not choked yourself with pins before you took your pledge! I presume
you think you never would have done so; but do you really suppose there
was ever a person who choked to death with a pin, _on purpose_? Yet
there have been deaths caused in just that way. Your mother will be
glad that you have resolved to give up so foolish and dangerous a habit.
_Emily_ from Maryland. Your pledge commences with the right sentence,
my friend. One who honestly trusts in His help, is sure to succeed. I
think you will find it helpful if you will study His life on earth, and
see how many proofs you can find of His perfect unselfishness.
_Maria_ and _Lucy_ from Missouri. Welcome, my little Missouri sisters.
May you blossom luxuriantly in that sunny land. I hope the "temper"
will grow as sweet as the Southern jessamine which I enjoyed so much in
your South land last winter, and that the little fingers tempted to be
"tardy" now, will quicken under the spell of the earnest pledge which
has been taken.
_Ward_ from Michigan. Glad to receive you, my boy. "I can't" is an
enemy who has stolen many a grand action from boys and girls as well as
from men and women. Did you ever notice also, that he generally speaks
what is false? Nearly always "I can't" means "I don't want to," or a
bold "I won't."
_Ina_ from Iowa. Dear friend, do you know of what your pledge reminds
me? Of a great many grown people who, though pledged to obey the Lord
Jesus, forget to "mind" him so often, now that he is away. While you
are carefully keeping your pledge to obey the dear mamma as well in her
absence as when her eye is on you, will you sometimes think of Jesus,
and his wish that we should remember always that his eye is on us?
_May_ from Iowa. You are not alone in that fault. I know many people
who can "remember" the faults of others, while seeming to be quite
forgetful about their own. It is a good rule to remember nothing
against any other person, unless we believe that Jesus Christ wants us
to remember it, and speak of it, in order to help somebody else.
_Otho_ from Iowa. Another little "high" temper. A temper is an
excellent thing if it is of the right sort. It wants to be even;
neither "high" nor "low." Try hard to make yours what in your honest
little heart you think it ought to be. Remember your greatest help will
be found in our Whisper Motto.
_Roy_ from Michigan. My boy, I liked your letter ever so much. Do
you know how much that is? Yes, I am sure you do. It is so full of
suggestions for the other Pansies that I am going to copy some of it
for them. It is a great thing to be able always to "speak pleasantly."
What a power for good you will be in this cross world, if you keep your
pledge. To be pleasant, when everything is going crooked, or at least
seems to be, is a virtue which very few people have.
_Arthur_ from Chicago. How is the "club" succeeding? I am more than
willing that you should have an officer's badge if you earn it. What
"kind acts" have you succeeded in doing since you took your pledge? Is
there not some story growing out of them that you can tell us, and so
help others?
_Kitty_ from Vermont. Yes indeed, we want all the "kittens" of your
sort that we can get hold of. Oh! I know all about the people who
do not hang up their clothes. Aren't they troublesome, though! What
a pleasant thing it will be to "mamma" to find all the dresses, and
sacks, and hats and hoods in their places, after this! I should not
wonder if the clothes-press did not know itself, and if the piano, and
the table in the back hall, and the hat-rack in the corner should feel
very lonesome, in the course of time. But a certain Pansy Badge will
blush for joy!
_Bertha_ from Connecticut. Glad you like the badge. And _so_ glad to
think the poor little fingers do not get "sucked" any more. Will you
give my dear love to "aunt Katie," and kiss her very softly and sweetly
for me? I know something about that precious "Shut in Band;" I used
to have a dear friend who was a member of it. But the Master one day
called her out, to do active work, and she has been in the field ever
since.
_Pearl_ from Indiana. Teeth are very important and much abused members
of society, my dear Pearl. I hope yours will reward you for good care,
by never aching a bit. By the way, little Pearl, I wonder if you know
the fourth commandment? See if you can tell me why I wonder it.
