AN EGYPTIAN FARM
THE little folks and the donkeys as well were wild to get on shore
again and stretch their legs a bit, for they had not left the boat
for several days. As soon as they could get away from the boat they
scampered off past the big hotels where many tourists were sitting on
the verandas and in the gardens sipping cool drinks just as they did at
Cairo.
Everywhere George and his uncle were followed around by people who
wanted to sell them relics which they said they had found in the
ancient ruins,--coins and scarabs and pottery, and all sorts of odd
things. Mustapha waved them all away. "Their antiquities are only
make-believes," he said, with contempt. "There are people who make
these imitations, and these fellows make a business by selling them to
travellers as real curiosities. Sometimes there were real treasures
that could be picked up at a bargain, but not so many as in the old
days," said Mustapha.
Sun-up next morning found our little party riding out on another
excursion. Mizram had packed many good things to eat in a big palm-leaf
basket covered over with green leaves to keep the things cool, and this
was slung across Teddy Pasha's broad back. Our friends were to have a
picnic among some riverside ruins.
Soon they were riding between two rows of stone figures; an avenue of
Sphinxes, like the great Sphinx at the Pyramids, only much smaller, and
in a few minutes more all dismounted at the entrance to a great temple.
Such a rabble surrounded them! Beggars clamouring for backsheesh,
people wanting to guide them through the ruins, and vendors of relics.
Mustapha and the boys had to use their sticks freely to make the crowd
stand back.
Two donkey boys promised to look after the donkeys, so after
threatening them with all sorts of dire punishments if any harm should
come to their animals, Nabul and his cousin ran after their little
American friend.
For several hours Mustapha led his little band in and out among the
great columns and across the broad courts of ancient temples. There
seemed to be thousands of these columns, some standing in long rows,
others lying broken on the ground. How the children stared at the
pictures painted on the walls by the old Egyptians, the colours as
fresh as if they had just been painted. Mustapha showed them how these
pictures made a regular story-book, if one only knew how to read them.
Here were a lot of pictures that told all about the doings of one of
the Pharaohs,--how he went to war and the battles he fought. There
were other pictures showing how he went hunting, and the various kinds
of animals and birds he had brought back with him from the chase.
The children thought it was most amusing to read a story-book like
that, and went about trying to make up stories for themselves out of
the pictures.
They stopped to watch a number of men hard at work among the ruins
lifting a fallen stone column. More than three hundred Egyptians were
working to set up the fallen columns and clear away the rubbish, and
they worked in much the same way as did the ancient Egyptians who built
the same temples. There were many young boys, too, helping to pull on
the long ropes by which the columns were raised.
"Come, let us hunt and perhaps we can find some relics for ourselves,"
said Nabul. "One of the donkey boys last year found a little statue."
"I would like to find a mummy," exclaimed George, as the boys went to
work prodding in the sand with their sticks.
"Mummies are too heavy to carry away," said Abdal, wisely shaking his
head.
"I should like to find a doll," whispered Menah to her sister as they
too turned over the sand in their little fingers, thinking of her own
curious little dolls at home fashioned after the same manner as those
frequently found among the ruins. "You remember the great traveller
who went with our father in the dahabeah to some old city? How he had
many men to dig in the sand for him, and how they found many wonderful
things there? Well, he said that often the dolls and toys that were
put in a little girl's tomb would be made of gold and silver," replied
Menah. "I should like a doll of real gold to play with."
Pretty soon the children tired of their search and stretched themselves
out in the shade of an enormous stone column to rest.
Our party made many excursions to see many other old ruins, and one day
Mustapha took them to see some funny camel races. It was the queerest
thing in the world to see the long-legged camels come swinging along,
covering yards and yards of ground at each step, each camel ridden by
an Arab in flowing white dress and head covering. After this there was
a race among the donkey boys. Nabul and Abdal were wild to join in
this, but found it was against the rules for outsiders to enter.
"They are jealous, they know we could beat these up-country donkeys,"
Nabul consoled himself with saying, but he hurrahed with everybody else
all the same when a lively little gray donkey, ridden by a small boy in
a green dress, reached the goal first and got the prize.
One morning early found the _Isis_ again sailing up the river
toward Assouan and the Great Cataract, which was to be their last
stopping-place.
When George and Uncle Ben arrived at Assouan it was market-day, and the
square by the riverside was filled with all sorts of queer people and
things.
For centuries lower Egypt had been periodically flooded and then dried
out again, and the poor native farmers and fellaheen had suffered
greatly, many, many thousands even dying of starvation. All the great
volume of water in the river Nile became at certain seasons a mere
trickling rivulet.
