hall and staircase at Miss Jenner's. She scarcely felt her foot fall on
the rich dark carpets as she made her way up stairs into a beautiful
old-fashioned room where half a dozen young people were congregated,
laying aside their wraps. They were talking and laughing gayly, and
Mildred recognized them as the daughters of the "leading people" in
Milltown--girls about her own age or a little younger, to whom she had
constantly sold ribbons or laces, or the "newest thing" in mantles. Poor
Milly felt the pink coloring all her face, as she stood among them, some
way feeling shut out. She was not old enough nor wise enough to realize
the honorable side of her own life and its hard work; she thought only
of what their feelings would be were they to recognize in her one of
"Hardman's" girls. But as no one knew her, two or three whispered
together, wondering who the pretty lady-like stranger could be, and as
they all went down the oak stairs together, one of the girls spoke to
her in a friendly, good-humored way. Milly was glad of company as she
found herself at the door of the long, beautiful room in which Miss
Jenner stood waiting for her young friends. The eyes of the poor little
"sales-woman" were dazzled by the quiet elegance of the room--the many
pictures, the statuary, and articles of _virtu_ from many lands. Milly
forgot even her fright and her intense consciousness of her gray silk in
her pleasure at these novel sights.
"So you found your way here, Mildred," Miss Jenner said, in her brusque
though kindly voice. "Well, I'm glad to see you. Now come and let me
introduce you to my niece, for this is _her_ company."
Mildred found herself following Miss Jenner into a pretty half-shaded
room at the end of the parlor. A young girl of about fifteen, very
slight and delicate, but exceedingly pretty, was seated there, with one
or two young people near her.
"Alice," said Miss Jenner, using a tone so soft that Mildred could not
believe it was her new friend's voice, "this is Mildred Lee: I want you
to make great friends with her."
The young girl stretched out a slim hand with something uncertain in her
gesture. As Mildred took it, Miss Jenner whispered, with a deep sigh,
"She is _blind_."
Mildred felt full of compassion for the poor young girl, who, surrounded
by so much that was beautiful, could see and understand nothing of it;
but she speedily found that Alice Jenner took the keenest delight in
conversation. As they were left by themselves half an hour, Mildred
found it a pleasant task to entertain her. She described for her
amusement the little company, the dresses, the effect of everything,
finally drifting into her own affairs, and avowing her position at Mr.
Hardman's. Alice listened with delight; Milly's life was so different
from hers.
"Yes, I should think so," sighed Milly, glancing around at the
luxurious, warmly tinted rooms; then she remembered the young girl's
infirmity.
"No, Milly," said Alice, "you would not change with me."
[Illustration: MILDRED AT THE PARTY.]
When tea was announced, Milly found it hard to leave her new friend, but
she thoroughly enjoyed the bountiful and sumptuous meal to which they
all sat down. Later, games were played in which Alice could join, and
finally Miss Jenner's nephew, a tall boy a little older than Milly, was
called over to take her to the library. Mildred never had seen such a
room as that library. Not only were there all the books she had most
wanted to read, but there were photographs of every place under the sun,
and engravings of all the great masters she had heard her father talk
about. So keenly interested was she in it all, that young Jenner went
away, bringing back his blind sister, and begging Milly to "describe it
all to Alice." Nothing could have pleased her better, and so the three
bent over a book of engravings, Alice listening eagerly while Mildred
explained each picture in elaborate detail. Roger Jenner begged Mildred
not to pause, even though ice-cream was being handed around in the
parlor--he would go and bring in Alice's and her own share. He returned
speedily, followed by a servant carrying a tray with the ices and
delicious cups of hot chocolate upon it. Roger was divided between
listening to an account of Raphael's St. Cecilia and the duty of handing
Mildred her chocolate, while Milly absently stretched out her fingers
for the cup. It was an instant's awkwardness on both sides, followed by
a little cry from Milly, and a stare of horror from Roger. The cup of
boiling chocolate poured in a brown stream down the front of her gray
silk dress.
