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Written for Burke’s Weekly. UNCLE OLLAPOD TALKS TO THE boys about base ball. OOD morning, little read era of the Weekly. I propose to have an occa sional chat with you, cA || r about all sorts of things, useful and amusing; to tell you some things you do not know, and about others of which you Iff already know something; and to relate some adventures of my school-boy days, with occasional anecdotes and inci dents of my later years. I want every little reader of the Weekly to start with me, and to go through the journey with me, although it may take us more than a year to finish it. If any of you get tired, don’t hesitate to say so, for, although I am an old man, I can recollect very well how tired I used to get of prosy old peo ple. But I shall try not to be prosy, and hope, therefore, that I shall not be considered tiresome. First of all, I propose to tell you something about this new’ game of Base Ball, which seems to have turned the heads of half the boys and young men in the country. When I was a boy, w r e had a good, old fashioned game known as Town Ball, which was a good deal like this new game, and in some respects I think it Avas a better game, too. There were not so many rules, and the game w T as consequently simpler. Any number of boys could play Town Ball, while only nine on each side can play this new game. In Town Ball, the pitcher belonged to the “ins,” and it was his interest to deliver fair balls to the one who held the bat, but in this new’ game the pitcher and batsman belong to opposite sides, and the former, of course, tries his best to put the latter “out.” Now, boys, these are old fogy objections, no doubt, but you must remem ber that I am no longer a boy, and can scarcely be expected to like these new fangled games better than the old ones of my day. I have another objection—and a \ r ery serious one—to Base Ball. I am afraid it is already engrossing more time than it deserves, and is likely to prove an in- J u ry, rather than a benefit , to some young men Avho are engaged in playing it. I a m a little afraid of clubs. In my day, they were considered dangerous to young people, and I am afraid they are no bet ternow. Base Ball clubs meet frequently BURKE’S W EEKL Y. at night, and I am old fogy enough to think that boys and young men are in danger when they get into the habit of go ing out at night, Stay at home, boys, and read to your mothers and sisters; or if you are away from home, at school or in business, spend your evenings in your room, with a good book, and beware of Base Ball and all other clubs. One argument in favor of this neAv game is, that it developes the muscles, and furnishes an innocent and healthful out-door amusement. Now’, this thing of out-door exercise can be carried too far. A fe w Aveeks ago I read in the Weekly of the death of a young man at BroAvn University, Rhode Island, from inflamma tion of the muscles of the loin, brought on by excessive playing at this same game of Base Ball. Be careful, and dont allow your passion for this game to tempt you to exertion beyond your strength. But I must Avind up my “talk,” for fear of being considered “prosy,” and in doing so let me define my position clearly. I don’t object to this new game, or any other honest, manly out-door game, if played in moderation. I particularly ob ject to its being engaged in to the neglect of other things of more importance, or to the detriment of health. I object to the formation of Base Ball clubs, attendance on Avhich will take boys and young men aAvay from their homes at night; and I still insist that the good old game of Town Ball is just as amusing, a great deal simpler, and much less expensive—requi ring less time for its practice, and otter ing feAver temptations for the neglect of business or study. Next week I shall tell you a story of my younger days, connected with a game of Town Ball. w r as the saying of a heathen, that he Avho would do good, must either have a faithful friend to instruct him, or a watchful enemy to correct him. The Children in Heaven. '* A little child who loves to play, And read his Bible too, Shall rise above the sky one day, And sing as angels do; Shall live in Heaven, that world above, A\ here all is joy, and peace, and love. Look up, d< ar children ! Sec that star AA'hich shines so brightly there ! But you shall brighter shine by far, AVhen in that world so fair; A harp of gold you each shall have, And sing the power of Christ to save.” HARRY’S SERMON. 1)DIE,” said Harry, “let’s play at going to church, and I’ll be the minister an d preach you a ser “Well,” said Eddie, “and I’ll be the people.” i jjjcK So they event up stairs together. * | Harry set an old fire screen up in front of him, by evay of a pulpit, and thus began; “My text is a very short and easy one, ‘Be kind.’ There are some little texts in the Bible on pur pose for little children, and this is one of them. These are the heads of my sermon : “Firstly. Be kind to father, and don’t make a noise Avhen he has a headache. I don’t belieA’e you knoAv w’hat a head ache is, but I do. I had one once, and I didn’t want to hear any one speak a word. “ Secondly. Be kind to mo ther, and don’t make her tell you to do a thing more than once. It’s A r ery tiresome to say, ‘it’s time for you to go to bed ’ half a dozen times OA’er. “ Thirdly. Be kind to baby.” “ You have left out, ‘Behind to Har ry,’ ” broke in Eddie, forgetting that he was ‘the people.’ “ Yes,” said Harry, “ I don’t mean to mention my OAvn name in my sermons. “Fourthly. Be kind to Jane, and don’t scream and kick when she Avashcs and dresses you.” Here Eddie looked a little ashamed and said: “ But she pulled my hair with the comb.” “People musn’t talk in church.” “Fifthly. Be kind to kittie, and do what will make her purr, and don’t do what Avill make her scratch and squeak.” “Isn't the sermon nearly done?” asked Eddie. “I Avant to sing,” and without waiting for Harry to finish his discourse, or to give out a hymn, he began to sing, and Harry had to stop ; but it Avas a very good sermon after all. Don’t you think so ? 173