"Miss Lee," said Mr. Tom, as Milly entered the store Wednesday morning,
"will you please to take my place for two hours at the desk? I have
something to do for father."
Milly had once or twice filled the same office, and so she quietly sat
down upon Tom's stool, receiving his directions about the money wearily.
"I've been counting the money over," he said, rather insolently, "and I
know _just_ what is there."
Mildred glanced up with a slight surprise. She had not fully understood
"Mr. Tom" of late. He and his sister, who served in the cloak-room, were
both, as she knew, jealous of her indifference to them. Their conduct
hitherto she had perfectly understood, but not their extreme suavity of
the last week. Mary Hardman had determined to make an "intimate friend"
of Mildred when it was known she had visited Miss Jenner, but the vulgar
ostentation of her employer's daughter completely shocked Milly's better
taste; and so, while she openly snubbed the brother, she took care to
withdraw, though civilly, from the sister's advances. This had produced
the effect of irritating Miss Hardman, wounding her self-love, and
bringing out all the latent vulgarity in her nature, so that poor Milly
was constantly subjected to annoyance and rudeness, which she bore only
through fear of losing her place; but the new part toward her was more
annoying than the old. Miss Hardman received her with smiles, while Tom
was sarcastically polite to her on all occasions.
Mildred made no answer to his remark about the money. In fact, after an
unusually fatiguing night with her mother, she was too weary to speak,
and sat leaning her head on her hand, only moving to respond to the call
of "Cash!" at the desk window. How good the money looked, Mildred
thought, as she slipped the notes between her fingers! Over and again
she had the sum she needed in her hands--if conscience was not in the
way. "Yes," thought Milly, "that is how temptation steps in."
* * * * *
Deborah was standing in the kitchen window the next evening when Mildred
came down from her mother's room, asking her to relieve her for ten
minutes.
"My 'business' woman is coming in the gate, Debby," she said, with a
nervous laugh; "but it will be her last visit, and after she goes away I
will tell you all about her."
Deborah went up stairs a little mollified, and Mildred prepared to
confront her "Shylock."
"Here I am," said Mrs. Robbins, shaking out her skirts, and sitting down
as soon as she entered the bare little parlor, "and here I'm likely to
remain, for I know what I mean to _have_ instead of money if you don't
pay me; and I know," added the woman, with her insolent laugh--"I know
you haven't it, for old Mr. Hardman refused to lend it to you
yesterday."
Mildred flushed, but she returned the woman's bold stare with a look of
quiet dignity.
"You are mistaken, Mrs. Robbins," she said, producing a roll of bills.
"Here is your money. Will you be kind enough to give me a receipt as
quickly as possible?"
The peddler stared, but she could offer no further remonstrance. There
were the bills, fresh enough, and genuine. She took the money in her
hands, counted it over and again, and then, with angry reluctance, and a
glance at the ornaments in the room, which showed what she had "meant to
have," she wrote her receipt and departed....
* * * * *
"And that's the whole story, Deborah," whispered Milly, an hour later,
as she and the good old woman sat over the fire in Mrs. Lee's room.
"It's nearly killed me this winter--but I _can't possibly tell you_
where or how I got the money. I scarcely like to think of it myself,"
and Mildred rose with the air Debby knew very well, and which plainly
said, "You'll hear no more."
"Well," said Deborah, "I won't ask if I'm bid not. I only hope no
trouble'll come of it."
"Trouble!" said Milly, rather sharply. Deborah did not know how tired
and ill she felt, and, indeed, poor Milly was very near a hearty burst
of crying. She was relieved of one anxiety, she thought, as she lay down
to sleep in her mother's room; but had she not burdened herself with
another?
On entering the store two days later, Milly observed a certain air of
reserve among the girls nearest her, yet they all looked at her
critically. One or two whispered as she went by them with her usual
friendly "Good-morning," and others gave a little significant toss to
head or shoulders as she spoke. Mary Hardman was busy in the cloak-room,
and as Mildred entered she said, with a short laugh,
"I don't believe you will be wanted here to-day, Miss Lee. However,
father's coming in directly, and he'll tell you for himself."