Poor Mildred! I am afraid, in spite of Roger's anxious apologies and her
own instinctive politeness, she looked very miserable. The rest of the
evening hung but heavily on her hands. Alice easily dismissed the
subject, not guessing of how much importance one silk dress could be to
any one, little knowing the misery in her companion's mind. Mildred
tried to continue her narrations, but she was glad when the room filled,
and Alice's chair became a general centre; still more pleased when it
came time for her to go home, and she could again wrap her water-proof
over her new dress, and feel it hidden. Miss Jenner had certainly been
very kind. Even one or two hours in such a beautiful house was enough to
fill her with delight, and Alice and Roger were charming companions; but
Milly, as she stood in the dressing-room, felt somehow the evening had
not been a success, and her comfort received its last shock on
overhearing two of the "leading" young ladies whisper to a third, "Why,
that girl in the gray silk dress is one of Hardman's clerks. How _could_
Miss Jenner have invited her? And see how she's all dressed up." Mildred
felt rather than saw the sneering looks which followed her out of the
room. Poor child! her heart under the much-prized dress was beating with
mortification and disappointment as she went down stairs. Miss Jenner
said very little about seeing her again, and when she joined Joe in the
hall, she found him in a most unamiable mood.
"What is it, Joey?" said Milly, as they went out of the gate. Come what
might, Mildred was always a thoughtful, gentle elder sister.
"Why, the landlord's been in," Joe said, sulkily, "and he says we _must_
pay in advance after this. I _wish_ the day could come, Mil," added the
boy, "when _I_ could get a place in at Hardman's."
Poor Milly gave a little groan. "Don't say that, dear," she said.
"People talk of _my_ being there as if it was a disgrace. Don't bother
about Mr. Stiles, Joey; I'll see him to-morrow."
Deborah was waiting up to hear Milly's account of the party, and was
wrathful at the girl's running quickly up stairs, not knowing what she
had to conceal. Once in her own room, Milly looked eagerly at the
stained silk. It was hopelessly ruined! Chocolate she knew never would
submit to any cleansing, and so she put it away with a sigh, feeling she
had paid dearly for one evening's finery. For the first time since her
bargain, the thought of the thirty dollars weighed like a guilty secret
on her heart. She could not sleep, but after going to bed lay thinking
of the weekly visit she must receive from that bold, hard-featured
woman.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
[Illustration]
THAT SMALL PIECEE BOY FROM CHINA.
BY MRS. LIZZIE W. CHAMPNEY.
'Twas a little Asiatic
Sitting sadly on the deck,
Who with wailings loud, emphatic,
Watched his home fade to a speck,
While his saffron-hued complexion
Altered to deep olive green,
And the tears of retrospection
In his almond eyes were seen.
Still he scanned the far horizon,
Touching neither bread nor meat;
And we feared that he would die soon,
For we could not make him eat.
Sympathy, and e'en religion,
Had for him no hope or cheer.
"Speakee you too much fool pigeon,
Better China home than here.
Me no likee English junkee,
English chowchow too no nice.
Why no can some roasted monkey?
What for not some piecee mice?
Number one no washee dishee,
Catchee chopsticks scouree bright;
Too much workee, this boy wishee
Top-side makee, flyee kite."
"Make a kite, you foolish fellow,"
Kindly then the Captain said.
With delight his cheeks so yellow
Flushed almost to rosy red.
As he worked, an inspiration
In his eager fingers burned.
Each on board made his donation,
Every scrap to use was turned.
To begin, the galley scullion
Gave a worn-out cracked guitar,
Which would utter shrieks æolian
As the breeze bore it afar;
Slats there were from blinds Venetian,
And a tattered parasol.
Wondered we at such provision,
Sure it could not carry all.
Two old bonnets, an air cushion,
With a bandbox painted green,
Rockets two, to set it rushing,
And an ancient crinoline,
Wings from a torn old umbrella,
While a tail of many rags
Showed in its red, white, and yellow
He had stol'n the signal flags.
Vain our taunts, our sneers invidious,
For each day the structure grew
Stronger, vaster, and more hideous,
Yet more awful to the view.
