him to me. go away, and hide yourself for a few minutes, and all will be well.' "the confectioner retired behind a large screen, having first showed hokey pokey the hole of the rat king, which was certainly a very large one. hokey pokey sat down by the hole, with his mallet in his hand, and said in a squeaking voice,- 'ratly king! kingly rat! here your mate comes pit-a-pat. come and see; the way is free; hear my signal: one! two! three!' and he scratched three times on the floor. almost immediately the head of a rat popped up through the hole. he was a huge rat, quite as large as a cat; but his size was no help to him, for as soon as he appeared, hokey pokey dealt him such a blow with his mallet that he fell down dead without even a squeak. then hokey pokey called the confectioner, who came out from behind the screen and thanked him warmly; he also bade him choose anything he liked in the shop, in payment for his services. "'can you match this?' asked hokey pokey, showing his round ball of bread. "'that can i!' said the confectioner; and he brought out a most beautiful ball, twice as large as the loaf, composed of the finest sweetmeats in the world, red and yellow and white. hokey pokey took it with many thanks, and then went on his way. "the next day he came to a third village in the streets of which the people were all running to and fro in the wildest confusion. "'what is the matter?' asked hokey pokey, as one man ran directly into his arms. "'alas!' replied the man. 'a wild bull has got into the principal china-shop, and is breaking all the beautiful dishes.' "'why do you not drive him out?' asked hokey pokey. "'we are afraid to do that,' said the man; 'but we are running up and down to express our emotion and sympathy, and that is something.' "'show me the china-shop,' said hokey pokey. "so the man showed him the china-shop; and there, sure enough, was a furious bull, making most terrible havoc. he was dancing up and down on a dresden dinner set, and butting at the chinese mandarins, and switching down finger-bowls and teapots with his tail, bellowing meanwhile in the most outrageous manner. the floor was covered with broken crockery, and the whole scene was melancholy to behold. "now when hokey pokey saw this, he said to the owner of the china-shop, who was tearing his hair in a frenzy of despair, 'stop tearing your hair, which is indeed a senseless occupation, and i will manage this matter for you. bring me a red cotton umbrella, and all will yet be well.' "so the china-shop man brought him a red cotton umbrella, and hokey pokey began to open and shut it violently in front of the door. when the bull saw that, he stopped dancing on the dresden dinner set and came charging out of the shop, straight towards the red umbrella. when he came near enough, hokey pokey dropped the umbrella, and raising his wooden mallet hit the bull such a blow on the muzzle that he fell down dead, and never bellowed again. "the people all flung up their hats, and cheered, and ran up and down all the more, to express their gratification. as for the china-shop man, he threw his arms round hokey pokey's neck, called him his cherished preserver, and bade him choose anything that was left in his shop in payment for his services. "'can you match these?' asked hokey pokey, holding up the loaf of bread and the ball of sweetmeats. "'that can i,' said the shop-man; and he brought out a huge ball of solid ivory, inlaid with gold and silver, and truly lovely to behold. it was very heavy, being twice as large as the ball of sweetmeats; but hokey pokey took it, and, after thanking the shop-man and receiving his thanks in return, he proceeded on his way. "after walking for several days, he came to a fair, large castle, in front of which sat a man on horseback. when the man saw hokey pokey, he called out,-"'who are you, and what do you bring to the mighty dragon, lord of this castle?' "'hokey pokey is my name,' replied the youth, 'and strange things do i bring. but what does the mighty dragon want, for example?' "'he wants something new to eat,' said the man on horseback. 'he has eaten of everything that is known in the world, and pines for something new. he who brings him a new dish, never before tasted by him, shall have a thousand crowns and a new jacket; but he who fails, after three trials, shall have his jacket taken away from him, and his head cut off besides.' "'i bring strange food,' said hokey pokey. 'let me pass in, that i may serve the mighty dragon.' "then the man on horseback lowered his lance, and let him pass in, and in short space he came before the mighty dragon. the dragon sat on a silver throne, with a golden knife in one hand, and a golden fork in the other. around him were many people, who offered him dishes of every description; but he would none of them, for he had tasted them all before; and he howled with hunger on his silver throne. then came forward hokey pokey, and said boldly,-"'here come i, hokey pokey, bringing strange food for the mighty dragon.' "the dragon howled again, and waving his knife and fork, bade hokey pokey give the food to the attendants, that they might serve him. "'not so,' said hokey pokey. 'i must serve you myself, most mighty dragon, else you shall not taste of my food. therefore put down your knife and fork, and open your mouth, and you shall see what you shall see.' "so the dragon, after summoning the man-with-the-thousand-crowns and the man-with-the-new-jacket to one side of his throne, and the man-to-take-away-the old-jacket and the executioner to the other, laid down his knife and fork and opened his mouth. hokey pokey stepped lightly forward, and dropped the round loaf down the great red throat. the dragon shut his jaws together with a snap, and swallowed the loaf in two gulps. "'that is good,' he said; 'but it is not new. i have eaten much bread, though never before in a round loaf. have you anything more? or shall the man take away your jacket?' "'i have this, an it please you,' said hokey pokey; and he dropped the ball of sweetmeats into the dragon's mouth. "when the dragon tasted this, he rolled his eyes round and round, and was speechless with delight for some time. at length he said, 'worthy youth, this is very good; it is extremely good; it is better than anything i ever tasted. nevertheless, it is not new; for i have tasted the same kind of thing before, only not nearly so good. and now, unless you are positively sure that you have something new for your third trial, you really might as well take off your jacket; and the executioner shall take off your head at the same time, as it is getting rather late. executioner, do your--' "'craving your pardon, most mighty dragon,' said hokey pokey, 'i will first make my third trial;' and with that he dropped the ivory ball into the dragon's mouth. "'gug-wugg-gllll-grrr!' said the dragon, for the ball had stuck fast, being too big for him to swallow. "then hokey pokey lifted his mallet and struck one tremendous blow upon the ball, driving it far down the throat of the monster, and killing him most fatally dead. he rolled off the throne like a scaly log, and his crown fell off and rolled to hokey pokey's feet. the youth picked it up and put it on his own head, and then called the people about him and addressed them. "'people,' he said, 'i am hokey pokey, and i have come from a far land to rule over you. your dragon have i slain, and now i am your king; and if you will always do exactly what i tell you to do, you will have no further trouble.' "so the people threw up their caps and cried, 'long live hokey pokey!' and they always did exactly as he told them, and had no further trouble. "and hokey pokey sent for his three brothers, and made them chief butcher, chief baker, and chief candlestick-maker of his kingdom. but to his father he sent a large cudgel made of pure gold, with these words engraved on it: 'now you cannot complain that i have given you nothing!'" the tangled skein "my dear child," said the angel-who-attends-to things, "why are you crying so very hard?" "oh dear! oh dear!" said the child. "no one ever had such a dreadful time before, i do believe, and it all comes of trying to be good. oh dear! oh dear! i wish i was bad; then i should not have all this trouble." "yes, you would," said the angel; "a great deal worse. now tell me what is the matter!" "look!" said the child. "mother gave me this skein to wind, and i promised to do it. but then father sent me on an errand, and it was almost school-time, and i was studying my lesson and going on the errand and winding the skein, all at the same time, and now i have got all tangled up in the wool, and i cannot walk either forward or back, and oh! dear me, what ever _shall_ i do?" "sit down!" said the angel. "but it is school-time!" said the child. "sit down!" said the angel. "but father sent me on an errand!" said the child. "sit down!" said the angel; and he took the child by her shoulders and set her down. "now sit still!" he said, and he began patiently to wind up the skein. it was wofully tangled, and knotted about the child's hands and feet; it was a wonder she could move at all; but at last it was all clear, and the angel handed her the ball. "i thank you so very much!" said the child. "i was not naughty, was i?" "not naughty, only foolish; but that does just as much harm sometimes." "but i was doing right things!" said the child. "but you were doing them in the wrong way!" said the angel. "it is good to do an errand, and it is good to go to school, but when you have a skein to wind you must sit still." a song for hal once i saw a little boat, and a pretty, pretty boat, when daybreak the hills was adorning, and into it i jumped, and away i did float, so very, very early in the morning. _chorus_ and every little wave had its nightcap on, its nightcap, white cap, nightcap on. and every little wave had its nightcap on, so very, very early in the morning. all the fishes were asleep in their caves cool and deep, when the ripple round my keel flashed a warning. said the minnow to the skate, "we must certainly be late, though i thought 't was very early in the morning." _chorus_ for every little wave has its nightcap on, its nightcap, white cap, nightcap on. for every little wave has its nightcap on, so very, very early in the morning. the lobster darkly green soon appeared upon the scene, and pearly drops his claws were adorning. quoth he, "may i be boiled, if i'll have my slumber spoiled, so very, very early in the morning!" _chorus_ for every little wave has its nightcap on, its nightcap, white cap, nightcap on, for every little wave has its nightcap on, so very, very early in the morning. said the sturgeon to the eel, "just imagine how i feel, thus roused without a syllable of warning. people ought to let us know when a-sailing they would go, so very, very early in the morning." _chorus_ when every little wave has its nightcap on, its nightcap, white cap, nightcap on. when every little wave has its nightcap on, so very, very early in the morning. just then up jumped the sun, and the fishes every one for their laziness at once fell a-mourning. but i stayed to hear no more, for my boat had reached the shore, so very, very early in the morning. _chorus_ and every little wave took its nightcap off, its nightcap, white cap, nightcap off. and every little wave took its nightcap off, and courtesied to the sun in the morning. for you and me "i have come to speak to you about your work," said the angel-who-attends-to-things. "it appears to be unsatisfactory." "indeed!" said the man. "i hardly see how that can be. perhaps you will explain." "i will!" said the angel. "to begin with, the work is slovenly." "i was born heedless," said the man. "it is a family failing which i have always regretted." "it is ill put together, too;" said the angel. "the parts do not fit." "i never had any eye for proportion," said the man; "i admit it is unfortunate." "the whole thing is a botch," said the angel. "you have put neither brains nor heart into it, and the result is ridiculous failure. what do you propose to do about it?" "i credited you with more comprehension," said the man. "my faults, such as they are, were born with me. i am sorry that you do not approve of me, but this is the way i was made; do you see?" "i see!" said the angel. he put out a strong white hand, and taking the man by the collar, tumbled him neck and crop into the ditch. "what is the meaning of this?" cried the man, as he scrambled out breathless and dripping. "i never saw such behavior. do you see what you have done? you have ruined my clothes, and nearly drowned me beside." "oh yes!" said the angel: "this is the way _i_ was made." the burning house some neighbours were walking together in the cool of the day, watching the fall of the twilight, and talking of this and that; and as they walked, they saw at a little distance a light, as it were a house on fire. "from the direction, that must be our neighbour william's house," said one. "ought we not to warn him of the danger?" "i see only a little flame," said another; "perchance it may go out of itself, and no harm done." "i should be loth to carry ill news," said a third; "it is always a painful thing to do." "william is not a man who welcomes interference," said a fourth. "i should not like to be the one to intrude upon his privacy; probably he knows about the fire, and is managing it in his own way." while they were talking, the house burned up. the naughty comet the door of the comet house was open. in the great court-yard stood hundreds of comets, of all sizes and shapes. some were puffing and blowing, and arranging their tails, all ready to start; others had just come in, and looked shabby and forlorn after their long journeyings, their tails drooping disconsolately; while others still were switched off on side-tracks, where the tinker and the tailor were attending to their wants, and setting them to rights. in the midst of all stood the comet master, with his hands behind him, holding a very long stick with a very sharp point. the comets knew just how the point of that stick felt, for they were prodded with it whenever they misbehaved themselves; accordingly, they all remained very quiet, while he gave his orders for the day. in a distant corner of the court-yard lay an old comet, with his tail comfortably curled up around him. he was too old to go out, so he enjoyed himself at home in a quiet way. beside him stood a very young comet, with a very short tail. he was quivering with excitement, and occasionally cast sharp impatient glances at the comet master. "will he _never_ call me?" he exclaimed, but in an undertone, so that only his companion could hear. "he knows i am dying to go out, and for that very reason he pays no attention to me. i dare not leave my place, for you know what he is." "ah!" said the old comet, slowly, "if you had been out as often as i have, you would not be in such a hurry. hot, tiresome work, _i_ call it. and what does it all amount to?" "ay, that's the point!" exclaimed the young comet. "what _does_ it all amount to? that is what i am determined to find out. i cannot understand your going on, travelling and travelling, and never finding out why you do it. _i_ shall find out, you may be very sure, before i have finished my first journey." "better not! better not!" answered the old comet. "you'll only get into trouble. nobody knows except the comet master and the sun. the master would cut you up into inch pieces if you asked him, and the sun--" "well, what about the sun?" asked the young comet, eagerly. "short-tailed comet no. 73!" rang suddenly, clear and sharp, through the court-yard. the young comet started as if he had been shot, and in three bounds he stood before the comet master, who looked fixedly at him. "you have never been out before," said the master. "no, sir!" replied no. 73; and he knew better than to add another word. "you will go out now," said the comet master. "you will travel for thirteen weeks and three days, and will then return. you will avoid the neighborhood of the sun, the earth, and the planet bungo. you will turn to the left on meeting other comets, and you are not allowed to speak to meteors. these are your orders. go!" at the word, the comet shot out of the gate and off into space, his short tail bobbing as he went. ah! here was something worth living for. no longer shut up in that tiresome court-yard, waiting for one's tail to grow, but out in the free, open, boundless realm of space, with leave to shoot about here and there and everywhere--well, _nearly_ everywhere--for thirteen whole weeks! ah, what a glorious prospect! how swiftly he moved! how well his tail looked, even though it was still rather short! what a fine fellow he was, altogether! for two or three weeks our comet was the happiest creature in all space; too happy to think of anything except the joy of frisking about. but by-and-by he began to wonder about things, and that is always dangerous for a comet. "i wonder, now," he said, "why i may not go near the planet bungo. i have always heard that he was the most interesting of all the planets. and the sun! how i _should_ like to know a little more about the sun! and, by the way, that reminds me that all this time i have never found out _why_ i am travelling. it shows how i have been enjoying myself, that i have forgotten it so long; but now i must certainly make a point of finding out. hello! there comes long-tail no. 45. i mean to ask him." so he turned out to the left, and waited till no. 45 came along. the latter was a middle-aged comet, very large, and with an uncommonly long tail,--quite preposterously long, our little no. 73 thought, as he shook his own tail and tried to make as much of it as possible. "good morning, mr. long-tail!" he said as soon as the other was within speaking distance. "would you be so very good as to tell me what you are travelling for?" "for six months," answered no. 45 with a puff and a snort. "started a month ago; five months still to go." "oh, i don't mean that!" exclaimed short-tail no. 73. "i mean _why_ are you travelling at all?" "comet master sent me!" replied no. 45, briefly. "but what for?" persisted the little comet. "what is it all about? what good does it do? _why_ do we travel for weeks and months and years? that's what i want to find out." "don't know, i'm sure!" said the elder, still more shortly. "what's more, don't care!" the little comet fairly shook with amazement and indignation. "you don't care!" he cried. "is it possible? and how long, may i ask, have you been travelling hither and thither through space, without knowing or caring why?" "long enough to learn not to ask stupid questions!" answered long-tail no. 45. "good morning to you!" and without another word he was off, with his preposterously long tail spreading itself like a luminous fan behind him. the little comet looked after him for some time in silence. at last he said:-"well, _i_ call that simply _disgusting_! an ignorant, narrow-minded old--" "hello, cousin!" called a clear merry voice just behind him. "how goes it with you? shall we travel together? our roads seem to go in the same direction." the comet turned and saw a bright and sparkling meteor. "i--i--must not speak to you!" said no. 73, confusedly. "not speak to me!" exclaimed the meteor, laughing. "why, what's the matter? what have i done? i never saw you before in my life." "n-nothing that i know of," answered no. 73, still more confused. "then why mustn't you speak to me?" persisted the meteor, giving a little skip and jump. "eh? tell me that, will you? _why_ mustn't you?" "i--don't--know!" answered the little comet, slowly, for he was ashamed to say boldly, as he ought to have done, that it was against the orders of the comet master. "oh, gammon!" cried the meteor, with another skip. "_i_ know! comet master, eh? but a fine high-spirited young fellow like you isn't going to be afraid of that old tyrant. come along, i say! if there were any _real reason_ why you should not speak to me--" "that's just what i say," interrupted the comet, eagerly. "what is the reason? why don't they tell it to me?" "'cause there isn't any!" rejoined the meteor. "come along!" after a little more hesitation, the comet yielded, and the two frisked merrily along, side by side. as they went, no. 73 confided all his vexations to his new friend, who sympathized warmly with him, and spoke in most disrespectful terms of the comet master. "a pretty sort of person to dictate to you, when he hasn't the smallest sign of a tail himself! i wouldn't submit to it!" cried the meteor. "as to the other orders, some of them are not so bad. of course, nobody would want to go near that stupid, poky earth, if he could possibly help it; and the planet bungo is--ah--is not a very nice planet, i believe." [the fact is, the planet bungo contains a large reform-school for unruly meteors, but our friend made no mention of that.] "but as for the sun,--the bright, jolly, delightful sun,--why, i am going to take a nearer look at him myself. come on! we will go together, in spite of the comet master." again the little comet hesitated and demurred; but after all, he had already broken one rule, and why not another? he would be punished in any case, and he might as well get all the pleasure he could. reasoning thus, he yielded once more to the persuasions of the meteor, and together they shot through the great space-world, taking their way straight toward the sun. when the sun saw them coming, he smiled and seemed much pleased. he stirred his fire, and shook his shining locks, and blazed brighter and brighter, hotter and hotter. the heat seemed to have a strange effect on the comet, for he began to go faster and faster. "hold on!" said the meteor. "why are you hurrying so? i cannot keep up with you." "i cannot stop myself!" cried no. 73. "something is drawing me forward, faster and faster!" on he went at a terrible rate, the meteor following as best he might. several planets that he passed shouted to him in warning tones, but he could not hear what they said. the sun stirred his fire again, and blazed brighter and brighter, hotter and hotter; and onward rushed the wretched little comet, faster and faster, faster and faster! "catch hold of my tail and stop me!" he shrieked to the meteor. "i am shrivelling, burning up, in this fearful heat! stop me, for pity's sake!" but the meteor was already far behind, and had stopped short to watch his companion's headlong progress. and now,--ah, me!--now the sun opened his huge fiery mouth. the comet made one desperate effort to stop himself, but it was in vain. an awful, headlong plunge through the intervening space; a hissing and crackling; a shriek,--and the fiery jaws had closed on short-tail no. 73 forever! "dear me!" said the meteor. "how very shocking! i quite forgot that the sun ate comets. i must be off, or i shall get an ã¦on in the reform school for this. i am really very sorry, for he was a nice little comet!" and away frisked the meteor, and soon forgot all about it. but in the great court-yard in front of the comet house, the master took a piece of chalk, and crossed out no. 73 from the list of short-tailed comets on the slate that hangs on the door. then he called out, "no. 1 express, come forward!" and the swiftest of all the comets stood before him, brilliant and beautiful, with a bewildering magnificence of tail. the comet master spoke sharply and decidedly, as usual, but not unkindly. "no. 73, short-tail," he said, "has disobeyed orders, and has in consequence been devoured by the sun." here there was a great sensation among the comets. "no. 1," continued the master, "you will start immediately, and travel until you find a runaway meteor, with a red face and blue hair. you are permitted to make inquiries of respectable bodies, such as planets or satellites. when found, you will arrest him and take him to the planet bungo. my compliments to the meteor keeper, and i shall be obliged if he will give this meteor two ã¦ons in the reform school. i trust," he continued, turning to the assembled comets, "that this will be a lesson to all of you!" and i believe it was. day dreams white wings over the water, fluttering, fluttering over the sea, white wings over the water, what are you bringing to me? a fairy prince in a golden boat, with golden ringlets that fall and float, a velvet cap, and a taffety cloak, this you are bringing to me. fairy, fairy princekin, sailing, sailing hither to me, silk and satin and velvet, what are you coming to see? a little girl in a calico gown, with hair and eyes of dusky brown, who sits on the wharf of the fishing-town. looking away to sea. golden, golden sunbeams, touch me now with your wands of gold; make me a beautiful princess, radiant to behold. blue and silver and ermine fine, diamond drops that flash and shine; so shall i meet this prince of mine, fairer than may be told. white wings over the water, fluttering ever farther away; dark clouds shrouding the sunbeams, sullen and cold and gray. back i go in my calico gown, back to the hut in the fishing-town. and oh, but the night shuts darkly down after the summer day! transcriber's note the story "hokey pokey", starting on page 106 has double quotes with every paragraph except the first. although this is probably a printer's mistake, it has been preserved. spelling and hyphenation may be inconsistent, this has not been changed. the following corrections have been made, on page 12 ' changed to " (and rest, dear children?") 106 " changed to ' (be a butcher?' asked his father). proofreading team the child's world third reader by hetty s. browne extension worker in rural school practice winthrop normal and industrial college rock hill, s.c. sarah withers principal elementary grades and critic teacher winthrop normal and industrial college and w.k. tate professor of rural education george peabody college for teachers nashville, tenn. johnson publishing company richmond, virginia teachers' aids success with the child's world readers is in no wise dependent on the use of the chart, manual, or cards. modern teachers of reading, however, recognize the saving of time and effort to be accomplished for both their pupils and themselves by the use of cards, chart, and manual, and look to the publisher to provide these accessories in convenient form and at moderate cost. the following aids are therefore offered in the belief that they will make the work of the teacher, trained or untrained, more effective. child's world reader charts......................