Before Mildred could answer, the burly figure of Mr. Hardman senior came
toward them.
"'Morning, Miss Lee," he said, nodding his head. "Will you be kind
enough to step into my room?"
It was a sort of office, close at hand, where the girls went to receive
special orders, their weekly salary, or any necessary reprimands. The
day before Milly had penetrated this sanctum to beg a loan of twenty-two
dollars from her employer; now she followed him with doubting steps.
What could it mean? Mr. Tom was seated in a big leather chair by the
table, with the air of judge and jury, witness and lawyer.
"Sit down, Miss Lee," said the elder man, motioning her to a seat. "Now,
Thomas, I think you can tell the story."
While Mildred mechanically dropped into a chair, the old man paced the
floor, and Mr. Tom, veiling a sneer, began:
"Miss Lee, I'll go right to the main question. We've missed some money
from the drawer. It disappeared day before yesterday morning. _The sum
was twenty-two dollars._ Now as you were at the desk between twelve and
two o'clock on that day, _can you account for it_?"
Mr. Tom drew up his little ferret eyes with a most malicious expression.
"Twenty-two dollars!" gasped Milly; her face was crimson. "No, I can not
account for it. Twenty-two dollars?" she repeated the question with a
look of blank dismay.
"Go on, Thomas," said Mr. Hardman senior.
"Well, then," said Tom, "we happen to know you _needed_ just that sum.
You tried to borrow it of my father, and _you paid it out_ in the
evening."
Evidently Mr. Tom thought this sentence his crowning success, for he
rose up, trying to look very fine, as he finished it.
To Mildred the next moment seemed an hour of pain. She sat still, gazing
ahead of her, trying to realize the situation. Then they accused her of
stealing the money!
"And you think _I_ took it?" she said, faintly.
"I'm afraid we don't _think_ much about it," said Mr. Tom.
"Circumstances are dead against you."
Mildred stood up, putting out one trembling hand as though she would
implore some consideration. She thought of her mother lying ill at home;
of all the miseries of the past few weeks. It made her head dizzy, and
she sank back into her chair, while Tom continued:
"Now I know all about it, Miss Lee, as you'll see. You bought a gray
silk dress of a peddler; the girls all saw it; and you didn't know how
you were to pay for it. You got awfully hard up Wednesday for
money--twenty-two dollars--and you tried to borrow it of father. He
couldn't lend it to you, and, in plain words, you _stole_ it from him.
Pity I wasn't a lawyer," added the young man, with a chuckle.
[Illustration: "HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING?"]
"Mr. Hardman, how _dare_ you say such a thing?" cried Milly, starting
from her chair.
"Then prove you did not," said the young man. "Where did you get your
twenty-two dollars for Widow Robbins?"
Mildred drew a long breath. "I can not tell you," she said, quietly.
Father and son laughed. "Now do you know, young lady," said the old man,
"if you're put into court, you'll have to tell. There'll be no questions
asked until that one is answered."
Milly could not speak. Terror, weariness, and shame filled her mind.
"You may go now," said Mr. Hardman. "I don't say we've finished with
this business, but we no longer need your services. There is your weekly
salary." And the old man tossed a five-dollar bill before her.
Mildred never could remember how she left that room. Her tongue seemed
paralyzed. She could not speak; she only thought of getting home, to cry
out her misery on Deborah's shoulder. When she went out into the street
a heavy snow was falling. The girl's brain seemed to be on fire. She
scarcely knew where she was going, and as she walked along she
remembered that to-day for the first time her mother was to sit up, and
she had agreed with Debby to bring in a bird to roast for her supper.