Cloven tongue all barbed and hissing,
And a snaky horned wig,
Goggle eyes revolving, whizzing
In a fiery whirligig;
Till with joy Kong's face resembled
A great orange sent from Seville.
All who saw the kite now trembled,
'Twas so very like a devil.
And Kong scanned the far horizon,
Till from out the western main
Rose a black and threatening typhoon,
And it blew a hurricane.
On the poop Kong danced ecstatic,
And he gave his demon string.
As it tugged with curve erratic
Loud and clear we heard him sing:
"No more chowchow mutton hashee,
Soon me suck fat shark tail fin,
Soon one pigtail full of cashee
Me give cumshaw Joss, Pekin;
Soon me sing my China sing-song,
Chowchow nice bird-nest pudding.
Ha quai, fly, go top-side Chin chong
Choy, old English junk. Chin chin."
[Illustration]
Shrieked we all in accents frantic,
"Oh, come back, you China boy!"
Vain: he soared o'er the Atlantic
In a straight course for Amoy.
And the soldiers of Gibraltar
Saw him whizzing through the sky,
Like a bomb-shell to the assault, or
A gigantic comet high.
And the tempest waged still windier
As he crossed the great canal,
Till, with but a glance at India,
He reached safe the China wall.
There, in a pagoda finer
Far than I can tell or write,
That small piecee boy from China
Now reposes with his kite.
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
DARLINGTON HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA.
My papa says there is no difficulty in painting magic-lantern
slides with water-color paints, and the design can easily be made
without using those dangerous chemicals. He used to make slides in
this way when he was a boy: Take a slip of glass of the proper
size, and cover one side with a coat of mastic varnish, and let it
dry well. Then make your sketch on a piece of white paper, and lay
your slide over it, and trace the outlines on the glass with a fine
camel's-hair brush and India ink. Now mix your water-colors with
thin gum water, and you will find you can paint quite well on the
varnished surface. If there is any difficulty, a little ox-gall,
which can be bought at any paint shop, will make it right. All the
details must be carefully painted with a very fine brush, as the
magic lantern magnifies all defects. Only transparent colors, like
gamboge, Prussian blue, lakes, and madders, can be used. The slides
should be finished by covering all the glass, except the figures,
with black oil-paint, and adding another coat of varnish to the
slide.
HARRY J.
* * * * *
STALYBRIDGE, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND.
I am a little English girl nine years old; I have a kind auntie in
America, who sends us HARPER'S BAZAR and YOUNG PEOPLE. My sisters
and I are delighted with them. My papa has some very kind cousins
in Kentucky. Cousin S---- has invited us to go and see him, and
have some of his nice fruit, and mamma says we may some time if we
are good. We call him uncle, because we love him so. He sent some
American flour to papa, who keeps a store here, and we have had one
hundred barrels of American apples, and are going to have more. We
have the Stars and Stripes and Union-Jack at papa's store, and the
children here call it the "'Merica shop."
LOUISE MARY K.
* * * * *
MANKATO, KANSAS.
I have lived in this place ten years. I am eleven years old. A
great change has taken place here since I came. Not long ago this
was the Indians' country. We could see traces of them, and often
felt afraid. Buffalo, antelopes, and wolves were very numerous, and
frequently ran past our house. Nearly everybody lived in "dug-outs"
then, but now things are beginning to look civilized. We have a
railroad, and churches and school-houses. People are building fine
houses, and everything is progressing rapidly. Papa and mamma have
lived in Kansas for twenty-one years.
We have a large cat and a mocking-bird, which are on very friendly
terms with each other, and will often eat together from the same
dish.
ELEANOR W.
* * * * *
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.
Here are two pretty botanical experiments, which may be new to some
readers of YOUNG PEOPLE. Place a sponge of any size in a saucer,
which must be kept filled with water. Sprinkle some canary-seed on
the top of the sponge, and in a short time it will sprout and
become a beautiful bunch of long green grass.
