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Written for Burke’s Weekly.
PAPA’S LESSON.
BY MRS. H. S. BARCLAY.
CHAPTER 111.
the next week not a
word was necessary to induce
“tw the children to work, for they
were only too eager to get something to
do: and they did not ask for a story,
lest they might call up an unpleasant
reminder.
On Saturday night, papa told them
that mamma had reported such good
dutiful conduct all the week, that he
thought he would read them Sallie’s
little story, written for them; and that
they must put it away to keep always,
to remember how kind Sallie was to
them when they were little, and how
they were first taught to prize their
books and playthings.
“Now, sit down, and get yourselves
comfortable and quiet; here it is.”
Soon all were settled, and perfectly
quiet, when Frank said : “ Papa, please
read ; we are all ready.”
THE OGRE’S SUPPER.
One night, as an ogre was journeying late,
Ho was led to the door (by the hand of fate)
Os a cottage, where father and mother sate,
With daughter and son, who had already ate
The half of a supper —laid out in state.
The breeze had wafted the savory smell,
And far off the ogre had hoard the bell;
So he smacked his lips, and said “ Well, well!
I may get enough to help me to swell,
While I listen to what these people can tell.”
He looked through the window, and scann’d
the group o’er;
“ There’s not enough left; they must cook me
some more.”
Then he knocked very loudly on the door,
And ordered of eggs and chickens four score!
The peasants were frightened, and rose to
their feet,
And the father said, “ Much, though, we’d
like you to treat,
We’ve naught in the house but two rabbits
for meat;
But if you’ll oblige us by taking a seat,
We will get you the best that we have to
eat.”
The ogre ho swore, in a very loud tone,
That “ half of a supper is better than none;
And the coins hero I show are coins to be
loon,
By father, or mother, or daughter, or son,
Whichever will get me a quick supper done.”
They emptied the larder, and burnt all their
wood ;
They roasted, they stewed, and cooked all
kinds of food,
And placed on tho table their whole stock,
and stood
Waiting, to see if the dread ogre’s mood
Would lead him to thank them, and say it
was good.
He finished, and smilingly said to the girl,
“ Fair maiden. I always top-off with a pearl ;
If a kiss thou wilt not, then give me a curl.”
Her father, to strike him, a saucepan did
hurl,
When the door it flew open, and in came that
churl —
BURKE’S WEEKLY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
The ogress, who fell on her recreant knight,
And vowed she would cut through his heart,
just for spite;
Her candle went out, and she yelled for a
light,
As sho dragged off her lord—who, in terrible
plight,
Yelled back to the people, “The ogress is
tight l”
Tho ogress she scratched him, and cried “Well
done;
I’ll teach you, my beauty, to make me a pun;
Just wait till I get you at home, young cn’e,
And you’ll see if your making merry’s such
fun,
Or if you won’t wish you had never begun.”
She buckled him fast, with a trace, to a
chair;
Then, pursing her lips, reached her hand for
his hair;
But the ogre sprang up, and how sho did
stare!
As he laughed, and said, "Madam, now for
your share ;
Oh 1 but my owl , we’re a beautiful pair.”
“ I think you’re a coward, to call me a name,
To drag mo, and beat me; you know I am
lame."
But he only growled, “ To me it’s the same;
And, if I am rough, I won’t take all the
blame;
I just want you to know two can play at this
gamel ”
The children thought the story first
rate ; but Wyatt asked, “Then what
did the old ogress do?” turning to
Sallie.
“I don’t know, Wyatt; I didn’t get
any further; my rhyme gave out just
there,” laughed Sallie.
Papa laughed too, and patting Sallie
on the head, said :
“You didn’t stay to see, did you,
Sallie? In such a fuss as they had got
themselves into, I think your plan of
running away was best. Now, little
people, if you have as clear consciences
next Saturday night, I think I can re
sume our reading ; I am fully as anxious
as you to to go on with ‘ Saloquab.’ ”
The little folks had very much hoped
they would be considered good enough
to-night; but they were on their best
behaviour, and could not risk a protest
against papa’s decision ; and they al
ways declare it was the hardest and best
lesson they ever had. Their school les
sons are better learned ; their clothes
kept more neatly ; their plays are more
delightful, and their sleep sweeter, than
for a long time before.
They are really becoming industrious
and happy; and as mamma always
drops a penny or two in the bank of
each after a good day’s conduct, the
savings are growing rapidly—since there
are willing hands and pleasant, faces at
the light tasks each day.
Darien, Ga.
-
Clippings.