They had meant to make a little celebration of the mother's
convalescence, to which Milly thought she could bring a cheerful spirit,
since her terrible load of private debt was removed. But now, how was
all changed! Mildred stood still in the wild storm, putting her hand to
her head, and even trying to remember where she was going. Suddenly a
thought occurred to her. She would go to Miss Jenner's, and tell her the
whole story. "But not where I got the money," the poor child thought,
with a moan. Half driven along by the heavy snow-storm, Milly turned her
steps toward Lane Street. There was the beautiful brick house, its
trees veiled in white; but, oh! to her delight, Milly saw the curtains
of Miss Jenner's room drawn back. She must be better, if not well again.
It was a very miserable little figure that appeared at the door when the
old servant opened it. Drenched through by the storm, and with lines of
pain and fatigue in her face, Milly stood there. She scarcely heard what
the servant said as he conducted her down the hall and into the library,
where a big wood fire was blazing cheerily, and where Miss Jenner,
wrapped in soft shawls, sat, with Alice at her knee.
Mildred took one glance at the sweet, home-like picture, then she
recalled her own position; she remembered the scene at Mr. Hardman's. As
the servant closed the door, she moved forward with tears in her eyes,
saying:
"Miss Jenner, I am in great trouble at the store. They say--they say--I
am a thief."
Mildred remembered Miss Jenner's standing up, and Alice's exclamation of
horror; then the room, the fire-light, the books and pictures, and the
two figures, seemed to whirl before her, and she knew no more.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
[Illustration: SOMETHING IN THE WAY.--DRAWN BY JESSIE MCDERMOTT.]
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX]
BROOKLYN, E. D., LONG ISLAND.
The Young Chemists' Club is in a very prosperous condition. The
meetings are held at the residences of the members every Saturday
evening at half past seven. The order of exercises commences with
the calling of the roll, then the collection of weekly dues, and
the consideration of whatever business is necessary. Compositions
by the members treating of scientific subjects are then read.
Communications from scientific gentlemen are read by the
secretary, and at some meetings they are present and give a short
lecture.
When this part of the exercises is disposed of, experiments are
then tried. The ink with which this letter is written was made by
the club. Is it not a good sample of our skill?
We are happy to say that we consider HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE as our
official organ, and we thank it cordially for supporting us.
If desired, we will occasionally send some experiments and
scientific notes from our meetings. We now send the following
simple and pretty experiment:
Cut three leaves of red cabbage into small pieces, place them in a
basin, and pour a pint of boiling water over them. After allowing
them to stand an hour, pour off the liquid into a decanter. This
liquid will be of a bright reddish-purple color. Now take three
wine-glasses; into one put about six drops of strong vinegar; into
another, six drops of a solution of soda; and into the third, the
same quantity of a strong solution of alum. Then pour into each
glass a small quantity of the liquid from the decanter. The
contents of the glass containing vinegar will quickly assume a
beautiful brilliant red color; that containing soda will be a fine
green; and that containing alum a very dark, rich purple.
CHARLES H. W., President of Y. C. C.
SENECA W. H., Secretary.
We congratulate the members of the Young Chemists' Club upon their
perseverance and success. We shall always be glad to receive reports of
anything interesting which may occur at their meetings, and also
occasionally to print simple and safe experiments, which we doubt not
will be of interest to many of our young readers. The ink with which the
above communication was written is of a bright, clear purple color, and
appears of an excellent quality.
* * * * *
ST. JOSEPH, TENSAS PARISH, LOUISIANA.
I have only been taking YOUNG PEOPLE for a few months, but I like
it so much I hope never to be without it. I want to write a letter
to the Post-office Box, but I can not write myself, for I am only
five years old; so somebody has to write it for me.
I had two pretty gray kittens. You could not tell them apart.
Their names were Jack and Jill. But poor little Jill died. Jack
loves me so much! He goes to sleep with me every night, and the
first thing in the morning, when he comes into the room, he looks
all around for me, and if I am still in bed, he will jump up and
cuddle down near me.
