is back again, and coming to our house worse than ever. He was there,
and Mr. Travers and Sue, all sitting in the parlor, where I was
behaving, and trying to make things pleasant, when Mr. Travers said,
"It's a bright moonlight night let's all go out and coast." Sue said, "O
that would be lovely Jimmy get your sled." I didn't encourage them, and
I told father so, but he wouldn't admit that Mr. Travers or Sue or Mr.
Martin or anybody could do anything wrong. What I said was, "I don't
want to go coasting. It's cold and I don't feel very well, and I think
we ought all to go to bed early so we can wake up real sweet and
good-tempered." But Sue just said, "Don't you preach Jimmy if you're
lazy just say so and Mr. Travers will take us out." Then Mr. Martin he
must put in and say, "Perhaps the boy's afraid don't tease him he ought
to be in bed anyhow." Now I wasn't going to stand this, so I said, "Come
on. I wanted to go all the time, but I thought it would be best for old
people to stay at home, and that's why I didn't encourage you." So I got
out my double-ripper, and we all went out on the hill and started down.
I sat in front to steer, and Sue sat right behind me, and Mr. Travers
sat behind her to hold her on, and Mr. Martin sat behind him. We went
splendidly, only the dry snow flew so that I couldn't see anything, and
that's why we got off the road and on to the side hill before I knew it.
The hill was just one glare of ice, and the minute we struck the ice the
sled started away like a hurricane. I had just time to hear Mr. Martin
say, "Boy mind what you're about or I'll get off," when she struck
something--I don't know what--and everybody was pitched into the air,
and began sliding on the ice without anything to help them, except me. I
caught on a bare piece of rock, and stopped myself. I could see Sue
sitting up straight, and sliding like a streak of lightning, and crying,
"Jimmy father Charles Mr. Martin O my help me." Mr. Travers was on his
stomach, about a rod behind her, and gaining a little on her, and Mr.
Martin was on his back, coming down head first, and beating them both.
All of a sudden he began to go to pieces. Part of him would slide off
one way, and then another part would try its luck by itself. I can tell
you it was an awful and surreptitious sight. They all reached the bottom
after a while, and when I saw they were not killed, I tried it myself,
and landed all right. Sue was sitting still, and mourning, and saying,
"My goodness gracious I shall never be able to walk again. My comb is
broken and that boy isn't fit to live." Mr. Travers wasn't hurt very
much, and he fixed himself all right with some pins I gave him, and his
handkerchief; but his overcoat looked as if he'd stolen it from a
scarecrow. When he had comforted Sue a little (and I must say some
people are perfectly sickening the way they go on), he and I collected
Mr. Martin--all except his teeth--and helped put him together, only I
got his leg on wrong side first, and then we helped him home.
This was why father said that my conduct was such, and that his friend
Martin didn't seem to be able to come into his house without being
insulted and injured by me. I never insulted him. It isn't my fault if
he can't slide down a hill without coming apart. However, I've had my
last suffering on account of him. The next time he comes apart where I
am, I shall not wait to be punished for it, but shall start straight for
the North Pole, and if I discover it the British government will pay me
mornamillion dollars. I'm able to sit down this morning, but my spirits
are crushed, and I shall never enjoy life any more.
[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 66, February 1.]
PHIL'S FAIRIES.
BY MRS. W. J. HAYS,
AUTHOR OF "PRINCESS IDLEWAYS," ETC.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FAIRY'S STORY.
"I promised you a story," said the little voice, close to his ear again.
"Yes, I know you did; can you tell it now?"
"To be sure I can, if I only have time. I did not bring any of my people
to-night; they are helping some of the herb elves. It is a little late
in the season, and some blossoms have been slow in opening, so that we
have to urge them."
"How?" asked Phil.
"By coaxing and persuasion for some of them; others we have to blow upon
quite forcibly."
"I am ready for the story when you are," said Phil.
"It is a wild affair, and one that all children might not care to hear;
but to you, I fancy, nothing comes amiss."
"No, I like almost everything," said Phil.
"I shall begin just as my grandmother used to. Once upon a time, in the
days of enchantment, there was a dreadful old ogre--"
"Do not make him too dreadful, or I shall have bad dreams," interrupted
Phil.
The fairy laughed and flapped her little wings. "Now you must not be
afraid; it will all come out right in the end. When I said the ogre was
dreadful, I meant he was ugly-looking: we fairies like everything
beautiful. Shall I go on?"