_Marion_ from Iowa. We welcome our new Western Blossom. It is
astonishing to me how many of my Blossoms hate to shut their eyes
when night comes! At least, they and "mamma" someway cannot agree as
to the best time to do it. Now in a "truly" pansy bed, I have noticed
that the Blossoms seem to be glad when night, and dew, and hush, tell
them that the resting time has come. Can it be, do you suppose, that
they, without souls, or brains, are more obedient to the Gardener's
voice than little human blossoms succeed in being? Some people who are
quick-witted are strongly tempted to "answer back," especially when
they think of something which would be "just the thing" to say. I knew
a wise man who said when he was a boy, he had to adopt the habit of
counting ten before he answered a person in argument, because if he
didn't, he was sure to say what he was sorry for afterwards. I have
often thought if some people I know would "count ten" oftener, they
would not say so many foolish and disagreeable things.
_Frank_ from Ohio. Impatient, are you? Well, there is a wonderful
promise for such as you in the Bible. See if you can find it. I haven't
the least doubt but that you want to grow up a great man; and here is
your opportunity.
_Lillie_ from Connecticut. My dear, I earnestly hope the patience with
which you waited has long before this been rewarded. They do seem to
be very slow people in Boston, sometimes, but when there are so many
"lilies," and roses, and pansies to be attended to all at once, how can
they help it? We are glad to get your full name for enrollment. Are you
also the secretary of your Band? If so, we shall hope for an account of
your meetings. The Pansies like to know how the different members of
their great army conduct their monthly meetings.
_Lester_ from Ohio. My boy, we are glad that you are not only a
subscriber, but a worker. "Teasing" is really a great nuisance. Between
you and me, don't you really think so yourself? I asked a boy who is
fond of doing disagreeable things "just for fun," whether he really
thought he should like to have them done to him, and he opened his eyes
wide, and said: "Why, of course not!" Yet it had not seemed to occur to
him what a mean spirit he confessed in that very sentence. I am very
glad to receive your pledge.
_Jennie_ from Connecticut. I shall want to hear all about the bed-quilt
when it is done. I am acquainted with a society of girls who made a
beautiful album quilt not long ago. The blocks were of silk, given by
the ladies of the church. The young girls did the work, very nicely,
and allowed their lady and gentleman friends to write their names in
the centre blocks, for ten cents each. The money thus secured they
sent toward the support of their little adopted girl in Alaska, and
the quilt they sent for a Christmas present to their minister's wife,
who was away from home, sick, and lonely. The names on the blocks
were those of her friends in whom she was much interested, and many
of the pieces of silk were well known to her, and gave her pleasant
thoughts of the original givers; so the work was a comfort and a help
all around. "Besides," said one of the girls, "we learned to sew
beautifully, that winter. Mrs. F. would accept nothing but the very
nicest stitches." A great many people "forget" what they ought to
remember. I am glad you have left their ranks.
_Ray_ from Colorado. What a rich boy you are to have so much company in
your own home! Also, what a good boy you must try to be, when you have
so many who will be sure to follow your example. It is a good thing you
have taken a pledge not to "speak cross" any more. If the twins should
learn such things from you, how sad it would be!
_Minnie_ and _Floy_ from Wisconsin. My dear little friends, it will be
a great victory when you learn not to be impatient over anything, and
to be pleasant when you feel cross! Oh yes, you can even do such hard
things as those. But let me remind you that you will need the help
of the Whisper Motto every hour of the day. I am glad the birthday
present was a Bible. I think you must both of you study it a little,
and try to follow it, else you would hardly have such good reports from
school. By the way, I must tell you a story about my Bible. It was
given me when I was eight years old. On Sunday, in church, the sermon
was long, and I grew very tired, so I thought I would put something
on the fly leaf of my new Bible which would be very appropriate, and
which would not be wrong to write on Sunday. I worked away at it, and
produced in my best style, these lines:
Holy Bible book divine
Preshus treshure thou art mine!