In late years a plan whereby all lower Egypt was to be properly
watered and drained has made even the poorest of the labourers of the
countryside happy and prosperous. This great benefit was brought about
by the building of a great dam just above Assouan, and as the water was
let through little by little in the dry season, and properly stored up
when it flowed in abundance, it proved to be just the treatment that
was needed to make an otherwise suffering people quite contented with
their lot.
"I want to see the great Assouan dam," said George one morning as he
and Uncle Ben were just finishing their breakfast. George was a most
inquiring little fellow, and he had heard some men talking of this
great work at the hotel, and he wanted to see for himself what it
really was.
George had become so expert with donkeys, that Uncle Ben called him
_his_ little donkey boy. Soon all was ready and Mustapha headed the
little procession that made its way quickly along through clouds of
dust and began struggling over a stony desert road.
Little Menah was riding behind George and Mustapha had been gracious
enough to let Zaida sit behind him. The reason of this was that the
donkey boys on the quay, who were a lot of wild young fellows from the
desert, had come to blows among themselves as to which of their number
should go with our party to supply the two extra donkeys required,
whereupon Mustapha said he wouldn't have any of them, that they were a
set of black heathens anyway,--for some were little negro boys from the
Soudan,--so he borrowed a donkey from a friend of his for himself, and
divided up the party in this way.
Mustapha was so big and fat and his donkey so small that poor little
Zaida had scarcely any room to sit comfortably. George could hear Menah
shaking with laughter at her sister's efforts to keep from slipping off
at every bounce the donkey gave.
Meanwhile Mustapha, quite unconscious that they were amused at him, was
gravely telling them that the high wall of bricks which followed their
road was the old-time boundary to Egypt and was built to keep back the
hordes of barbarians from the south, but now Egypt was a much greater
country and went far beyond this wall.
Soon they came into a little village on the bank of the river which
spread out here like a lake. The children laughed when they dismounted
and looked at each other. They were so covered with dust that the brown
little Egyptians looked white. They shouted and clapped their hands
with glee when Mustapha told them to get into a big boat painted with
the brightest colours. Six tall black Soudanese, dressed in white, with
red fezes, pulled at the oars, keeping time to a queer sort of chant.
The children were so busy watching the rowers that, before they knew
it, they were gliding past a tiny temple that seemed to be rising out
of the water.
"This is the ancient temple of Philæ, one of the most beautiful in
Egypt," said Mustapha. "It is on an island, but since the great dam of
Assouan was built the island itself is covered by water, and if the
dam is raised still higher, as they talk of doing, the little temple
will be entirely covered with water, or perhaps destroyed, which would
be a pity."
On arriving at the great dam they got into another boat which took them
over the First Cataract, or waterfall, on the Nile. Not over the worst
part of it by any means, but quite "scary" enough for the little girls.
Shortly after they were again back at Assouan.
George would have liked to have kept on up the river to the city
of Khartoum, where there is a great school or college erected as a
memorial to General Gordon, who opened up and first introduced outside
civilization into these parts, but their plans would not permit of
spending the extra time. To-day this magnificent school is filled with
intelligent, hard-working Egyptian boys who, when they leave college
and go out among their fellows, do much to benefit and lift them from
the ignorance and superstition which formerly existed.
So the _Isis_ was headed for home, and the good dahabeah raced along,
borne by the strong current of the river, as if it knew it was on its
way home. The happy days passed quickly and our little friends had many
adventures of which there is not time to tell you.
As they came to the wide fertile country above Cairo, and neared
Abdal's home, the children were on a sharp lookout, and Abdal was
wondering who would come down to the river to meet them. When the
_Isis_ did run her sharp prow into the bulrushes at the little
landing-place for the farm of Abdal's father, where Mustapha proposed
to stop, not only were all of Mustapha's friends there, but most of
the villagers besides, and they all gave the visitors the heartiest of
welcomes. There was Abdal's father and mother and the baby, and his
little brother, who kissed him on both cheeks, and each in turn took
the hand of each visitor, kissing his own hand at the same time, a
pretty little custom among these people.
After the actual landing Uncle Ben and George mounted the donkeys,
and followed by the others on foot, all talking and in the highest
spirits, they rode for some distance through great fields of cotton and
rice until they came to a little village nestled away in the midst of
palm-trees.
Here they stopped at Abdal's father's house, which was the biggest in
the village, for Ali-Hijaz was the chief man of the little village and
had many "fellaheen," or labourers, working in his cotton, rice, and
cane fields.
Ali-Hijaz's house, like all the houses in the village, was built of mud
bricks, which had first been baked by the sun; it was thatched with
palm-leaves, and the trunks of palm-trees strengthened the walls and
formed the rafters. Their host invited them into a large room, where
they all seated themselves on mats spread on the hard earthen floor.
