Clara was a little western girl. She had lived in San Francisco until
she was nine years old, when her dear mamma and papa brought her east
to live with Aunt Mary and Cousin Charlie, and they were growing very
fond of her indeed, for she was so sweet and kind and always obedient.
One day she was sitting out under the blossoming trees on the old
Worden seat, her book lying, unread, in her lap, and her eyes having a
dreamy, far-away look in them, when, from the balcony overhead,
sounded a piping little voice:
"Clara, Tousin Clara! has oo dot my Animal book?" and a small,
rosy-cheeked boy came running to her, rubbing his sleepy, dark eyes.
"Why, Charlie, have you finished your nap so soon? yes here is your
Animal book, and what shall I read about?"
"Oh, about the deers, wiz their dreat big horns, and--and--_every_
sin," and he nestled close, satisfied he would hear all he wished. So
she read a short sketch of the deer, its haunts and habits, when he
interrupted:
"Has oo ever _seen_ a deer--a real _live_ one?" and his black eyes
opened wide.
"Oh, yes; and when we were coming east, across the plains, whenever
the train drew near a wooded stream, often the screaming whistle would
startle a herd of deer from their covert, and they would rush up
through the trees, antlers erect, and sleek brown bodies quivering
with alarm, and followed by the soft-eyed, gentle fawn. It was quite a
pretty picture."
"Tell me more; what tind of a city did oo live in?"
[Illustration: CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK.]
"A very beautiful city, Charlie. You should see our noble bay, with
the great ships riding at anchor; our fine parks and stately
buildings. Then if you should go down in Market street, where most of
the business is done, you would see some funny sights. All kinds of
people are there--Ranchmen, Indians, Spaniards, English, Americans and
lots of queer little Chinamen, and they have small, dark shops full of
curious things, and besides spread their wares on the walk."
After telling about the orange groves and vineyards, the lovely
flowers, especially the fuchsia, which winds its branches like a vine
over the porches, often reaching the upper story of a house, Charlie
thought it must be a wonderful country, and expressed his intention of
_living_ in California when he became a man.
In a Chinese village during a time of drought a missionary saw a row
of idols put in the hottest and dustiest part of the road. He inquired
the reason and the natives answered: "We prayed our gods to send us
rain, and they wont, so we've put them out to see how they like the
heat and dryness."