I have some pretty dolls I would like to write about, but I am
afraid if my letter is too long it will be thrown away.
I have no brothers or sisters except in heaven, and I am very
lonely sometimes, and always so glad to see YOUNG PEOPLE.
SADIE B. N.
* * * * *
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.
I am a little girl eleven years old. I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much.
I think the best story was "The Fair Persian," but I like them all
more than I can tell.
I have ten dolls. The last one I got Christmas. Her name is Madame
Arabella.
I am going to be an artist when I am old enough.
ADDIE W.
* * * * *
BRATTLEBOROUGH, VERMONT.
I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE very much. I study Harper's School
Geography. I am just learning how to skate. For Christmas I got a
chamber set and a tea set, a pretty book, two bags of candy, and a
bag of nuts.
I am eight and a half years old.
MARY W. W.
* * * * *
MARIETTA, OHIO.
I am ten years old. I have a little sister named Julia, but when
she commenced to talk she called herself Jupi, and we all call her
so. Mamma says we ought to spell it _joujou_, which is the French
word for plaything.
We like YOUNG PEOPLE so much we can hardly wait for it to come.
Papa has taken it for us ever since it was published.
Jupi and I each have a pet kitty. One of them will scratch on the
door, just like a dog, until some one opens it.
Jupi has a Paris doll. It is a baby doll, and it has a little
nursing bottle. You can fill the bottle with milk or water, put
the tube in the doll's mouth, and by pressing a button at the back
of its head, all the milk goes out of the bottle. Then press the
button again, and it all goes back.
We have a toy bird which imitates a canary so you would think it
was a real one.
CHARLEY R. H.
* * * * *
GREENVILLE, _December_ 28, 1880.
DEAR MR. HARPER,--I'm in an awful situation that a boy by the name
of Bellew got me into. He is one of the boys that writes stories
and makes pictures for YOUNG PEOPLE, and I think you ought to know
what kind of a boy he is. A little while ago he had a story in the
YOUNG PEOPLE about imitation screw-heads, and how he used to make
them, and what fun he had pasting them on his aunt's bureau. I
thought it was a very nice story, and I got some tinfoil and made a
whole lot of screw-heads and last Saturday I thought I'd have some
fun with them.
[Illustration]
Father has a dreadfully ugly old chair in his study, that General
Washington brought over with him in the _Mayflower_, and Mr.
Travers says it is stiffer and uglier than any of the Pilgrim
fathers. But father thinks everything of that chair and never lets
anybody sit in it except the minister. I took a piece of soap,
just as that Bellew used to, and if his name is Billy why don't he
learn how to spell it that's what I'd like to know, and made what
looked like a tremendous crack in the chair. Then I pasted the
screw-heads on the chair, and it looked exactly as if somebody had
broken it and tried to mend it.
I couldn't help laughing all day when I thought how astonished
father would be when he saw his chair all full of screws, and how
he would laugh when he found out it was all a joke. As soon as he
came home I asked him to please come into the study, and showed
him the chair and said "Father I can not tell a lie I did it but I
won't do it any more."
[Illustration]
Father looked as if he had seen some disgusting ghosts, and I was
really frightened, so I hurried up and said "It's all right
father, it's only a joke look here they all come off," and rubbed
off the screw-heads and the soap with my handkerchief, and
expected to see him burst out laughing, just as Bellew's aunt used
to burst, but instead of laughing he said "My son this trifling
with sacred things must be stopped," with which remark he took off
his slipper, and then-- But I haven't the heart to say what he
did. Mr. Travers has made some pictures about it which I send to
you, and perhaps you will understand what I have suffered.
I think that boy Bellew ought to be punished for getting people
into scrapes. I'd just like to have him come out behind our barn
with me for a few minutes. That is, I would, only I never expect
to take any interest in anything any more. My heart is broken and
a new chocolate cigar that was in my pocket during the awful
scene.