While Ali-Hijaz offered Mr. Winthrop a long-stemmed pipe to smoke,
Abdal and Nabul ran to the little Arab café of the village and soon
came back bringing a big metal tray on which were a number of small
cups and tiny tin pots of coffee. This was put in the middle of the
floor and each person was served with a cup and one of the little pots
of coffee. Menah and Zaida amused themselves playing with the baby,
while their two mothers gossiped together, and George made friends with
Abdal's little brother Amad, whom he thought looked very cunning in his
white cotton gown and little turban stuck on his clean-shaven head.
"Just think, Uncle Ben," laughed George, "he can barely walk and yet he
goes to the village school at _five_ o'clock in the morning and stays
till sundown, only coming home for dinner in the middle of the day.
Whew! but that's hard work!"
"And then, all he learns is to recite the Koran--the Mohammedan
Bible--at the top of his voice," replied Mr. Winthrop.
[Illustration: "A LAZY-LOOKING OLD CAMEL WAS SLOWLY TURNING A GREAT
CREAKING WOODEN WHEEL."]
"That little mite!" said George with a mock groan. "Well, I am glad I
go to school in America."
But Amad seemed to grow fat in spite of it, and was at the head of the
procession when the children trooped out to see the village. All the
houses looked alike, with only one big wooden door and no windows,
just little slits in the walls for air and light. Within most of these
houses there was no furniture of any kind, save some rugs, mats, and
cooking utensils, and a few boxes made of the wood of the palm-tree, in
which to keep the family clothes. Abdal's father had two European beds
in his house which he had brought from Cairo, but the villagers had no
use for such new-fangled things. As they walked along all the little
village children ran out to talk to Abdal and followed them until, as
Nabul said, the procession looked like a kite with a long tail. There
were almost as many dogs as children, and George fought rather shy
of the fierce-looking mongrel curs that barked at their heels.
Abdal took them into the fields where there was a "sakiyeh," or
water-wheel, by which the fields are watered. A lazy-looking old camel
was slowly turning a great creaking wooden wheel, and this turned
another wheel on the rim of which were fastened a lot of earthen jars.
These jars were filled with water as the wheel went down into a sort
of well, and as it came up the water from the jars was emptied into a
ditch which carried it over the fields in every direction.
Here for the first time George saw a camel ploughing, and such a funny
plough it was! Just a log of wood with a pointed iron tip at one end
and an upright pole at the other, by which the ploughman could guide it.
When they got back to the home at sunset they found Ali-Hijaz had
persuaded Mr. Winthrop to stay a day or two, as there was some good
bird shooting in his rice fields, a sport of which Uncle Ben was very
fond. This pleased the children, and that evening they had lots of
fun playing one of their games called "Playing Pasha." They elected
a "Pasha," and the choice fell on George, whom they put in a kind of
litter made of palm branches. Four of their number carried this on
their shoulders while the rest ran beside carrying lighted wisps of
straw and hay for make-believe torches. One of the boys meanwhile beat
a drum, and another played a small flute; and thus they marched around
the village until the torches were all burned out and their mothers
called them to bed.
The two guests were made comfortable in one of the beds, which were
only kept for grand occasions like this, and early the next morning Mr.
Winthrop and his host, with Mustapha, were off to shoot rice birds.
"We will go and see the wild pigeons," said Abdal, as the boys wondered
how they should amuse themselves. "I know where there are many of them
roosting in the trees."
"Good," answered Nabul, clapping his hands, and the boys started off
across the fields. The Egyptian folk are very fond of the wild pigeons
of the country, and like to catch them and keep them for pets.
At the same time many of the Egyptian boys, too, are so cruel as to
hunt these gentle birds, killing them with stones which they throw with
unerring aim.
"Hist! they roost here," whispered Abdal as they came to a clump of low
trees. Just then a number of pigeons flew out of the trees; at the same
time, to the great surprise of the boys, one apparently was injured,
and fell to the ground, and Nabul ran to pick it up. Some one had
evidently injured its leg or wing. Just then two wild, savage-looking
young boys came dashing up to Nabul crying, "Thou hast killed one of
our tame pigeons, our father shall beat thee," trying at the same time
to snatch the bird away from Nabul.
"'Tis not true," returned Nabul angrily, "dost thou think I am such a
dullard as not to know a wild pigeon from a tame one?"
"And I know these birds well, I have often been here, they always roost
in these trees," exclaimed Abdal. "I know thee, and I know that thy
pigeons are far from here."