A good conscience is sometimes sold
for money, but never bought with it.
Be slow to choose a friend, and slower
to change him ; be courteous to all.
Never make that man your friend who
hates music or the laugh of a child.
Love of children indicates a genial
nature, a pure and unselfish heart.
Written for Burke’s Weekly
LESSONS IN BOTANY.
BY AMATEUR.
LESSON I.
'sdfen
HAT does Botany teach? Bo
rm, tany teaches a knowledge of
plants.
How many plants are there supposed
to be in the world of all kinds? About
eighty-five thousand.
How many are supposed to be grow
ing in Georgia? Probably not over fif
teen hundred different kinds.
How is Botany divided? Into two
parts — Physiological Botany and De
scriptive Botany.
What is Physiological Botany? It is
that division of Botany which explains
the operations which take place inside
of plants, which causes one to be sweet,
another bitter, etc.
What is Descriptive Botany ? Des
criptive Botany is that division which
describes the outside of plants, so as to
distinguish one from another by their
appearance.
[For the present we will say nothing
about Physiological Botany, as the
young beginner cannot well understand
it. But after we are through with Des
criptive Botany may again resume it.]
What subjects does Descriptive Bo
tany include? It includes a description
of the flower, the leaf, the root, the
stem, and the fruit of plants.
What great division of plants is found
ed on the flower? The entire vegetable
kingdom is divided into two great-classes
—the one embracing all those plants
which have flowers, and called Phceno
gamia; the other embracing all those
plants which are destitute of flowers,
and thence called Cryptogamia.
Into what two great divisions are
plants divided by their leaves ? Into
the Net-veined and the Parallel-veined
leaved plants. The rose has net-veined
leaves, and the flag has parallel-veined
leaves.
Into what two great divisions are
plants divided by their stems? Into
outside-growers called Exogens , and in
side-growers called Endogens.
[ln the outside- growing plant, a layer
of wood is added every year to the out
side of the wood, just under the bark ;
and in the Inside-growers the new addi
tions are made inside of the stem. The
pine and oak are outside-growers ; and
corn, sugar-cane and palmetto are in
side-growers. The outside- growers, or
Exogens, always have a distinct and
separate bark and pith, with net-veined
leayes; while in the inside- growers, or
Endogens , the bark, wood and pith can
not be distinguished, and their leaves
are always parallel-veined.]
In what order will the several parts
of plants be considered in these les
sons? We will first study the flower;
after which we will study the leaves,
then the roots, stems and fruit.
How are the various organs of plants
divided? Into the Reproductive and
the Organic.
Which are the Reproductive organs ?
The flowers and fruit.
Which are the Organic organs 1 The
leaves, the stem, and the root.
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
STORMING THE CASTLE j
An Ant Story.
In a letter to Sammy C , of Wil
mington, N. C.
Dear Little Friend, — A
few days ago, as I was return
ing from the little village of
McLeanville, I saw something very won
derful and interesting in ant life. I
was alone and a-foot, and as I walked
along the road, I saw something like a
large brown belt, about three inches
wide stretched across the way, at that
place ten feet from one side to the oth
er, and as I came nearer to it I saw
that it was moving. There was a thick
wood on both sides of the road, and the
ground was covered with dry, dead
leaves, and a dense growth of low huckle
berry bushes so that I could not see
either end of the belt ; for it extended
entirely across the road. When I came
still nearer, I found that it was an im
mense army of ants, —the largest ant
army that I had ever seen, and they
were a solid, soldier-like column!
There was scarcely a straggler, and I
would venture to say that no human
general ever marched a more orderly
set of men. There were a few lagging
behind, but scarcely one had wandered
off, either to the right or the left. They
were passing across the road very rapid
ly —the whole column in a run —and all
seemed excited and earnest, yet all were
orderly, and every one kept his place.
My curiosity was raised to the highest
pitch to know where this immense army
of tiny creatures was going. So I walk
ed on beside the column, towards its
head, which I found to be just enter
ing the woods on my right. A half
dozen or more w r ere going before as
pioneers, and in their tracks came the
ant-army at an astonishing pace, tumb
ling over leaves, sticks, and whatever
else came in their way ; but never once
losing the form of a solid, compact col
umn.
With the greatest interest I watched
their course, determined to find out
what their purpose was, even though
I should have to follow them all the
afternoon. But I did not have to wait
long. Not more than two or three yards
from the roadside, among the leaves
and huckleberry bushes, stood a little
mound, half clay, half leaves, which
latter, forming little openings in the wall,