I've got an elegant wasps' nest with young wasps in it that will
hatch out in the spring, and I'll change it for a bull-terrier or
a shot-gun or a rattlesnake in a cage that rattles good with any
boy that will send me one.
Ever affectionately
Your son
JIMMY BROWN.
(That's the way they taught me to end letters when I was in
boarding-school.)
* * * * *
MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.
I have some little toy dogs and rabbits. I had the diphtheria, and
took such bitter medicine that old Santa Claus brought me a dolly.
I was six years old on New-Year's Day. I guess this letter is big
enough.
MABEL A.
* * * * *
WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.
We are two sisters, and we would like to tell you about our pets.
We have a bird named Dicky, and we have two gold-fishes, a
pearl-fish, and a roach, which live in a large aquarium over a
fernery. We each have a cat. Our cats are almost exactly alike, and
are named Tabby-gray and Frolic. We took the names from YOUNG
PEOPLE. We have two horses named Bonner and Charlie. Bonner is five
years old, and Charlie is twenty-seven. Charlie is a remarkable
horse. Two years ago he was very sick. We thought he was dying, and
told a man to shoot him; but he said Charlie looked at him so
intelligently that he could not do it. After that, Charlie got
well, and we have taken many long, delightful drives with him, and
he has been driven in a span with Bonner twenty-seven miles in one
afternoon. We have had him sixteen years, and when papa was living,
Charlie, when the gong sounded for dinner, would back out of his
stall, and go to the office door to bring him home. Do you not
think we ought to love such a faithful old horse? We do love him,
and he has a nice home and kind treatment.
HATTIE and NETTIE D.
* * * * *
LEESBURG, FLORIDA.
I am a subscriber of this very interesting little paper, and get it
regularly every week. I don't know how I would do without it. You
can not imagine how anxious I am to go to town and get it the
moment I know it is in the post-office.
I live in the land of flowers, and I like my home very much.
EVA H.
* * * * *
IVANPAH, CALIFORNIA.
I am the little girl whose letter was printed in YOUNG PEOPLE No.
45, that was going to the mines. I am there now. I will try to tell
you all about my trip. We came two hundred and ten miles across the
Desert in the stage. We were over eight days on the road. We camped
out two nights, and made our beds on the ground. I gathered many
beautiful stones in the Desert. I saw a rattlesnake.
I have been down in the mine eight hundred feet, and I am going
down a shaft which is nine hundred feet below the level.
I have three pet cats here, and I have thirty hens, which I feed
twice every day. I have no brothers or sisters, but I amuse myself
by reading YOUNG PEOPLE, and by running over the rocks and
prospecting.
FLORENCE R.
* * * * *
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
We have taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since the first number, and we all
like it. I have two brothers and two sisters. Christmas my brother
had the book called _Old Times in the Colonies_ for a present.
There are the same stories in it that were in YOUNG PEOPLE, and a
great many more. One is about King Philip and the wars with the
settlers in Rhode Island. I have read many of the other stories,
and they are very interesting. I am twelve years old.
LOUISE S.
* * * * *
TRENTON, NEW YORK.
I am a little girl six years old. I have a papa and mamma, but no
little brother or sister. I have a doggie named Dick, and a kitty
named Flossy, and eleven dollies with a black nurse. I take
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and can hardly wait for it to come. I wish
every little girl could have it. I am learning to read and write.
ABBIE MAUD B.
* * * * *
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
I go to school and Sunday-school, and have my music lessons to
practice, but I always find time to read my YOUNG PEOPLE. I went to
the country this summer, and had a splendid time. I went
boat-riding on the Shenandoah River. I am eleven years old.
ELEANOR E. A.
* * * * *
DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
I have a little dog. His name is Prince. He sleeps with me. He
weighs four and one-half pounds.
I have been in bed a week with scarlet fever, and I enjoy YOUNG
PEOPLE so much!