Actually, that was the way I put it! Don't you think my beautiful new
Bible might have blushed, if it could express its feelings in that way?
_Lizzie_ from Kansas. So they "bite their finger nails" in Kansas, as
well as everywhere else! Before our P. S. was organized I had not the
least idea that fingers were so cruelly treated. What a pleasure it
is to me to think that so many of them have peace now. We are glad to
welcome you to our roll.
_Susy_ from Elyria. There! I forgot to put the "a" in, after Susy.
Well, I suppose you are called "Susy Sunbeam." I think that is a lovely
name. It shows there must be a good deal of sunshine in your life. I
know a young lady whose face is always so bright and happy that her
home friends call her "Sunny," and I have often thought she might be
proud of the pet name. I am glad you like "Grandpa's Darlings." It is
a true book. The dear grandpa was my very own blessed father; and the
children, Minie and Grace, were my pet nieces. Grace is now a young
lady and lives in the same house with me, and works all day with her
pencils and her paints, learning to be an artist. As for Minie, I don't
know what she does all the long bright days. She was called years ago,
to her Father's palace; for she is the daughter of a great King. We
do not hear from her; but we know much about the beautiful home where
she lives, and we are all looking forward to going there, some day, to
be with her, for the King has promised to send for us--all. More than
that, he has invited any one to come who would like to do so. Will you
go?
_Ella_ from New York. I do wonder what there is about a piano which
should nearly always make young people impatient? Do you suppose the
fault is in the instrument? I have sometimes thought that if such is
the case, they ought to go out of fashion. But perhaps the little Pansy
Badge will be too much for yours. Let me hear how you succeed.
_Clara_ from Iowa. I hope you received the autograph safely, my dear,
and that you like the picture. "Cack" is certainly a very original nom
de plume. What do you write? I once had a little friend who called on
me to ask how she should finish her book! She said she knew how to
begin it, and how to make it _very long_, but it _would_ not end! I
think a great many people are troubled in that way. Don't you?
"BALLAD OF THE LOST HARE."
NOW all you Pansies who have grown too old to enjoy sweet cunning
things written on purpose for five and six and seven-year-old Blossoms,
may skip this article.
The gray-headed fathers and mothers, and the dear sweet grandmothers
who never grow old, will enjoy it as much as the darlings themselves;
but I am aware that there is an age somewhere between ten and sixteen
when almost everything that the babies can enjoy is "too young!" All
those are requested not to listen, while I tell about the "Ballad Of
The Lost Hare." A big book, with a bright cover, and with a great many
colored pictures large and bright, and with the cunningest little story
running all through the book, about a poor little, dear little, naughty
little hare.
Yes, I am going to copy just a bit of the introduction for you. Listen:
Far from wild, far from wood,
In a field rich and good;
Near to hill and winding glade,
Lived the naughtiest Hare, ever was made.
Father scolded, mother whipped,
But every day away he slipped.
Brothers three, and sisters two,
Cried and cried, as off he flew.
Sore-sore-sore was the sobbing,
Wild-wild-wild was his race;
Only the woods to echo his footsteps,
Only the winds his hiding place.
After the introduction, come the stories of his adventures; and the
pictures of them. Oh! but you would be so sorry for him if you could
see the cow, and the goat, and the pony that scared him nearly out of
his small wits!
And then the conclusion! Ah me, the sad ending of it all!
Do you suppose he wishes his home to see,
His sisters two, and his brothers three?
Would he like to lie down in his own little bed?
And does he recall what his father said?
[Illustration: OFF HE FLEW.]
There! I mustn't tell you any more, or the whole story will be out. Buy
it, my darlings, and read it for yourselves; it is in nice clear print.
Or, if you haven't quite managed that business of reading yet, let me
whisper a word in your ear: those wise old brothers and sisters of
yours, who have known how to read these five years, and are ciphering
in fractions, and writing essays on "Spring," will be willing to read
the story, just to please you, you know, not for their own amusement,
at all; oh no! Try them.