$6.00 (10 beautiful charts in colors 27x37--20 lessons) child's world manual.............................75c (suggestions and outlines for first 5 grades) child's world word cards........................$1.00 (129 cards--258 words in primer vocabulary) child's world phrase cards........................75c (48 cards--96 phrases) child's world phonic cards...................80c (80 cards printed both sides) johnson publishing company richmond, virginia. acknowledgments for permission to use copyrighted material the authors and publishers express their indebtedness to _the independent_ for "who loves the trees best?" by alice m. douglas; to oliver herford and the century company for "the elf and the dormouse"; to the american folklore society for "how brother rabbit fooled the whale and the elephant," by alcee fortier; to the _outlook_ for "making the best of it," by frances m. fox, and "winter nights," by mary f. butts; to harper brothers for "the animals and the mirror," from _told by the sand man_; to rand mcnally & company for "little hope's doll," from _stories of the pilgrims_, by margaret pumphrey; to daughady & company for "squeaky and the scare box," from _christmas stories_, by georgene faulkner; to d.c. heath & company for "the little cook's reward," from _stories of the old north state_, by mrs. l.a. mccorkle; to charles scribner's sons for "a good play" and "block city," by robert louis stevenson, "the glad new year," from _rhymes and jingles_, by mary mapes dodge, "a christmas wish" and "rock-a-by-lady," by eugene field; to houghton mifflin company for permission to adapt selections from _hiawatha_; to doubleday, page & company for "the sand man," by margaret vandergrift, from _the posy ring_--wiggin and smith; to james a. honey for "the monkey's fiddle," from _south african tales_; to maud barnard for "donal and conal"; to maud barnard and emilie yonker for their versions of epaminondas. supplementary historical reading life of general robert e. lee _for third and fourth grades_ life of general thomas j. jackson _for third and fourth grades_ life of washington _for fourth and fifth grades_ life of general n.b. forrest _for fifth grade_ life of general j.e.b. stuart _for fifth and sixth grades_ soldier life in the army of northern virginia _for fifth grade_ tennessee history stories _for third and fourth grades_ north carolina history stories _for fourth and fifth grades_ texas history stories _for fifth and sixth grades_ half-hours in southern history _for sixth and seventh grades_ the yemassee (_complete edition_) _for seventh and eighth grades_ (ask for catalog containing list of other supplementary reading) johnson publishing company richmond, va. contents philemon and baucis, _flora j. cooke_, 9 the poplar tree, _flora j. cooke_, 15 who loves the trees best?, _alice may douglas_, 18 leaves in autumn, 19 a story of bird life, _henry ward beecher_, 20 bob white, _george cooper_, 25 how mary got a new dress, 26 the plaid dress, 30 the goddess of the silkworm, 34 the flax, _hans christian andersen_, 37 the wonderful world, _william brighty rands_, 41 the hillman and the housewife, _juliana h. ewing_, 42 the elf and the dormouse, _oliver herford_, 46 the bell of atri, _italian tale_, 48 a dumb witness, _arabian tale_, 53 giving thanks, 56 the hare and the hedgehog, _grimm_, 58 epaminondas, _southern tale_, 67 how brother rabbit fooled the whale and the elephant, _southern folk tale_, 73 a christmas wish, _eugene field_, 79 the christmas bells, _old tale retold_, 82 god bless the master of the house, _old english rime_, 89 squeaky and the scare box, _georgene faulkner_, 90 the glad new year, _mary mapes dodge_, 99 making the best of it, _frances m. fox_, 100 the animals and the mirror, _f.a. walker_, 106 the barber of bagdad, _eastern tale_, 115 winter nights, _mary f. butts_, 122 little hope's doll, _margaret pumphrey_, 123 nahum prince, 130 the little cook's reward, _mrs. l.a. mccorkle_, 134 rock-a-by, hush-a-by, little papoose, _charles myall_, 139 the tar wolf, _the indian tar-baby story_, 140 the rabbit and the wolf, _southern indian tale_, 149 block city, _robert louis stevenson_, 154 a good play, _robert louis stevenson_, 155 the monkey's fiddle, _african tale_, 156 the three tasks, _grimm_, 163 the world's music, _gabriel setoun_, 170 the sleeping beauty, _grimm_, 172 the ugly duckling, _hans christian andersen_, 181 the white blackbird, _adapted from alfred de musset_, 192 the brown thrush, _lucy larcom_, 199 the king and the gooseherd, _old tale_, 200 donal and conal, _irish tale_, 206 who told the news?, 212 the birds of killingworth, _adapted from longfellow_, 213 the trailing arbutus, _indian legend_, 218 hidden treasure, _grimm_, 223 the little brown brother, _emily nesbit_, 228 how the flowers grow, _gabriel setoun_, 229 wise men of gotham, _old english story_, 230 the miller's guest, _english ballad (adapted)_, 233 saddle to rags, _english ballad (adapted)_, 239 the rock-a-by lady, _eugene field_, 244 the sand man, _margaret vandergrift_, 246 a dictionary, 249 suggestions to teachers, 253 [illustration: girl reading a book] oh, for a nook and a story-book, with tales both new and old; for a jolly good book whereon to look is better to me than gold. --old english song. [illustration: country house] philemon and baucis i long ago, on a high hill in greece, philemon and baucis lived. they were poor, but they were never unhappy. they had many hives of bees from which they got honey, and many vines from which they gathered grapes. one old cow gave them all the milk that they could use, and they had a little field in which grain was raised. the old couple had as much as they needed, and were always ready to share whatever they had with any one in want. no stranger was ever turned from their door. at the foot of the hill lay a beautiful village, with pleasant roads and rich pasture lands all around. but it was full of wicked, selfish, people, who had no love in their hearts and thought only of themselves. at the time of this story, the people in the village were very busy. zeus, who they believed ruled the world, had sent word that he was about to visit them. they were preparing a great feast and making everything beautiful for his coming. one evening, just at dark, two beggars came into the valley. they stopped at every house and asked for food and a place to sleep; but the people were too busy or too tired to attend to their needs. they were thinking only of the coming of zeus. footsore and weary, the two beggars at last climbed the hill to the hut of philemon and baucis. these good people had eaten very little, for they were saving their best food for zeus. when they saw the beggars, philemon said, "surely these men need food more than zeus. they look almost starved." "indeed, they do!" said baucis, and she ran quickly to prepare supper for the strangers. she spread her best white cloth upon the table, and brought out bacon, herbs, honey, grapes, bread, and milk. she set these upon the table in all the best dishes she had and called the strangers in. then what do you suppose happened? the dishes that the strangers touched turned to gold. the pitcher was never empty, although they drank glass after glass of milk. the loaf of bread stayed always the same size, although the strangers cut slice after slice. "these are strange travelers," whispered the old couple to each other. "they do wonderful things." ii that night philemon and baucis slept upon the floor that the strangers might have their one bed. in the morning they went with the travelers to the foot of the hill to see them safely started on their way. "now, good people," said one of the strangers, "we thank you, and whatever you wish shall be yours." as he said this, his face became like that of the sun. then philemon and baucis knew that zeus had spoken to them. "grant, o zeus, that one of us may not outlive the other," they cried in one voice. "your wish is granted," said zeus; "yes, and more. return to your home and be happy." [illustration: philemon and baucis walking home] philemon and baucis turned homeward, and, lo! their hut was changed to a beautiful castle. the old people turned around to thank their guests, but they had disappeared. in this castle philemon and baucis lived many years. they still did all they could for others, and were always so happy that they never thought of wishing anything for themselves. as the years passed, the couple grew very old and feeble. one day baucis said to philemon, "i wish we might never die, but could always live together." "ah, that is my wish, too!" sighed old philemon. the next morning the marble palace was gone; baucis and philemon were gone; but there on the hilltop stood two beautiful trees, an oak and a linden. no one knew what became of the good people. after many years, however, a traveler lying under the trees heard them whispering to each other. "baucis," whispered the oak. "philemon," replied the linden. there the trees stood through sun and rain, always ready to spread their leafy shade over every tired stranger who passed that way. --flora j. cooke. the poplar tree long ago the poplar used to hold out its branches like other trees. it tried to see how far it could spread them. once at sunset an old man came through the forest where the poplar trees lived. the trees were going to sleep, and it was growing dark. the man held something under his cloak. it was a pot of gold--the very pot of gold that lies at the foot of the rainbow. he had stolen it and was looking for some place to hide it. a poplar tree stood by the path. "this is the very place to hide my treasure," the man said. "the branches spread out straight, and the leaves are large and thick. how lucky that the trees are all asleep!" he placed the pot of gold in the thick branches, and then ran quickly away. the gold belonged to iris, the beautiful maiden who had a rainbow bridge to the earth. the next morning she missed her precious pot. it always lay at the foot of the rainbow, but it was not there now. iris hurried away to tell her father, the great zeus, of her loss. he said that he would find the pot of gold for her. he called a messenger, the swift-footed mercury, and said, "go quickly, and do not return until you have found the treasure." mercury went as fast as the wind down to the earth. he soon came to the forest and awakened the trees. "iris has lost her precious pot of gold that lies at the foot of the rainbow. have any of you seen it?" he asked. the trees were very sleepy, but all shook their heads. "we have not seen it," they said. "hold up your branches," said mercury. "i must see that the pot of gold is not hidden among them." all of the trees held up their branches. the poplar that stood by the path was the first to hold up his. he was an honest tree and knew he had nothing to hide. [illustration: mercury among the trees] down fell the pot of gold. how surprised the poplar tree was! he dropped his branches in shame. then he held them high in the air. "forgive me," he said. "i do not know how it came to be there; but, hereafter, i shall always hold my branches up. then every one can see that i have nothing hidden." since then the branches have always grown straight up; and every one knows that the poplar is an honest and upright tree. --flora j. cooke. who loves the trees best? who loves the trees best? "i," said the spring; "their leaves so beautiful to them i bring." who loves the trees best? "i," summer said; "i give them blossoms, white, yellow, red." who loves the trees best? "i," said the fall; "i give luscious fruits, bright tints to all." who loves the trees best? "i love them best," harsh winter answered; "i give them rest." --alice may douglas. leaves in autumn red and gold, and gold and red, autumn leaves burned overhead; hues so splendid softly blended, oh, the glory that they shed! red and gold, and gold and red. gold and brown, and brown and gold, of such fun the west wind told that they listened, and they glistened, as they wrestled in the cold; gold and brown, and brown and gold. brown and gold, and red and brown, how they hurried, scurried down for a frolic, for a rolic, through the country and the town, brown and gold, and red and brown. [illustration: a bird in a tree] a story of bird life i once there came to our fields a pair of birds. they had never built a nest nor seen a winter. oh, how beautiful was everything! the fields were full of flowers, the grass was growing tall, and the bees were humming everywhere. one of the birds fell to singing, and the other bird said, "who told you to sing?" he answered, "the flowers and the bees told me. the blue sky told me, and you told me." "when did i tell you to sing?" asked his mate. "every time you brought in tender grass for the nest," he replied. "every time your soft wings fluttered off again for hair and feathers to line it." then his mate asked, "what are you singing about?" "i am singing about everything," he answered. "i sing because i am happy." by and by five little speckled eggs were in the nest, and the mother bird asked, "is there anything in all the world as pretty as my eggs?" a week or two afterward, the mother said, "oh, what do you think has happened? one of my eggs has been peeping and moving." soon another egg moved, then another, and another, till five eggs were hatched. the little birds were so hungry that it kept the parents busy feeding them. away they both flew. the moment the little birds heard them coming back, five yellow mouths flew open wide. "can anybody be happier?" said the father bird to the mother bird. "we will live in this tree always. it is a tree that bears joy." ii the very next day one of the birds dropped out of the nest, and in a moment a cat ate it up. only four remained, and the parent birds were very sad. there was no song all that day, nor the next. soon the little birds were big enough to fly. the first bird that tried his wings flew from one branch to another. his parents praised him, and the other baby birds wondered how he had done it. the little one was so proud of it that he tried again. he flew and flew and couldn't stop flying. at last he fell plump! down by the kitchen door. a little boy caught him and carried him into the house. now only three birds were left. the sun no longer seemed bright to the birds, and they did not sing so often. in a little time the other birds learned to use their wings, and they flew away and away. they found their own food and made their own nests. then the old birds sat silent and looked at each other a long while. at last the mother bird asked, "why don't you sing?" "i can't sing," the father bird answered. "i only think and think!" "what are you thinking of?" "i am thinking how everything changes. the leaves are falling, and soon there will be no roof over our heads. the flowers are all gone. last night there was a frost. almost all the birds have flown away, and i am restless. something calls me, and i feel that i must fly away, too." [illustration: two birds flying over a field] "let us fly away together!" the mother bird said. then they rose silently up in the air. they looked to the north; far away they saw the snow coming. they looked to the south; there they saw green leaves. all day they flew. all night they flew and flew, till they found a land where there was no winter. there it was summer all the time; flowers always blossomed and birds always sang. --henry ward beecher bob white there's a plump little chap in a speckled coat, and he sits on the zigzag rails remote, where he whistles at breezy, bracing morn, when the buckwheat is ripe, and stacked is the corn: "bob white! bob white! bob white!" is he hailing some comrade as blithe as he? now i wonder where robert white can be! o'er the billows of gold and amber grain there is no one in sight--but, hark again: "bob white! bob white! bob white!" ah! i see why he calls; in the stubble there hide his plump little wife and babies fair! so contented is he, and so proud of the same, that he wants all the world to know his name: "bob white! bob white! bob white!" --george cooper. how mary got a new dress mary lived a long time ago. she was a little girl when your great-great-grandmother was a little girl. in those days all cloth had to be made at home. aunt dinah, aunt chloe, and aunt dilsey were kept busy spinning and weaving to make clothes for the whole plantation. one day mary's mother said, "aunt dilsey, mary needs a new dress, and i want you to weave some cloth at once. can you weave some very fine cloth?" "yes, ma'am," said aunt dilsey. "i have some cotton i've been saving to make her a dress." aunt dilsey got out the cards and carded the cotton smooth and fine. then she fastened a roll of this cotton to the spindle and sent the wheel whirling around with a "zum-m-m-m--zum-m-m-m!" mary stood and watched the old woman. [illustration: mary watching aunt dilsey at spinning wheel] "aunt dilsey," she said, "the spinning wheel sings a song, and i know what it says. grandmother told me. it says, 'a hum and a whirl, a twist and a twirl, this is for the girl with the golden curl! zum-m-m-m-m-m! zum-m-m-m-m-m!'" "and that means you, honey," said aunt dilsey. when the yarn was ready, aunt dilsey fastened it in the loom and began to weave. the threads went over and under, over and under. as aunt dilsey wove, she hummed. mary stood by and sang this song, "over and under and over we go, weaving the cotton as white as the snow, weaving the cloth for a dress, oh, ho! as over and under and over we go." after the cloth had been woven, aunt dilsey took it out of the loom. then she bleached it until it was as white as snow. now it was ready to be made into a dress. "mother, do tell me how you are going to make the dress," said mary. "will it have ruffles on it like sue's? will it have trimming on it? and how many buttons will you put on it? sue's dress has twelve; i know, for i counted them." mother did not answer all these questions; she just smiled as the scissors went snip, snip into the cloth. but she did cut out ruffles, and aunt maria began to hem them. [illustration: mary with her mother and grandmother] by and by grandmother came into the room. "mary," she said, "here is some lace i got in england. mother may put it on your dress." how happy mary was! she danced for joy. mother put on the lace, and grandmother worked the buttonholes. how many do you suppose she worked? why, she worked twelve! when the dress was finished, it was just like sue's. only it was a great deal finer, for mary's dress had three ruffles and sue's had only two! and, then, there was the lace from england! the plaid dress "i want a warm plaid dress," said a little girl. "the days are colder, and the frost will soon be here. but how can i get it? mother says that she cannot buy one for me." the old white sheep in the meadow heard her, and he bleated to the shepherd, "the little girl wants a warm plaid dress. i will give my wool. who else will help?" the kind shepherd said, "i will." then he led the old white sheep to the brook and washed its wool. when it was clean and white, he said, "the little girl wants a warm plaid dress. the sheep has given his wool, and i have washed it clean and white. who else will help?" "we will," said the shearers. "we will bring our shears and cut off the wool." the shearers cut the soft wool from the old sheep, and then they called, "the little girl wants a new dress. the sheep has given his wool. the shepherd has washed it; and we have sheared it. who else will help?" [illustration: shearer shearing the sheep] "we will," cried the carders. "we will comb it out straight and smooth." soon they held up the wool, carded straight and smooth, and they cried, "the little girl wants a new dress. the sheep has given his wool. the shepherd has washed the wool. the shearers have cut it, and we have carded it. who else will help?" "we will," said the spinners. "we will spin it into thread." "whirr, whirr!" how fast the spinning wheels turned, singing all the time. soon the spinners said, "the little girl wants a new dress. the sheep has given his wool. the shepherd has washed the wool. the shearers have cut it. the carders have carded it, and we have spun it into thread. who else will help?" "we will," said the dyers. "we will dye it with beautiful colors." then they dipped the woven threads into bright dye, red and blue and green and brown. as they spread the wool out to dry, the dyers called: "the little girl wants a new dress. the sheep has given his wool. the shepherd has washed the wool. the shearers have cut it. the carders have carded it. the spinners have spun it, and we have dyed it with bright beautiful colors. who else will help?" "we will," said the weavers. "we will make it into cloth." [illustration: weaver at loom] "clickety-clack! clickety-clack!" went the loom, as the colored thread was woven over and under over and under. before long it was made into beautiful plaid cloth. then the little girl's mother cut and made the dress. it was a beautiful plaid dress, and the little girl loved to wear it. every time she put it on, she thought of her friends who had helped her,--the sheep, the shearers, the carders, the spinners, the dyers, the weavers, and her own dear mother. the goddess of the silkworm hoangti was the emperor of china. he had a beautiful wife whose name was si-ling. the emperor and his wife loved their people and always thought of their happiness. in those days the chinese people wore clothes made of skins. by and by animals grew scarce, and the people did not know what they should wear. the emperor and empress tried in vain to find some other way of clothing them. one morning hoangti and his wife were in the beautiful palace garden. they walked up and down, up and down, talking of their people. suddenly the emperor said, "look at those worms on the mulberry trees, si-ling. they seem to be spinning." si-ling looked, and sure enough, the worms were spinning. a long thread was coming from the mouth of each, and each little worm was winding this thread around its body. si-ling and the emperor stood still and watched the worms. "how wonderful!" said si-ling. the next morning hoangti and the empress walked under the trees again. they found some worms still winding thread. others had already spun their cocoons and were fast asleep. in a few days all of the worms had spun cocoons. "this is indeed a wonderful, wonderful thing!" said si-ling. "why, each worm has a thread on its body long enough to make a house for itself!" si-ling thought of this day after day. one morning as she and the emperor walked under the trees, she said, "i believe i could find a way to weave those long threads into cloth." "but how could you unwind the threads?" asked the emperor. [illustration: hoangti and si-ling walking among the trees] "i'll find a way," si-ling said. and she did; but she had to try many, many times. she put the cocoons in a hot place, and the little sleepers soon died. then the cocoons were thrown into boiling water to make the threads soft. after that the long threads could be easily unwound. now si-ling had to think of something else; she had to find a way to weave the threads into cloth. after many trials, she made a loom--the first that was ever made. she taught others to weave, and soon hundreds of people were making cloth from the threads of the silkworm. the people ever afterward called si-ling "the goddess of the silkworm." and whenever the emperor walked with her in the garden, they liked to watch the silkworms spinning threads for the good of their people. the flax i it was spring. the flax was in full bloom, and it had dainty little blue flowers that nodded in the breeze. "people say that i look very well," said the flax. "they say that i am fine and long and that i shall make a beautiful piece of linen. how happy i am! no one in the world can be happier." "oh, yes," said the fence post, "you may grow and be happy, and you may sing, but you do not know the world as i do. why, i have knots in me." and it creaked; "snip, snap, snurre, basse, lurre, the song is ended." "no, it is not ended," said the flax. "the sun will shine, and the rain will fall, and i shall grow and grow. no, no, the song is not ended." one day some men came with sharp reap hooks. they took the flax by the head and cut it off at the roots. this was very painful, you may be sure. then the flax was laid in water and was nearly drowned. after that it was put on a fire and nearly roasted. all this was frightful. but the flax only said, "one cannot be happy always. by having bad times as well as good, we become wise." after the flax had been cut and steeped and roasted, it was put on a spinning wheel. "whir-r-r, whir-rr-r," went the spinning wheel; it went so fast that the flax could hardly think. "i have been very happy in the sunshine and the rain," it said. "if i am in pain now, i must be contented." at last the flax was put in the loom. soon it became a beautiful piece of white linen. "this is very wonderful," said the flax. "how foolish the fence post was with its song of- 'snip, snap, snurre, basse, lurre, the song is ended.' the song is not ended, i am sure. it has only just begun. "after all that i have suffered, i am at last made into beautiful linen. how strong and fine i am, and how long and white! this is even better than being a plant bearing flowers. i have never been happier than i am now." after some time the linen was cut into pieces and sewed with needles. that was not pleasant; but at last there were twelve pretty white aprons. "see," said the flax, "i have been made into something. now i shall be of some use in the world. that is the only way to be happy." ii years passed by, and the linen was so worn that it could hardly hold together. "the end must come soon," said the flax. at last the linen did fall into rags and tatters; it was torn into shreds and boiled in water. the flax thought the end had come. but no, the end