The Egyptians in the country usually tame many of these pigeons, and
build them little houses to live in on the side of their own, and
sometimes one will see a big mud tower in the village where hundreds of
these pigeons live and build their nests.
In the midst of the dispute a tall man with an ugly, scowling face
strode up with a stick, so, thinking things were getting too hot for
them, our little friends turned and fled toward the village, Nabul,
however, triumphantly holding on to the pigeon.
The other hunting party had brought back a big bag of birds and were
well pleased with the day's work.
The next day they were to take leave of their kind hosts and go back to
the _Isis_. When George awakened in the early morning, such a wailing
met his ears he could only imagine that some one must be dead. Throwing
on his clothes he rushed down the short flight of steps that led from
his room to the big room on the ground floor and from there into the
yard. There he saw Nabul lying face downward on the ground beside the
stable door, with his sisters sitting beside him rocking themselves
backwards and forwards and wailing piteously, while Abdal and the older
people rushed wildly about all talking at once.
"What is the matter? Nabul, are you hurt?" cried George, rushing up to
the little group.
"Teddy Pasha is gone, some thief has stolen him," they all cried in one
breath.
It was only too true, the little donkey had mysteriously disappeared
in the night. Nabul had got up early to get the Pasha ready for their
return to the boat. He had found the little donkey gone, as well as his
bridle and saddle; Nabul had been looking for him ever since and had
just come back broken-hearted.
"Oh, Nabul, we are sure to find him! Come and we will all look," cried
George, nearly ready to cry himself,--he had grown really attached to
his little steed.
Poor little Nabul lifted up a wobegone face and slowly rose to his
feet. His donkey was like a brother to him, and he felt he would never
see him again.
No one thought of going back to the boat until the little donkey was
found, and the whole village turned out to search for him.
Suddenly Nabul struck his forehead with his hand. "I know now! Those
two ruffian boys we saw yesterday! 'Tis they who have stolen my
donkey. The wretches! This is their revenge! We will go to their house
and demand news of the Pasha," cried the distracted little boy.
"Follow, I know the way," said Abdal. The boys hurried through the
fields and rice swamps until they came to a tumbled-down group of mud
huts. No one was in sight save an ugly-looking brute of a dog and a
little girl, who peered at the strangers from behind a corner of a wall.
Nabul boldly went up and shook the heavy wooden door of the house and
called loudly, but it was tightly fastened and no one answered. He then
gave the whistle he always used to call Teddy Pasha, but only the dog
began to bark.
George was for battering in the door, but the boys said it was no use.
"Teddy is not here, or he would have answered me," sighed Nabul, as he
turned away sorrowfully, "but they have stolen him, I am sure."
"They would not dare keep him here so near our village," replied Abdal.
"They have doubtless put him in some hiding-place far off. That is
their sister," he continued, pointing to the little girl behind the
wall. "Where art thy brothers?" he demanded, but she only laughed and
made a face at them.
"She knows something," said George, making a face in return at the
child. But there was nothing for them to do but walk away and keep on
with their search.
At sundown the boys returned home and poor Nabul sat on the ground with
his head buried in his arms, refusing to be consoled. He had eaten
nothing all day, and when his mother brought him a nice dish of curds
she had made herself, he only shook his head.
It was a miserable household and nobody slept much that night. George
and Abdal refused to go to bed at all and sat beside Nabul in the big
room. Just as George was dozing away at daybreak he was roused up by a
terrible bray just outside the door, answered by one from Bobs in the
stable.
Like a flash Nabul, who had heard it too, tore open the house door and
nearly tumbled over Teddy Pasha, who calmly walked into the middle of
the room and stood there as much as to say, "Here I am, at last."
Little Nabul gave a shriek of joy and threw his arms about the little
donkey's neck and cried and laughed in the same breath. Abdal called
out the good news, and in another moment everybody was petting Teddy
Pasha and making as much to-do over him as if he were a long-lost
member of the family. As for the little American, he was as happy as
could be to see the little companion of his wanderings once more.
But the poor little donkey, wasn't he a sight, all covered with mud! He
had evidently been taken away and hidden in the rice swamps; his pretty
bridle and saddle were gone, and only a dirty and knotted piece of
rope was around his neck. An ugly cut on one of his feet showed where
he had been hobbled; his captors had evidently done everything to keep
him secure, but in spite of it he had broken away by some means or
other, and had come straight back to his master.
After leaving Abdal's family, and just as our party were going on board
the dahabeah, Nabul picked up an odd greenish pebble. "What a funny
looking stone!" he said. "It looks just like a beetle."