A crocus bulb, if wrapped in cotton and placed in a saucer of
water, will in course of time sprout and bloom.
CARL R. E.
* * * * *
When I was seven years old my brother, my two sisters, and myself
were presented with four white Angora rabbits. Two were lost, but
before long the other pair had five little ones, and in time there
were nineteen.
Two summers ago we visited the White Mountains. I had a baby
rabbit which I liked better than any of the others, so I took it
with me. It was very tame, and would follow me everywhere. Its
name was Snowball. It lived on bread, milk, clover, and other
greens, and it liked candy as well as I do. I took it to the White
Mountains in a basket with a little hay in it. When we reached
there, Snowball was very tired, and I put it to bed. We were among
the mountains eleven days, and Snowball grew very fat before we
came home.
I never let it out in the rain; but one day it ran out when I did
not know it; I caught it, and was carrying it up stairs to comb
and dry its hair, when it fell backward from my shoulder and
dislocated its back. I had to have it killed with chloroform. It
was stuffed, and is now in my room.
In the winter all of my rabbits died except eight, and the day I
went back to the country those were left out-of-doors in a coop.
In the morning when I went to feed them they were all dead. A dog
had broken into the coop in the night. That was the end of my
beautiful rabbits, and I can not tell of my great sorrow.
H. F. WHITE.
* * * * *
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.
I am eleven years old, and I delight to read YOUNG PEOPLE. I like
it better and better every week.
We have just returned from a pleasure-trip all over California. It
was delightful eating oranges from the trees in Los Angeles, and
catching trout in the beautiful streams in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains.
TOMMIE H.
* * * * *
OCCIDENTAL, CALIFORNIA.
I live in the far West, among the redwoods of Sonoma County,
seventy miles from San Francisco, on the North Pacific Coast
Railroad. There are a number of saw-mills here, and there are large
redwood trees, some of which are over twelve feet through. Some of
the pine-trees will make seventeen cords of four-foot wood.
Not far from our house there is one of the highest railroad
bridges in the State. It is one hundred and thirty-seven and a
half feet from the creek to the roadway.
We have several kinds of wild animals around here.
S. EDWARD E.
* * * * *
TRINITY, LOUISIANA.
I live in a little town called Trinity, because it is built where
three rivers meet. We have an overflow here nearly every year, and
have lots of fun going about in boats, but we generally get tired
before the water goes off the ground.
I am ten years old. I have five sisters and four brothers. We do
not go to school, but have a governess. We had a pet deer, but it
died the first cold weather. I have been taking music lessons
seven months, and can play a few pieces. We all like YOUNG PEOPLE
very much.
RETTA S.
* * * * *
SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA.
I have never written to YOUNG PEOPLE before, and now I want to tell
about my flowers. I raised over one hundred and fifty plants from
slips last summer. I like the light blue heliotrope better than any
other house plant, so I have propagated about twenty-five plants of
that.
I had a rabbit given to me recently. I call it Dicky. It eats
turnips, cabbage, and apples.
I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. "Out of the Woods" was a splendid
story. I am thirteen years old.
MARY R.
* * * * *
CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
I wish to tell all the correspondents that, as I have exchanged
postage stamps with a great many, I have now no more duplicates
left, and will not be able to supply any more boys.
G. C. WIGGIN.
* * * * *
I am all out of curiosities now, and can not exchange them any
longer, but I would like to exchange postmarks.
TEDDY SMITH,
641 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Mich.
* * * * *
I live on the great prairies of Dakota, not far from the pipe-stone
quarries. It is said to be the only place in the world where
pipe-stone is found. It is used by the Indians for making pipes,
rings, beads, and other things. I would like to exchange specimens
of pipe-stone for sea-shells, ocean curiosities, Egyptian postage
stamps, foreign coins, or Indian relics.
GEORGE F. SMITH,
Care of Allen Smith, P. O. Box 38,
Aurora, Brookings County, Dakota.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are also offered by correspondents:
Relics gathered on the ancient sites of Onondaga Indian villages
for Indian relics from other localities, ocean curiosities, or
minerals.