was not yet. after being made into pulp and dried, the flax became beautiful white paper. "this is a surprise, a glorious surprise," it said. "i am finer than ever, and i shall have fine things written on me. how happy i am!" and sure enough, the most beautiful stories and verses were written upon it. people read the stories and verses, and they were made wiser and better. their children and their children's children read them, too, and so the song was not ended. --hans christian andersen. [illustration: girl reading a book] the wonderful world great, wide, beautiful, wonderful world, with the wonderful water round you curled, and the wonderful grass upon your breast, world, you are beautifully drest. the wonderful air is over me, and the wonderful wind is shaking the tree- it walks on the water, and whirls the mills, and talks to itself on the top of the hills. you friendly earth, how far do you go, with the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow, with cities and gardens, and cliffs and isles, and people upon you for thousands of miles? ah! you are so great, and i am so small, i hardly can think of you, world, at all; and yet, when i said my prayers to-day, a whisper within me seemed to say, "you are more than the earth, though you are such a dot! you can love and think, and the earth cannot!" --william brighty rands. [illustration: the hillman at the housewife's door] the hillman and the housewife as every one knows, fairies are always just. they are kind to others, and in return they expect others to be kind to them. in some countries across the sea there are fairies called hillmen. now, there once lived a certain housewife who liked to make bargains. she gave away only those things for which she had no use, and then expected always to get something in return. one day a hillman knocked at her door. "can you lend us a saucepan?" he asked. "there's a wedding on the hill, and all the pots are in use." "is he to have one?" whispered the servant who opened the door. "aye, to be sure," answered the housewife; "one must be neighborly. get the saucepan for him, lass." the maid turned to take a good saucepan from the shelf, but the housewife stopped her. "not that, not that," she whispered. "get the old one out of the cupboard. it leaks, but that doesn't matter. the hillmen are so neat and are such nimble workers that they are sure to mend it before they send it home. i can oblige the fairies and save sixpence in tinkering, too." the maid brought the old saucepan that had been laid by until the tinker's next visit, and gave it to the hillman. he thanked her and went away. when the saucepan was returned, it had been neatly mended, just as the housewife thought it would be. at night the maid filled the pan with milk and set it on the fire to heat for the children's supper. in a few moments the milk was so smoked and burnt that no one would touch it. even the pigs refused to drink it. "ah, you good-for-nothing!" cried the housewife. "there's a quart of milk wasted at once." "and that's twopence," cried a queer little voice that seemed to come from the chimney. the housewife filled the saucepan again and set it over the fire. it had not been there more than two minutes before it boiled over and was burnt and smoked as before. "the pan must be dirty," muttered the woman, who was very much vexed. "two full quarts of milk have been wasted." "and that's fourpence!" added the queer little voice from the chimney. the saucepan was scoured; then it was filled with milk the third time and set over the fire. again the milk boiled over and was spoiled. now the housewife was quite vexed. "i have never had anything like this to happen since i first kept house," she exclaimed. "three quarts of milk wasted!" "and that's sixpence," cried the queer little voice from the chimney. "you didn't save the tinkering after all, mother!" with that the hillman himself came tumbling from the chimney and ran off laughing. but from that time, the saucepan was as good as any other. --juliana h. ewing. [illustration: the hillman running off from the fire] [illustration: the elf and the dormouse under the toadstool] the elf and the dormouse under a toad stool crept a wee elf, out of the rain to shelter himself. under the toad stool sound asleep, sat a big dormouse all in a heap. trembled the wee elf frightened, and yet fearing to fly away lest he get wet. to the next shelter- maybe a mile! sudden the wee elf smiled a wee smile; tugged till the toad stool toppled in two; holding it over him, gayly he flew. soon he was safe home, dry as could be. soon woke the dormouse- "good gracious me! "where is my toad stool?" loud he lamented. and that's how umbrellas first were invented. --oliver herford. [illustration: the elf flying away with the toadstool as the dormouse watches] the bell of atri i good king john of atri loved his people very much and wished to see them happy. he knew, however, that some were not; he knew that many suffered wrongs which were not righted. this made him sad. one day the king thought of a way to help his people. he had a great bell hung in a tower in the market place. he had the rope made so long that a child could reach it. then the king sent heralds through the streets to tell the people why he had put the bell in the market place. the heralds blew their trumpets long and loud, and the people came from their homes to hear the message. "know ye," cried a herald, "that whenever a wrong is done to any man, he has but to ring the great bell in the square. a judge will go to the tower to hear the complaint, and he will see that justice is done." "long live our good king!" shouted the people. "now our wrongs shall be righted." and so it was. whenever anyone was wronged, he rang the bell in the tower. the judge put on his rich robes and went there. he listened to the complaint, and the guilty were punished. the people in atri were now very happy, and the days went swiftly by. the bell hung in its place year after year, and it was rung many times. by and by the rope became so worn that one could scarcely reach it. the king said, "why, a child could not reach the rope now, and a wrong might not be righted. i must put in a new one." so he ordered a rope from a distant town. in those days it took a long time to travel from one town to another. what should they do if somebody wished to ring the bell before the new rope came? "we must mend the rope in some way," said a man. "here," said another; "take this piece of grapevine and fasten it to the rope. then it will be long enough for any one to reach." this was done, and for some time the bell was rung in that way. ii one hot summer noon everything was very still. all the people were indoors taking their noonday rest. suddenly they were awakened by the arousing bell: some one--hath done--a wrong, hath done--a wrong! hath done--a wrong! the judge started from a deep sleep, turned on his couch, and listened. could it be the bell of justice? again the sound came: some one--hath done--a wrong! hath done--a wrong! hath done--a wrong! it was the bell of justice. the judge put on his rich robes and, panting, hurried to the market place. there he saw a strange sight: a poor steed, starved and thin, tugging at the vines which were fastened to the bell. a great crowd had gathered around. "whose horse is this?" the judge asked. "it is the horse of the rich soldier who lives in the castle," said a man. "he has served his master long and well, and has saved his life many times. now that the horse is too old to work, the master turns him out. he wanders through the lanes and fields, picking up such food as can be found." "his call for justice shall be heard," said the judge. "bring the soldier to me." the soldier tried to treat the matter as a jest. then he grew angry and said in an undertone, "one can surely do what he pleases with his own." [illustration: the judge sees the horse in the market place] "for shame!" cried the judge. "has the horse not served you for many years? and has he not saved your life? you must build a good shelter for him, and give him the best grain and the best pasture. take the horse home and be as true to him as he has been to you." the soldier hung his head in shame and led the horse away. the people shouted and applauded. "great is king john," they cried, "and great the bell of atri!" --italian tale. a dumb witness one day at noontime a poor man was riding along a road. he was tired and hungry, and wished to stop and rest. finding a tree with low branches, he tied his horse to one of them. then he sat down to eat his dinner. soon a rich man came along and started to tie his horse to the same tree. "do not fasten your horse to that tree," cried the poor man. "my horse is savage and he may kill yours. fasten him to another tree." "i shall tie my horse where i wish," the rich man replied; and he tied his horse to the same tree. then he, too, sat down to eat. very soon the men heard a great noise. they looked up and saw that their horses were kicking and fighting. both men rushed to stop them, but it was too late; the rich man's horse was dead. "see what your horse has done!" cried the rich man in an angry voice. "but you shall pay for it! you shall pay for it!" then he dragged the man before a judge. "oh, wise judge," he cried, "i have come to you for justice. i had a beautiful, kind, gentle horse which has been killed by this man's savage horse. make the man pay for the horse or send him to prison." "not so fast, my friend," the judge said. "there are two sides to every case." he turned to the poor man. "did your horse kill this man's horse?" he asked. the poor man made no reply. the judge asked in surprise, "are you dumb? can you not talk?" but no word came from the poor man's lips. then the judge turned to the rich man. "what more can i do?" he asked. "you see for yourself this poor man cannot speak." "oh, but he can," cried the rich man. "he spoke to me." "indeed!" said the judge. "when?" "he spoke to me when i tied my horse to the tree." "what did he say?" asked the judge. "he said, 'do not fasten your horse to that tree. my horse is savage and may kill yours.'" "0 ho!" said the judge. "this poor man warned you that his horse was savage, and you tied your horse near his after the warning. this puts a new light on the matter. you are to blame, not he." the judge turned to the poor man and said, "my man, why did you not answer my questions?" "oh, wise judge," said the poor man, "if i had told you that i warned him not to tie his horse near mine, he would have denied it. then how could you have told which one of us to believe? i let him tell his own story, and you have learned the truth." this speech pleased the judge. he praised the poor man for his wisdom, and sent the rich man away without a penny. --arabian tale. [illustration: workers leaving a reaped field] giving thanks for the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped, for the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped, for the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb, for the rose and the song, and the harvest brought home- thanksgiving! thanksgiving! [illustration: a house] for the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land, for the cunning and strength of the working-man's hand, for the good that our artists and poets have taught, for the friendship that hope and affection have brought- thanksgiving! thanksgiving! for the homes that with purest affection are blest, for the season of plenty and well-deserved rest, for our country extending from sea to sea, the land that is known as "the land of the free"- thanksgiving! thanksgiving! the hare and the hedgehog i place: a farmer's cabbage field. time: a fine morning in spring. (the hedgehog is standing by his door looking at the cabbage field which he thinks is his own.) hedgehog: wife, have you dressed the children yet? wife: just through, my dear. hedgehog: well, come out here and let us look at our cabbage patch. (wife comes out.) hedgehog: fine crop, isn't it? we should be happy. wife: the cabbage is fine enough, but i can't see why we should be so happy. [illustration: the hare and the hedgehog with a cabbage] hedgehog: why, my dear, there are tears in your voice. what is the matter? wife: i suppose i ought not to mind it, but those dreadful hares nearly worry the life out of me. hedgehog: what are they doing now? wife: doing? what are they not doing? why, yesterday i brought my pretty babies out here to get some cabbage leaves. we were eating as well-behaved hedgehogs always eat, and those horrid hares almost made us cry. hedgehog: what did they do? wife: they came to our cabbage patch and they giggled and said, "oh, see the little duck-legged things! aren't they funny?" then one jumped over a cabbage just to hurt our feelings. hedgehog: well, they are mean, i know, but we won't notice them. i'll get even with them one of these days. ah, there comes one of them now. wife: yes, and he laughed at me yesterday. he said, "good-morning, madam shortlegs." i won't speak to him. i'll hide till he goes by. (wife hides behind a cabbage.) hedgehog: good-morning, sir. hare: are you speaking to me? hedgehog: certainly; do you see any one else around? hare: how dare you speak to me? hedgehog: oh, just to be neighborly. hare: i shall ask you not to speak to me hereafter. i think myself too good to notice hedgehogs. hedgehog: now, that is strange. hare: what is strange? hedgehog: why, i have just said to my wife that we wouldn't notice you. hare: wouldn't notice me, indeed, you silly, short-legged, duck-legged thing! hedgehog: well, my legs are quite as good as yours, sir. hare: as good as mine! who ever heard of such a thing? why, you can do little more than crawl. hedgehog: that may be as you say, but i'll run a race with you any day. hare: ha, ha, ha! ho, ho, ho! a race with a hedgehog! well, well, well! hedgehog: are you afraid to run with me? hare: of course not. it will be no race at all, but i'll run just to show you how silly you are. hedgehog: good! you run in that furrow; i will run in this. we shall see who gets to the fence first. let's start from the far end of the furrow. hare: i will run to the brook and back while you are getting there. go ahead. hedgehog: i wouldn't stay too long if i were you. hare: oh, i'll be back before you reach the end of the furrow. (the hare runs off to the brook.) ii hedgehog: wife, wife, did you hear what i said to the hare? wife: did i hear? i should say i did. what are you thinking of? have you lost your senses? hedgehog: you shouldn't speak that way to me. what do you know about a man's business? come here and let me whisper something to you. (he whispers and then walks to far end of the furrow. his wife laughs.) wife: ha, ha! i see. i see. nothing wrong with your brains. "short legs, long wit, long legs, not a bit," as my grandmother used to say. the hare will find that out today. (she stoops down in the near end of the furrow. the hare returns and takes his place.) hare: well, are you ready? hedgehog: of course i am,--ready and waiting. hare: one for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and here we go! (the hare runs as swiftly as the wind. the hedgehog starts with him, but stops and stoops low in the furrow. when the hare reaches the other end, the hedgehog's wife puts up her head.) wife: well, here i am. hare: what does this mean? wife: it means what it means. hare: we'll try again. are you ready? wife: of course i am. hare: one for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and here we go! (the hare runs swiftly back again. wife starts, but stops and stoops low. the hare reaches the other end. the hedgehog puts up his head.) hedgehog: here i am. hare: i can't understand this. hedgehog: it is very clear to me. hare: well, we'll try again. are you ready? hedgehog: i'm always ready. hare: one for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and here we go! (again the wife puts up her head and the hare is bewildered.) [illustration: the hare racing as the hedhog looks on] wife: you see i am here. hare: i just can't believe it. wife: a perfectly simple thing. hare: we'll try once more. you can't beat me another time. wife: don't boast. you had better save your breath for the race; you will need it. hare: one for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and here we go! (when the hare reaches the other end of the field, the hedgehog puts up his head.) hare: this is very strange. hedgehog: shall we run again? you seem a little tired, but i am perfectly fresh. hare (_panting_): no, no! the race is yours. hedgehog: will you call my wife and children names any more? hare: no, no! i'll never do that again. hedgehog: very well. and if you wish a race at any time, friend hare, just call by for me. hare (_walking off shaking his head_): it's very strange. i hope none of the other hares will hear of this race. wife (_as she meets the hedgehog_): i thought i should hurt myself laughing. as my grandmother used to say, "short legs, long wit, long legs, not a bit." --grimm. epaminondas epaminondas had a good kind granny, who cooked at "the big house." epaminondas liked to go to see her, for she always gave him something to take home with him. one day when epaminondas went to see granny, she was baking a cake, and she gave epaminondas a piece to eat. as he was leaving, granny said, "epaminondas, you may take a slice home to your mammy." epaminondas took it in his little hands and squeezing it just as tight as he could, ran all the way home. when his mammy saw him, she said, "what's that, epaminondas?" "cake, mammy. granny sent it to you." "cake!" cried his mammy. "epaminondas, don't you know that's no way to carry cake? when your granny gives you cake, put it in your hat; then put your hat on your head and come home. you hear me, epaminondas?" "yes, mammy." the next time epaminondas went to see his granny, she was churning, and she gave him a pat of fresh butter to carry to his mammy. epaminondas said to himself, "what was it mammy said? oh, yes! i know. she said, 'put it in your hat and put the hat on your head and come home.' i'll do just what she told me." epaminondas put the pat of butter in his hat, put his hat on his head, and went home. it was a hot day, and soon the butter began to melt. drip, drip, drip, it went into his ears. drip, drip, drip, it went into his eyes. drip, drip, drip, it went down his back. when epaminondas reached home, he had no butter in his hat. it was all on him. looking at him hard, his mammy said, "epaminondas, what in the world is that dripping from your hat?" "butter, mammy. granny sent it to you." "butter!" cried his mammy. "oh, epaminondas! don't you know how to carry butter? you must wrap it in a cabbage leaf, and take it to the spring. then you must cool it in the water, and cool it in the water, and cool it in the water. when you have done this, take the butter in your hands and come home. you hear me, epaminondas?" "yes, mammy." the next time epaminondas went to see his granny, she wasn't baking cake and she wasn't churning. she was sitting in a chair knitting. she said, "epaminondas, look in the woodshed, and you'll see something you like." epaminondas looked in the woodshed, and there he found four little puppies. he played with them all the afternoon, and when he started home, his granny gave him one. epaminondas remembered what his mammy had told him. he wrapped the puppy in a big cabbage leaf, and took it to the spring. he cooled it in the water, and cooled it in the water, and cooled it in the water. then he took it in his hands, and went home. when his mammy saw him, she said, "epaminondas, what is that in your hands?" "a puppy dog, mammy." "a puppy dog!" cried his mammy. "oh, epaminondas! what makes you act so foolish? that's no way to carry a puppy. the way to carry a puppy is to tie a string around his neck and put him on the ground. then you take the other end of the string in your hand and come along home. you hear me, epaminondas?" "yes, mammy." epaminondas was going to be right the next time; he got a piece of string and put it in his pocket to have it ready. the next day company came to see epaminondas's mammy, and she had no bread for dinner. she called epaminondas and said, "run to 'the big house' and ask your granny to send me a loaf of bread for dinner." "yes, mammy," said epaminondas. and off he ran. granny gave him a loaf just from the oven--a nice, brown, crusty loaf. this time epaminondas was certainly going to do what mammy had told him. he proudly got out his string and tied it to the loaf. then he put the loaf on the ground, and taking the other end of the string in his hand, he went along home. when he reached home, his mammy gave one look at the thing tied to the end of the string. "what have you brought, epaminondas?" she cried. "bread, mammy. granny sent it to you." "oh, epaminondas! epaminondas! how could you be so foolish?" cried his mammy. "now i have no bread for dinner. i'll have to go and get some myself." she went into the house and got her bonnet. when she came out, she said, "epaminondas, do you see those three mince pies i've put on the doorstep to cool. well, now, you hear me, epaminondas. you be careful how you step on those pies!" "yes, mammy." his mammy went off down the road; epaminondas went to the door and looked out. "mammy told me to be careful how i step on those mince pies," he said, "so i must be careful how i do it. i'll step right in the middle of every one." and he did! when his mammy came home, there were no pies for dinner. now she was angry all over, and something happened. i don't know, and you don't know, but we can guess. poor epaminondas!--southern tale. [illustration: epaminondas stepping in the pies] how brother rabbit fooled the whale and the elephant i one day brother rabbit was running along on the sand, lippety, lippety, lippety. he was going to a fine cabbage field. on the way he saw the whale and the elephant talking together. brother rabbit said, "i'd like to know what they are talking about." so he crouched down behind some bushes and listened. this is what brother rabbit heard the whale say: "you are the biggest thing on the land, brother elephant, and i am the biggest thing in the sea. if we work together, we can rule all the animals in the world. we can have our own way about everything." "very good, very good," trumpeted the elephant. "that suits me. you keep the sea, and i will keep the land." [illustration: brother rabbit listening] "that's a bargain," said the whale, as he swam away. brother rabbit laughed to himself. "they won't rule me," he said, as he ran off. brother rabbit soon came back with a very long and a very strong rope and his big drum. he hid the drum in some bushes. then taking one end of the rope, he walked up to the elephant. "oh, dear mr. elephant," he said, "you are big and strong; will you have the kindness to do me a favor?" the elephant was pleased, and he trumpeted, "certainly, certainly. what is it?" "my cow is stuck in the mud on the shore, and i can't pull her out," said brother rabbit. "if you will help me, you will do me a great service. you are so strong, i am sure you can get her out." "certainly, certainly," trumpeted the elephant. "thank you," said the rabbit. "take this rope in your trunk, and i will tie the other end to my cow. then i will beat my drum to let you know when to pull. you must pull as hard as you can, for the cow is very heavy." "huh!" trumpeted the elephant, "i'll pull her out, or break the rope." brother rabbit tied the rope to the elephant's trunk and ran off, lippety, lippety. ii he ran till he came to the shore where the whale was. making a bow, brother rabbit said, "0, mighty and wonderful whale, will you do me a favor?" "what is it?" asked the whale. "my cow is stuck in the mud on the shore," said brother rabbit, "and i cannot pull her out. of course you can do it. if you will be so kind as to help me, i shall be very much obliged." "certainly," said the whale, "certainly." "thank you," said brother rabbit, "take hold of this rope, and i will tie the other end to my cow. then i will beat my big drum to let you know when to pull. you must pull as hard as you can, for my cow is very heavy." "never fear," said the whale, "i could pull a dozen cows out of the mud." "i am sure you could," said the rabbit politely. "only be sure to begin gently. then pull harder and harder till you get her out." the rabbit ran away into the bushes where he had hidden the drum and began to beat it. then the whale began to pull and the elephant began to pull. in a minute the rope tightened till it was stretched as hard as a bar of iron. "this is a very heavy cow," said the elephant, "but i'll pull her out." bracing his fore feet in the earth, he gave a tremendous pull. but the whale had no way to brace himself. "dear me," he said. "that cow must surely be stuck tight." lashing his tail in the water, he gave a marvelous pull. he pulled harder; the elephant pulled harder. soon the whale found himself sliding toward the land. he was so provoked with the cow that he went head first, down to the bottom of the sea. that was a pull! the elephant was jerked off his feet, and came slipping and sliding toward the sea. he was very angry. "that cow must be very strong to drag me in this way," he said. "i will brace myself." kneeling down on the ground, he twisted the rope around his trunk. then he began to pull his very best, and soon the whale came up out of the water. then each saw that the other had hold of the rope. "how is this?" cried the whale. "i thought i was pulling brother rabbit's cow." "that is what i thought," said the elephant. "brother rabbit is making fun of us. he must pay for this. i forbid him to eat a blade of grass on land, because he played a trick on us." "and i will not allow him to drink a drop of water in the sea," said the whale. but little rabbit sat in the bushes and laughed, and laughed, and laughed. "much do i care," he said. "i can get all the green things i want, and i don't like salt water." --southern folk tale. [illustration: a mother with children in winter] a christmas wish i'd like a stocking made for a giant, and a meeting house full of toys; then i'd go out on