This rocking-boat was made for girls; girls, accordingly, have
preference over boys in the use of it. Whenever, therefore, any
girls come into the swing-room, any boys that may be in the boat
must leave it at once, to give the girls the opportunity to occupy
it. If they do not occupy it, the boys may return; if, on the other
hand, they do occupy it, no boy must get into it or touch it,
except by invitation from the oldest girl in the boat, who is the
queen; and while they remain in the boat, or by the side of it,
they must be entirely under the direction of the queen or her
delegates. It is supposed that every gentlemanly boy will readily
and cordially comply with this rule; but should there be any
infraction of it, the case is to be immediately reported at
headquarters.
The later years of Mr. Abbott's life were spent at Farmington, Maine.
Here, at his pleasant home called Fewacres, many things were arranged
for the enjoyment of the young. His tools for gardening were always kept
in complete order, and he made a number of curious little play-wagons to
lighten the labor of bringing in wood. When these were not in use they
were lent to the village children, who were made quite welcome to the
pretty grounds.
The walks and avenues at Fewacres had names given them by their owner in
memory of happy days spent there by himself and friends. "The Great
Terrace," "The Zigzag," "The Long Level," "The Coos Road," "Little Mite
o' Blue," "The Fan Elm," "Willie's Seat," "The Picnic Ground," and "The
Barberry Hedge" were some of these.
When Mr. Abbott had finished reading his weekly illustrated papers, they
were carefully stitched into strong brown paper covers, and passed from
hand to hand among his humbler neighbors or the men who worked for him.
His principle through life was to make everybody near him as happy as he
possibly could.
* * * * *
We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. to "The Story of a
Great Mammoth," as told by Elizabeth Abercrombie, and to Mr. Arthur
Lindsley's account of the ways and habits of that charming little
inhabitant of the bird-world so fancifully called "El Bucle de Esmeralda
y Oro."
* * * * *