"That is what the learned ones call a scarab,--don't you know there are
many of these in the big museum at Cairo?" cried Abdal, as the children
bent over the tiny stone.
"Oh! maybe it is old," exclaimed George eagerly, "and worth lots and
lots of money."
Just at that moment a party of learned looking men, Europeans, came
up the bank from their dahabeah which had tied up just below the
_Isis_. At their head was a Frenchman, an inspector of the Egyptian
public monuments. With his party he was going some miles inland to pass
judgment upon some newly discovered ruins of which he had recently
heard.
"Let us go and ask the great Frenchman, he surely can tell us," and so
saying, Nabul ran back to where Mr. Winthrop and the Frenchman were
already talking together.
"Please, monsieur, is this old?" said Nabul, in his queer French,
holding up the little pebble carved in the form of the sacred beetle of
the Egyptians.
"Eh!" said the great man, taking the beetle in his hand. "Is it old,
indeed!" he exclaimed in great excitement. "It is a sacred scarab. Most
rare! There are only two others like it in the world. Where did you
find it, _mon petit_?"
Nabul pointed out the spot where he had found the stone.
"_Voila!_ and to think that I have already passed over that spot and
did not know one of the most ancient and most wonderful scarabs known
to the world was lying there!" and the great man paced up and down,
running his hands through his hair.
"_Mon petit_," the Frenchman said at last, stopping in front of Nabul,
"you know the great museum at Cairo? Well, if you will take this little
stone to the gentleman who is in charge there, he will be very glad to
have it, and the authorities of the museum will reward you handsomely;
it is worth more than money to them. I will give you a letter, which
you must also give to this gentleman," and so saying the Frenchman took
a pencil out of his pocket, and, tearing a leaf out of a small blank
book, quickly wrote a few words and gave it to Nabul. "I will write him
myself at once," he continued, "but I beg of you to guard the scarab
most carefully. I rely on you to see that he does not lose it," said
the Frenchman, turning earnestly to Mr. Winthrop. "It does not seem
fair to take it from him unless I at once took it myself to Cairo, and
it is impossible for me to leave here now."
Mr. Winthrop and all of them promised, for they were all now interested
in the wonderful stone, and Nabul proudly and carefully hid it inside
his embroidered vest.
There was a happy little party on the dahabeah when she set sail again,
and many were the farewells to the kind people of the little village,
who all came to see them off.
And wasn't Teddy Pasha a spoiled and pampered little donkey! He was
petted and fed and rubbed down by everybody on board until he not only
looked as fine and sleek as ever, but also got so fat and lazy that
Mustapha doubted if he would ever be willing to do any more work.
At last the _Isis_ floated up to her moorings at Cairo, and everybody
felt that they were home again. The first thing George did was to buy
the finest donkey saddle and bridle he could find in Cairo and give to
Teddy Pasha, who thereupon got vainer than ever. George and his little
Egyptian friends took many more rides together before he and Uncle Ben
went back to America. They all went together when Nabul carried the
wonderful scarab and the Frenchman's letter to the great man in the big
museum, who talked very wisely about it. He thanked Nabul and told him
he had done his country a service, and used a lot of long words that
the children could not understand. But one day, not long afterward, a
man in a fine uniform came riding in great style up to Nabul's house
and gave little Nabul a sealed packet from the authorities of the big
museum, and in it was a handsome sum of money for the little donkey boy
who found the wonderful scarab.
It was enough indeed to set him up as a dragoman when he was older,
but this would not be, Nabul promised himself, until he had first made
a visit to see his little friend, George, in that wonderful country
over the sea.
And thus it happened that the Little American Cousin really did bring
the good fortune to little Nabul, the youngest donkey boy in the big
city of Cairo.
THE END.
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Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._
=JACK HARVEY'S ADVENTURES:= OR, THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTER
PIRATES. By RUEL PERLEY SMITH.
Illustrated $1.50
"Just the type of book which is most popular with lads who are in their
early teens."--_The Philadelphia Item._
=PRISONERS OF FORTUNE:= A Tale of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By RUEL
PERLEY SMITH.
Cloth decorative, with a colored frontispiece $1.50
"There is an atmosphere of old New England in the book, the
humor of the born raconteur about the hero, who tells his story
with the gravity of a preacher, but with a solemn humor that is
irresistible."--_Courier-Journal._
=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.
Large 12mo. With 24 illustrations $1.50
Biographical sketches, with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of
the heroes of history who were leaders of cavalry.
"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young
readers with historical personages in a pleasant informal way."--_N. Y.
Sun._
=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON.
Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50
In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indian
braves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land,
including Powhatan, the Indian Cæsar; Massasoit, the friend of the
Puritans; Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war chief
of the Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief of the Sioux;
Geronimo, the renowned Apache Chief, etc., etc.