a happy hunt for the poor little girls and boys; up the street and down the street, and across and over the town, i'd search and find them every one, before the sun went down. one would want a new jack-knife sharp enough to cut; one would long for a doll with hair, and eyes that open and shut; one would ask for a china set with dishes all to her mind; one would wish a noah's ark with beasts of every kind. some would like a doll cook-stove and a little toy wash tub; some would prefer a little drum, for a noisy rub-a-dub; some would wish for a story book, and some for a set of blocks; some would be wild with happiness over a new tool-box. and some would rather have little shoes, and other things warm to wear, for many children are very poor, and the winter is hard to bear; i'd buy soft flannels for little frocks, and a thousand stockings or so, and the jolliest little coats and cloaks, to keep out the frost and snow. [illustration: christmas toys] i'd load a wagon with caramels and candy of every kind, and buy all the almond and pecan nuts and taffy that i could find; and barrels and barrels of oranges i'd scatter right in the way, so the children would find them the very first thing, when they wake on christmas day. --eugene field. [illustration: the church tower] the christmas bells i long, long ago, in a far away city, there was a large church. the tower of this church was so high that it seamed to touch the clouds, and in the high tower there were three wonderful bells. when they rang, they made sweet music. there was something strange about these bells. they were never heard to ring except on christmas eve, and no one knew who rang them. some people thought it was the wind blowing through the tower. others thought the angels rang them when a gift pleased the christ child. although the people did not know what rang the bells, they loved to hear them. they would come from miles around to listen to the wonderful music. when they had heard the bells, they would go out of the church, silent but happy. then all would go back to their homes feeling that christmas had come, indeed. one christmas eve the people in the church waited and waited, but the bells did not ring. silently and sadly they went home. christmas after christmas came and went. nearly one hundred years passed by, and in all that time the bells did not ring. people sometimes asked one another, "do you suppose the bells ever did ring?" "yes," said one very old man. "i have often heard my father tell how beautifully they rang on christmas eve. there was more love in the world then." every christmas eve the church was filled with people who waited and listened. they hoped that the bells would ring again as they had rung long ago. though many gifts were laid on the altar, still the bells did not ring. ii christmas was near at hand again, and every one was happy. not far from the city two little brothers lived on a farm--pedro and little brother. their father was poor and had no gift to lay on the altar. but pedro had saved all his earnings, and he had one shining silver piece. his father had promised the little boys that they might go to the church on christmas eve and take the gift. it was quite dark when the lads started on their way to the city. the snow was falling fast, but they buttoned their little jackets close about them and walked along briskly. they were not far from the church when they heard a low whine of distress. little brother, clinging to pedro in fear, cried, "what is it, pedro, what is it?" pedro ran across the street, and there under a small heap of snow, what do you think he found? a little black and white dog, shivering with cold, and nearly starved. pedro opened his jacket, and put the dog inside to keep it warm. "you will have to go to the church alone, little brother," pedro said. "i must take this little dog back to the farm, and give it food, else it will die." "but i don't want to go alone, pedro," said little brother. "won't you please go and put my gift on the altar, little brother? i wish so much to have it there to-night." "yes, pedro, i will," said little brother. he took the gift and started toward the church. pedro turned and went home. when little brother came to the great stone church and looked up at the high tower, he felt that he could not go in alone. he stood outside a long time watching the people as they passed in. at last he entered quietly and took a seat in a corner. iii when little brother went into the church, all the people were seated. they sat quietly hoping that at last the bells would ring again as in the days of old. the organ pealed out a christmas hymn. the choir and the people arose, and all sang the grand old anthem. then a solemn voice said, "bring now your gifts to the altar." the king arose and went forward with stately tread. bowing before the altar, he laid upon it his golden crown. then he walked proudly back to his seat. all the people listened, but the bells did not ring. then the queen arose and with haughty step walked to the front. she took from her neck and wrists her beautiful jewels and laid them upon the altar. all the people listened, but the bells did not ring. then the soldiers came marching proudly forward. they took their jeweled swords from their belts and laid them upon the altar. all the people listened, but the bells did not ring. then the rich men came hurrying forward. they counted great sums of gold and laid them in a businesslike way upon the altar. all the people listened, but the bells did not ring. "can i go all alone to the front of the church and lay this small gift on the altar?" said little brother. "oh, how can i? how can i?" then he said, "but i told pedro i would, and i must." so he slipped slowly around by the outer aisle. he crept quietly up to the altar and softly laid the silver piece upon the very edge. and listen! what do you think was heard? the bells, the bells! oh, how happy the people were! and how happy little brother was! he ran out of the church and down the road toward the farm. pedro had warmed the dog and fed it, and was now on the way to the city. he hoped that he might see the people come out of the church. down the road little brother came running. throwing himself into pedro's arms, he cried, "oh, pedro, pedro! the bells, the bells! i wish you could have heard them; and they rang when i laid your gift on the altar." "i did hear them, little brother," said pedro. "their sound came to me over the snow,--the sweetest music i ever heard." long years after, when pedro grew to be a man, he was a great musician. many, many people came to hear him play. some one said to him one day, "how can you play so sweetly? i never heard such music before." "ah," said pedro, "but you never heard the christmas bells as i heard them that christmas night years and years ago." --old tale retold. [illustration: family at prayer at the table] god bless the master of this house god bless the master of this house, the mistress, also, and all the little children that round the table go: and all your kin and kinsfolk, that dwell both far and near; i wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year. --old english rime. squeaky and the scare box i once upon a time a family of mice lived in the pantry wall. there was a father mouse, there was a mother mouse, and there were three little baby mice. one little mouse had sharp bright eyes and could see everything, even in the darkest holes. he was called sharpeyes. his brother could sniff and smell anything, wherever it might be hidden, and he was called sniffy. the baby mouse had such a squeaky little voice that he was called squeaky. he was always singing, "ee-ee-ee!" mother mouse was very wise, and she had taught her babies to run and hide when they saw the old cat coming. she had also taught them not to go near a trap. the little mice obeyed their mother, and they were happy in their home in the pantry wall. they had many good times together. i could not tell you about all of these, but i am going to tell you about their christmas party and what happened to squeaky. it was the night before christmas. the stockings hung by the chimney, and the tall tree was standing in the parlor. the children were asleep, and the father and mother had gone upstairs to bed. in the pantry wall, the little mice were all wide-awake. "ee-ee-ee!" squeaked squeaky; "why can't we creep into the big room and see the tall christmas tree? the children have talked about it for days, and we have never seen one. mother, please let us go and see it." "yes," said sniffy, "do let us go. everything smells so good. the children and the cook made long strings of pop corn to-day. i found a little on the pantry floor, and i want some more." "i peeped out of our hole," said sharpeyes, "and i saw cake and candy all ready for the children. oh, i do want a bite of those good things! please let us have a christmas party." "well," said mother mouse, "i will ask your father. if he says it is safe, we will go." when mother mouse asked father mouse, he said, "i will go out first and look all about. if it is safe, i will come back for you." so father mouse crept softly through the pantry, down the long hall, and into the parlor. the cat was nowhere to be seen. father mouse ran back to the pantry and cried, "the cat is not near; come and see the tree." ii then all the mice came scampering from the hole in the wall. they crept through the pantry, down the long hall, and into the parlor. when they saw the tall christmas tree, they squeaked again and again in their joy. then they ran around and around the tree to see what was on it. [illustration: the mice look at the christmas tree] on the floor they saw a wonderful doll's house. "how fine it would be to live there!" they squeaked. they ran up and down the stairs, sat on the chairs, and lay down in the beds. oh, they had a merry time! then sniffy said, "i smell that good pop corn again. let's climb up into the christmas tree and get some." they climbed up into the tree. they nibbled the pop corn; they nibbled the candy; they nibbled the nuts; and they nibbled the cakes. soon sharpeyes cried out, "come here, i see a mouse! i see a mouse! but he doesn't look like our family at all." "i should say not," sniffed sniffy; "and how good he smells!" "why, he is good to eat!" squeaked squeaky; and they all began to eat the chocolate mouse. then they found another candy mouse--a pretty pink one. they were so busy eating it that they forgot to watch and listen; then--bang! the door was opened, and the lights were turned on. with a squeak, the mice scampered down from the tree; then they ran along the hall, through the pantry, and back to their home. there was the father mouse, and the mother mouse, and sharpeyes, and sniffy. but where was squeaky? iii now, as squeaky tried to run down the tree, he fell heels over head. down, down, down, he fell until he was caught in a funny box. an ugly man with black hair and black whiskers seemed to be hopping out of the box. when squeaky saw the lights turned on, he hid under the dress of this queer man. he lay very, very still, for he had been taught to be still when danger was near. he heard voices. the father and mother had come back. "yes," the father was saying; "it would have been a shame to forget this train. i would like it to come right out from under the tree. help me put the track down, mother." when the train was just where it should be, the mother turned to the beautiful tree. "why, look at that jack-in-the-box," she said. "the man is hanging out. that will never do. i will shut the box. teddy must see the man jump out." the mother pushed the man with the black hair down, down, into the box and shut the lid. poor squeaky felt the springs close down on him and squeaked, "ee-ee-" "that was a fine squeak," said the father. "the toys are wonderful these days." "yes," said the mother, as she turned off the light. "when i was a child, we did not have such toys." "i am in a trap," said poor squeaky, "but there isn't even a bit of cheese in it. i wonder what kind of trap it is; nothing seems to hurt me. well, i am safe for a while, and i hope i shall soon get out." squeaky lay in the box all night, and wondered what sniffy and sharpeyes were doing. the next morning, he heard children calling, "merry christmas! merry christmas!" and soon the toys were taken down, one by one. then such a noise was heard--drums beating, horns tooting, children shouting. you should have heard it. [illustration: the mother is surprised as squeaky escapes] "see our new doll's house!" cried one child. "see my new train! how fast it goes!" cried another. "and see my beautiful dolly!" cried another. "she can open and shut her eyes." by and by the mother took the box from the tree. "come here, teddy," she said. "here is a scare box. we will have some fun. watch me open the lid." teddy stood by his mother and watched closely. "are you ready?" asked his mother. "well, let us count. one, two, three!" the lid flew open, and out jumped the man with the black hair and black whiskers. and with a squeak of joy, out jumped the mouse. "ee-ee-ee!" he cried, as he ran away. "ee!" said the jack-in-the-box. "whee-ee-ee!" cried the boy with delight. "oh,--a mouse! a mouse!" cried the mother. then she threw the box on the floor and jumped up on her chair. "where? where?" cried all the children. but they saw only the tip of squeaky's tail as he ran across the hall to the pantry. another moment and he was safe in the hole in the pantry wall. the children's father laughed as he helped their mother climb down from the chair. "well," he said, "how did _you_ enjoy teddy's scare box?" --georgene faulkner. the glad new year it's coming, boys, it's almost here. it's coming, girls, the grand new year. a year to be glad in, not to be sad in; a year to live in, to gain and give in. a year for trying, and not for sighing; a year for striving and healthy thriving. it's coming, boys, it's almost here. it's coming, girls, the grand new year. --mary mapes dodge. [illustration: the goose and the hen] making the best of it "what a dreary day it is!" grumbled the old gray goose to the brown hen. they were standing at the henhouse window watching the falling snow which covered every nook and corner of the farmyard. "yes, indeed," said the brown hen. "i should almost be willing to be made into a chicken pie on such a day." she had scarcely stopped talking when pekin duck said fretfully, "i am so hungry that i am almost starved." a little flock of chickens all huddled together wailed in sad tones, "and we are so thirsty!" in fact, all the feathered folk in the henhouse seemed cross and fretful. it is no wonder they felt that way, for they had had nothing to eat or drink since early in the morning. the cold wind howled around their house. hour after hour went by, but no one came near the henhouse. the handsome white rooster, however, seemed as happy as usual. that is saying a great deal, for a jollier old fellow than he never lived in a farmyard. sunshine, rain, or snow were all the same to him, and he crowed quite as merrily in stormy weather as in fair. "well," he said, laughing, as he looked about the henhouse, "you all seem to be having a fit of dumps." nobody answered the white rooster, but a faint cluck or two came from some of the hens. they immediately put their heads back under their wings, however, as if ashamed of having spoken at all. this was too much for the white rooster. he stood first on one yellow foot and then on the other. turning his head from side to side, he said, "what's the use of looking so sad? any one would think that you expected to be eaten by a band of hungry foxes." just then a brave little white bantam rooster hopped down from his perch. he strutted over to the big rooster and caused quite a flutter in the henhouse by saying: "we're lively enough when our crops are full, but when we are starving, it is a wonder that we can hold our heads up at all. if i ever see that farmer's boy again, i'll--i'll--i'll peck his foot!" "you won't see him until he feeds us," said the white rooster, "and then i guess you will peck his corn." "oh, oh!" moaned the brown hen. "don't speak of a peck of corn." "madam," said the white rooster, bowing very low, "your trouble is my own,--that is, i'm hungry, too. but we might be worse off. we might be in a box on our way to market. it is true that we haven't had anything to eat to-day, but we at least have room enough to stretch our wings." "why, that is a fact," clucked the brown hen. and all the feathered family--even the smallest chickens--stretched their wings, and looked a little more cheerful. "now, then," went on the rooster, "suppose we have a little music to cheer us and help pass the hours until roosting time. let us all crow. there, i beg your pardon, ladies; i am sorry you can't crow. let us sing a happy song. will you be kind enough to start a merry tune, mrs. brown hen?" the brown hen shook herself proudly, tossed her head back and began,--"ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca!" in less than two minutes every one in the henhouse had joined her. the white rooster was the loudest of all, and the little bantam rooster stretched his neck and did the best he could. now, the horses, cows, and sheep were not far away. they heard the happy voices, and they, too, joined in the grand chorus. the pigs did their best to sing louder than all the rest. higher and higher, stronger and stronger, rose the chorus. louder and louder quacked the ducks. shriller and shriller squealed the pigs. they were all so happy that they quite forgot their hunger until the door of the henhouse burst open, and in came three chubby children. each was carrying a dish of hot chicken food. "don't stop your music, mr. rooster," said the little girl, who was bundled up until you could scarcely see her dear little face. [illustration: the children arrive with food] "you see, we were so lonesome that we didn't know what to do. we heard you folk singing out here, and we laughed and laughed until we almost cried. then we went to tell jack about you. he was lonesome, too, for he's sick with a sore throat, you know. he said, 'why, those poor hens! they haven't been fed since morning! go and feed them.' and so we came." "cock-a-doodle-doo!" said the white rooster. "this comes of making the best of things. cock-a-doodle-doo!" and nobody asked him to stop crowing. --frances m. fox. the animals and the mirror i aunt susan sent an old-fashioned looking-glass to the barn to be stored in the loft, with other old furniture. the farm boy stood it on the floor of the barn until he should have time to put it away. the mirror was broad and long, and it was set in a dark wooden frame. an old duck wandered into the barn and caught sight of herself in the mirror. "there is another duck," she said. "i wonder who she is." and she walked toward the reflection. "she is rather friendly," the duck went on. "she is walking toward me. what large feet she has, but her feathers are very handsome." just then she bumped into the mirror. "goodness!" she cried; "if that duck isn't in a glass case! why are you in there?" "well, you needn't answer if you don't want to," she said, walking away. "a glass case is a good place for you." just then a pig came along, and nosing around, he came in front of the mirror. "what are you doing here?" he asked, thinking he saw another pig. his nose hit the glass, and he stepped back. "so you are in a glass pen," he said. "you are not very handsome, and your nose is not so long as mine; i cannot see why you should have a glass pen." and away he trotted to tell the other pigs about the very plain-looking pig. kitty came along next and walked in front of the mirror, turning her head and swinging her tail. she had seen a mirror before and knew what it was. the cat wished to look in the mirror, but she saw the dog coming in the door, and she did not want him to think her vain. the dog walked over to the mirror and gazed in it. then he looked foolish, although he had seen a mirror before, too, but not so often as puss. "thought it was another dog, didn't you?" she laughed. "here comes the donkey. let us hide behind those barrels and see what he does." ii the donkey went up to the mirror. "if they haven't another donkey!" he said. "i suppose i should speak first, as i have lived here so long. why, he is coming to meet me. that is friendly, indeed." bump! his nose hit the glass. "well, i had better give up!" he said. "you are in a glass case, but i don't know why you should be. you are a homely creature, and your ears are not so long as mine." and he walked off with a disgusted air. the cat rolled over and over, and the dog buried his head in his paws. "did you ever see anything so funny?" he said to puss. "hush!" she replied, "here is the rooster." [illustration: the rooster and the mirror] the rooster stopped quite still when he saw himself in the mirror. "well, where did you come from?" he asked, ruffling up his feathers. he walked straight to the mirror and flew at the other rooster. bang! he went against the glass. "in a glass case, are you?" he said. he stretched out his neck and looked very fierce. "you should be; you are a sight--your feathers are ruffled, and you are not half so handsome as i am." and off he walked, satisfied that he was handsomer than the other rooster. "oh, dear!" laughed the cat. "i certainly shall scream. they all think they are handsomer than their reflections. here comes the turkey gobbler. let us see what he does." the gobbler walked slowly over to the mirror and looked at his reflection. "now," he asked, "where in the world did they get you? you are an old, bald-headed creature, and your feathers need oiling. you look like a last year's turkey." and off he strutted. the cat and the dog leaned against the barrels and laughed until the tears ran down their faces. "keep still," said the dog. "here comes speckled hen and her chickens." speckled hen walked around, picking up bits of corn. suddenly she looked up and saw the mirror. "there is a hen with a brood of chicks, but they are not so handsome as mine," she said, walking toward the looking-glass. "where do you live? i know you do not belong here." and she looked closer at the other hen. click! her bill hit the glass. "well, if she isn't in a glass coop!" the hen said, stepping back. "if master has bought her and those chicks, there will be trouble. mercy! one of the chicks is bow-legged, and they are a skinny looking lot." then she clucked to her chicks and walked out of the barn. "oh, dear! oh, dear!" laughed the dog; "they all think the same. they certainly are a conceited lot. here comes the goose." iii the goose waddled over to the mirror. "well, well! if there isn't a new goose!" she said, "and she is walking toward me. i must be friendly." snap! her bill struck the mirror. "oh, you are in a glass box!" she said. "have you come to stay?" and she stretched out her neck. "my, but you have a long neck!" she went on, "and your feathers are nice and smooth. i suppose you cannot hear in that box." then she walked away, nodding good-by. the other goose, of course, nodded also, and goosey went away satisfied. "she is not so much of a goose as the others," the cat remarked. "the peacock is coming," said the dog. "keep quiet." in walked the peacock. seeing another bird, as he supposed, he spread his beautiful tail to its full width. he walked about, but never a word did he say. "now, what do you make out of that?" asked the dog. "did he know that he was looking in a looking-glass, or wouldn't he speak to another bird?" "i do not know," said the cat, "but here comes the goat. hide, quick!" billy was clattering over the boards, when suddenly he saw the other goat. he looked at him a minute. "i'll show him," he said, running at the mirror with head down. [illustration: the goat crashes into the mirror] bang! smash! crash! and billy jumped back, a very much astonished goat. "now you have done it," said the horse, who had been watching all the time from his stall. "all the animals will get out and run away." "what are you talking about?" said the dog, who was laughing so hard he could scarcely talk. "there are no animals in there. that is a looking-glass; you see yourself when you are in front of it." "do you mean to tell me that those animals have all been looking at themselves and finding fault with their own looks?" asked the horse, with his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "of course," said the cat. "can't you see that billy has smashed the looking-glass?" "well, that is the best i ever heard," said the horse, laughing, "but i wish i had known that was a looking-glass before billy broke it. i should very much like to know how i look." "you might not have recognized yourself; the others didn't," said the dog. --f.a. walker. the barber of bagdad act i place: ali's barber shop. time: morning. woodcutter: i have a load of wood which i have just brought in on my donkey. would you like to buy it, good barber? ali: well, let me see. is it good wood? woodcutter: the best in the country. ali: i'll give you five shekels for all the wood upon the donkey. woodcutter: agreed. i'll put the wood here by your door. (lays wood at door.) now, good sir, give me the silver. ali: not so fast, my good friend. i must have your wooden pack saddle, too. that was the bargain. i said, "all the wood upon your donkey." truly, the saddle is wood. [illustration: ali and the woodcutter with the donkey] woodcutter: who ever heard of such a bargain? surely you cannot mean what you say? you would not treat a poor woodcutter so. it is impossible. ali: give me the saddle, or i'll have you put in prison. and take that--and that--and that! (ali strikes the woodcutter.) woodcutter: ah, me, what shall i do? what shall i do? i know. i'll go to the caliph himself. act ii place: caliph's palace. time: hour later. courtier: my lord, a good woodcutter is at the door and begs leave to come into your presence. caliph: bid him enter. there is none too poor to be received by me. (courtier goes out and returns with woodcutter, who kneels and kisses the ground. then he stands with arms folded.) caliph: tell me, good man, what brought you here? has any