"Oh yes, and please forgive me for stopping you."
"This ogre was ugly, with a shaggy head, a shaggy beard, and fierce
eyes, and he lived all by himself in a great stone castle on the shore
of a large lake. His principal pleasure consisted in tormenting
everything and everybody he came near; but if he had any preference, it
was for boys; to tease and ill-use them had the power of affording him
great happiness. Lazy, loitering little fellows were in especial danger,
for he would catch them quite easily by throwing over their heads the
nets he used in fishing, drag them off to his castle, and keep them in a
dungeon until there would be no chance of discovery, and the boys'
parents would think them lost forever. Thus he would gain a very useful,
active set of laborers for a stone wall he was building, for so afraid
were they of his displeasure, and so fearful that they might be starved,
since the only food they received was dried and salted fish, that these
boys worked like bees in a hive, only it was a sullen, painful sort of
working, for they never sang or shouted, whistled or talked, and they
were thin and wretched, and more like machines than boys.
"Now in this lake, on the shore of which was the ogre's castle, was an
island, where lived a Princess whom the ogre had bewitched, but who had
also regained her liberty, and near whom the ogre could never again
come; even to land on her island or bathe in the water near would at
once change him into a shark.
"This Princess, passing the ogre's castle in her beautiful swan-like
sailing-boat, had seen the unhappy little boys at work on the stone
wall; her sympathies had been aroused at so sad a sight, and she
determined to wait her chance, and do what she could to relieve them.
The chance came one day when the ogre had gone on a fishing excursion,
from which he would not return till night. He had given the boys their
rations of salt fish, and had commanded them in the gruffest tones to be
sure and do an unusual amount of work in his absence, or they should all
have chains on again; for when they were first caught he always chained
them for fear they might try to escape; but they so soon lost all spirit
and all desire for freedom that their chains were removed to enable them
to work more easily.
[Illustration: APPROACH OF THE SWAN-LIKE BOAT.]
"He had no sooner disappeared in his great clumsy craft laden with
seines and harpoons, and baskets and jugs, than a whispering began among
the boys, a sad sort of sighing and crying, almost like the whispering
of wind in the tree-tops, which changed again to looks and glances of
surprise as a beautiful vessel with silken sails floated up to the
wharf, and a lovely gracious-looking lady clothed in white stepped from
the boat, and came rapidly toward them.
"'Boys,' said she, addressing them in a very soft sweet voice, 'I have
come to release you from this cruel bondage; will you trust me, and go
with me?'
"'Yes, yes,' came from more than a dozen little tongues.
"'Come, then, at once. Drop your work, get into my boat, and we will be
off. We have no time to lose, for your cruel master might possibly
change his course and overtake us; then we should be in great danger.'
"The boys crowded about her, and with a wild cry followed her to her
little vessel, and almost tumbled into it in their delight. It was with
some difficulty that she kept them balanced, and prevented their falling
out; but once packed, there were so many of them that they could not
move. The vessel seemed to start of itself; its sails swelled out and
spread themselves like wings, and away they dashed over the rippling
waves, which rose and fell, and hurried them on their way. The ogre's
castle was quickly left far behind, and the tired boys breathed more
freely as it disappeared entirely from their view. In another minute
they fell fast asleep, and did not waken till the motion of the boat
ceased, and they found themselves gliding into a quiet harbor, fringed
on each side with lovely shrubs that dipped their beautiful flowers into
the calm water. Then the lady bade them follow her as she stepped from
the boat on to the soft grass, and led them past fruits and flowers, and
winding walks and fountains, up to the dazzling crystal palace in which
she lived. Here the boys were halted while she made them this little
speech: 'Boys, this is my home, these are my gardens; for a while you
will have to remain here. We may have trouble with the ogre, but I want
you to have no trouble among yourselves. Kindness, good-humor, pleasant
looks and words, must prevail. There must be no envy, no selfishness, no
desire to get the better of each other in any way. I demand obedience;
if I receive it, all will be well; if I do not, you will have to suffer
the consequence. Now I have said all that I need. These flowers, these
fruits, are yours to enjoy in moderation.'
"As she ceased speaking, she clapped her hands, and a troupe of servants
appeared. They led the boys to marble baths, where waters gushed and
flowed in liquid beauty, and groves of orange-trees made a dense thicket
about them. Here each boy was made sweet and clean, and provided with a
suit of white clothes. When they emerged from the baths, they saw before
them on the lawn tables filled with the most tempting food--roasted
meats, broiled birds, pitchers of milk and cream, biscuits and jellies
and ices.
