poetry, were walking at Toulouse; one of them remarking the beauty of
the violet, all agreed to write some verses on it, as a sort of trial of
skill. At the end of the week, the poets met, and each read the verses
he had written, and the umpire decided which of the poems was the best.
Wishing to extend a love of poetry, those gentlemen, with some others,
drew up a circular letter in rhyme, and addressed it to all the poets of
Languedoc, inviting them to come to Toulouse on the first of May, and
read their verses, promising a golden violet to him who should compose
the best poem. This society continued until the middle of the last
century, when it became more celebrated from an incident connected with
Marmontel, the French poet. He was the child of very poor parents, but
being very fond of study, he gave his life up to it. After contending
with great difficulties, he obtained admittance into a college, and
hearing of this annual challenge, resolved to enter the list of the
Toulousian writers. He was very fond of his mother, and, for _her_ sake,
more than anything else, he determined to obtain the prize of the golden
violet.
The hall was filled with the gentry, and the young students of the
university were present. When the successful candidate was announced,
the hall resounded with the sounds of music and the shouts of the
audience.
Marmontel had been kept in great suspense during the time of the
decision by the judges. It was first announced that the prize for the
ode had been withheld; and as he had offered an ode to the academy, and
had been the author of an unsuccessful idyll, everybody pitied the youth
for his disappointment. But when the poem which gained the prize was
proclaimed, Marmontel stood up and received it. Some were glad of this,
and said, "Poor fellow, he missed twice--but he did not fail a third
time; he has more than one string or arrow to _his_ bow." He retired to
his seat, but only to be called up the second time for the second prize;
again he retired, and again returned to receive the other prize, amid
the redoubled and enthusiastic applause of the multitude. But, in the
midst of this applause, the young poet looked around among the vast
multitude, and there he beheld two arms stretched out to receive him;
they were those of his tutor. Close beside stood his mother, shedding
tears of joy. He rushed forward through the crowd,--"My father!" said
he, "my mother!--take them all,--they are yours;" and so saying, he
threw all the prizes, together with himself, into the arms extended to
receive him.
"Ah! my children;" said he, when he became an old man, "that which
interests the heart is always sweet. I care nothing for the golden
violet now. But the feelings of love which burned in my heart for my
mother and good old tutor, are as fresh as ever, and survive the blight
of other things, as the fragrance of the violet survives its withered
leaf."
[Illustration]
THE ELEPHANT.
[Illustration]
The elephant is by far the largest and strongest quadruped in the world.
He is capable of carrying a burden of several thousand pounds' weight;
and when tamed, one of the most sagacious and teachable of all animals.
He is of great service to Eastern nations, particularly in time of war.
A sort of turret is fastened on his back, in which are men with their
fire-arms. His amazing strength renders him a fearful enemy.
It is related, that, by some accident, a large cannon had fallen into a
ravine, where it stuck fast. An elephant was taken to the spot to draw
it out; but he shook his head and gave evident signs that he thought it
beyond his strength. His keeper, however, fastened him to the cannon,
and he tried, but in vain, to pull it up, and was sent away. But, as
there appeared no other way of getting the cannon out, the elephant was
again fastened to it; he showed symptoms of displeasure at being
required to do what was beyond his power, but when urged forward by his
keeper, he strained with all his might, and pulled the cannon out of the
ravine and dropped down dead.
_FINIS._
H. G. Collins, Paternoster Row, London.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES
The following changes have been applied to the text:
Page 21: But James ate{original had eat} his with much
satisfaction.
Page 31: "Eh! thank you all the same," said the boy.{original had
an additional closing quotation mark here}
Page 36: "You know how to amuse yourself in the best manner,
George,{original had period here}" said he to the boy.
Page 46: and the cork put into its place, and the tube
slipped{original had slippped} down until the lower end reaches
below the surface of the water,
Page 58: And now, an't{original unclear, possibly a'n't or ain't}
you glad, my son, you were with us?"
Page 93: "{original omitted quotation mark}I was only acting the
woodpecker for my amusement. We fairies are very fond of
masquerading."
Page 116: They sat down on a great stone under a thick grape-vine
that kept{original had keept} off the wet,
Page 117: and he told Jessie that he thought they had better go
there, and stay till{original had still} some one found them.
Page 125: and then see which our mother will prefer."{original
omitted closing quotation mark}
Page 126: As she said this, she took the rose-bud from the
basket, and twining it with the honeysuckles, put them both into
her bosom.{original had superfluous quotation mark here.}
Page 131: "Come, Fanny,"{original omitted this quotation mark}
said George Lewis, "put on your hat, and go out with me among the
trees and bushes.
Page 132: Putting forth their open beaks at the strange
visitants, they cried, "Petweet-tweet, petweet-tweet,"{original
omitted this quotation mark}
Page 133: You haven't{original had havn't} the art of keeping a
secret belonging to your own concerns or another's,
Page 149: At length she hears the well-known{original had
well-know} bark of old Carlo;
Page 150: and when Grace arose from her bed the next morning, and
looked forth from the window of her little room, and saw
all{original had ll} Nature smiling with beauty,
Page 162: "No such luck."{original omitted closing quotation
mark}
Page 163: and having then no further{original had farther} use
for our purses,
Page 177: so they had seventy-five pennies a-piece."{original
omitted closing quotation mark}
Page 177: "Enough," said{original had an additional comma here}
I, "to make little Miss Nannie a pretty respectable present."
Page 178: The kitchen furniture, smalt and gum arabic, had cost
them eighteen-pence--just half their joint stock.{original had a
superfluous closing quotation mark here}
Page 202: "{original omitted quotation mark}And off on each side
of the little row of stars are two other bright stars, on each
side."
Page 211: _Me_, is it{original had i}?
Page 224: "If they were to ask me, mamma, I would go to the
tree."{original ended with a single quotation mark}
Page 230: How often did he wish that he had been an obedient boy.
But no sorrow could recall{original had recal} the act.
Page 235: The Indians called the river Hochelega{original had
Holchelega}
Page 262: "Come, little boys and girls, and let us have some talk
about that kind and useful creature, the Dog.{original had a
comma here}
Page 262: "{original omitted this quotation mark}_The Esquimaux_
sits in his sledge, wrapped from head to foot in warm fur,
Page 265: "Emily is up and dressed for a walk. And the sun is up,
too."{original omitted closing quotation mark}
Page 266: As the mother said this, she lifted her little boy from
his bed, and, seating him on her lap, first of all washed his
face in a basin{original had bason} of cool, clean water.
Page 268: And I am sure my boy would not wish to hurt any of
God's creatures."{original omitted closing quotation mark}
Page 275: and as he had offered an ode to the academy, and had
been the author of an unsuccessful idyll{original had idyl},
everybody pitied the youth for his disappointment.
The following words appear with and without a hyphen. They have been
left as in the original.
bed-side/bedside
eye-lashes/eyelashes
play-things/playthings
sealing-wax/sealing wax
The following words have variant spellings. They have been left as in
the original.
acqueous
chrystal
ecstacy
transmited
waggon