I have a nice stamp-book, but not many stamps yet. I will have
some to exchange soon. I am eight years old.
JOHNNIE E.
* * * * *
FARMINGTON, NEW YORK.
I am a boy ten years old. I go to school, and read in the Fourth
Reader, and study arithmetic and geography. I take YOUNG PEOPLE,
and hope I can have it always.
I have a cat. His name is Dick. He will follow me over to
grandpa's, and stay with me until I come home.
This is the first letter I ever wrote.
SIDNEY J. C.
* * * * *
AROYA STATION, COLORADO.
I take much pleasure in reading all the letters and stories. I hope
all the readers enjoy YOUNG PEOPLE as much as I do.
Since my letter requesting exchange was published I have received
many pretty things. I wish to inform the correspondents that I
have no more specimens now, except enough to pay what I owe for
favors I have received. I would request the correspondents not to
send me anything more, as I could not make any return.
CLARA F. R. SWIFT.
* * * * *
BARRANQUILLA, UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA.
A happy time it is for me when the steamer from New York for South
America arrives, and brings YOUNG PEOPLE. I pity the little
correspondent who wrote in the Post-office Box about four feet of
snow, for I believe it must be very cold there, although I have
never seen snow yet. Here even now we have many blooming plants in
our garden at Oasis, our beautiful country-seat, near Barranquilla.
I am nine years old. I have my own horse, a deer, and a little
circus.
We have all tropic plants, and I should like to exchange some
Southern, German, and French postage stamps, or dried flowers and
leaves from the tropic zone, for all kinds of minerals. Letters
and packages may be sent to my uncle in New York city, whose
address is at the end of my letter, and who will forward them to
me. He will also be kind enough to receive and forward my answers
to correspondents.
If any young readers would like to know more of my country, I will
send another letter.
JUDITH WOLFF, care of Mr. D. A. De Lima,
68 William Street, New York City.
* * * * *
PASSAIC BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.
I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. Papa bought me the first volume
bound. I have two kitties; one is white, the other is black. We
call them Romeo and Juliet, because they are so loving; they always
go to sleep with their paws around each other's necks.
WINNIE V.
* * * * *
I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. When I was in the White Mountains
this summer I went to a silver and lead mine, where I got a number
of specimens, which I should like to exchange for foreign postage
stamps. Or to any one sending me twenty-five foreign postage stamps
I will send forty-five foreign and United States postmarks.
G. L. BRIGGS,
P. O. Box 560, Brookline, Mass.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are also desired by correspondents:
Postage stamps for curiosities, Indian relics, or anything suitable
for a museum.
SAMUEL CARPENTER, JUN., Oswego, Kansas.
* * * * *
Postmarks and foreign postage stamps.
FRANK K. LIPPITT,
Petaluma, Sonoma County, California.
* * * * *
Gray moss and postmarks for minerals (especially ores), fossils,
coins, or stamps.
CHARLES P. MATTHEUS, P. O. Box 13,
Fort Covington, Franklin County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Twenty-five postage stamps, or ten postmarks and eight stamps, for
a box of ocean curiosities and a star-fish.
R. LAMP, care of William Lamp,
Madison, Dane County, Wis.
* * * * *
WILLIAM H.--The term "blizzard" is applied in Canada and the
Northwestern Territories of the United States to an extremely sharp
snow-storm, when the particles of snow are blown by the wind like fine
pieces of steel. One can hardly walk the distance of a city block in
such a storm without getting one's nose and ears frozen.
* * * * *
C. B. F.--Mrs. Elizabeth Goose, who lived in Boston before the
Revolution, is generally supposed to have been the first to sing, for
the amusement of her grandchildren, most of the nursery jingles that
have ever since been known as "Mother Goose's Melodies." The _Tales of
Mother Goose_, such as "Blue Beard," "Tom Thumb," "Cinderella," etc.,
were the production of a celebrated French writer of the seventeenth
century, named Perrault. He composed these fairy tales to amuse a little
son. They were first published in Paris in 1697, under his son's name,
and have since been translated into nearly every language.