"The utmost order prevailed. Starved as the poor boys were, the grace
and beauty of their surroundings made them gentle and patient. At each
plate was a tiny nose-gay held in the beak of a crystal bird, the body
of which was a finger-bowl. Every plate was of exquisite workmanship.
Some had birds of gay plumage; some had fierce tigers' heads or
shaggy-maned lions; others bore designs of tools or curious instruments;
but that which most delighted the boys was a dish of crystal, an exact
imitation of the _Swan_--the _Fairy Swan_--in which they had sailed to
this lovely island. It was laden with choice fruits. While the boys
feasted as they had never before done in their lives, strains of sweet
music became audible; and they could also hear the soft splash of the
waves on the shore, or the dripping and tinkling of fountains, as the
waters sparkled and fell in their marble basins.
"After they had feasted, the boys wandered off in most delightful
idleness to all parts of the island. They climbed the trees, which bore
blossoms, fruits, and nuts, all at the same time; they fished in the
little coves; they waded in the shallow basins; and nothing would have
marred their happiness had not one tall boy, with unnaturally strong and
keen vision, declared that he saw the ogre's sail coming in the
direction of the island.
"This was terrible, and had the effect of bringing all the boys together
from their various amusements, just as chickens run from a hovering
hawk. Together they crowded for a moment in mute dismay, unable to
speak, to even hide, waiting the approach of their cruel foe.
"Nearer came the sail, and now they could all discern it. Its great
clumsy shape, its heavy lumbering action, were not to be mistaken.
"What should they do?
"'Run for the Princess,' said one.
"'Too cowardly, that,' said another; and indeed their good abundant meal
had begun to put strange courage in their little hearts.
"'Let's meet him, and fight him,' said one.
"'Let's upset his boat,' said another.
"'How?'
"'By pelting him with stones when he comes near enough.'
"'Good!' cried they all; and they began gathering all the bits of rock
and pebbles they could find.
"Now came a roar of ogreish rage from the boat as it neared them.
"'I'll have ye again!' screamed the ogre.
"Then began the attack--a volley of small stones, nuts, fruits, anything
they had in their pockets.
"One of the ogre's eyes was closed, so certain had been the aim of the
tall boy who acted as leader.
"But the boat came nearer, and they were very much afraid the ogre would
leap from it, when one of the boys whispered:
"'I'll go out to tempt him. Once get him in the water, and he's a goner.
He'll be bewitched.'
"So he off with his jacket, and out he waded, while the others looked on
in breathless admiration.
"The ogre looked with his one eye in eager derision; then forgetting his
danger, and regarding the boy much as he might do an unwary fish that he
would gobble up, he sprang from his boat into the shallow water,
preparing not only to snatch the one boy, but to seize them all in a
great seine he dragged after him, when suddenly the waves from the
centre of the lake began hissing and seething, a tremendous swell set in
toward the shore, driving the brave little fellow who had gone out to
tempt the enemy completely off his legs, and obliging him to swim to the
land, which he had no sooner reached than a great shout from all the
boys made him look back, when, lo and behold! there was no ogre, only a
great shark, with open jaws and a shining row of teeth, floundering
about, and dashing himself in angry transports against the sides of the
ogre boat, which he vainly attempted to board. And now could be seen
swarms of little fish attacking the great one, darting hither and
thither, now at his head, now at his tail, but keeping well away from
his open jaws. And the waves began to be colored with the shark's blood.
At last, wearied and wounded, with an angry snap of his jaws he dived
down, and was seen no more.
"Then the boys gave another loud huzza, when, like a broad flash of
sunshine, the lovely Princess came among them.
"'Boys,' said she, 'you have proved yourselves brave youngsters. The
ogre can never again trouble you. He will be a shark for three thousand
years, and he will not care to stay in these waters, with so many
enemies about him. Now when you have regained your good looks and
strength, I will take you all home. Here is the key of my sweetmeat
closet. Run off, now, and have a good time.'
"The sweetmeat closet was a large inclosure where grew sugar-almond
trees, candied pears, candied plums, and where even the bark and twigs
of trees and bushes were of chocolate. In the centre was a pond of
quivering jelly. Mounds and pyramids of jumbles and iced cakes abounded.
They were too tempting to be long looked at without tasting, and the
boys helped themselves gladly.
