the timid little Article's face. "How dare you, minion," shrieked he,
"point out this ugly old Aunt Pronoun, placing her instead of the
fairest princess living--Soldiers! soldiers!"--here he turned almost
blue in the face, and pointed to the puny little Article as if he were a
very lion--"soldiers, seize the traitor!" he hissed.
The soldiers were about to obey him, when a piercing scream rung out
through the apartment. Everybody looked round to see what had happened;
and sure enough, almost next to where Clinton stood, a very spare
court lady had fallen into hysterics. "Oh! alas!" cried she, gasping
all the while like any fish; "ah me! alack! fiddle-dee-dee!
How--can--he--be--so--cruel!" Here she flung herself into somebody's
arms, and was dragged from the room.
"Ho! ho!" said the King; "who's that?"
"Lady Interjection," squeaked the little Article, nervously touching his
hat.
"Lady Interjection, is it? Well, she'd better stop this kind of
business, as it is growing rather dreary. However, that won't hinder our
making short work of Aunt Pronoun. Soldiers!"
Again the soldiers marched up in a most decorous way, when a handsome
young courtier rushed forward, and threw himself at the feet of the
King. "My dear brother-in-law--I mean your Majesty," he
exclaimed--"can't you make up your royal mind to spare this dear old
party, remembering her infirmities? Oh, do make up your mind to do so,
and to spare also my sister, Queen Noun! Call to mind her many pleasing
qualities. She is beautiful, charming, graceful, witty, loving,
gentle--"
"Stop! stop! Adjective," shouted the King; "you'll drive me mad. Get up
and listen to my Lord Adverb, and don't kneel there chattering like a
magpie."
Immediately an aged and venerable man approached King Verb. As Adjective
departed, he heard him whisper in the Prime Minister's ear, "Do your
best to _modify_ him."
The old man nodded sagaciously, and then addressed his sovereign in a
low, clear voice: "Your grace will pardon the rashness of an aged man if
I say you have acted somewhat hastily. The advice I give you is to think
slowly, coolly, deliberately, and wisely, and then act--kindly."
"Excellent!" said the testy monarch, for he had cooled down a great
deal. "Let us hear what Aunt Pronoun can say for herself."
The old lady seemed very cross at the way she had been abused. She drew
herself up, and made the King wince, she looked at him so hard. "I have
nothing, sire, to say for myself," she said, "save that the Queen, on
receiving your message, bid me come to you with the news that you have a
young prince born to you."
How the people did shout for joy at this announcement, and how the King
did smile, you can not imagine. At any rate Clinton couldn't.
"We thank you for this glorious news, Madam Pronoun," said King Verb,
"and we beg you to pardon our sudden displeasure. In recompense, we will
have to make you the Prince's godmother. Come, what shall his name be?"
Ladies of Pronoun's age are not so easy to make up with; so she looked
very injured at first, but by-and-by began smiling. "King Verb," said
she, "I was much grieved at your anger, for it was entirely unmerited;
but I rejoice at your kindness, and in token of your having taken the
Queen and myself again into court favor and your friendship, I will name
the young Prince--Conjunction."
"Hurrah!" cried Clinton, he was so mightily pleased; "I see it all now."
* * * * *
"I am glad you do," said his teacher's voice, close beside him; "but
you'd better get up now, else you'll take cold. It's pretty near sunset,
and you've been sleeping on this grass nearly two hours."
Clinton sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked about him. There he was in
the woods, as natural as life. Could it have been a dream? Ha! what was
that? He happens to spy the round robin looking over his nest,
and--yes--_winking at him_. He got up and meekly followed his teacher,
never speaking a word. But from that day to this he firmly believes that
what he saw was true, and from that day to this I don't believe he ever
missed a grammar lesson.
HOW THE PRIZE KITTEN WON HER MEDAL.
BY AGNES CARR.
Pretty little Kitty Kimo was sent by her mistress to the cat show, where
her silky fur, bright eyes like great yellow daisies, and pink
sea-shell-like ears, soon won her a prize, and she came home with a
beautiful silver medal hung round her neck by a blue ribbon, and just
the proudest little kit in all catdom.
[Illustration]
Oh, how Miss Alice petted her, and fed her on chicken and cream for a
week afterward! and how all the poor black, white, and gray cats who had
not been to the show watched her with envy as she promenaded up and down
the fence with the pretty medal glittering on her neck, and turning her
vain little head right and left that every one might see it.
"She puts on as many airs as though she had killed a dozen rats," said
Tabby Tortoiseshell, a scraggy-looking old cat, who was blind in one
eye.