one done you a wrong? woodcutter: great wrong, my lord. the rich barber ali did buy a load of wood from me. he offered me five shekels for all the wood on my donkey. when i had put down the load, i asked for my money, but he refused to pay me until i had given him my pack saddle. he said the bargain was "all the wood on the donkey," and that the saddle is wood. he said he would put me in prison if i did not give up the saddle. then he took it and drove me away with blows. caliph: a strange story, truly. the barber has law on his side, and yet you have right on yours. the law must be obeyed, but--come here and let me whisper something to you. (the woodcutter listens smilingly and bowing low, leaves the room.) act iii place: the barber's shop. time: a few days later. ali: ah! here comes my stupid friend the woodcutter. i suppose he has come to quarrel about the wood. no, he is smiling. woodcutter: good day to you, friend ali. i have come to ask if you will be so kind as to shave me and a companion from the country. ali: oh, yes, i suppose so. woodcutter: how much will you charge? ali: a shekel for the two. (to himself.) the poor fool cannot pay that sum. woodcutter. very good. shave me first. (ali shaves him.) ali: now you are shaved. where is your companion? woodcutter: he is standing outside. he will come in at once. (he goes out and returns leading his donkey.) this is my companion. shave him. ali (_in a rage_): shave him! shave a donkey, indeed! is it not enough that i should lower myself by touching you? and then you insult me by asking me to shave your donkey! away with you! act iv place: caliph's palace. time: half-hour later. caliph: well, my friend, did you do as i told you? woodcutter: yes, and ali refused to shave my donkey. caliph (_to courtier_): bid ali come to me at once and bring his razors with him. (courtier leaves and returns with ali.) caliph: why did you refuse to shave this man's companion? was not that your agreement? ali (_kissing the ground_): it is true, o caliph, such was the agreement, but who ever made a companion of a donkey before? caliph: true enough, but who ever thought of saying that a pack saddle is a part of a load of wood? no, no, it is the woodcutter's turn now. shave his donkey instantly. (ali lathers the beast and shaves him in the presence of the whole court, and then slips away amid the laughter of the bystanders.) caliph: now, my honest woodcutter, here is a purse of gold for you. always remember that the caliph gladly listens to the complaints of his people, poor and rich, and will right their wrongs if he can. woodcutter: long live the caliph! courtiers: long live the caliph! --eastern tale. winter night blow, wind, blow! drift the flying snow! send it twirling, twirling overhead. there's a bedroom in a tree where snug as snug can be, the squirrel nests in his cozy bed. shriek, wind, shriek! make the branches creak! battle with the boughs till break of day! in a snow cave warm and tight through the icy winter night the rabbit sleeps the peaceful hour away. scold, wind, scold! so bitter and so bold! shake the windows with your tap, tap, tap! with half-shut, dreamy eyes the drowsy baby lies cuddled closely in his mother's lap. --mary f. butts. hope's doll it was saturday morning. elizabeth brown sat by a window in the big kitchen making a pink dress for little hope's doll. on the chair beside her lay the doll, though you might not have thought of calling it one. it did not have curly hair--nor eyes that open and shut. in those days no child had toys like ours. hope's doll was made of a corncob; the face was painted on a piece of linen stretched over a ball of wool on the end of the cob. little hope was taking her morning nap. when elizabeth had sewed the last neat stitches, she dressed the doll and laid it on the bed by the little girl. how happy hope was when she awoke and saw it! she thought it the most beautiful doll in the world. "what will you call your doll, hope?" asked elizabeth. "i will name her for mother," said hope. "i will call her mary ellen." [illustration: hope and her doll] hope played all the afternoon with her doll and was very happy. when the sunset gun sounded, she had to stop playing. with the puritans, the sabbath began at sunset, and no child could play after the gun was heard. the little maid kissed her baby and went into the bedroom to find a warm place for it to stay until the next evening. there lay father's sunday coat; what warmer nest could she find for mary ellen than its big pocket? after breakfast the next day, every one got ready to go to meeting. master brown filled the little tin foot stove with hot coals from the hearth; then he took his gun from its hook. in those days no man went anywhere without his gun--not even to church, for the indians were likely to come at any time. sometimes the firing of a gun was the call to worship. more often a big drum, beaten on the steps of the meeting house, told the people it was time to come together. at the sound of the drum, master brown and his wife, with elizabeth and hope, started to church. from every house in the village came men, women, and children. they were always ready when the drum began to beat, for no one was ever late to meeting in those days. master brown led his family to their pew and opened a little door to let them in. the pew was very much like a large box with seats around the sides. the church was cold, for there was no fire. the children warmed their fingers and toes by the queer little foot stove their father had brought from home. when every one was seated, the minister climbed the steps to his high pulpit. the sermon was always very long--three hours at least. the children could not understand what it was all about, and it was very hard for them to sit still and listen quietly. elizabeth was four years older than hope, so she felt quite like a little woman. she sat up beside her mother and looked at the minister almost all the time; but sometimes she had to wink hard to keep awake. when she thought she could not let her feet hang down another minute, she would slip down to the footstool to rest. elizabeth was often ashamed of hope, who could not sit still ten minutes. she tried to listen to the sermon, but could not. when she began to stir about a little, her mother shook her head at her. she sat still for a few minutes, but was soon restless again. presently she began to be sleepy and laid her head upon her father's arm for a nap. just then she felt something in his pocket. a happy smile came over hope's face; she was wide-awake now. slipping her hand into the wide pocket, she drew out mary ellen and smoothed her wrinkled gown. master brown's thoughts were all on the sermon, and even mistress brown did not notice hope for a little time. when she did, what do you suppose she saw? hope was standing on the seat showing her doll to the little girl in the pew behind her. oh, how ashamed her mother was! she pulled her little daughter down quickly and whispered, "do you want the tithingman to come? well, sit down and listen." taking mary ellen, she slipped the doll into her muff. little hope did sit down and listen. she did not even turn around when the kind lady behind them dropped a peppermint over the high-backed pew for her. she was very much afraid of the tithingman, who sat on a high seat. he had a long rod with a hard knob on one end and a squirrel's tail on the other. [illustration: the tithingman tickling the nodding lady] when he saw a lady nodding during the sermon, he stepped around to her pew and tickled her face with the fur end of the rod. she would waken with a start and be, oh! so ashamed. she would be very glad the pew had such high sides to hide her blushing face. perhaps you think the boys who sat on the other side of the church had a good time. but there was the tithingman again. when he saw a boy whispering or playing, he rapped him on the head with the knob end of the rod. the whispering would stop at once, for the rod often brought tears and left a headache. besides keeping the boys from playing and the grown people from going to sleep, the tithingman must turn the hourglass. in those days very few people could afford clocks, but every one had an hourglass. it took the fine sand just one hour to pour from the upper part of the glass into the lower part. when the sand had all run through, the tithingman turned the glass over and the sand began to tell another hour. the glass was always turned three times before the minister closed the service. then the men picked up their muskets and foot stoves, the women wrapped their long capes closely about them, and all went home. at sunset the puritan sabbath ended. the women brought out their knitting and spinning, or prepared for monday's washing, and the children were free to play until bedtime. --margaret pumphrey. nahum prince more than a hundred years ago, our country was at war with england. george washington was at the head of our army. as you know, he and his men were fighting for our country's freedom. the english army was larger than our army, and general washington needed all the men he could get. the regular troops were with him. in one little town in vermont all the strong, able-bodied men had gone to the front. news came that the english and the americans were about to meet in battle. the americans needed more men and called for volunteers. old men with white hair and long beards volunteered. young boys with smooth cheeks and unshaven lips volunteered. there wasn't a boy in the village over thirteen years of age who didn't volunteer. even lame nahum prince offered himself. he brought out his grandfather's old gun and got in line with the others. he stood as straight and tall as he could--as a soldier should stand. soon the captain came along the line to inspect the volunteers. when he saw nahum, he said, "no, no, nahum, you cannot go; you know you cannot. why, you could not walk a mile. go home, my lad." just then the good old minister came by. "yes, nahum," he said, "you must stay at home. who knows but that you will find a greater work to do for your country right here?" and lame nahum dropped out of the line. then the volunteers marched off, every man and boy in the village except nahum prince. poor nahum! his heart was heavy. "what can i do for my country in this small village?" he said to himself. "oh, i wish i could be a soldier!" he walked toward his home slowly and sadly. just as he passed the blacksmith shop, three horseman galloped up to the door. [illustration: the horseman speaks to nahum] "where is the blacksmith?" asked one. "he and all the men and boys have gone to join the army," said nahum. "there isn't a man or a boy in town except me. i wouldn't be here if i were not lame." "we cannot have this horse shod," said the rider to the others. "we shall not reach there in time." "why, i can set a shoe," said nahum. "then it is lucky you are left behind," said the man. "light up the forge and set the shoe." nahum lighted the fire, blew the coals with the bellows, and soon put on the shoe. "you have done a great deed to-day, my boy," said the rider as he thanked nahum and rode away. the next week the boys came home and told of a great battle. they told how the americans were about to lose the fight when colonel seth warner, leading a band of soldiers, rode up just in time to save the day. nahum said nothing, but he knew that colonel warner would not have arrived in time if he had not set that shoe. and it was really nahum prince and colonel seth warner who won the victory of bennington. the little cook's reward betty lived a long, long time ago on a farm in north carolina. she knew how to clean up the house, to wash the dishes, to sew, and to cook. she knew how to knit, and to spin and weave, too. one day betty's father said, "let us go to town to-morrow. president washington is passing through the south, and a man told me to-day that he will be in salisbury to-morrow." "yes," said betty's brother robert, "and our company has been asked to march in the parade. one of the boys is going to make a speech of welcome." "i should like to go," said their mother, "but i can't leave home." "oh, yes, you can, mother," said betty. "i have stayed here by myself many times, and i can stay to-morrow. you go with father, and i will take care of things." the next morning every one on the place was up before the sun. robert was so impatient to start to town that he could scarcely eat any breakfast. mother was so excited that she forgot to put coffee in the coffee pot. at last every one had left, and betty was alone. "i wish i could see the president," she said, "and i do wish i could see his great coach. father says that it is finer than the governor's. four men ride in front of it, and four behind it. the servants are dressed in white and gold. how i wish i could see it all!" while betty was talking to herself, she was not idle. she washed the dishes and she cleaned the house. then, as it was not time to get dinner, she sat down on the shady porch. "i wonder whether general washington looks like his picture," she said. "oh, if i could only see him!" but what sound was that? betty stood up, and shading her eyes with her hands, looked down the road. four horsemen came along at a gallop. then there followed a great white coach, trimmed with gold and drawn by four white horses. there were four horsemen behind the coach, and last of all came several black servants. [illustration: betty looking up at the great coach] all stopped at the gate. a tall handsome man stepped from the coach and came up the walk. betty felt as if she could neither move nor speak. she remembered, however, all that her mother had taught her, and she made a low curtsy as the gentleman reached the steps. "good morning, my little maid," he said. "i know it is late, but would you give an old man some breakfast?" betty's cheeks grew as pink as the rose by the porch. she made another curtsy and said, "indeed, i will. i am the only one at home, for father, mother, and robert have gone to salisbury to see the great washington. but i am sure i can give you some breakfast. father says that i am a good cook." "i know you are, and that you are as brisk as you are pretty. just give me a breakfast, and i promise you that you shall see washington before your father, mother, or brother robert does." "i will do the best i can, sir," betty said. the other men came in, and all sat on the porch and talked while betty worked. getting her mother's whitest cloth and the silver that came from england, she quickly set the table. she brought out a loaf of new bread and a jar of fresh honey. then she ran to the spring house and got yellow butter and rich milk. she had some fresh eggs that had been laid by her own hens. these she dropped into boiling water. last of all she cut thin slices of delicious ham. when everything was ready, betty went to the porch and invited the strangers in. her cheeks were now the color of the red rose by the gate. the visitors ate heartily of all the good things betty had prepared. as the tall, handsome gentleman rose to go, he leaned over and kissed her. "my pretty little cook," he said, "you may tell your brother robert that you saw washington before he did, and that he kissed you, too." you may believe that betty did tell it. she told it to her children, and they told it to their children, and i am telling it to you to-day. --mrs. l.a. mccorkle. rock-a-by, hush-a-by, little papoose rock-a-by, hush-a-by, little papoose, the stars come into the sky, the whip-poor-will's crying, the daylight is dying, the river runs murmuring by. the pine trees are slumbering, little papoose, the squirrel has gone to his nest, the robins are sleeping, the mother bird's keeping the little ones warm with her breast. the roebuck is dreaming, my little papoose, his mate lies asleep at his side, the breezes are pining, the moonbeams are shining all over the prairie wide. then hush-a-by, rock-a-by, little papoose, you sail on the river of dreams; dear manitou loves you and watches above you till time when the morning light gleams. --charles myall. the tar wolf i many hundreds of moons ago, there was a great drought. the streams and lakes were drying up. water was so scarce that the animals held a council to decide what they should do. "i hope it will rain soon and fill the streams and lakes," great bear said. "if it does not, all the animals will have to go to a land where there is more water." "i know where there is plenty of water," said wild goose. "i do, too," said wild duck. most of the animals did not wish to go away. "it is well enough for the ducks and geese to go," said wild cat; "they like to move about. it is well enough for great bear to go; he can sleep through the winter in one hollow tree as soundly as in another. but we do not wish to leave our hunting grounds." "if we go to a new country," said gray wolf, "we shall have to make new trails." "and we shall have to clear new land," said big beaver, who had to cut down the trees when land was cleared. all this time the rabbit said nothing. "brother rabbit," great bear asked, "what do you think about this matter?" brother rabbit did not answer. his eyes were shut, and he seemed too sleepy to think about anything. great bear asked again, "what do you think about it, brother rabbit? shall we go to the place the ducks and geese have found, where there is plenty of water?" "oh," answered brother rabbit, "i do not mind the drought. i drink the dew on the grass in the early morning; i do not need to go where there is more water." and he shut his eyes again. "well," said red deer, "if there is dew enough for brother rabbit every morning, there is dew enough for us. we need not go to another country." "those are wise words, my brother," said brown terrapin. all the others said, "those are wise words, my brother," and the council was over. the animals were happy because they thought they need not go away from their homes. days passed, and still it did not rain. the animals found that the dew did not keep them from suffering from thirst. they were afraid that, after all, they would have to go to another country. still the rabbit looked sleek and fat. he declared that he got all the water he needed from the dew on the grass in the early morning. "you sleep too late," he said. "by the time you get up, the sun has dried the dew." ii after that, the animals came out earlier than before, but they could not get water enough from the morning dew. they did not understand why the rabbit looked so well. one day gray wolf said to wild cat, "let us watch the rabbit and see where he gets so much dew that he is never thirsty." that night they stayed in the woods near rabbit's wigwam, so as to follow him on the trail. they kept awake all night for fear that they might sleep too late. very early in the morning, brother rabbit came out of his wigwam and ran swiftly down the hill. wild cat and gray wolf followed as fast and as quietly as they could. the dew was on the grass and leaves, but brother rabbit did not stop to get it. instead, he ran down the hill and pushed away a heap of brush. wild cat and gray wolf hid behind some bushes and watched him. brother rabbit drank from a little spring. then he filled a jar with clear, fresh water, piled the brush over the spring again, and went up the hill to his wigwam. ah! now gray wolf and wild cat knew why brother rabbit did not mind the drought; and they made a plan to punish him for being so selfish. they got tar and resin from the pine trees, and out of these they made a great wolf. after placing it close to the spring, they hid again in the bushes, to see what would happen. early the next morning, brother rabbit came running down the hill for more water. he stopped when he saw the tar wolf by his spring. "what are you doing here, gray wolf?" he asked. of course there was no answer. "has my brother no ears?" asked brother rabbit. as the wolf was still silent, brother rabbit became angry. "answer me, gray wolf," he cried. but there was no answer. then brother rabbit slapped the tar wolf with his right front paw. it stuck fast, and brother rabbit could not pull it away. [illustration: brother rabbit and the wolf] "let me go," he cried, "or i will slap you with the other paw." he slapped the tar wolf with the left front paw. that too, stuck fast. now brother rabbit was very angry. "let me go, gray wolf," he cried. "let me go, i say!" as grey wolf did not let him go, brother rabbit kicked the tar wolf, first with one of his hind paws and then with the other. both stuck fast, and so he was held by all four paws. just then gray wolf and wild cat came from their hiding place. "we have caught you, brother rabbit," they said. "now we are going to take you to the council and tell how you tried to keep all the water for yourself." iii they took brother rabbit to the council house, and sent for great bear and all the other animals. soon all came, and the council began. gray wolf told that he had seen brother rabbit go to the spring, uncover it, get water, and cover the spring up again. the animals said that brother rabbit must be punished, but how they could not decide. "burn him alive," said gray wolf. "i am quite willing," brother rabbit said, smiling. "fire is my friend and will not hurt me." "we might cut off his head," said brown terrapin. "very well," said the rabbit, quietly. "try that. it will not hurt me, for a better head will grow back." he said he was not afraid of each thing that was mentioned. "is there nothing of which you are afraid?" asked great bear, at last. "is there nothing that can hurt you?" "of only one thing am i afraid," answered brother rabbit, in a low voice. "i am afraid you will turn me loose in the brier patch. please do not throw me in the brier patch." "turn him loose in the brier patch!" cried all the animals. how frightened brother rabbit looked now! "oh, gray wolf," he begged, "burn me; cut off my head. do anything else with me, but please don't throw me in the brier patch." the more he begged, the faster gray wolf hurried to the brier patch. the other animals followed close behind. they were all talking about the tricks brother rabbit had played on them and how they had never before been able to get even with him. when they came to the edge of the brier patch, brother rabbit begged harder than ever. "good wolf," he cried, "do anything else with me, but don't throw me in the brier patch!" gray wolf laughed and threw brother rabbit far into the patch. brother rabbit landed on his feet, and off he ran through the briers. he called back, "thank you, good wolf! you threw me right on my trail! i was born and bred in the brier patch. i was born and bred in the brier patch!" he was running so fast that by the time he said this, he was out of sight. --the indian tar-baby story. the rabbit and the wolf the rabbit liked to play tricks on the other animals. best of all, he liked to play tricks on the wolf. at last the wolf grew angry and said that he was going to get even with the rabbit. one day he caught the rabbit coming through a field. "now," said the wolf, "i am going to pay you for all the tricks you have played on me. i will cut off your ears and use them for spoons to stir my hominy pot. as soon as i sharpen this stone, off your ears go!" while the wolf sharpened the stone, he sang in his harsh voice a song somewhat like this: "watch me sharpen, watch me sharpen; soon i am going to cut off your ears. sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, se mi su!" when he sang, "sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, se mi su!" the rabbit could almost feel the sharp stone cutting his ears. but he was a brave little rabbit and said nothing. at last the wolf stopped singing for a moment. then the rabbit said, "brother wolf, i know a new dance. don't you wish me to teach it to you?" "yes, when i have cut off your ears," said the wolf. then he went on singing, "sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, se mi su!" "after my ears are cut off," said the rabbit, "i can never dance any more." now the wolf knew that the rabbit could sing and dance better than any other animal, and he wished very much to learn the new dance. he went on sharpening the stone, but he did not sing while he worked. after a while he asked, "is the new dance as pretty as the snake dance?" "oh, a great deal prettier," answered the rabbit. "is it as pretty as the turkey dance?" "oh, a great deal prettier than the turkey dance." "is it as pretty as the eagle dance?" "oh, a great deal prettier than the eagle dance." the wolf asked if the new dance was as pretty as other dances he had seen, and the rabbit said that it was much prettier. this pleased the wolf, as he wished to have a new dance for the green corn festival. "you may teach me the dance now," he said. "i can cut off your ears afterward." "very well," said the rabbit; "pat your foot to keep time, and watch me while i dance." [illustration: the rabbit danced as the wolf shook the rattle] so the wolf stood in the middle of the field, patting his foot and shaking a rattle while the rabbit danced around him and sang, "watch me dance around the field, watch me dance around the field, hi, la, hi, la, hi!" then the rabbit made a ring in the middle of the field. he said to the wolf, "now, you dance around this ring, and sing just as i do." he made a larger ring for himself and danced around just beyond the wolf. the wolf thought that this was the finest dance he had ever seen. he and the rabbit danced faster and faster, and sang louder and louder. as the rabbit danced, he moved nearer and nearer to the edge of the field. the wolf was dancing so fast and singing so loud that he did not notice this. the rabbit kept on singing, "now i dance on the edge of the field, now i dance on the edge of the field, hi, la, hi, la, hi!" at last, brother rabbit reached the edge of the field; then he jumped into the blackberry bushes and ran away. the wolf tried to give chase, but he was so dizzy that he could not run. and the rabbit got away without having his ears cut off. --southern indian tale. block city what are you able to build with your blocks? castles and palaces, temples and docks. rain may keep raining, and