Now who do you think wrote it for you?
Who but Margaret Sidney herself! the author of "Five Little Peppers,"
which you liked so much; and the author of "Kensington Junior," and you
know how many more nice things. Of course you will want the book.
The price? Oh yes, surely, I had almost forgotten. Why, it has a
special price on purpose for the wee P. S. Blossoms. Only sixty cents.
Think of it!
[Illustration: PROSPECTUS WIDE AWAKE 1886]
A mother, whose five children have read WIDE AWAKE in her company from
its first number to its latest, writes: "_I like the magazine because
it is full of Impulses. Another thing--when I lay it down I feel as if
I had been walking on breezy hill-tops._"
_SIX ILLUSTRATED SERIALS:_
=I. A MIDSHIPMAN AT LARGE.=
=II. THE CRUISE OF THE CASABLANCA.=
Every boy who sailed in fancy the late exciting races of the _Puritan_
and the _Genesta_, and all lovers of sea stories, will enjoy these two
stories of Newport and Ocean Yachting, by CHARLES REMINGTON TALBOT.
=III. A GIRL AND A JEWEL.=
MRS. HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD, in this delicious White Mountain
Romance, writes her first young folks' magazine serial.
=IV. DILLY AND THE CAPTAIN.=
=V. PEGGY, AND HER FAMILY.=
MARGARET SIDNEY writes these two amusing Adventure Serials for Little
Folks. Thirty-six illustrations each.
=VI. A Six Months' Story= (title to be announced), by CHARLES
EGBERT CRADDOCK, author of _Down the Ravine_.
=ROYAL GIRLS AND ROYAL COURTS.=
By MRS. JOHN SHERWOOD. This series, brilliant and instructive, will
begin in the Christmas number and run through the year.
=A CYCLE OF CHILDREN.=
By ELBRIDGE S. BROOKS. Illustrations by Howard Pyle. Twelve historical
stories celebrating twelve popular holidays.
=Master Sandys' Christmas Snapdragon.= Dec., 1611.
=Mistress Margery's New Year's Pin-Money.= Jan., 1500
=Mr. Pepys' Valentine.= February, 1660.
=The Last of the Geraldines.= March, 1535.
=Diccon and the Wise Fools of Gotham.= April, 1215.
=The Lady Octavia's Garland.= May, 184.
=Etc., etc.=
_STORIES OF AMERICAN WARS._
Thrilling incidents in our various American warfares. Each story will
have a dramatic picture. The first six are:
=The Light of Key Biscayne.=
=Joel Jackson's Smack.=
=A Revolutionary Turncoat.=
=How Daniel Abbott Outwitted the Indians.=
=In the Turtle Crawl.=
=The Boy-Soldiers of Cherry Valley.=
_IN PERIL._
A romantic dozen of adventures, but all strictly true. Each story will
be illustrated. The first six are:
=Saved by a Kite.=
=Tax a Taz.=
=In a Mica Mine.=
=The Life Trail.=
=The Varmint that Runs on the "Heigh-Ho!"=
=A Strange Prison.=
=YOUTH IN TWELVE CENTURIES=.
A beautiful art feature. Twenty-four superb studies of race-types and
national costumes, by F. Childe Hassam, with text by M. E. B.
_FIRE-PLACE STORIES._
This article will be a notable feature of the Christmas number. The
rich illustrations include glimpses of Holland, Assyria, Persia,
Moorish Spain and New England, with two paintings in clay modelled
expressly for WIDE AWAKE, and reproduced in three tones.
_SOME SPECIAL ARTICLES:_
_L'ENFANT TERRIBLE TURK._ By HON. S. S. COX, U. S.
Minister to Turkey.
_THE PRINCESS POCAHONTAS IN ENGLAND._ By MRS. RAYMOND
BLATHWAYTE. Illustrations include portrait from
painting never before engraved.
_AUTOGRAPHS AND AUTOGRAPH HUNTERS._ By NORA PERRY. Racy
and amusing.