"When she couldn't catch even a mouse to save her life," said Tommy
Scratchclaw, a famous hunter and mouser.
"She hissed and spat at me this morning, when I met her in the violet
bed," said Pussy Clover, "and then scampered off up the elm-tree to show
her tin locket to Dandy Maltese, who presented her with the neck of a
sparrow he had just killed on the spot."
"Silly kitten!" sniffed old Granny Grimalkin, taking a pinch of catnip
snuff. "Beauty isn't everything. I once won a brass button on a cord by
turning door handles and jumping over a cane; but she hasn't done a
thing except look as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
"Let us take her medal away, and make her win it back," suggested Sancho
Squaller, a powerful black cat, with eyes like buttercups.
"Hurrah! so we will," shouted Tommy Scratchclaw; and all the cats and
kits purred a glad assent, and all set up such a mewing and
caterwauling, as they discussed how it should be done, that the cook at
the corner came rushing out with a broom to drive "those plaguey cats"
off the fence.
[Illustration]
Kitty Kimo meanwhile, quite unconscious of the plans of her enemies, had
enjoyed her sparrow neck exceedingly, and then curled herself up in the
shade of a rose-bush for a noon-day nap, and slept so soundly that she
never even opened one eye when tiny Topsy Titmouse crept slyly up on her
velvety paws, and with her little white teeth gnawed the blue ribbon,
and bore off the medal in triumph. Fancy Kitty Kimo's dismay, when she
awoke, to see her precious medal shining on the breast of ugly Tabby
Tortoiseshell, while all the other cats sat round in a circle, twirling
their whiskers and chuckling at the success of their trick.
"Me-ow! me-ow! me-ow!" she wailed. "Oh, give me back my medal, my
beautiful medal!"
"Not until you have earned it," replied black Sancho Squaller, with the
sternness of a judge.
"What must I do?" she cried.
"Bring us the head of the wicked old rat who steals our meat and milk,"
said Tommy Scratchclaw, "and you shall have your prize."
And all the cats laughed a scornful "Ha! ha! ha!" for they well knew
little Miss Kimo would stand no chance against his ratship, who was as
strong as he was bad, and had fought and conquered the most renowned
warriors in the block.
So at these words poor Kitty Kimo wailed louder than ever, and gave up
her prize for lost, until Dandy Maltese, who sympathized with her,
suggested that she should engage, the services of Ratty Terrier, a smart
little dog that lived next door.
[Illustration]
Now Kitty was rather afraid of Ratty, but she felt that she must make
every effort to regain her lost trinket; so taking a wish-bone with her
as a peace-offering, she that afternoon ventured to call on Mr. Terrier.
Not being very fond of cats, he showed his teeth at sight of her, and
looked rather savage, but she quickly laid the chicken bone before him,
and it so gratified him that he listened quite pleasantly to her
petition.
"So you want me to kill Mr. Gray Rat for you?" he said. "He is a plucky
old fellow, and has given me many a good laugh at the way he snips bits
out of the cats' ears; but I think you have been badly treated, and if
you will bring me a nice marrow-bone, I'll see what I can do for you."
Kitty looked very doleful at this, but as Ratty turned away, and began
snapping at flies, she murmured, "I'll try," and tripped off round the
corner to where a fat jolly butcher was chopping up meat.
"Mew, mew, mew," said Kitty, rubbing against his foot.
"Why, little cat, what do you want?" asked the butcher.
"Mew, mew, mew," cried Kitty again; but the butcher did not understand
cat language, so she took hold of a big bone that lay on the counter,
with her teeth, when he said,
"Oh no, Miss Kitty, you can't have that unless you pay me a penny for
it."
[Illustration]
This made Kitty very sad. "For where can I get a penny?" she thought, as
she walked slowly out of the shop. But just outside she met a monkey who
was dancing gayly to the sound of a hand-organ, and for doing so people
gave him a great many pennies, which he slipped into his coat pocket. He
sat down after a while to rest, and refresh himself with an apple, and
then Kitty stole up, and begged:
"Please, Mr. Jack, give me one of your pennies to buy a marrow-bone for
Ratty Terrier, and then he will kill the wicked old rat for me, and I
shall get back the medal I won at the cat show."
"Chatter, chatter, chatter," said the monkey. "Most of these belong to
my master; but I will give you one of mine if you will get me a handful
of pea-nuts from yonder stand. I am very fond of them, and they sell
very few for a cent."
This stand was kept by a toothless old woman, and Kitty knew it was
useless to try and make her understand kitten talk; but she ran across
the way, and heard the old lady mumbling to herself, "I'd give a lot of
pea-nuts for a few drops of fresh milk to put in my tea."