others go roam, but i can be happy and building at home. let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea, there i'll establish a city for me: a kirk and a mill and a palace beside, and a harbor as well where my vessels may ride. great is the palace with pillar and wall, a sort of a tower on the top of it all, and steps coming down in an orderly way to where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay. this one is sailing and that one is moored: hark to the song of the sailors on board! and see on the steps of my palace, the kings coming and going with presents and things! now i have done with it, down let it go. all in a moment the town is laid low, block upon block lying scattered and free, what is there left of my town by the sea? --robert louis stevenson. a good play we built a ship upon the stairs all made of the back-bedroom chairs, and filled it full of sofa pillows to go a-sailing on the billows. we took a saw and several nails, and water in the nursery pails; and tom said, "let us also take an apple and a slice of cake;"- which was enough for tom and me to go a-sailing on, till tea. we sailed along for days and days, and had the very best of plays; but tom fell out and hurt his knee, so there was no one left but me. --robert louis stevenson. the monkey's fiddle i once upon a time there was a great famine in the land, and monkey could find no food. there were no bulbs, no beans, no insects, nor anything else to eat. at last monkey said to himself, "why should i perish here with hunger? my uncle orang-outang has enough and to spare; i shall go to him, and he will give me food and shelter." so he set out and soon came to the place where orang-outang lived. for a long time monkey was happy in his new home, but by and by he heard that there was no longer a famine in his own land. then he decided to go back. before he started, orang-outang made him a present of a fiddle and of a bow and arrow, "with this bow and arrow you can kill any animal," he said. "with this fiddle you can make anything dance until you bid it stop." thanking his uncle for the presents, monkey set out on his homeward journey. on the way he met brother wolf. "what news, brother wolf?" asked monkey. when wolf had told him the news, monkey asked, "what have you been doing to-day?" "oh," said wolf, "i have been following a deer all the morning, but i have been unable to get near enough to kill him. now i am faint with hunger." "i can help you," said monkey. "i have a magic bow and arrow. show me the deer, and i will bring him down." when wolf showed him the deer, monkey fitted an arrow to the bow and took aim. hardly had the arrow left the bow when the deer fell dead. monkey and wolf sat down and had a good feast. as wolf ate, he thought of the magic bow and arrow, and he planned to get them away from monkey. "first i will ask for them," he said to himself. "if monkey will not give them to me, i will use force." [illustration: wolf demands the bow and arrow] when wolf had finished eating, he said to monkey, "please give me the bow and arrow." "i will not," said monkey. "they were a present from my dear uncle; why should i give them to you?" "very well," said wolf. "i am stronger than you, and i will take them by force." ii wolf was just about to snatch the bow and arrow from monkey when jackal came along. then wolf thought of a new plan. he called out to jackal, "help! help! monkey has stolen my magic bow and arrow." jackal came running to them. wolf told his side of the story, and monkey told his. "i cannot believe either of you," said jackal. "let us lay the question before the court. there lion, tiger, and the other animals will hear you both; perhaps they will be able to decide to whom the magic bow and arrow belong. but to keep you two from quarreling, i had better take care of the bow and arrow." monkey gave them to jackal, and all three started off to court. when they arrived, there sat lion on the throne. seated around were the other animals of the jungle. monkey told his story first. standing in front of the throne, he made a low bow and said, "the great famine, my lord, drove me out of my country, and i had to take refuge with my uncle. when i started back home, he gave me this bow and arrow. finding wolf almost starving, i shot a deer for him. instead of being grateful for the food, he tried to rob me of the bow and arrow. i am here to ask that you restore them to me." "he does not tell the truth," cried wolf. then jackal said, "i believe that the bow and arrow belong to wolf; he and monkey were quarreling about them when i came along. they agreed to leave the question to you, king lion. i know you will see that justice is done." wolf looked very innocent and said nothing. king lion rose and asked, "what say you? to whom do the bow and arrow belong?" "to wolf," they all cried. "stealing is a crime that must be punished," said king lion. "what shall be done?" "let monkey be hanged," they all cried. monkey still had his magic fiddle. holding it in his hand, he made a deep bow and said: "give me leave to play a tune on my fiddle before i hang, o king." now, the beasts all loved a merry tune, and knowing that monkey was a master player they called out, "let him play." iii monkey placed the fiddle under his chin, drew the bow across the strings, and struck up "cockcrow." this was a favorite tune with the court. at the first notes all nodded their heads in time to the music. as monkey played on, the entire court began to dance. round and round they went like a whirlwind. over and over, quicker and quicker sounded the tune of "cockcrow." faster and faster flew the dancers, until one after another fell to the ground worn out. monkey saw nothing of all this. with eyes closed and his head placed lovingly against the fiddle, he played on and on, keeping time with his foot. wolf was the first one to cry out, "please stop, cousin monkey. for pity's sake, stop." but monkey did not seem to hear him. again and again sounded the magic notes of "cockcrow." king lion had gone round and round with his young wife so many times that both were ready to drop. at last, as he passed monkey, he roared, "stop, ape! my whole kingdom is yours if you will only stop playing." "i do not want it," said monkey. "make wolf confess that he tried to steal my bow and arrow. then i will stop playing." "i confess! i confess!" panted wolf, who was ready to fall to the ground. "good," cried king lion, as the music stopped. "monkey is innocent. let him have his bow and arrow." "punish wolf!" cried the animals. so wolf was soundly beaten and driven from the court. then monkey went off rejoicing, carrying with him his magic gifts. --african tale. the three tasks i there were once two brothers who set out to seek their fortune. they wasted their time and their money in all sorts of foolish ways, and before long they were nearly penniless. after the two brothers had been gone some time, their younger brother, who had always been thought the simpleton of the family, set out to seek his fortune. one day as he was passing through a village far away from home, he found his two brothers. "where are you going?" they asked. "i am going to seek my fortune," he replied. "ha, ha! how foolish you are!" they cried. "with all our wit and wisdom we have been unable to make our fortune. it is silly of you even to try." and they laughed and made fun of him. nevertheless, the three brothers decided to travel on together. as they journeyed on, they saw a large ant hill by the side of the road. the two elder brothers were about to destroy it, when the simpleton said, "leave the poor ants alone. i will not let you disturb them." they went on their way until they came to a pond upon which two ducks were swimming. the two older brothers were about to kill them, when the simpleton said, "leave them alone. i will not let you kill them." soon the three came to a tree, in the trunk of which was a wild bee's nest. the two older brothers wished to steal the honey. they started to make a fire under the tree and smoke out the bees. the simpleton said, "leave the poor bees alone. i will not let you rob them." ii at last the three brothers came to a castle where everything looked as if it had been turned to stone. there was not a single human being to be seen. they walked along the great wide hall, but still they saw no one. "the castle must be enchanted," the brothers said to one another. after passing through many rooms, they came to a door in which there were three locks. in the middle of the door was a little grating through which they could look into the room beyond. they saw a little man, dressed in gray, seated at a table. twice they called to him, but he did not answer. they called a third time. then he rose, opened the three locks, and came out. he said not a word, but led them to a table on which a feast was spread. when they had eaten and drunk as much as they wished, the old man showed each of them to a bedroom. there they rested well all night. the next morning the little gray man came to the eldest brother and beckoned him to follow. he led him to a room in which there was a stone table, and on the table there lay three stone tablets. [illustration: the little gray man and the tablets] on the table near the tablets was written: "this castle is enchanted. before the enchantment can be broken, there are three tasks to be performed. the one who performs these three tasks shall marry the youngest and dearest of the three princesses who now lie asleep in the castle." when the eldest brother had read this, the old man gave him the first tablet. on it was written: "in the forest, hidden beneath the thick moss, are the pearls which belonged to the princesses. they are a thousand in number. these must be collected by sunset. if one single pearl is missing, then he who has sought them shall be turned to stone." the eldest brother searched the whole day long, but by sunset he had found only a hundred pearls. so he was turned to stone. the following day the second brother tried his luck, but by sunset he had found but two hundred pearls. so he, too, was turned to stone. then it came the simpleton's turn. he searched all day amidst the moss, but he fared little better than his brothers. at last he sat down upon a stone and burst into tears. as he sat there, the king of the ants, whose life he had once saved, came with five thousand ants. before long the little creatures had found every one of the pearls and piled them up in a heap. the little gray man then gave the simpleton the second tablet. upon it was written the second task: "the key that opens the chamber in which the princesses are sleeping lies in the bottom of the lake. he who has performed the first task must find the key." when the simpleton came to the lake, the ducks which he had saved were swimming upon it. at once they dived down into the depths below and brought up the key. the simpleton showed the key to the little gray man, who then gave him the third tablet. on it was written the third task: "the one who has gathered the pearls and found the key to the chamber may now marry the youngest and dearest princess. he must, however, first tell which is she. the princesses are exactly alike, but there is one difference. before they went to sleep, the eldest ate sugar, the second ate syrup, and the youngest ate honey." the simpleton laid down the tablet with a sigh. "how can i find out which princess ate the honey?" he asked himself. however, he put the key he had found in the lock and opened the door. in the chamber the three princesses were lying. ah, which was the youngest? just then the queen of the bees flew in through the window and tasted the lips of all three. when she came to the lips that had sipped the honey, she remained there. then the young man knew that this was the youngest and dearest princess. so the enchantment came to an end. the sleepers awoke, and those who had been turned to stone became alive again. the simpleton married the youngest and dearest princess, and was made king after her father's death. his two brothers, who were now sorry for what they had done, married the other two princesses, and lived happily ever after. --grimm. [illustration: a child dancing] the world's music the world's a very happy place, where every child should dance and sing, and always have a smiling face, and never sulk for anything. i waken when the morning's come, and feel the air and light alive with strange sweet music like the hum of bees about their busy hive. the linnets play among the leaves at hide-and-seek, and chirp and sing; while, flashing to and from the eaves, the swallows twitter on the wing. from dawn to dark the old mill-wheel makes music, going round and round; and dusty-white with flour and meal, the miller whistles to its sound. the brook that flows beside the mill, as happy as a brook can be, goes singing its old song until it learns the singing of the sea. for every wave upon the sands sings songs you never tire to hear, of laden ships from sunny lands where it is summer all the year. the world is such a happy place that children, whether big or small, should always have a smiling face and never, never sulk at all. --gabriel setoun. the sleeping beauty i once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were very unhappy because they had no children. but at last a little daughter was born, and their sorrow was turned to joy. all the bells in the land were rung to tell the glad tidings. the king gave a christening feast so grand that the like of it had never been known. he invited all the fairies he could find in the kingdom--there were seven of them--to come to the christening as godmothers. he hoped that each would give the princess a good gift. when the christening was over, the feast came. before each of the fairies was placed a plate with a spoon, a knife, and a fork--all pure gold. but alas! as the fairies were about to seat themselves at the table, there came into the hall a very old fairy who had not been invited. she had left the kingdom fifty years before and had not been seen or heard of until this day. the king at once ordered that a plate should be brought for her, but he could not furnish a gold one such as the others had. this made the old fairy angry, and she sat there muttering to herself. her angry threats were overheard by a young fairy who sat near. this good godmother, fearing the old fairy might give the child an unlucky gift, hid herself behind a curtain. she did this because she wished to speak last and perhaps be able to change the old fairy's gift. at the end of the feast, the youngest fairy stepped forward and said, "the princess shall be the most beautiful woman in the world." the second said, "she shall have a temper as sweet as an angel." the third said, "she shall have a wonderful grace in all she does or says." [illustration: the old fairy looks at the princess in her cradle] the fourth said, "she shall sing like a nightingale." the fifth said, "she shall dance like a flower in the wind." the sixth said, "she shall play such music as was never heard on earth." then the old fairy's turn came. shaking her head spitefully, she said, "when the princess is seventeen years old, she shall prick her finger with a spindle, and--she--shall--die!" at this all the guests trembled, and many of them began to weep. the king and queen wept loudest of all. just then the wise young fairy came from behind the curtain and said: "do not grieve, o king and queen. your daughter shall not die. i cannot undo what my elder sister has done; the princess shall indeed prick her finger with the spindle, but she shall not die. she shall fall into sleep that will last a hundred years. at the end of that time, a king's son will find her and awaken her." immediately all the fairies vanished. ii the king, hoping to save his child even from this misfortune, commanded that all spindles should be burned. this was done, but it was all in vain. one day when the princess was seventeen years of age, the king and queen left her alone in the castle. she wandered about the palace and at last came to a little room in the top of a tower. there an old woman--so old and deaf that she had never heard of the king's command--sat spinning. "what are you doing, good old woman?" asked the princess. "i am spinning, my pretty child." "ah," said the princess. "how do you do it? let me see if i can spin also." she had just taken the spindle in her hand when, in some way, it pricked her finger. the princess dropped down on the floor. the old woman called for help, and people came from all sides, but nothing could be done. when the good young fairy heard the news, she came quickly to the castle. she knew that the princess must sleep a hundred years and would be frightened if she found herself alone when she awoke. so the fairy touched with her magic wand all in the palace except the king and the queen. ladies, gentlemen, pages, waiting maids, footmen, grooms in the stable, and even the horses--she touched them all. they all went to sleep just where they were when the wand touched them. some of the gentlemen were bowing to the ladies, the ladies were embroidering, the grooms stood currying their horses, and the cook was slapping the kitchen boy. the king and queen departed from the castle, giving orders that no one was to go near it. this command, however, was not needed. in a little while there sprang around the castle a wood so thick that neither man nor beast could pass through. iii a great many changes take place in a hundred years. the king had no other child, and when he died, his throne passed to another royal family. even the story of the sleeping princess was almost forgotten. one day the son of the king who was then reigning was out hunting, and he saw towers rising above a thick wood. he asked what they were, but no one could answer him. at last an old peasant was found who said, "your highness, fifty years ago my father told me that there is a castle in the woods where a princess sleeps--the most beautiful princess that ever lived. it was said that she must sleep there a hundred years, when she would be awakened by a king's son." at this the young prince determined to find out the truth for himself. he leaped from his horse and began to force his way through the wood. to his astonishment, the stiff branches gave way, then closed again, allowing none of his companions to follow. a beautiful palace rose before him. in the courtyard the prince saw horses and men who looked as if they were dead. but he was not afraid and boldly entered the palace. there were guards motionless as stone, gentlemen and ladies, pages and footmen, some standing, some sitting, but all like statues. [illustration: the prince finds the princess] at last the prince came to a chamber of gold, where he saw upon a bed the fairest sight one ever beheld--a princess of about seventeen years who looked as if she had just fallen asleep. trembling, the prince knelt beside her, and awakened her with a kiss. and now the enchantment was broken. the princess looked at him with wondering eyes and said: "is it you, my prince? i have waited for you long." so happy were the two that they talked hour after hour. in the meantime all in the palace awaked and each began to do what he was doing when he fell asleep. the gentlemen went on bowing to the ladies, the ladies went on with their embroidery. the grooms went on currying their horses, the cook went on slapping the kitchen boy, and the servants began to serve the supper. then the chief lady in waiting, who was ready to die of hunger, told the princess aloud that supper was ready. the prince gave the princess his hand, and they all went into the great hall for supper. that very evening the prince and princess were married. the next day the prince took his bride to his father's palace, and there they lived happily ever afterward. --grimm. the ugly duckling i it was summer. the country was lovely just then. the cornfields were waving yellow, the wheat was golden, the oats were still green, and the hay was stacked in the meadows. beyond the fields great forests and ponds of water might be seen. in the sunniest spot of all stood an old farmhouse, with deep canals around it. at the water's edge grew great burdocks. it was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and in this snug place sat a duck upon her nest. she was waiting for her brood to hatch. at last one eggshell after another began to crack. from each little egg came "cheep! cheep!" and then a little duckling's head. "quack! quack!" said the duck; and all the babies quacked too. then they looked all around. the mother let them look as much as they liked, for green is good for the eyes. "how big the world is!" said all the little ducklings. "do you think this is all the world?" asked the mother. "it stretches a long way on the other side of the garden and on to the parson's field, but i have never been so far as that. i hope you are all out. no, not all; that large egg is still unbroken. i am really tired of sitting so long." then the duck sat down again. "well, how goes it?" asked an old duck who had come to pay her a visit. "there is one large egg that is taking a long time to hatch," replied the mother. "but you must look at the ducklings. they are the finest i have ever seen; they are all just like their father." "let me look at the egg which will not hatch," said the old duck. "you may be sure that it is a turkey's egg. i was once cheated in that way. oh, you will have a great deal of trouble, for a turkey will not go into the water. yes, that's a turkey's egg. leave it alone and teach the other children to swim." "no, i will sit on it a little longer," said the mother duck. "just as you please," said the old duck, and she went away. at last the large egg cracked. "cheep! cheep!" said the young one, and tumbled out. how large it was! how ugly it was! "i wonder if it can be a turkey chick," said the mother. "well, we shall see when we go to the pond. it must go into the water, even if i have to push it in myself." next day the mother duck and all her little ones went down to the water. splash! she jumped in, and all the ducklings went in, too. they swam about very easily, and the ugly duckling swam with them. "no, it is not a turkey," said the mother duck. "see how well he can use his legs. he is my own child! and he is not so very ugly either." ii then she took her family into the duck yard. as they went along, she told the ducklings how to act. "keep close to me, so that no one can step on you," she said. "come; now, don't turn your toes in. a well-brought-up duck turns its toes out, just like father and mother. bow your heads before that old duck yonder. she is the grandest duck here. one can tell that by the red rag around her leg. that's a great honor, the greatest honor a duck can have. it shows that the mistress doesn't want to lose her. now bend your necks and say 'quack!'" they did so, but the other ducks did not seem glad to see them. "look!" they cried. "here comes another brood, as if there were not enough of us already. and oh, dear, how ugly that large one is! we won't stand him." then one of the ducks flew at the ugly duckling and bit him in the neck. [illustration: the ugly duckling and the other ducks] "let him alone," said the mother; "he is doing no harm." "perhaps not," said the duck who had bitten the poor duckling, "but he is too ugly to stay here. he must be driven out." "those are pretty children that the mother has," said the old duck with the rag around her leg. "they are all pretty but that one. what a pity!" "yes," replied the mother duck, "he is not handsome, but he is good-tempered, and he swims as well as any of the others. i think he will grow to be pretty. perhaps he stayed too long in the egg." "well, make yourselves at home," said the old duck. "if you find an eel's head, you may bring it to me." and they did make themselves at home--all but the poor ugly duckling. his life was made quite miserable. the ducks bit him, and the hens pecked him. so it went on the first day, and each day it grew worse. the poor duckling was very unhappy. at last he could stand it no longer, and he ran away. as he flew over the fence, he frightened the little birds on the bushes. "that is because i am so ugly," thought the duckling. he flew on until he came to a moor where some wild ducks lived. they laughed at him and swam away from him. some wild geese came by, and they laughed at the duckling, too. just then some guns went bang! bang! the hunters were all around. the hunting dogs came splash! into the swamp, and one dashed close to the duckling. the dog looked at him and went on. "well, i can be thankful for that," sighed he. "i am so ugly that even the dog will not bite me." when all was quiet, the duckling started out again. a storm was raging, and he found shelter in a poor hut. here lived an old woman with her cat and her hen. the old woman could not see well, and she thought he was a fat duck. she kept him three weeks, hoping that she would get some duck eggs, but the duckling did not lay. after a while the fresh air and sunshine streamed in at the open door, and the duckling longed to be out on the water. the cat and the hen laughed when he told them of his wish. "you must be crazy," said the hen. "i do not wish to swim. the cat does not; and i am sure our mistress does not." "you do not understand me," said the duckling. "i will go out into the wide world." "yes, do go," said the hen. and the duckling went away. he swam on the water and dived, but still all the animals passed him by because he was so ugly; and the poor duckling was lonesome. iii now the winter came, and soon it was very cold. snow and sleet fell, and the ugly duckling had a very unhappy time. one evening a whole flock of handsome white birds rose out of the bushes. they were swans. they gave a strange cry, and spreading their great wings, flew away to warmer lands and open lakes. the ugly duckling felt quite strange, and he gave such a loud cry that he frightened himself. he could not forget those beautiful happy birds. he knew not where they had gone, but he wished he could have gone with them. the winter grew cold--very cold. the duckling swam about