LYMAN H. NORTON,
Plainville, Onondaga County, N. Y.
* * * * *
California birds' eggs for eggs from other localities.
FANNIE W. ROGERS,
Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California.
* * * * *
Crochet patterns and postmarks.
TESSIE LINDSAY,
Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Postmarks, minerals, sea-shells, coins, and other curiosities.
GEORGE J. ANTHONY,
235 First Street, Jersey City, N. J.
* * * * *
Postage stamps and postmarks.
LESLIE I. RAY, Ishpeming, Mich.
* * * * *
Foreign postage stamps. A stone from New York State, for one from
any other State except New Jersey.
EDWIN M. COX, JUN.,
Spuyten Duyvel, N. Y.
* * * * *
Postage stamps and sea-shells.
WALTER MANDELL,
666 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Mich.
* * * * *
Foreign postage stamps for Indian relics and other curiosities.
A. H. VAN BUSKIRK,
429 East Fifty-eighth Street, New York City.
* * * * *
Stones, stamps, and coins.
CHARLES STEWART,
North Evanston, Cook County, Ill.
* * * * *
Postage stamps.
ANNIE P. CARRIER,
Shady Side, Pittsburgh, Penn.
* * * * *
Postmarks, Indian arrow-heads, or specimens of iron, copper, or
nickel ores from Norway, for birds' eggs or foreign postage stamps.
GERTRUDE A. ARNOLD,
177 North Pearl Street, Buffalo, N. Y.
* * * * *
An open boll of cotton, exactly as grown on the stalk, for foreign
stamps or coin.
JOSEPH HAWKINS, Prosperity, S. C.
* * * * *
About six hundred postage stamps and an international stamp album
for a scroll saw.
A. S. WETTACH,
P. O. Box 891, New York City.
* * * * *
Postage stamps.
JAMES H. DEWSON,
113 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Postage stamps and relics.
JOHN A. SELKIRK,
132 First Street, Albany, N. Y.
* * * * *
Postmarks.
ROBERT KREIDER,
P. O. Box 119, Mauch Chunk, Penn.
* * * * *
Pressed leaves and ferns, or postmarks, for leaves and ferns from
other localities.
AGNES and CARRIE RAUCHFUSS,
Golconda, Pope County, Ill.
* * * * *
Birds' eggs.
O. M. FREEMAN,
Albion, Providence County, R. I.
* * * * *
Indian arrow-heads for birds' eggs.
ISOBEL JACOB,
Darlington Heights, Prince Edward Co., Va.
* * * * *
Postmarks for different kinds of buttons.
EMMA RADFORD,
Gloversville, Fulton County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Minerals, fossils, and ferns.
RUTHE S. COLLIN,
Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.
* * * * *
Postage stamps.
FRED HARRIS,
322 East Fifty-seventh Street, New York City.
* * * * *
Birds' eggs.
S. D. WRIGHT,
Care of J. B. Wright,
Columbus, Muscogee County, Ga.
* * * * *
Insects and postage stamps.
GRACE STURTEVANT,
South Framingham, Mass.
* * * * *
Pieces of crystallized starch from what is said to be the largest
starch factory in the world, dovetailed pieces of wood from a large
box manufactory, or pebbles and stones from Lake Ontario, for
specimens of workmanship from any manufacturing establishment in
the United States, or minerals.
GEORGE D. GILLETT,
136 West Fourth Street, Oswego, N. Y.
* * * * *
Twenty postmarks for ten foreign postage stamps. No duplicates.
JOHN V. L. PIERSON,
Bloomfield, Essex County, N. J.
* * * * *
Postage stamps.
Louis HUICQ,
Hoboken, N. J.
* * * * *
Minerals, fossils, birds' eggs, and foreign and United States
postage stamps.
ARTHUR MILLIKEN,
Emporia, Kan.
* * * * *
Stones from Utah and Germany, and Indian arrow-heads for birds'
eggs or stamps.