[Illustration]
At these words Kitty purred for joy, and fairly skipped over the ground,
for she was acquainted with a goat, who, she thought, would be sure to
give her some milk. But when she came to the pasture where the goat was
feeding, she found Nanny as selfish as the rest of the world, and not a
drop of milk would she give, unless Kitty brought her a head of green
lettuce for her supper.
Poor Kitty felt terribly discouraged; but she thought, "I might as well
keep on now," and pattered away once more on her tired little paws to a
farm on the border of the town, where lay a beautiful field of young
lettuce, watched over by a funny old scarecrow in a red waistcoat and
shabby hat, who stood there to frighten away the birds that destroyed
the delicate leaves.
"He looks rather cross," thought Kitty, as she approached this figure,
and her heart went pitapat as she stopped, and began, "Mew! mew!"
"Hey! hey!" cried the scarecrow, whirling round, for he thought it was a
cat-bird.
"Please, Mr. Crow, don't scare me," stammered Kitty; "for I am only a
kitten; and, oh, do please give me a head of your nice lettuce for Nanny
the goat."
"And what will she give you for it?" asked the scarecrow.
"Some milk for the pea-nut woman to put in her tea."
"And what will the pea-nut woman give you?"
"A handful of pea-nuts for Jack the monkey."
"And what will Master Jack give you?"
"A penny to buy a marrow-bone for Ratty Terrier."
"Who will probably bite off your head for your pains."
"Oh no, indeed. He has promised to kill the wicked rat that steals our
food for me; and then Tabby and Sancho will give me back the beautiful
medal I won at the cat show."
"You are winning it twice, I think; but can you frighten birds?"
"Oh yes, indeed."
"Well, then, just scare away that old crow over there, who has no
respect for me, and feasts in the field here under my very eyes, and I
will give you a head of lettuce."
[Illustration]
"That I will, right gladly," said Kitty; and she rushed the crow with
such vigor that he almost choked to death in his fright, and flew away
so far that he could never find his way back again.
"Thank you very much," said the scarecrow, when Kitty came back quite
breathless from the race, and with her nose as red as a rose-bud. "I can
manage all the other birds myself. Now help yourself to a head of
lettuce."
Kitty did as she was told; and bidding the old scarecrow, who was so
much kinder than he looked, "good-night," hurried away to Nanny the
goat, who shook her horns with delight at sight of the fresh young
leaves, and gave the kitten some milk in an egg-shell, and also a drink
for herself.
[Illustration]
The toothless old woman, who had just made up her mind to take her tea
clear, was as pleased as she was surprised at the milk pussy brought
her, but forgot all about the pea-nuts, until Kitty patted them with her
paw. "Oh! Do you want pea-nuts? You shall have them; help yourself to a
good handful. You deserve them for being such a smart little cat, and
bringing me just what I wanted."
Away went Kitty with her mouth and paws full of nuts, at receiving which
the monkey chattered like a whole flock of magpies, and gave her the
brightest penny he had in his pocket.
[Illustration]
"So you've brought the penny!" exclaimed the butcher, in open-mouthed
astonishment, as Kitty laid it in front of him, and seizing the
marrow-bone, made off before he could say so much as "Scat!"
"Bow-wow-wow! you deserve a medal, and that's a fact," said Ratty
Terrier, wagging his tail at sight of the bone which fairly made his
mouth water. And after he had devoured half of it, and hidden the rest
in his under-ground store-house, he set out on the promised rat-hunt.
[Illustration]
And oh! a fierce battle took place that night, for the old thief fought
bravely, and the terrier received many a deep scratch on his saucy
little nose, but he came off victor at last, and the rat's head,
carefully wrapped in a large leaf, was sent next morning to little Kitty
Kimo, who gayly delivered it to the other cats, all of whom rejoiced
over the death of their enemy.
[Illustration]
"You have well earned your prize at last," said Granny Grimalkin, after
Kitty had related her adventures, "for you are as persevering as you are
pretty." And Tabby Tortoiseshell herself tied the blue ribbon round
Kitty Kimo's neck, while Mademoiselle Catalina Squallita led off in a
gay chorus in which all joined, the principal burden of which was,
"Me-ow, me-ow-ow, me-ow-ow-ow."
Kitty Kimo was never known to put on airs again, but was always willing
to lend her medal to Pussy Clover or Topsy Titmouse to wear to balls or
serenades, and she was known far and wide as the Prize Kitten, and the
brightest and prettiest cat of the square.
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX]
DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.