_A GRAND PEACE-MEET._ By WILL P. HOOPER. An imposing
Indian Ceremony; with many pictures by the author.
_A SIXTEENTH CENTURY SCHOOLBOY._ By APPLETON MORGAN.
The life of a lad in Shakespeare's time.
_MY FIRST BUFFALO HUNT._ By GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT.
_THROUGH THE HEART OF PARIS._ By FRANK T. MERRILL. A
pen and pencil record of a trip down the Seine.
_THE DUMB-BETTY LAMP._ By HENRY BACON. Hitherto untold
incidents in connection with "Floyd Ireson's Ride."
_TWELVE BALLADS._
These are by twelve of the foremost women poets of America. Each ballad
will fill five to seven pictorial pages. The first six are:
=The Deacon's Little Maid.= A ballad of early New England. By MRS.
A. D. T. WHITNEY. Illustrations by Miss L. B. Humphrey.
=The Story of the Chevalier.= A ballad of the wars of Maria
Theresa. By MRS. HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD. Illustrations by E. H.
Garrett.
=The Minute Man.= A ballad of the "Shot heard round the World." By
MARGARET SIDNEY. Illustrations by Hy. Sandham.
=The Hemlock Tree.= A ballad of a Maine settlement. By LUCY
LARCOM. Illustrations by Edmund H. Garrett.
=The Children's Cherry Feast.= A ballad of the Hussite War. By
NORA PERRY. Illustrations by George Foster Barnes.
=Little Alix.= A ballad of the Children's Crusade. By SUSAN
COOLIDGE. Illustrations by F. H. Lungren.
Many other enjoyments are in readiness; among them a Thanksgiving poem
by Helen Jackson (H. H.), the last poem we can ever give our readers
from her pen; "A Daughter of the Sea-Folks," a romantic story of
Ancient Holland by Susan Coolidge; "An Entertainment of Mysteries," by
Anna Katherine Greene, author of the celebrated "detective novels;"
foreign MSS. and drawings by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pennell; "Stoned by a
Mountain," by Rose G. Kingsley; a frontier-life story by Mrs. Custer,
author of _Boots and Saddles_; a long humorous poem by Christina
Rossetti; Arctic Articles by Lieut. Frederick Schwatka; "A Tiny Tale of
Travel," a prose story by Celia Thaxter; a "Trotty" story, by Elizabeth
Stuart Phelps; beautiful stories by Grace Denio Litchfield, Mary E.
Wilkins and Katherine B. Foote; a lively boys' story by John Preston
True; "Pamela's Fortune," by Mrs. Lucy C. Lillie; "'Little Captain' of
Buckskin Camp," by F. L. Stealey--in short, the magazine will brim over
with good things.
_THE C. Y. F. R. U. READINGS_
meet the growing demand for the _helpful_ in literature, history,
science, art and practical doing. The Course for 1885-86 includes
=I. Pleasant Authors for Young Folks.= (_American Series._) By
AMANDA B. HARRIS. =II. My Garden Pets.= By MARY TREAT, author of
_Home Studies in Nature_. =III. Souvenirs of My Time.= (_Foreign
Series._) By MRS. JESSIE BENTON FREMONT. =IV. Some Italian Authors
and Their Work.= By GEORGE E. VINCENT (son of Chancellor Vincent).
=V. Ways to Do Things.= By various authors. =VI. Strange Teas,
Weddings, Dinners and Fetes.= By their Guests and Givers. =VII.
Search-Questions in English Literature.= By OSCAR FAY ADAMS.
*** A good commission is paid for securing new subscribers, in cash or
premiums. Send for Premium List.
_WIDE AWAKE is only $3.00 a year._
=D. LOTHROP & CO., Publishers, Franklin and Hawley Sts., Boston,
Mass., U. S. A.=
=PROSPECTUS--BABYLAND--FOR 1886.=
The Magazine for the Babies, this coming year, in addition to its
bright pictures, and gay little jingles, and sweet stories, will have
some especial delights for both Mamma and Baby:
=THE MAGIC PEAR=
will provide Twelve Entertainments of dainty jugglery and funny
sleight-of-hand for the nursery pencils. This novelty is by the
artist-humorist, M. J. Sweeney ("Boz").