=BILLY'S PRINCESS.= By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL.
Cloth decorative, illustrated by Helen McCormick Kennedy $1.25
Billy Lewis was a small boy of energy and ambition, so when he was left
alone and unprotected, he simply started out to take care of himself.
=TENANTS OF THE TREES.= By CLARENCE HAWKES.
Cloth decorative, illustrated in colors $1.50
"A book which will appeal to all who care for the hearty, healthy,
outdoor life of the country. The illustrations are particularly
attractive."--_Boston Herald._
=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE:= OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A sequel
to "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe."
One vol., library 12mo, cloth, illustrated $1.50
"This book revives the spirit of 'Beautiful Joe' capitally. It is
fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual as anything in the
animal book line that has seen the light."--_Philadelphia Item._
='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS.
One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50
"I cannot think of any better book for children than this. I commend it
unreservedly."--_Cyrus Townsend Brady._
='TILDA JANE'S ORPHANS.= A sequel to 'Tilda Jane. By MARSHALL SAUNDERS.
One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50
'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of her
animal pets as ever.
=THE STORY OF THE GRAVELEYS.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of
"Beautiful Joe's Paradise," "'Tilda Jane," etc.
Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. Barry $1.50
Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of a
delightful New England family, of whose devotion and sturdiness it will
do the reader good to hear.
=BORN TO THE BLUE.= By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL.
12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25
The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of
this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry
stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the
gratitude of a nation.
=IN WEST POINT GRAY=
By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL.
12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"Singularly enough one of the best books of the year for boys is
written by a woman and deals with life at West Point. The presentment
of life in the famous military academy whence so many heroes have
graduated is realistic and enjoyable."--_New York Sun._
=FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER STRAPS=
By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL.
12mo, cloth, illustrated, decorative $1.50
West Point again forms the background of a new volume in this popular
series, and relates the experience of Jack Stirling during his junior
and senior years.
=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES=
By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin
Williamson.
Large 12mo, decorative cover $1.50
"An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of very small
children. It should be one of the most popular of the year's books for
reading to small children."--_Buffalo Express._
=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES=
By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS.
Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50
Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval
that this second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eager
children. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his
inimitable manner.
=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES=
By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS, author of "The Sandman: His Farm Stories," etc.
Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50
"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago
Evening Post._
=THE SANDMAN, HIS SEA STORIES=
By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS.
Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50
Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series of stories to be
read to the little ones at bed time and at other times.
=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL=
By MARION AMES TAGGART, author of "Pussy-Cat Town," etc.
One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50
A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her comrade father,
written in a delightful vein of sympathetic comprehension of the
child's point of view.
=SWEET NANCY=
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. By MARION AMES
TAGGART.
One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50
In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes in fact "the
doctor's assistant," and continues to shed happiness around her.
=THE CHRISTMAS-MAKERS' CLUB=
By EDITH A. SAWYER.
12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
A delightful story for girls, full of the real spirit of Christmas. It
abounds in merrymaking and the right kind of fun.
=CARLOTA=
A STORY OF THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION. By Frances Margaret Fox.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00
"It is a pleasure to recommend this little story as an entertaining
contribution to juvenile literature."--_The New York Sun._
=THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS CANDLES=
By FRANCES MARGARET FOX.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00
Miss Fox's new book deals with the fortunes of the delightful Mulvaney
children.
=PUSSY-CAT TOWN=
By MARION AMES TAGGART.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors $1.00
"Anything more interesting than the doings of the cats in this
story, their humor, their wisdom, their patriotism, would be hard to
imagine."--_Chicago Post._
=THE ROSES OF SAINT ELIZABETH=
By JANE SCOTT WOODRUFF.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00
This is a charming little story of a child whose father was caretaker
of the great castle of the Wartburg, where Saint Elizabeth once had her
home.
=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK=
By EVALEEN STEIN.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00
Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who assisted the
monks in the long ago days, when all the books were written and
illuminated by hand, in the monasteries.
=THE ENCHANTED AUTOMOBILE=
Translated from the French by MARY J. SAFFORD.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Edna M. Sawyer $1.00
"An up-to-date French fairy-tale which fairly radiates the spirit of
the hour,--unceasing diligence."--_Chicago Record-Herald._
=O-HEART-SAN=
THE STORY OF A JAPANESE GIRL. By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL.
Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated
in colors by Frank P. Fairbanks $1.00
"The story comes straight from the heart of Japan. The shadow of
Fujiyama lies across it and from every page breathes the fragrance
of tea leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums."--_The Chicago
Inter-Ocean._
=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND:= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. By BURTON
E. STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
Mr. Stevenson's hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is given a chance
as a section-hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are
as real as they are thrilling.