I am a grandmother, eighty-four years old, and I wish to tell the
dear readers of YOUNG PEOPLE of an episode in the life of my three
little grandchildren.
The youngest, a boy, when two years old, had a canary given him. He
and two sisters older than he delighted in watching and feeding the
little pet, seeing him plunge into his bowl of water to wash, and
then sitting on his perch to brush his bright plumage and give them
a sweet morning song.
One hot morning his cage was hung out under the portico. The bees,
attracted by his sweet food, flew into the cage for some honey to
fill the curious cells they had made. The birdie looked upon them
as intruders, and probably pecked at them, but the little busy
bees, claiming their right to gather honey anywhere in God's wide
domain, covered him with stings. Hearing a loud buzzing, we went
out to see what had happened. The bird was covered with bees, and
before we could rescue it, they had poisoned it so badly that it
gasped a few minutes, and died.
When the children found their pet was dead, after gazing very
sorrowfully for a while, they got a spade, and without saying a
word, took the dead bird and marched slowly to the garden. The
sisters dug a grave, and the little boy laid his pet in its last
resting-place, and silently covered it with earth.
S. H.
* * * * *
RICHMOND, STATEN ISLAND.
This is the first letter I ever wrote to any paper. I am only seven
years old.
Papa has one of the funniest crows you ever saw. He tries to talk.
We had to cut his wing, because he used to fly away.
My little sister Lucy, who is almost four years old, sends YOUNG
PEOPLE a picture she drew. It has four kisses on it. We love the
Post-office Box best of all.
HALLETT S.
I have a garden of my own. I fixed it all myself, and I planted
seeds in it. They are coming up nicely.
I went eeling with my little brother Hallett, and we caught enough
for dinner.
WILLIE S.
* * * * *
NEW CASTLE, KENTUCKY.
I live out in the country four miles. I read all the letters in the
Post-office Box, and I am so much interested in them! I am reading
_Robinson Crusoe_ now, and I like it so much!
We had a very long winter. It snowed fifty or sixty times. We have
such nice times in the summer. Sometimes we all go down to Drennon
Creek, and take our dinners, and stay all day.
I wrote a composition on Toby Tyler.
CHARLIE S.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
I live here with my aunt, and I go to school. I have not seen my
mother or father for two years, but mother is coming soon. My
father is Captain of Company H, Eleventh United States Infantry. He
is in Montana Territory, at Fort Custer, not far from the place
where General Custer was killed by Sitting Bull and his tribe. The
fort is on a hill between the Little and Big Horn rivers. Bismarck
is the nearest railroad station, but a railroad is going to be
built nearer. Then the station will be Big Horn City or Terry's
Landing. Big Horn City is a small place, with only one store and a
few houses. Terry's Landing is a kind of fort. It has breastworks
and a stockade. It is a landing-place for boats, and one company is
stationed there. It is near Fort Custer, and every year the company
there is changed.
I have the skin of a wild-cat that was killed out in the Big Horn
Mountains. It is a great deal bigger than that of an ordinary cat.
It measures three feet three inches from head to tail, and fourteen
inches round. It has claws like a cat.
WILLIAM S. G.
* * * * *
WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.
I have two cunning little gray squirrels, named Frisky and Fluff.
They are not tame enough to be let out of their cage. The other day
somebody left the cage door open, and the window in the room was
wide open. When mamma came up stairs, there sat Mr. Frisky on the
door-sill, looking very much as if he meant to run away. When he
saw mamma, he scampered into his bed, and she locked the cage door
pretty quickly. I am only six years old, and my hand is tired
writing.
FLORENCE R. H.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
I wish to notify correspondents that I have no more stamps to
exchange. I have had over one hundred letters to answer, and each
day brings more. Several have sent stamps, but no address, so that
I can not return them.
YOUNG PEOPLE must go to all parts of the world, as the answers to
my offer of exchange testify.
MADGIE B. RAUCH.
* * * * *
My old issues of United States stamps are all gone, but I will
exchange some green 2-cent revenue stamps, and foreign postage
stamps, for 7, 12, 24, 30, or 90 cent stamps of any issue, for
coins, stamps from Africa, China, or South or Central America, or
for any department stamps except 1, 3, and 6 cent Treasury.
CHARLES W. TALLMAN,
P. O. Drawer 5, Hillsdale, Mich.
* * * * *
I have had so many applications for my Sandwich Island stamps that
my stock is exhausted.
I will now exchange stamps from Porto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica,
Barbadoes, Hong-Kong, Japan, Cape of Good Hope, Egypt, India,
Bavaria, and "Thurn und Taxis," for other rare stamps and for
coins; South American and African stamps particularly desired. I
will also give twenty-five foreign stamps for two good arrow-heads.