in the water to keep from freezing, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller. at last he was frozen fast in the ice. early the next morning a farmer found the duckling and took him to the farmhouse. there in a warm room the duckling came to himself again. the children wished to play with him, but he was afraid of them. in his terror he fluttered into the milk pan and splashed the milk about the room. the woman clapped her hands at him, and that frightened him still more. he flew into the butter tub and then into the meal barrel. how he did look then! the children laughed and screamed. the woman chased him with the fire tongs. the door stood open, and the duckling slipped out into the snow. it was a cruel, hard winter, and he nearly froze. at last the warm sun began to shine, and the larks to sing. the duckling flapped his wings and found that they were strong. away he flew over the meadows and fields. soon he found himself in a beautiful garden where the apple trees were in full bloom, and the long branches of the willow trees hung over the shores of the lake. just in front of him he saw three beautiful white swans swimming lightly over the water. "i will fly to those beautiful birds," he said. "they will kill me because i am so ugly; but it is all the same. it is better to be killed by them than to be bitten by the ducks and pecked by the hens." so he flew into the water and swam towards the beautiful birds. they saw the duckling and came sailing down toward him. he bowed his head saying, "kill me, oh, kill me." but what was this he saw in the clear water? it was his own image, and lo! he was no longer a clumsy dark-gray bird, but a--swan, a beautiful white swan. it matters not if one was born in a duck yard, if one has only lain in a swan's egg. the other swans swam around him to welcome him. [illustration: the little children see the new swan] some little children came into the garden with corn and other grains which they threw into the water. the smallest one cried, "oh, see! there is a new swan, and it is more beautiful than any of the others." the ugly duckling was shy and at first hid his head under his wing. then he felt so happy that he raised his neck and said, "i never dreamed of so much happiness when i was an ugly duckling." --hans christian andersen. the white blackbird i i was born a blackbird in a bushy thicket near a meadow. my father took good care of his family and would peck about all day for insects. these he brought home to my mother, holding them by the tail so as not to mash them. he had a sweet voice, too, and every evening sang beautiful songs. i should have been happy, but i was not. i ate little and was weak; and from the first, i was different from my brothers and sisters. they had glossy, black feathers, while mine were dirty gray. these made my father angry whenever he looked at them. when i moulted for the first time, he watched me closely. while the feathers were falling out and while i was naked, he was kind; but my new feathers drove him wild with anger. i did not wonder. i was no longer even gray; i had become snow white. i was a white blackbird! did such a thing ever happen in a blackbird family before? it made me very sad to see my father so vexed over me. but it is hard to stay sad forever, and one sunshiny spring day i opened my bill and began to sing. at the first note my father flew up into the air like a sky-rocket. "what do i hear?" he cried. "is that the way a blackbird whistles? do i whistle that way?" "i whistle the best i can," i replied. "that is not the way we whistle in my family," my father said. "we have whistled for many, many years and know how to do it. it is not enough for you to be white; you must make that horrible noise. the truth is you are not a blackbird." "i will leave home," i answered with a sob. "i will go far away where i can pick up a living on earthworms and spiders." "do as you please," my father said. "you are not a blackbird." ii i flew away early the next morning, and was lucky enough to find shelter under an old gutter. it rained hard that night. i was just about to go to bed, when a very wet bird came in and sat down beside me. his feathers were grayish like mine, but he was much larger than myself. "who are you?" he asked. "i don't know," i replied. "i pass for a blackbird but i am white." "i am the finest bird in the world," he said. "i am a carrier pigeon and carry messages." then i saw that a traveling bag hung from his neck. "maybe i am a pigeon," i said, "since i am not a blackbird." "no," he answered, "a runt like you could not be a pigeon." the next morning the pigeon sprang from the gutter and flew away as fast as the wind. as i was lonely, i followed him. he flew faster and faster, but i kept up for a good while. at last my strength gave out and i fell down into a meadow. i was stunned by the fall. when i came to my senses, two birds stood near by looking at me. one was a dainty little magpie; the other a soft-eyed turtle dove. the magpie kindly offered me some berries she had gathered. "who are you?" she asked. [illustration: the three birds meet] "a blackbird or a pigeon," i said sadly. "i don't know which." "are you joking?" she cried. "you are a magpie." "but magpies are not white," i said. "russian magpies are," she answered; "perhaps you belong to that family." my joy was great for a moment at finding out what i was. still i was not sure that i was a magpie and thought i might settle the matter by singing. i burst into song and warbled and whistled, and whistled and warbled. the magpie looked at me in surprise. then her face grew sad and she backed off from me. at last she flew away without another word. whatever i might be, i was not a magpie--not even a russian magpie. i made up my mind not to rest until i found out what bird i was. so i flew off to a place where birds of all kinds met to talk and enjoy themselves. there were robins and sparrows and crows and wrens and martins and every sort of bird. but i was not like any of them and whenever i began to sing, they all laughed. "you are not one of us," they said; "you are a white blackbird. that is what you are." iii i had now seen all the birds, but none of them were as fine as the blackbirds. i did not want to be like any of these birds; i longed to be a blackbird, a real blackbird. that was not possible. so i made up my mind to be content with my lot, as i had the heart of a blackbird even if i were not black. a great flock of blackbirds lived on the edge of a cornfield. i went to them and asked them to let me be their helper. "i am only a white blackbird," i said, "but i have the heart of a true blackbird." they let me stay. i waited on them early and late, bringing straw to make nests and tender little worms for the baby blackbirds. the old birds were kind to me, and i began to be happy. hard work did me good. i soon grew strong, and when the crows tried to drive us away, i led the blackbirds to victory. my sight was keen, and i was the first to find out that the scarecrow was not a man. i caught more worms, too, than any of the blackbirds. by and by a strange thing happened. i saw one day that my white feathers were speckled with brown dots. they grew larger and larger until the dots covered me all over; i was no longer white but brown. and now, little by little, my brown coat turned darker and darker until one morning it was black--a rich, glossy black! i was a blackbird at last. then the other blackbirds hopped around me with joy, crying, "he is the largest and bravest of the blackbirds. let him be king! long live the king of the blackbirds!" --alfred de musset (_adapted_). the brown thrush there's a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree, he's singing to me! he's singing to me! and what does he say, little girl, little boy? "oh, the world's running over with joy! don't you hear? don't you see? hush! look! in my tree, i'm as happy as happy can be!" and the brown thrush keeps singing, "a nest do you see, and five eggs hid by me in the juniper tree? don't meddle! don't touch! little girl, little boy, or the world will lose some of its joy! now i'm glad! now i'm free! and i always shall be, if you never bring sorrow to me." so the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree, to you and to me, to you and to me. --lucy larcom. the king and the gooseherd act i (king in plain clothes had gone out for a walk in the park. he sat under a tree to read a book and fell asleep. when he waked up he walked on, forgetting his book. he sees a lad looking after a flock of geese and calls him.) king: boy, i left a book lying under a tree in the park. will you please get it for me? if you do, i will give you a gold piece. boy: give me a gold piece to go to the park, indeed! you must have a pocketful of gold pieces. or you must think me more stupid than i am. king: stupid! who thinks you stupid? boy: why, who would be so foolish as to give me a gold piece just for running half a mile for a book? no, no, you are joking. you couldn't make me believe that. king: well, you know "seeing is believing." look! here is the gold piece for you. boy: but it is in _your_ hand. if i saw it in my own hand, that would be a different matter. king (_laughing_): you are certainly not stupid, my boy; but you may have it in your own hand. here it is. (boy stands still, looking worried,) king: well, why don't you go? boy: i only wish i could. but what would become of the geese while i am away? if they strayed into the meadow over yonder, i should have to pay trespass-money--more than the gold piece--and lose my place besides. king: i'll tell you what we'll do. you go for the book, and i'll herd the geese. boy (_laughing_): you herd the geese--a pretty gooseherd you would make! you are too fat and too old. king (_to himself, shaking with laughter_): well, well, "fat and old." what next, i wonder! boy: why, you couldn't mind the geese. just look at the "court gander" there--the one with the black head and wings. he is the ringleader whenever there is any mischief. he would lead you a pretty dance. king: never mind the geese. i'll answer for them, and i promise to pay all damages if they get away. boy (_handing the king his whip_): well, then, be careful. watch the "court gander." (boy walks on a few feet, then hurries back.) king: what's the matter now? boy: crack the whip! (king tries but fails.) boy: just as i thought. here, this way! can't you see? you are stupid! king: just let me try once more. (king tries.) boy: well, that did pretty well. (moves off muttering.) he is as big a goose as any in the flock. act ii king (_lying on the ground and laughing so that the tears run down his cheeks_): oh, but this is fine! first i was fat and old. now i am as big a goose as any in the flock. what would my courtiers say? (springing up suddenly.) look at that "court gander"! there he goes with the whole flock. (he dashes wildly after the geese and tries to crack the whip, but cannot.) now they are in the meadow; what will the boy say? (boy returns and sees the geese in the meadow; the king looks ashamed.) boy: just as i expected. i have found the book, but you have lost the geese. what a time i shall have trying to find them! king: never mind; i will help you get them together again. [illustration: the king and the boy look for the geese] boy: humph! much help you'll be. but go there by that stump and don't let the geese pass you. wave your arms at them and shout at them. surely you can do that! king: i'll try. act iii boy: well, they are back again! thanks to goodness, but none to you. what can you do? king: pray excuse me for not doing any better, but you see, i am not used to work. i am the king. boy: i was a simpleton to trust you with the geese; but i am not such a simpleton as to believe that you are the king. king: just as you will. you are a good lad. here is another gold coin as a peace offering. good-day. boy (_as king walks away_): he is a kind gentleman, whoever he may be; but take my word for it, he will never make a gooseherd. --old tale. donal and conal i there was once in old ireland a very fine lad by the name of donal. he was not only a very fine lad, but a very gay lad. he would go for miles to a party or a wedding; and he was always welcome, for donal knew where to wear his smile. he wore it on his face instead of keeping it in his pocket. the dearest wish of donal's heart no one knew but himself. his soul was full of music, and he longed to have a violin. one night donal was going home through a dark forest when a storm came up. he found an old hollow tree and got inside of it to keep dry. soon he fell asleep. after a while donal was awakened by a strange noise. he peeped out, and he saw a queer sight. the storm had passed, and the moon was shining. many elves were dancing to strange music played by an old, old elf. [illustration: donal sees the fairies dancing] such queer dancing it was! donal crept out of the tree and drew nearer and nearer. suddenly he laughed out loud and said, "well, that's the worst dancing i have ever seen!" the fairies were astonished and angry, and they all began to talk at the same time. "we have a man among us!" cried one. "let us hang him!" cried another. "cut his head off!" cried a third. but the queen stepped out among them and said, "leave him to me." then she called donal to her. now donal was a wee bit frightened, but he knew where to wear his smile, you remember. so he went up to the queen, smiling and bowing. "you say our dancing is the worst you have ever seen," she said. "now, show us that you can do better." donal smiled again and bowed low. then he began to dance. such dancing the elves had never seen! they clapped their hands and made him dance again and again. finally, donal was exhausted, and after making a low bow to the queen, sat down on the ground. the fairies crowded around him. "give him our silver!" cried one. "make it gold!" cried another. "diamonds!" cried a third. but the queen said, "leave it to me." she went up to the old, old elf who had been playing for the dance. taking his violin from him, she gave it to donal. you see, the queen knew the dearest wish of his heart. then donal was a happy lad, indeed! he thanked the queen and went home playing on his new violin. ii there lived near donal's home a lad named conal. he was not such a fine lad as donal, nor such a gay one. he was a greedy lad, and the dearest wish of his heart was to be rich. and he did not know where to wear his smile. if he had one, he kept it in his pocket. when conal heard what had happened to donal, he wished to know all about it. so he went to him and said, "donal, man, how did you get that beautiful violin?" donal told the story backward and forward, and forward and backward, from beginning to end, until conal knew it by heart. then conal said to himself, "i will go to the hollow tree and dance for the elves; but i shall not be so foolish as donal. i will take their gold and silver, and their diamonds, too." that night conal went to the hollow tree and waited until the elves appeared. then he crept out and watched them dance. and he said, just as donal had, "well, that's the worst dancing i have ever seen!" the fairies were astonished and angry again, and again they all began to talk at once. "another man among us!" cried one. "let us hang him!" cried another. "cut off his head!" cried a third. but the queen said, "leave it to me." then she called conal to her. now conal did not know where to wear his smile, you remember; he always kept it in his pocket. so he went up to the queen with a very sour face. the queen said to him, as she had to donal, "you say our dancing is the worst you have ever seen. now, show us that you can do better." conal began to dance, and he could dance well. the elves were delighted. they clapped their hands and asked him to dance again, but he said roughly, "no, that is enough. do you expect me to dance all night?" the elves were silent then, and the queen's face was stern. but she was a just queen, and she said, "you have danced well. will you have some of our silver?" "yes," said conal, without a word of thanks; and he filled his coat pockets. "will you have gold?" asked the queen. "yes," said conal greedily, as he filled the pockets in his trousers. "will you have some of our diamonds?" the queen asked, and her face was dark with anger. "yes, yes," cried conal. "you shall not have them, you greedy lad!" cried the queen; "you shall have nothing." just then a cloud passed across the moon, and the elves vanished. "oh, well," said conal, "i have the gold and silver." he plunged his hands into his pockets and lo! the gold and silver had turned to stones. then conal went home a sadder and a wiser lad. --irish tale. [illustration: a bird singing] who told the news? oh, the sunshine told the bluebird, and the bluebird told the brook, that the dandelions were peeping from the woodland's sheltered nook. then the brook was blithe and happy, and it babbled all the way, as it ran to tell the river of the coming of the may. soon the river told the meadow, and the meadow told the bee, that the tender buds were swelling on the old horse-chestnut tree. and the bee shook off its torpor, and it spread each gauzy wing, as it flew to tell the flowers of the coming of the spring. the birds of killingworth i it was spring. the apple trees and the cherry trees were pink and white with blossoms. they filled the air with fragrance. the maples were red, and on the oak and poplar the buds were swelling. the brooklets were rushing and leaping on toward the sea. it was spring everywhere. the robin and the bluebird were piping sweetly in the blossoming orchard. the sparrows were chirping, and hungry crows were calling loudly for food. the farmers of killingworth were plowing the fields, and the broken clods, too, told of spring. a farmer heard the cawing of the crows and the song of the birds. he said, "did one ever see so many birds? why, when we plant our seeds, these birds will take them all. when the fruit ripens, they will destroy it. i, for one, wish there were no birds, and i say kill them all." another farmer said, "yes, let us call a meeting of the people of the village and decide what is to be done with the pests." the meeting was called, and all came: the squire, the preacher, the teacher, and the farmers from the country round about. up rose the farmer who had said he wished there were no birds. "friends," he said, "the crows are about to take my field of corn. i put up scarecrows, but the birds fly by them and seem to laugh at them. the robins are as saucy as they can be. soon they will eat all the cherries we have. i say kill all birds; they are a pest." "so say i," said another farmer. "and i," said another. "and i," "and i," came from voices in every part of the hall. the teacher arose and timidly said: "my friends, you know not what you do. you would put to death the birds that make sweet music for us in our dark hours: the thrush, the oriole, the noisy jay, the bluebird, the meadow lark. "you slay them all, and why? because they scratch up a little handful of wheat or corn, while searching for worms or weevils. "do you never think who made them and who taught them their songs of love? think of your woods and orchards without birds! "and, friends, would you rather have insects in the hay? you call the birds thieves, but they guard your farms. they drive the enemy from your cornfields and from your harvests. "even the blackest of them, the crow, does good. he crushes the beetle and wages war on the slug and the snail. "and, what is more, how can i teach your children gentleness and mercy when you contradict the very thing i teach?" but the farmers only shook their heads and laughed. "what does the teacher know of such things?" they asked. and they passed a law to have the birds killed. so the dreadful war on birds began. they fell down dead, with bloodstains on their breasts. some fluttered, wounded, away from the sight of man, while the young died of starvation in the nests. ii the summer came, and all the birds were dead. the days were like hot coals. in the orchards hundreds of caterpillars fed. in the fields and gardens hundreds of insects of every kind crawled, finding no foe to check them. at last the whole land was like a desert. from the trees caterpillars dropped down upon the women's bonnets, and they screamed and ran. at every door, the women gathered and talked. "what will become of us?" asked one. "the men were wrong,--something must be done." "the teacher was right," said another. at last, the farmers grew ashamed of having killed the birds. they met and did away with the wicked law, but it was too late. [illustration: the wagon filled with branches and cages] harvest time came, but there was no harvest. in many a home there was want and sorrow. the next spring a strange sight was seen--a sight never seen before or since. through the streets there went a wagon filled with great branches of trees. upon them were hung cages of birds that were making sweet music. from all the country round these birds had been brought by order of the farmers. the cages were opened, and once more the woods and fields were filled with the beautiful birds, who flew about singing their songs of joy. and again the harvests grew in the fields and filled to overflowing the farmers' barns. --_adapted from_ longfellow. the trailing arbutus i many, many moons ago, in a lodge in a forest, there lived an old man. his hair was white as the snowdrift. all the world was winter; snow and ice were everywhere, and the old man wore heavy furs. the winds went wildly through the forest searching every bush and tree for birds to chill. the old man looked in vain in the deep snow for pieces of wood to keep up the fire in his lodge. then he sat down by his dull and low fire. shaking and trembling he sat there, hearing nothing but the tempest as it roared through the forest, seeing nothing but the snowstorm as it whirled and hissed and drifted. all the coals became white with ashes, and the fire was slowly dying. suddenly the wind blew aside the door of the lodge, and there came in a most beautiful maiden. her cheeks were like the wild rose, her eyes were soft and glowed like the stars in springtime; and her hair was as brown as october's nuts. her dress was of ferns and sweet grasses, her moccasins were of white lilies, on her head was a wreath of wild flowers, and in her hands were beautiful blossoms. when she breathed, the air became warm and fragrant. "ah, my daughter," exclaimed the old man. "happy are my eyes to see you. sit here on the mat beside me; sit here by the dying embers. tell me of your strange adventures, and i will tell you of my deeds of wonder." from his pouch he drew his peace pipe, very old and strangely fashioned. he filled the pipe with bark of willow, and placed a burning coal upon it. then he said, "i am manito, the mighty. when i blow my breath about me, the rivers become motionless and the waters hard as stone." the maiden smiling said, "when i blow my breath about me, flowers spring up over all the meadows. and all the rivers rush onward, singing songs of joy." "when i shake my hoary tresses," said the old man, darkly frowning, "all the ground is covered with snow. all the leaves fade and wither." "when i shake my flowing ringlets," said the maiden, "the warm rains fall over all the land." then proudly the old man replied, "when i walk through the forest, everything flees before me. the animals hide in their holes. the birds rise from the lakes and the marshes, and fly to distant regions." softly the maiden answered, "when i walk through the forest, all is bright and joyous. the animals come from their holes. the birds return to the lakes and marshes. the leaves come back to the trees. the plants lift up their heads to kiss the breezes. and where-ever my footsteps wander, all the meadows wave their blossoms, all the woodlands ring with music." ii while they talked, the night departed. from his shining lodge of silver came the sun. the air was warm and pleasant; the streams began to murmur; the birds began to sing. and a scent of growing grasses was wafted through the lodge. the old man's face dropped upon his breast, and he slept. then the maiden saw more clearly the icy face before her--saw the icy face of winter. slowly she passed her hands above his head. streams of water ran from his eyes, and his body shrunk and dwindled till it faded into the air--vanished into the earth--and his clothing turned to green leaves. the maiden took from her bosom the most precious flowers. kneeling upon the ground, she hid them all about among the leaves. [illustration: the maiden hides the flowers among the leaves] "i give you my most precious flowers and my sweetest breath," she said, "but all who would pluck you must do so upon bended knee." then the maiden moved away--through the forest and over the waking fields; and wherever she stepped, and nowhere else in all the land, grows the trailing arbutus. --indian legend. hidden treasure i once upon a time there was an old farmer named john jacobs. he had heard that treasures were found in odd places. he thought and thought about such treasures until he could think of nothing else; and he spent all his time hunting for them. how he wished he could find a pot of gold! one morning he arose with a bright face and said to his wife, "at last, mary, i've found the treasure." "no, i cannot believe it," she said. "yes," he answered; "at least it is as good as found. i am only waiting until i have my breakfast. then i will go out and bring it in." "oh, how did you find it?" asked the wife. "i was told about it in a dream," said he. "where is it?" "under a tree in our orchard," said john. "oh, john, let us hurry and get it." so they went out together into the orchard. "which tree is it under?" asked the wife. john scratched his head and looked silly. "i really do not know," he said. "oh, you foolish man," said the wife. "why didn't you take the trouble to notice?" "i did notice," said he. "i saw the exact tree in my dream, but there are so many trees, here that i am confused. there is only one thing to do now. i must begin with the first tree and keep on digging until i come to the one with the treasure under it." this made the wife lose all hope. there were eighty apple trees and a score of peach trees. she sighed and said, "i suppose if you must, you must, but be careful not to cut any of the roots." by this time john was in a very bad humor. he went to work saying, "what difference does it make if i cut all the roots? the whole orchard will not bear one bushel of good apples or peaches. i don't know why, for in father's time it bore wagonloads of choice fruit." "well, john," said his wife, "you know father used to give the trees a great deal of attention." but john grumbled to himself as he went on with his digging. he dug three feet deep around the first tree, but no treasure was there. he went to the next tree, but found nothing; then to the next and the next, until he had dug around every tree in the orchard. he dug and dug, but no pot of gold did he find. ii the neighbors thought that john was acting queerly. they told other people, who came to see what he was doing. they would sit on the fence and make sly jokes about digging for hidden treasure. they called the orchard "jacobs' folly." soon john did not like to be seen in the orchard. he did not like to meet his neighbors. they would laugh and say, "well, john, how much money did you get from the holes?" this made john angry. at last he said, "i will sell the place and move away." "oh, no," said the wife, "this has always been our home, and i cannot think of leaving it. go and fill the holes; then the neighbors will stop laughing. perhaps we shall have a little fruit this year, too. the heaps of earth have stood in wind and frost for months, and that will help the trees." john did as his wife told him. he filled the holes with earth and smoothed it over as level as before. by and by everybody forgot "jacobs' folly." soon the spring came. april was warm, and the trees burst into bloom. "mary," said john one bright spring day, "don't you think the blossoms are finer than usual this year?" "yes, they look as they did when your father was alive," said his wife. [illustration: john's trees full of fruit] by and by, the blooms fell, leaving a million little green apples and peaches. summer passed and autumn followed. the branches of the old trees could hardly hold up all the fine fruit on them. now the neighbors came, not to make fun, but to praise. "how did you do it?" they asked. "the trees were old and needed attention," said john. "by turning the soil and letting in the air, i gave them strength to bear fruit. i have found the treasure after all, and i have learned a lesson. tilling the soil well is the way to get treasure from it." --grimm. the little brown brother little brown brother, oh! little brown brother, are you awake in the dark? here we lie cozily, close to each other; hark to the song of the lark- "waken!" the lark says, "waken and dress you; put on your green coats and gay, blue sky will shine on you, sunshine caress you- waken! 