HARRY EVERETT,
2447 Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
* * * * *
Iron, lead, zinc, sulphur, and magnetic iron for curiosities, other
ores, or stamps.
EDWIN HEILIG,
Wytheville, Wythe County, Va.
* * * * *
Postmarks.
ALLAN J. HOUGHTON,
P. O. Box 619, Washington, D. C.
* * * * *
Michigan postmarks and minerals and shells from the Atlantic Ocean
for shells and curiosities from the Pacific coast.
ROBERT J. LASIER,
124 Fort Street West, Detroit, Mich.
* * * * *
WILLIE J. F.--Club or Acme. For full information, see advertisement of
Peck & Snyder, or Barney & Berry, in our columns.
* * * * *
WILLIE F. W.--1. Twenty-five-cent gold pieces have been coined by the
United States, but they have never been in general circulation.--2.
There is no work on practical book-binding from which the business can
be learned. Your best way would be to make the acquaintance of some
book-binder, and get him to show you the process. There are excellent
works on ornamental book-binding, but they are expensive, and would be
of no use to an amateur.--3. No. Each kind has its partisans.
* * * * *
BOATMAN.--Full directions for making a flat-bottomed boat will soon be
given in YOUNG PEOPLE, with working diagrams.
* * * * *
CLIFTON J.--To make a toboggan take a thin birch board about five feet
long and a foot and a half wide. Steam one end to turn up, and secure
the curve by stout cord or wire. This primitive sled, which is an
invention of the Canadian Indians, is used only on crusted snow, and is
steered with two short sticks held firmly in the hands.
* * * * *
H. H. HENRY.--Pekin, the capital city of China, is situated in the
province of Chili. Its population is estimated from 1,648,000 to
2,000,000, but it is impossible to arrive at an exact statement.
* * * * *
IDA L. G.--See answer to Miriam B. and others in Post-office Box of
YOUNG PEOPLE No. 52.
* * * * *
N. L. JONES.--Land lizards feed on small insects. If you have house
plants, and allow the lizards liberty to run among them, they will keep
them free from lice and small worms, which often do great injury to the
leaves.
* * * * *
C. W. M.--You can send soil or other specimens in a small box by mail.
* * * * *
LUCY WILSON, L. L. G., N. B. GREENE, AND MANY OTHERS.--Write and make
your inquiries from the correspondents with whom you wish to exchange.
* * * * *
DEAR FRIENDS,--About a fortnight ago, when we boys and girls of the
"Children's Hour" were busy at our drawing and painting, Miss
Donlevy, our teacher, told us we had all been invited to visit
Harper's Building.
You may just think we clapped our hands with delight, and made
considerable noise for a minute or two, but then we promised to
behave very quietly.
When the day came, we all, with our teacher, took the Third Avenue
elevated car, and whizzed down in no time to Franklin Square, and
soon found ourselves mounting up the winding stairs to the office
of YOUNG PEOPLE.
We had all been wondering whether we should have to look
dignified, and mind our p's and q's, supposing the editor was
oldish and wore spectacles; he wasn't, though, for he was young,
and as kind and friendly as if he was one's own grown-up brother
or cousin, and let us ask questions until I guess his ears ached
and his head spun.
The girls took off their cloaks and the boys their overcoats, and
piled them up on a chair. The editor took us to the art
department, where we were introduced to the art critic and an
artist famous for drawing grasses and flowers and landscapes. As
they were only talking, we went into the next room to see artists
at work. One had a small block of box-wood on his desk, covered
with a transparent paper, called gelatine paper; on this was
traced in red pencil a picture of a house and trees. He was going
over all the red lines with a pointed instrument. When the
gelatine paper was lifted off, there were the lines faintly cut in
the wood. Then the artist took a lead-pencil and went over the cut
lines with it; next came shading the picture with a brush and
India ink. When we had watched them doing this we were all marched
off to the engraving department.
What busy people engravers are! There they sat, looking as if they
thought there wasn't a thing in the world to be looked at but the
block picture on the padded cushion before them. All the engravers
had shades over their eyes, and were looking through
magnifying-glasses at their work.