SHEPPARD G. SCHERMERHORN,
46 West Nineteenth Street, New York City.
* * * * *
I wish to notify correspondents that I have no more postmarks left.
I have a number of Jules Verne's stories in pamphlet form which I
would like to exchange. I will give one for a United States cent,
date 1840 or 1846, or for a half-cent of any date but 1851. I will
send the complete story of _A Voyage Around the World_ for the
cents between 1833 and 1837.
ROLAND GODFREY,
Gardner, Centre P. O., Worcester Co., Mass.
* * * * *
My stock of foreign stamps is exhausted. I will now give ten United
States postmarks for five from any foreign country, or from Nevada,
Arizona, Idaho, or Washington Territory. I will exchange even for
postmarks from other States.
LAWRENCE B. JONES,
P. O. Box 1036, Wilkesbarre, Penn.
* * * * *
The following correspondents withdraw their names from our exchange
list, their stock of shells, ores, stamps, and other things being
exhausted: E. P. Snivelly, Columbus, Ohio; Charles R. Crowther,
Bridgeport, Conn.; Ned Robinson, Fairfield, Ill.; Walter C. Freeland,
Brooklyn, N. Y.; Charles H. Purdy, Jersey City Heights, N. J.; and G.
Vasa Edwards, Plattsburgh, N. Y. Exchangers will please take notice.
* * * * *
I would like to exchange fifty foreign stamps, for a star-fish one
foot nine inches in circumference. Or one hundred foreign stamps,
for fifteen perfect arrow-heads, twelve perfect spear-heads, or two
good-sized stone hatchets. Also one hundred and twenty-eight
foreign stamps, for a genuine Indian bow and two good arrows. There
are no duplicates among my stamps, and some of them are unused. I
will also exchange stamps for other Indian relics besides those
named above. Correspondents will please give the locality where
each curiosity was found.
D. O. L., care of E. A. Moore,
741 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Missouri.
* * * * *
I have just received a large supply of gold ore, and of rock from
the Mammoth Cave, which I will exchange for curiosities. I will
also exchange petrifactions. I especially desire to obtain the claw
of a grizzly bear.
DELLIE H. PORTER,
Russellville, Logan Co., Ky.
* * * * *
Isaac S. Yerks, Brooklyn, New York, wishes the address of the
correspondent who sent him a specimen of gypsum in a parlor-match box.
* * * * *
Paul L. Ford, Brooklyn, New York, wishes the address of the
correspondent who sent a stone from Natural Bridge.
Bertha A. Brumagim, Summerdale, New York, has received three unused
foreign stamps, and will return used foreign stamps if the correspondent
will send address, and the number of stamps wished for.
* * * * *
Any more correspondents wishing to exchange foreign stamps for
those from Hong-Kong or Japan, will please address me at Lake
Mahopac, Putnam County, New York, instead of 27 East Twenty-second
Street, as heretofore. I should like to ask those correspondents
who are owing me stamps to send them to my new address as soon as
possible.
HARRIETTE B. WOODRUFF.
* * * * *
I will exchange woods and ores for curiosities, but I do not wish
to exchange for stamps any longer. Nearly every correspondent sends
me 1, 2, and 3 cent cancelled United States stamps, and wishes
woods in return, and I do not think it is fair.
JOHN L. HANNA, 219 East Madison Street,
Fort, Wayne, Allen Co., Ind.
It certainly is not fair to send these common United States stamps,
which every boy and girl can obtain by the hundred, and expect anything
of value in return. Stamps which are so very common, and are so very
easily obtained by every one, can not be considered of any value for
exchange. We refer only to the stamps of low denominations in use at the
present time. Certain old issues of 1, 2, and 3 cent United States
stamps are much more difficult to obtain than many kinds of foreign
stamps.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:
Amethyst, onyx, carnelian, topaz, moss-agate, blood-stone, sard,
garnet, and malachite, for stamps from Buenos Ayres, Bolivia,
Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, United States of Colombia, Nicaragua,
Guatemala, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Hanover, Modena,
Philippine Islands, and Azores; or for a genuine Indian bow and
arrow, stone hatchet, spear-heads, or arrow-heads.
WILLIE BROWN,
15 South Thirteenth Street, Newark, N. J.
* * * * *
Rock from the Hoosac Tunnel, for Indian relics, shells, minerals,
or foreign stamps. Correspondents will please label specimens.
ARTHUR C. BOUCHARD,
51 Eagle Street, North Adams, Mass.
* * * * *