=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"A better book for boys has never left an American
press."--_Springfield Union._
=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for boys in which the
actualities of life are set forth in a practical way could be devised
or written."--_Boston Herald._
=CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER.= By WINN STANDISH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
Jack is a fine example of the all-around American high-school boy.
=JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS:= OR, SPORTS ON LAND AND LAKE. By WINN
STANDISH.
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested in athletics,
for it shows him what it means to always 'play fair.'"--_Chicago
Tribune._
=JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS:= OR, MILLVALE HIGH IN CAMP. By WINN STANDISH.
Illustrated $1.50
Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to excite the
healthy minded youngster to emulation.
=JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE:= OR, THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. By
WINN STANDISH.
Illustrated $1.50
On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling,
tobogganing, but it is more of a _school_ story perhaps than any of its
predecessors.
=CAPTAIN JINKS:= THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SHETLAND PONY. By FRANCES
HODGES WHITE.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
The story of Captain Jinks and his faithful dog friend Billy, their
quaint conversations and their exciting adventures, will be eagerly
read by thousands of boys and girls. The story is beautifully written
and will take its place alongside of "Black Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe."
=THE RED FEATHERS.= By THEODORE ROBERTS.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"The Red Feathers" tells of the remarkable adventures of an Indian boy
who lived in the Stone Age, many years ago, when the world was young.
=FLYING PLOVER.= By THEODORE ROBERTS.
Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull $1.00
Squat-By-The-Fire is a very old and wise Indian who lives alone with
her grandson, "Flying Plover," to whom she tells the stories each
evening.
=THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN QUEEN.= By JAMES OTIS, author of "Larry
Hudson's Ambition," etc.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
"A stirring story of wreck and mutiny, which boys will find especially
absorbing. The many young admirers of James Otis will not let this book
escape them, for it fully equals its many predecessors in excitement
and sustained interest."--_Chicago Evening Post._
=LITTLE WHITE INDIANS.= By FANNIE E. OSTRANDER.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25
"A bright, interesting story which will appeal strongly to the
'make-believe' instinct in children, and will give them a healthy,
active interest in 'the simple life.'"
=MARCHING WITH MORGAN.= HOW DONALD LOVELL BECAME A SOLDIER OF THE
REVOLUTION. By JOHN L. VEASY.
Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50
This is a splendid boy's story of the expedition of Montgomery and
Arnold against Quebec.
COSY CORNER SERIES
It is the intention of the publishers that this series shall contain
only the very highest and purest literature,--stories that shall not
only appeal to the children themselves, but be appreciated by all those
who feel with them in their joys and sorrows.
The numerous illustrations in each book are by well-known artists, and
each volume has a separate attractive cover design.
Each 1 vol., 16mo, cloth $0.50
_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_
=THE LITTLE COLONEL= (=Trade Mark.=)
The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a small
girl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on account of her fancied
resemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and
old family are famous in the region.
=THE GIANT SCISSORS=
This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France. Joyce is a
great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with
her the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the "Holidays."
=TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY=
WHO WERE THE LITTLE COLONEL'S NEIGHBORS.
In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but
with added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure of
the story, that place being taken by the "two little knights."
=MILDRED'S INHERITANCE=
A delightful little story of a lonely English girl who comes to America
and is befriended by a sympathetic American family who are attracted by
her beautiful speaking voice. By means of this one gift she is enabled
to help a school-girl who has temporarily lost the use of her eyes, and
thus finally her life becomes a busy, happy one.
=CICELY AND OTHER STORIES FOR GIRLS=
The readers of Mrs. Johnston's charming juveniles will be glad to learn
of the issue of this volume for young people.
=AUNT 'LIZA'S HERO AND OTHER STORIES=
A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to all
boys and most girls.
=BIG BROTHER=
A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Stephen, himself a small
boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale.
=OLE MAMMY'S TORMENT=
"Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southern
life." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tells
how he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right.
=THE STORY OF DAGO=
In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey,
owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and the
account of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing.
=THE QUILT THAT JACK BUILT=
A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love and how it changed the
course of his life many years after it was accomplished.
=FLIP'S ISLANDS OF PROVIDENCE=
A story of a boy's life battle, his early defeat, and his final
triumph, well worth the reading.
_By EDITH ROBINSON_
=A LITTLE PURITAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS=
A story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christmas was invented
by Betty Sewall, a typical child of the Puritans, aided by her brother
Sam.