* * * * *
JOHN W.--It is said that a Mr. Beyer, an eminent linen-draper of London,
underwent in his youth the comical adventures which Cowper has described
in his ballad of "John Gilpin." It appears from Southey's life of the
poet that his friend Lady Austin once repeated to him a story told to
her in her childhood of an unfortunate pleasure party of this
linen-draper, ending in his being carried past his point both in going
and returning, and finally being brought home by his horse without
having met his family at Edmonton. Cowper is said to have been extremely
amused by the story, and to have composed his famous ballad while lying
awake one night suffering from headache.
* * * * *
WILLIAM D.--_Old Times in the Colonies_ is ended. You will find a notice
of the book in No. 56 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
* * * * *
E. H.--You will find very good directions for painting magic-lantern
slides in a letter from Harry J. in the Post-office Box of YOUNG PEOPLE
No. 62.
* * * * *
HARRY W.--Directions for catching and preserving insects were given in
the Post-office Box of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 27, and in the same
department of No. 34 is a description of a cheap and simple case for
mounting butterflies and other specimens.
* * * * *
A. RUSSELL.--See answer to S. H. M. in the Post-office Box of HARPER'S
YOUNG PEOPLE No. 22.
* * * * *
Favors are acknowledged from Abel Caldwell, Harry, Maud E. Chase, L. M.
Weter, Blanche Dougan, Isabel W. Harris, Ellen and Edna B., Pert Gates,
J. A. Tannahill, C. S. G., J. W., James A. Harris, Edward McNally,
Florence Stidham, Mabel Going, Josie Belle B., Bessie Guyton, Helen S.,
C. H. Mathias, Florence F. S., W. B. Wyman.
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles are received from Belle Bloom, Arthur D.
Prince, M. W. and E. W., Bessie R. Howell, Walter P. Hiles, A. D.
Hopper, A. Russell, Nellie V. Brainard, Annie W. Booth, Richard O.
Chester, John N. Howe, Mary E. DeWitt, Fanny Squire.
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
CONNECTED DIAMONDS.
1. In play-time. A small barrel. A coin. An animal. In play-time. 2. In
trouble. A minute part. Kingly. A label. In trouble. Centrals
connected--An aromatic plant.
BOLUS.
* * * * *
No. 2.
WORD SQUARES.
1. First, to babble. Second, to mature. Third, separately. Fourth, neat.
Fifth, to register.
CAL I. FORNY.
2. First, custom. Second, a dwelling. Third, a certain variety of an
important article of commerce. Fourth, mental. Fifth, water-fowls.
LONE STAR.
3. First, elevated. Second, inactive. Third, joy. Fourth, to mind.
WILLIE F. W.
4. First, one of the signs in the zodiac. Second, a dress of dignity.
Third, a boy's name. Fourth, to encircle.
LAURA.
* * * * *
No. 3.
CHARADE.
My first is a cooking utensil. My second is a species of tree. My whole
is used in making soap.
WILLIE L. K.
* * * * *
No. 4.
ENIGMA.
In kennel, not in dog.
In pen, not in hog.
In new, not in old.
In hot, not in cold.
In sound, not in noise.
In candy, not in toys.
In beak, not in bill.
In monkey, not in drill.
My whole is the dark "and bloody ground"
By the names of a huntsman and statesman renowned.
HALLA.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 61.
No. 1.
Chicago.
No. 2.
K I D D E R M I N S T E R
S W I T Z E R L A N D
M A L A D E T T A
Y E N I S E I
A L T A I
L E E
R
U R E
A D A M S
T A U N T O N
M A C K E N Z I E
B R A H M A P U T R A
S A N B E R N A R D I N O
No. 3.
Moscow.
No. 4.