'tis morning--'tis may!" little brown brother, oh! little brown brother, what kind of flower will you be? i'll be a poppy--all white, like my mother; do be a poppy like me. what! you're a sunflower? how i shall miss you when you're grown golden and high! but i shall send all the bees up to kiss you; little brown brother, good-by! --emily nesbit. how the flowers grow this is how the flowers grow; i have watched them and i know: first, above the ground is seen a tiny blade of purest green, reaching up and peeping forth east and west, and south and north. then the sunbeams find their way to the sleeping bud and say, "we are children of the sun sent to wake thee, little one." and the leaflet opening wide shows the tiny bud inside, peeping with half-opened eye on the bright and sunny sky. breezes from the west and south lay their kisses on its mouth; till the petals all are grown, and the bud's a flower blown. --gabriel setoun. wise men of gotham once upon a time there were some wise men who lived in gotham. listen and you will hear how wise they were. twelve of these wise men went fishing one day. some went into the stream and some stayed on dry ground. they caught many fish and had a good time. as they came home, one of the men said, "we have risked much wading in that stream. i pray god no one of us is drowned." "why, one of us might be! who knows?" cried another. "let's see about it. twelve of us went fishing this morning. we must count and see if twelve are returning." so one man counted, "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven." and he did not count himself! "alas! one of us is drowned!" he cried. "woe be unto us! let me count," said another. and he did not count himself. "alas! alas!" he wailed; "truly one of us is drowned!" then every man counted, and each one failed to count himself. "alas! alas!" they all cried; "one of us is drowned! which one is it?" they went back to the shore, and they looked up and down for him that was drowned. all the time they were lamenting loudly. a courtier came riding by. "what are you seeking?" he asked, "and why are you so sorrowful?" "oh," said they, "this day we came to fish in the stream. there were twelve of us, but one is drowned." "why," said the courtier, "count yourselves and see how many there be." again they counted, and again each man failed to count himself. "well, this is sad," said the courtier, who saw how the mistake had been made. "what will you give me if i find the twelfth man?" "sir," cried all together, "you may have all the money we own." "give me the money," said the courtier. then he began to count. he gave the first man a whack over the shoulders and said, "there is one." he gave the next a whack and said, "there is two." and so he counted until he came to the last man. he gave this one a sounding blow, saying, "and here is the twelfth." "god bless you!" cried all the company. "you have found our neighbor." --old english story. the miller's guest i a hunter who had ridden ahead in the chase was lost. the sun went down, and darkness fell upon the forest. the hunter blew his horn, but no answer came. what should he do? at last he heard the sound of horse's hoofs. some one was coming. was it friend or foe? the hunter stood still, and soon a miller rode out into the moonlight. "pray, good fellow, be so kind as to tell me the way to nottingham," said the hunter. "nottingham? why should you be going to nottingham? the king and his court are there. it is not a place for the like of you," replied the miller. "well, well, perhaps you are right, good miller," said the hunter. "and yet who knows? i'll wager that the king is no better man than i am. however, it is getting late, and lodging i must have. will you give me shelter for the night?" "nay, nay, not so fast," said the miller. "stand forth and let me see if you are a true man. many thieves wear fine clothes these days." the hunter stepped forward. "well, and what do you think of me?" he asked gayly. "will you not give a stranger lodging?" "how do i know that you have one penny in your purse?" asked the miller. "you may carry your all on your back, for aught i know. i've heard of lords who are like that." "true, good miller, but i have gold. if it be forty pence, i will pay it," said the hunter. "if you are a true man, and have the pence, then lodging you may have. my good wife may not like it, but we'll see," said the miller. "good!" cried the hunter. "and here's my hand on it." "nay, nay, not so fast," replied the miller. "i must know you better before i shake hands. none but an honest man's hand will i take." "some day, my good miller," replied the hunter, "i hope to have you take my hand in yours. proud will i be when the day comes." ii and so to the miller's house they went. the miller again looked at the stranger and said, "i like his face well. he may stay with us, may he not, good wife?" "yes, he is a handsome youth, but it's best not to go too fast," said the good wife. "he may be a runaway servant. let him show his passport, and all shall be well." the hunter bowed low, and said, "i have no passport, good dame, and i never was any man's servant. i am but a poor courtier who has lost his way. pray give me lodging for the night. your kindness i will surely repay." then the wife whispered to the miller, "the youth is of good manners and to turn him out would be sin." "yea, a well-mannered youth--and one who knows his betters when he sees them," the miller replied. "let the lad stay." "well, young man," said the wife, "you are welcome here; and well lodged you shall be, though i do say it myself. you shall have a fresh bed with good brown sheets." "aye," said the miller, "and you shall sleep with our own son richard." then they all sat down to supper--such a supper: pudding, apple pie, and good things of all kinds. then at a wink from the miller, the wife brought out a venison pasty. "eat!" said the miller. "this is dainty food." "faith!" cried the hunter, "i never before ate such meat." "pshaw!" said richard. "we eat this every day." "every day? where do you buy it?" "oh, never a penny pay we. in merry sherwood forest we find it. now and then, you see, we make bold with the king's deer." "then i think that it is venison," said the hunter. "to be sure. any fool would know that," replied richard; "but say nothing about it. we would not have the king hear of it." "i'll keep your secret," said the hunter. "don't fear. the king shall never know more than he knows now." and so the evening passed merrily. it was late when the guest sought his bed, but right soundly did he sleep. the next morning the miller, the good wife, and richard came out to see the hunter on his way. just then a party of nobles rode up. "there's the king!" cried one. "pardon, your majesty!" cried another, and all fell upon their knees before the hunter. the miller stood shaking and quaking, and for once his wife could not speak. the king, with a grave face, drew his sword, but not a word did he say. the terrified miller threw himself at his ruler's feet, crying out for mercy. again the sword was raised, and down it fell, but lightly, upon the miller's shoulder, and the king said: [illustration: the king knights the miller] "your kind courtesy i will repay; so i here dub thee knight. rise, sir john of mansfield." for many a day the miller and his wife told of the night the king spent with them. and for many a day the king told of the time he was taken for a thief and ate of his own deer in the miller's house. --english ballad (adapted). saddle to rags i this story i'm going to sing, i hope it will give you content, concerning a silly old man that was going to pay his rent, with a till-a-dill, till-a-dill-dill, till-a-dill, dill-a-dill, dee, sing fol-de-dill, dill-de-dill, dill, fol-de-dill, dill-de-dill, dee. a silly old man said to his wife one day, "well, 'tis time i paid my rent. the landlord has been away for a year and a day, but now he is back, and i must pay for twelve months." "yes, it's twice forty pounds that is due, and it should be paid," said the good wife. "so much money in the house keeps me from sleeping at night." "well, i'll bridle old tib, and away we shall go," said the old man. "right glad i'll be, too, to be rid of the gold." the silly old man bridled old tib and saddled her too. and away they started. as he was jogging along, a stranger came riding up on a fine horse with fine saddle bags. "good morning, old man," said the stranger. "good morning," said the old man. "how far are you going?" "to tell the truth, kind sir, i am going just two miles," said the old man. "and where are you going?" asked the stranger. "i am going to pay my rent, kind sir," said the old man. "i am but a silly old man who farms a piece of ground. my rent for a half year is forty pounds; but my landlord has been away for a year, and now i owe him eighty pounds. right glad i am to pay it." "eighty pounds! that is indeed a large sum," cried the stranger, "and you ought not to tell anybody you carry so much. there are many thieves about, and you might be robbed." "oh, never mind!" said the old man. "i do not fear thieves. my money is safe in my saddle bags, on which i ride." so they rode along most pleasantly. when they came to a thick wood, the stranger pulled out a pistol and said, "stand still, and give me your money." "nay," said the old man. "the money is for my landlord. i will not give it to you." "your money or your life!" "well, if you will have it, you can go for it," cried the old man, as he threw his old saddle bags over a hedge. the thief dismounted and said, "stand here and hold my horse while i go over the hedge. you are silly, but surely you can do that." the thief climbed through the hedge. when he was on the other side, the old man got on the thief's horse, and away he galloped. "stop, stop!" cried the thief. "and half of my share you shall have." "nay," cried the man. "i think i'll go on. i'd rather have what's in your bag." [illustration: the old man gallops away] and away he galloped, riding as he never rode before. ii the thief thought there must be something in the old man's bags; so with his big rusty knife he chopped them into rags. but no money did he find, for the silly old man was not so silly as he seemed. his money was in his pocket. the old man rode on to his landlord's home and paid his rent. then he opened the thief's bag, which was glorious to behold. there were five hundred pounds in gold and silver. "where did you get the silver?" asked the landlord. "and where did you get the gold?" "i met a proud fool on the way," said the old man with a laugh. "i swapped horses with him, and he gave me this to boot." "well, well! but you're too old to go about with so much money," said the landlord. "oh, i think no one would harm a silly old man like me," said the farmer, as he rode away. the old man went home by a narrow lane, and there he spied tib tied to a tree. "the stranger did not like his trade, i fear," said he. "so i think i'll take tib home." the old man went home much richer than when he left. when she heard the story, the wife danced and sang for glee. "'tis hard to fool my old man," said she. --english ballad (_adapted_). [illustration: the rock-a-by lady walking by] the rock-a-by lady the rock-a-by lady from hushaby street comes stealing; comes creeping; the poppies they hang from her head to her feet, and each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet- she bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet, when she findeth you sleeping! there is one little dream of a beautiful drum- "rub-a-dub!" it goeth; there is one little dream of a big sugar-plum, and lo! thick and fast the other dreams come of pop-guns that bang, and tin tops that hum, and a trumpet that bloweth! and dollies peep out of those wee little dreams with laughter and singing; and boats go a-floating on silvery streams, and the stars peek-a-boo with their own misty gleams, and up, up, and up, where the mother moon beams, the fairies go winging! would you dream all these dreams that are tiny and fleet? they'll come to you sleeping; so shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet, for the rock-a-by lady from hushaby street with poppies that hang from her head to her feet, comes stealing; comes creeping. --eugene field. the sandman the rosy clouds float overhead, the sun is going down; and now the sandman's gentle tread comes stealing through the town. "white sand, white sand," he softly cries, and as he shakes his hand, straightway there lies on babies' eyes his gift of shining sand. blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, as shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. from sunny beaches far away- yes, in another land- he gathers up at break of day his store of shining sand. no tempests beat that shore remote, no ships may sail that way; his little boat alone may float within that lovely bay. blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, as shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. [illustration: the sandman] he smiles to see the eyelids close above the happy eyes; and every child right well he knows, oh, he is very wise! but, if as he goes through the land, a naughty baby cries, his other hand takes dull gray sand to close the wakeful eyes. blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, as shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. so when you hear the sandman's song sound through the twilight sweet, be sure you do not keep him long a-waiting on the street. lie softly down, dear little head, rest quiet, busy hands, till, by your bed his good-night said, he strews the shining sands. blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown, as shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town. --margaret vandergrift. a dictionary to the children: below you will find the words in the third reader that you may not know the meaning of, or how to pronounce. some words have more than one meaning. in looking for the meaning of a word, choose the meaning that best fits the sentence in which the word occurs. ad ven ture: a bold undertaking. af fec tion: love. a gree ment: a bargain. al mond: a nut. am ber: of the color of amber-yellow. ap plaud ed: praised. ar bu tus: a trailing plant with small pinkish-white blossoms. a tri (ah tree): a town in italy. aught: anything. bau cis (bor sis): a greek woman. bel lows (lus): an instrument for blowing a fire, used by blacksmiths. bil low: a great wave. blithe (bl=ithe): joyous, glad. bred: brought up. bur dock: a coarse plant with bur-like heads. card: an instrument for combing cotton, wool, or flax. chase: hunt; pursuit. chris ten ing: naming a child at baptism. cliff: a high, steep face of rock. com rade (kom rad): a mate, a companion. con al (c~on' al): an irish lad. con ceit ed: proud, vain. con fess: to own; to admit. coun cil: a small body called together for a trial, or to decide a matter. court ier (court' yer): an attendant at the court of a prince. crime: a wicked act punishable by law. crouch: to stoop low. dan ger: risk. de li cious: pleasing to the taste. de nied: disowned. depths: deep part of sea. de stroy: break up; kill. dis tress: suffering of mind. dock: a place between piers where vessels may anchor. don al (d~on' al): an irish lad. dor mouse (dor mous'): a small animal that looks like a squirrel. drought (drout): want of water. dub: call. dumps: low spirits. eaves: overhanging lower edges of a roof. em bers: smouldering ashes. em per or: ruler of an empire. em press: wife of an emperor; a female ruler. en chant ed: bewitched. en e my: foe. es tab lish: to found. ex act ly: completely. ex haust ed: tired, worn out. ex tend ing: reaching. fam ine: scarcity of food. fes ti val: a time of feasting. flax: a slender plant with blue flowers, used to make thread and cloth. fol ly: foolishness. foot man: a man servant. forge: a place with its furnace where metal is heated and hammered into different shapes. fra grance: sweetness. free dom: independence, liberty. gauz y: like gauze, thin. got ham (got am): a village in old england, commonly called g=o tham. grate ful: thankful. groom: a servant in charge of horses. guard: one that guards; a watch. hail ing: calling. har bor: a protected body of water where vessels may anchor safely. haught y: proud. her ald: a messenger. ho ang ti (h=o ~ang tee): an emperor of china. hoar y: white. horse-chest nut: a tree. hu man: like men. hu mor: mood, disposition. in no cent: guiltless. in spect: examine. in stant ly: at once. in vent ed: made. jest: joke. ju ni per: an evergreen, tree. jus tice: right treatment. king dom: country belonging to king or queen. kirk: church. knight: a mounted man-at-arms. lad en: loaded. la ment ed: wailed, wept. lin en: thread or cloth made of flax. lodge: dwelling place; wigwam. loom: a machine for weaving threads into cloth. lus cious: delicious. man i tou (too): a name given by the indians to the "great spirit," or god. marsh es: swamps. mer cy: pity, kindness. min is ter: a pastor, a clergyman. mis for tune: bad fortune. moc ca sin: indian shoes. moor: to secure in place, as a vessel: a great tract of waste land. moult ed: shed feathers. no bles: lords. nurs er y: play room for children. o blige: do a favor. o rang ou tang: a kind of ape. or der ly: regular; in order. page: a youth training for knighthood. pas try (p=as): article of food made with crust of paste (or dough) as a pie. peas ant (p~es): a tiller of the soil. pe can: a kind of nut. pe kin duck: a large, creamy white duck. pest: a nuisance. phi le mon (f=i l=e' mon): a greek peasant. pil lar: a support. pin ing: drooping; longing. pound: a piece of english money, equal to about $5.00 in united states money. prai rie: an extensive tract of level or rolling land. rag ing: furious, violent. rec og nized: known. re flec tion: image. ref uge: shelter. re fused: declined to do. reign ing (rain): ruling. re mote: distant. rest less: eager for change, discontented; unquiet. re store: to return, to give back. roe buck: male deer. runt: an animal unusually small of its kind. sad dle bags: a pair of pouches attached to a saddle, used to carry small articles. salis bur y (sauls): a town in north carolina. sav age: wild, untamed. scare crow: an object set up to scare crows and other birds away from crops. score: the number twenty. serv ice: benefit, favor. shek el: ancient coin. shreds: strips, fragments. si ling (se): a chinese empress. sim ple ton: a foolish person. six pence: six pennies--about twelve cents in united states money. squire: a justice of the peace. state ly: dignified, majestic. stat ues: likeness of a human being cut out of stone. steeped: soaked. striv ing: laboring, endeavoring. stub ble: stumps of grain left in ground, as after reaping. tab lets: a flat piece on which to write. tasks: work, undertaking. tem pest: storm. tem ple: a kind of church. thriv ing: prospering, succeeding. tid ings: news. till ing: cultivating. tim id ly: shyly. tink er ing: mending. tithing man (t=ith): officer who enforced good behavior. tor por: numbness, dullness. tread: step. tri als: efforts, attempts. troop: an armed force. u su al: ordinary, common. vain: proud, conceited; to no purpose. van ished: disappeared. ven i son (ven' z'n): flesh of deer. vic to ry: triumph. vol un teer: one who offers himself for a service. wa ger (wa jer): bet. wages: carries on. wand: a small stick. width: breadth. wig wam: indian tent. wis dom: learning, knowledge. yarn: thread. zeus (z=us): a greek god. word list this list contains the words in the child's world third reader, except those already used in the earlier books of this series, and a few that present no difficulty in spelling, pronunciation or meaning. 9 greece philemon baucis unhappy hives 10 gathered couple zeus beggars 11 attend footsore herbs although pitcher 13 disappeared homeward 14 feeble linden 15 treasure lucky iris precious 16 messenger swift-footed mercury awakened 17 hereafter honest upright 18 blossoms luscious harsh 19 hues frolic glistened wrestled scurried 21 fluttered speckled tender 22 parents moment remained praised 25 zigzag remote comrade blithe amber billows stubble bracing 26 plantation spindle 28 woven loom ruffles 29 england buttonholes 30 shepherd shearers 32 dyers 33 colored plaid 34 hoangti emperor china si-ling empress suddenly 35 cocoons 37 dainty linen 38 frightful steeped 39 suffered aprons 40 shreds pulp glorious surprise verses 41 isles thousands prayers 42 hillmen housewife bargains 43 saucepan aye sixpence tinkering 44 refused muttered vexed chimney 45 scoured spoiled exclaimed 46 shelter dormouse lest 47 gracious lamented invented 48 atri heralds ye complaint message 49 guilty 50 arousing justice 51 steed undertone jest 52 applauded 53 savage 54 dragged judge prison 55 denied wisdom 56 labor honeycomb 57 artists extending poets affection well-deserved 59 dreadful worry horrid notice 62 business 65 perfectly breath 67 epaminondas granny 75 service 76 obliged gently 77 tremendous marvelous 78 forbid allow 81 caramels almond pecan taffy 82 except christ 84 pedro altar distress 86 stately haughty 88 musician 90 family scare pantry 94 chocolate 95 whiskers danger 101 huddled wailed usual faint 102 cheerful pardon 104 chorus shriller chubby bundled 106 furniture mirror reflection 108 disgusted 110 satisfied oiling 111 bow-legged conceited 112 remarked width 113 clattering astonished 114 fault recognized 115 shekels 116 impossible caliph 117 courtier presence refused 119 companion 120 razors agreement 121 instantly 122 cozy drowsy 124 puritans sabbath 125 indians worship 126 sermon minister 127 tithingman peppermint 130 freedom regular vermont able-bodied americans volunteers 131 inspect 133 victory 134 president salisbury 135 impatient governor 138 delicious heartily 139 murmuring papoose prairie manitou 140 drought council 142 declared sleek 144 resin selfish 147 mentioned loose 149 hominy sharpened 154 establish harbor moored orderly 155 nursery scattered 156 famine orang-outang 157 journey magic 160 refuge grateful restore innocent 161 favorite whirlwind 162 kingdom confess rejoicing 163 penniless simpleton nevertheless 164 destroy human 165 enchanted tablets 166 performs princesses 167 collected pearls 168 depths exactly syrup 172 christening godmothers 174 nightingale spitefully 175 grieve vanished misfortune 177 embroidering departed royal 178 reigning peasant determined guards motionless 179 statues 181 canals burdocks 182 parson cheated 186 miserable moor 189 terror cruel 190 clumsy matters 192 glossy moulted naked 193 horrible sky-rocket 195 strength turtle dove 196 russian 199 juniper 201 trespass-money 202 mischief damages ringleader 205 gooseherd excuse 206 ireland 208 exhausted diamonds 211 trousers greedily 212 torpor gauzy 213 fragrance killing-worth 214 squire timidly 215 oriole weevils enemy contradict 216 starvation caterpillars foe 218 arbutus tempest 219 moccasins embers adventures 220 hoary joyous marshes ringlets 221 shrunk bosom scent 223 treasures 224 confused humor score 225 attention folly 227 million tilling 228 caress 229 leaflet petals 230 gotham woe 223 nottingham wager 234 aught lodging 235 passport youth servant 236 venison pasty sherwood 237 majesty terrified 246 straightway beaches 248 twilight strews 