"A long sweet strain from a bugle called them away from this delightful
spot, and on a broad smooth field they found bats and balls, ten-pins
and velocipedes--in short, everything a boy could want to play with.
"After this they supped in simple fashion, each boy with only a great
bowl of bread and milk. Then to more music they were marched to their
beds--downy white nests in a great room arched with glass, through which
they could see the moon and stars shining, and where the dawn could
waken them with its early light.
"Such was their life for two of the most happy weeks of their lives, and
never did boys thrive better. They grew fat and rosy; they sang, they
danced, they played. Every time the Princess came among them they
shouted with glee, and nearly cracked their young throats in doing her
honor. But all fine things come to an end some time. Once more they were
packed in the _Fairy Swan_, and away they sailed for the land of reality
and for home. The Princess gave them each a beautiful portrait of
herself, of the island, and of the _Swan_. And each boy promised that
whenever he had a chance to perform a kind action he would do it in
remembrance of the gentle courtesy of the Princess. And so ends my fairy
story. Good-night, Phil."
"Good-night. Oh, how nice it was! I thank you so much!" and sleepy Phil
turned to see the little white butterfly wings skimming out of the
window, while a long sweet sigh came from his wind harp, sounding like
"Good-night--good-night," again.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
[Illustration]
CHILDREN AT TEA.
BY S. B.
I am very anxious, children dear,
That you should quiet be,
And take care to behave quite well
While I pour out the tea.
Matilda Jane, I need not scold,
For you behave so well;
You sit so straight, and try your best
To please me, I can tell.
But oh, Belinda, what a sight!
See how she sits awry;
I can not make that child obey,
No matter how I try.
Her hair is always in a furze;
Her dress and sash untied;
She drops her shoes, turns in her toes,
I know not what beside.
But now for once, Belinda dear,
I trust you will behave;
Not spill the milk, nor spoil your dress--
My trouble try to save.
And then you both shall have a cup
Of most delicious tea,
A piece of cake, perhaps some jam,
And then go out with me.
[Illustration: A WISE DOG.]
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX]
ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK.
I wish to tell the little readers of the Post-office Box about our
pony. He is a dear little fellow, and just like a playful kitten.
Sometimes Dexter--the pony--will not go the way you want him to.
The other day I was going for Eddie, my brother, and down at our
gate Dexter wanted to go one way, and I the other. As he is very
hard on the mouth, he turned round to go home again. In doing so he
upset the little sleigh, and the box came off, and away went Dexter
up the drive and into the carriage-house.
When mamma saw it all through the window, she thought I was hurt,
and she sent the man down to the gate. When he got there, all he
could see was a heap of buffalo-robes, cushions, seats, and other
things, with a pair of legs sticking out from under them. I was
not hurt, and as soon as I could get up I went to the house to be
brushed off. I am twelve years old.
FREDDIE L. T.
* * * * *
TROY, NEW YORK.
I can hardly wait until I get YOUNG PEOPLE. I think the story of
"Toby Tyler and Mr. Stubbs" is just splendid. One wet day two
little friends came to play with me. Bertha was the fat woman, and
I was Toby. I wish you could have seen Allie as our Living
Skeleton. We found out that Mr. Treat knew what he was talking
about when he said it was much easier to get a fat woman than a
skeleton. We had great fun playing tableaux.
MORTON B.
* * * * *
The following letter is not written in Chinese, nor in Sanskrit, nor in
any other uncommon language, but is simply a "Baby Letter," written by
little four-year-old Bertha S., to Our Post-office Box. Bertha's mother
writes that the little girl is sure her letter will be printed, and that
the circle in the lower left-hand corner is a kiss for the editor. After
that, it wouldn't do to disappoint her, would it?
[Illustration]
* * * * *
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.
My father brings me YOUNG PEOPLE every week. I keep my papers in my
wall-pocket that grandma gave me Christmas. I got a beautiful doll
for a present, too.
Christmas week we had snow here, and we had a fine time
sleigh-riding and snow-balling.
I am going to New Orleans with papa and mamma for _mardi gras_.
NELLIE O.
* * * * *
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
I have already received a sufficient supply of German stamps, and
have sent away all my Swedish and Swiss stamps in exchange, and
have no more to give.
I will try to answer all the letters I have received, but there
are so many it will take me some time.
I think YOUNG PEOPLE is lovely, and I would not like to be without
it.
ALICE V. SMITH.
* * * * *
BUFFALO, NEW YORK.