=ALL AROUND THE CLOCK=
will give Baby Twelve tiny Lessons in Counting, each with wee verses
for little lips to say, and pictures for bright eyes to see, to help
the little mind to remember.
=LITTLE CRIB-CURTAINS=
will give Mamma Twelve Sleepy-time Stories to tell when the Babies go
to cribs and cradles. In short, BABYLAND the whole year will be the
happiest, sweetest sort of a home kindergarten.
_Beautiful and novel New Cover. Only Fifty Cents a year._
=PROSPECTUS--OUR LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN--FOR 1886.=
This magazine, for youngest readers, has earned golden gratitude
from teachers and parents this past year. While its short stories
and beautiful pictures have made it welcome everywhere as a general
Magazine for Little Folks, its series of instructive articles have
rendered it of unrivalled value to educators. For 1886 several
specialties have been prepared in accordance with the suggestions of
teachers who wish to start their "little primaries" in the lines on
which older brothers and sisters are being taught. As a beginning in
American History, there will be twelve charming chapters about
=THE ADVENTURES OF COLUMBUS.=
This story of the Great Discoverer, while historically correct and
valuable, will be perfectly adapted to young minds and fitted to take
hold upon a child's attention and memory; many pictures.
=LITTLE TALKS ABOUT INSECT LIFE=
will interest the children in one branch of Natural History; with
anecdotes and pictures.
=OUR COLORADO PETS=
will describe wild creatures little known to children in general. These
twelve stories all are true, and are full of life and adventure; each
will be illustrated.
="ME AND MY DOLLS"=
is a "cunning little serial story," written for American children by
the popular English author, Miss L. T. Meade. It will have Twelve
Full-page Pictures by Margaret Johnson.
From time to time fresh "Stories about Favorite Authors" will be given,
so that teachers and friends may have material for little literature
lessons suited to young children.
_Seventy-five Full-page Pictures. Only $1.00 a year._
=PROSPECTUS--THE PANSY--FOR 1886.=
For both week-day and Sunday reading, THE PANSY, edited by "Pansy"
herself, holds the first place in the hearts of the children, and in
the approval of earnest-minded parents. Among the more interesting
features for 1886 will be Pansy's serial story,
=REACHING OUT,=
being a further account of "Little Fishers: and their Nets." The Golden
Text Stories, under the title, "Six O'clock in the Evening," will be
told by a dear old Grandma, who knows many interesting things about
what happened to herself when she was a little girl. Margaret Sidney
will furnish a charming story,
=ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON,=
to run through the year. Rev. C. M. Livingston will tell stories of
discoveries, inventions, books, people, places. Faye Huntington will be
a regular contributor during the year. Pansy will take the readers with
her wherever she goes, in papers under the title of
=WHERE I WENT, AND WHAT I SAW.=
There will be, in each number, a selection from our best standard
poets suitable for recitation in school or circle. From time to time
colloquies for Mission Bands, or for general school exercises, will
appear. There will be new and interesting books for the members of the
Pansy Society, and, as before, a generous space will be devoted to
answers to correspondents in the P. S. Corner.
_Fully Illustrated. Only $1.00 a year._
Address all orders to
D. LOTHROP & CO., Publishers, Franklin and Hawley Streets, Boston,
Mass.
[Illustration: WIDE AWAKE ART PRINTS]
ARTISTIC FAC-SIMILE REPRODUCTIONS OF ORIGINAL PICTURES.
DESIRING to bring within reach of all homes Pictures of real charm and
real art value, we began, October 1st, the publication of a series
of superb fac-simile reproductions of the finest original pictures
belonging to the WIDE AWAKE magazine.