B A L E M A L T
A P E S A R E A
L E A P L E A R
E S P Y T A R T
C A M P I M A G E
A R A L M O L A R
M A T E A L U T A
P L E A G A T E S
E R A S E
* * * * *
Charade on page 144--Sea-mew.
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
SINGLE COPIES, 4 cents; ONE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $1.50; FIVE
SUBSCRIPTIONS, one year, $7.00--_payable in advance, postage free_.
The Volumes of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE commence with the first Number in
November of each year.
Subscriptions may begin with any Number. When no time is specified, it
will be understood that the subscriber desires to commence with the
Number issued after the receipt of the order.
Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY-ORDER OR DRAFT, to avoid
risk of loss.
Volume I., containing the first 52 Numbers, handsomely bound in
illuminated cloth, $3.00, postage prepaid: Cover, title-page, and index
for Volume I., 35 cents; postage, 13 cents additional.
HARPER & BROTHERS,
Franklin Square, N. Y.
[Illustration: WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE?]
A curious story is told of the way in which Admiral By-the-sea, V.C.,
C.B.--a very distinguished English naval officer, who has lately
retired, after many years of service, from his profession--first came by
his name. It is said that when an infant he was picked up by the sailors
of a man-of-war in the open sea. They found a bale of goods floating in
the water, and lashed to it was the body of a lady with a child in her
arms. The mother was dead, but the boy still lived. No clew was found by
which the relations of this little waif of the sea could be discovered;
and so, after the officers had made some vain attempts to communicate
with them by means of advertisements, they determined to adopt the boy,
and not knowing his real name, they christened him "By-the-sea." He was
sent to a naval school, and when old enough, went to sea again, and was
fortunate enough to join the same ship by the crew of which he had been
rescued years before. Soon he showed himself a clever and active sailor,
ready for anything, and doing whatever he did well; and when the Crimean
war came, he displayed such gallantry in assisting his wounded comrades
that he gained the Victoria Cross, and was made a Companion of the Bath.
After this, promotion came quickly; his services were, later on,
transferred to India, where for many years he filled the responsible
post of Consulting Naval Officer to the government; and now he retires
with the full rank of Admiral. The men who rescued the poor child from
the sea, so many years ago, little knew what an honorable and useful
life they were preserving by this act for the service of their country.
CHARADE.
Although in sable plumes my first
Displays himself on high,
His reputation is the worst,
His tastes are low, his race is curst--
We're glad to see him die.
My next is in the water found,
Or in the cozy inn,
Where talk and drink go freely round,
Or in the court maintains its ground,
Or keeps the thief from sin.
My whole is placed in humble hands,
And when with skill applied,
Will bring to light the golden sands.
'Tis known and used in many lands;
It seeks what others hide.
=Killed by Fright=.--Many an illness is caused simply by imagination, and
those of us who go about our work with calmness and confidence are much
more likely to escape disease than others who are filled with
apprehension should infection come within a hundred miles of them. In
connection with this, the Arabs tell the following story: One day a
traveller met the Plague going into Cairo, and accosted it thus, "For
what purpose are you entering Cairo?"
"To kill three thousand people," rejoined the Plague.
Some time after, the same traveller met the Plague on its return, and
said, "But you killed thirty thousand!"
"Nay," answered the Plague, "I killed but three thousand; the rest died
of fright."
SLEIGH-BELLS.
"Sleigh-bells, sleigh-bells,
What are you saying?"
"Merriest thing in all the world
'Tis to go a-sleighing:
Laughter ringing,
Shouting, singing,
Bells a-jingling,
Noses tingling,
Horses prancing,
Hearts a-dancing,
Sky all brightness,
Earth all whiteness;
Diamonds in the icicles,
Sunbeams round them playing:
Merriest thing in all the world
'Tis to go a-sleighing!"
[Illustration: "TUM, HORSIE."]
[Illustration: "DET UP, HORSIE!"]
[Illustration: "WHOA! WHOA!"]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, January 18, 1881, by Various