Mamma takes YOUNG PEOPLE for me, and I like it very much,
especially the story of "Toby Tyler." Poor little fellow, I feel so
sorry for him!
I have a mud-turtle that I like about as well as Toby did Mr.
Stubbs. I brought it from the country last August. Its shell is
about as large as a silver half-dollar. We keep it in a glass dish
of water, with sand and pretty stones at the bottom, and a piece
of quartz for it to sun itself on. It has refused food ever since
last October, until yesterday, when we gave it some raw beefsteak,
and it ate it greedily. In the summer we feed it on wiggles and
flies. I have named it Topsy, and it is very tame. It has slept a
good deal of the time this winter.
CARRIE O.
* * * * *
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.
DEAR YOUNG PEOPLE,--The Sacramento River has broken the levee
entirely. I am five years old, and mamma has taken me away from
school because I am sick, and I have forgotten how to read.
In Sacramento there are lots of flowers. Only one rose-bush is in
bloom in the back yard. There are little fingers on the bushes
that make them hold to the lattice.
I went down to see the big river with my papa. I stood on a
steamboat. I thought the boat was moving, but it was only the big
drift and the water passing us. I saw the great, enormous chains
that the anchors are fastened to. They made me think of the great,
enormous squids that pull down the boats to the bottom of the
ocean. That's all. [The above was written by Ottie's mamma from
dictation, without change of a word.]
HENRY OSCAR B.
* * * * *
If any of the readers of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE will send me a
collection of United States postage stamps, I will send in return a
collection of Java postage stamps.
A. VAN HEEL,
Samarang, Java.
* * * * *
We were at Avon Springs last summer, and while there we found some
petrified shells and other fossils. We dug them from under a
stratum of rock five or six feet below the surface of the earth,
where they had lain for ages. I will exchange some of them for any
kind of ore, sea-shells, or other curiosities.
EMMA HUNT,
59 South Ninth Street, Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.
* * * * *
I want to tell you what a nice time I had one day in January. It
was a very stormy Monday. I went to school; and although it is a
very large school, only about one hundred scholars came, and in my
room there were only eight. We did not have any classes, but spent
the time in guessing words; that is, the letters of a word were
given out all mixed up, and we had to guess the word they would
spell. One easy one was oobk, which spells book. This is a very
nice game.
I will exchange fifteen Connecticut postmarks (no duplicates), for
fifteen of any other State except Michigan, Wisconsin, and New
Jersey.
WILLIE E. HILL,
32 Pratt Street, Hartford, Conn.
* * * * *
A few days ago we went into a beautiful cave that is on the farm of
one of our neighbors, and got a great many nice stalactites and
stalagmites. One of the stalactites is almost transparent, and in
all of them there are beautiful crystals. We saw some stalagmites
over twelve inches high. In one place the roof of the cave is
covered with fossil shells. We tried to break some off, but could
not get any whole ones.
We have a large collection of curiosities, and would be glad to
exchange with any of the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE for relics,
minerals, or curiosities of any kind.
HARRY R. BARTLETT and BROTHER,
P. O. Box 8, Greensburg, Green County, Ky.
* * * * *
I am trying to make a scrap quilt, and I would like to have scraps
from different parts of the United States. If any little boy or
girl will send me a nice package of silk scraps, I will send in
return Texas mosses, grasses, forest curiosities, six different
kinds of acorns, or snail-shells.
NINON G. HARE,
Lynchburg, Harris County, Texas.
* * * * *
I am trying to get a collection of postage stamps. I have a scroll
saw, and can make many pretty things. If any one will send me
twenty-five foreign stamps, I will send in return two easels I have
made.
E. M. WRIGHT,
Bremen, Marshall County, Ind.
* * * * *
I have some postmarks, some silver ore, some shells from Florida,
and a pretty stone--I do not know where it came from--which I would
like to exchange for coins.
FREDERICK PFANS,
11 Beaver Street, Newark, N. J.
* * * * *
I have a few Greek newspapers which I would like to exchange for
Indian arrow-heads and relics.
CHARLES WARREN,
1577 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
I live three miles from nine Indian mounds, and I have a great many
arrow-heads, and twenty-seven spear-heads. I will exchange a rock
from Missouri for one from any other State, and my brother will
exchange an Indian stone hatchet for six stone arrow-heads or
spear-heads.
WILLIAM REEL,
Baden P. O., St. Louis, Mo.
* * * * *