=A LITTLE DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY=
The author introduces this story as follows:
"One ride is memorable in the early history of the American Revolution,
the well-known ride of Paul Revere. Equally deserving of commendation
is another ride,--the ride of Anthony Severn,--which was no less
historic in its action or memorable in its consequences."
=A LOYAL LITTLE MAID=
A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which the
child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to George
Washington.
=A LITTLE PURITAN REBEL=
This is an historical tale of a real girl, during the time when the
gallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts.
=A LITTLE PURITAN PIONEER=
The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement at
Charlestown.
=A LITTLE PURITAN BOUND GIRL=
A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great interest to
youthful readers.
=A LITTLE PURITAN CAVALIER=
The story of a "Little Puritan Cavalier" who tried with all his boyish
enthusiasm to emulate the spirit and ideals of the dead Crusaders.
=A PURITAN KNIGHT ERRANT=
The story tells of a young lad in Colonial times who endeavored to
carry out the high ideals of the knights of olden days.
_By OUIDA_ (_Louise de la Ramee_)
=A DOG OF FLANDERS=
A CHRISTMAS STORY
Too well and favorably known to require description.
=THE NURNBERG STOVE=
This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price.
_By FRANCES MARGARET FOX_
=THE LITTLE GIANT'S NEIGHBOURS=
A charming nature story of a "little giant" whose neighbors were the
creatures of the field and garden.
=FARMER BROWN AND THE BIRDS=
A little story which teaches children that the birds are man's best
friends.
=BETTY OF OLD MACKINAW=
A charming story of child life.
=BROTHER BILLY=
The story of Betty's brother, and some further adventures of Betty
herself.
=MOTHER NATURE'S LITTLE ONES=
Curious little sketches describing the early lifetime, or "childhood,"
of the little creatures out-of-doors.
=HOW CHRISTMAS CAME TO THE MULVANEYS=
A bright, lifelike little story of a family of poor children with an
unlimited capacity for fun and mischief.
=THE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS=
Miss Fox has vividly described the happy surprises that made the
occasion so memorable to the Mulvaneys, and the funny things the
children did in their new environment.
_By MISS MULOCK_
=THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE=
A delightful story of a little boy who has many adventures by means of
the magic gifts of his fairy godmother.
=ADVENTURES OF A BROWNIE=
The story of a household elf who torments the cook and gardener, but is
a constant joy and delight to the children who love and trust him.
=HIS LITTLE MOTHER=
Miss Mulock's short stories for children are a constant source of
delight to them, and "His Little Mother," in this new and attractive
dress, will be welcomed by hosts of youthful readers.
=LITTLE SUNSHINE'S HOLIDAY=
An attractive story of a summer outing. "Little Sunshine" is another
of those beautiful child-characters for which Miss Mulock is so justly
famous.
_By MARSHALL SAUNDERS_
=FOR HIS COUNTRY=
A sweet and graceful story of a little boy who loved his country;
written with that charm which has endeared Miss Saunders to hosts of
readers.
=NITA, THE STORY OF AN IRISH SETTER=
In this touching little book, Miss Saunders shows how dear to her heart
are all of God's dumb creatures.
=ALPATOK, THE STORY OF AN ESKIMO DOG=
Alpatok, an Eskimo dog from the far north, was stolen from his master
and left to starve in a strange city, but was befriended and cared for,
until he was able to return to his owner.
_By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE_
=THE FARRIER'S DOG AND HIS FELLOW=
This story, written by the gifted young Southern woman, will appeal to
all that is best in the natures of the many admirers of her graceful
and piquant style.
=THE FORTUNES OF THE FELLOW=
Those who read and enjoyed the pathos and charm of "The Farrier's Dog
and His Fellow" will welcome the further account of the adventures of
Baydaw and the Fellow at the home of the kindly smith.
=THE BEST OF FRIENDS=
This continues the experiences of the Farrier's dog and his Fellow,
written in Mr. Dromgoole's well-known charming style.
=DOWN IN DIXIE=
A fascinating story for boys and girls, of a family of Alabama children
who move to Florida and grow up in the South.
_By MARIAN W. WILDMAN_
=LOYALTY ISLAND=
An account of the adventures of four children and their pet dog on
an island, and how they cleared their brother from the suspicion of
dishonesty.
=THEODORE AND THEODORA=
This is a story of the exploits and mishaps of two mischievous twins,
and continues the adventures of the interesting group of children in
"Loyalty Island."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Page 13, "dahaheah" changed to "dahabeah" (captain of a dahabeah)
Page 37, repeated word "in" removed from text (exercises in in his
school)
Page 41, "fete" changed to "fête" (great religious fête)