Newspaper Page Text
at hand we concluded to stop where we
were. So we unpacked, and struck
camp under the sheltering boughs of
some large peccan trees, that grew in a
beautiful little valley shut in on all
sides by rugged hills.
We didn’t think it worth while to
pitch the tent, for within twenty paces
of the spot we had selected for our
bivouac there was a cave in the side
of the bluff, into which we concluded
we could retreat, if any change in the
weather should render such a shelter
desirable. The little valley was cov
ered with a luxuriant growth of wild
rye and mesquite grass, upon which we
staked our animals.
“Boys,” said Uncle Seth, “whilst
you are fixing up things about camp I
believe I’ll step out and git a little
‘ fresh’ for supper.”
But just then, Willie, who had gone
off a short distance to collect some
kindling for the fire, came* running
back, and reported that there was a
bear in a small cave about a hundred
yards above us.
“Why, how do you know lie is in
the cave?” asked Lawrence. “Did
you see him?”
“Yes,” replied Willie, “I should
think I did ; for he came down from a
tree close by where I was standing, and
ran into the cave. He had broken off
a good many small boughs from the
tree, and thrown them to the ground.”
“Yes,” said Uncle Seth, “he was
up there ‘budding; ’ for at this time of
the year they live mostly on buds and
the young shoots of several sorts of
trees. Well, boys,” he continued, “1
reckon I’ll not go arter deer meat now,
for bear meat is better any day, pro
vidin’ it aint too poor and tough. So
let’s all go and see if we can’t rouse
the gentleman out’n his den.”
We were all ready for the fun, of
course, and seizing our guns, we started
towards the cave, gillie leading the way.
■ •
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
LESSONS IN BOTANY.
BY AMATEUR.
LESSON XII.
The Leaves— continued.
[Note.—Before proceeding, it is necessary to
explain some other terms belonging to the
connections of the leaf with the stern, and
no better time will occur than now.]
issr*
ifiUv HEN is a leaf said to be Am
plexicante ? When the base
of the Petiole spreads and
clasps around the stem.
When is a leaf Decurrent f When
any part of it can be traced on the stem
below its insertion.
When is a leaf Perfoliate 1 ? When the
stem passes directly through it, as in
the Boneset, and Italian Honeysuckle.
What is the meaning of Decussate?
In opposite leaved plants, it is when
every pair of leaves do not point the
BURKE’S WEEKLY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
same way, but each pair stands at right
angles to the pair above and below it.
What is meant by the Form of leaves?
Their general outline. Illustrated in
the plates from Fig. 17 to 27.
18 19
Fig. 17 illustrates the Orbicular ; 18,
the Oval', 19, the Eliptical.
20 21 22 23 24
Fig. 20 illustrates the Oblong; 21, the
Cuneiform ; 22, the Spatulate; 23, the
Oblanceolate; 54, the Obovate.
25 26 27
Fig. 25 illustrates the Deltoid', 23, the
Lanceolate-, 27, the Ovate.
In these names what value is attached
to the prefix Ob, as in Ob- ovate, Ob
lanceolate, etc.? It may be explained
as follows : The Ovate leaf has the
shape of an egg, with a stem sticking
into the larger end. If the stem were
stuck into the smaller end, it would be
come Ob- ovate. This prefix, therefore,
reverses the shape. If a leaf has its
widest part near the base, this adjunct
is not used.
What is supposed to be the founda
tion of the shape of leaves? The greater
or less development of the veins, espe
cially the Primaries. They are believed
to be the framework or skeleton upon
which the leaf is built, and therefore
giving it its form. Though this is not
strictly true, it is sufficiently so for all
ordinary purposes.
[Note. —There are many other forms ofleaves
beside tho above, which will probably be
more appropriately mentioned when we
study the Apex, Base and Edges of leaves.]
What is the Apex of a leaf? It is the
part furthest from the Petiole or Stem
—the upper end.
[Note. —Not havine the proper illustrations
for this part of my subject, I will endeavor
to explain the different forms of the Apex
by the following plan: Let the pupil take
a Peach leaf, and cut it square across about
a quarter of an inch from the apex or top.
He will then have an apex known as a
Truncate Apex. And all other forms of the
Apex at once naturally divide into two
classes: those in which the apex extends
beyond the Truncate form, and those which
fall short of this. Let the pupil understand
this idea, and fix it well in his mind, and
he will understand the following defini
tions the more easily'.]
What are the forms of Apex that pro
ject bei/ond the Truncate form? The
Obtuse, the Acuminate, the Acute, the
Macro, and the Mucronate.
What forms fall short of the Trun
cate ? The lletuse , the Emarginate,
and the Obcordate.
What is an Obtuse Apex? One hav
ing a rounded or blunt end, as in Figs.
17, 20, 22, 24, etc.
What is an Acuminate Apex? One
long drawn out , and ending in a point,
as in Figs. 25, 26, 30, 33 and 34.
What is an Acute Apex ? One inter
mediate between Obtuse and Acumin-
ate — neither so rounded as the one, nor
so long as the other, as in Figs. 18, 19,
23, 27, 28, 32 and 85.
What is a Macro Apex? It is an Ob
tuse Apex, with a little spine abruptly
projecting from its middle.
And what is a Mucronate Apex ? The
same, except that the spine projects not
from an Obtuse Apex, but from an
Acute or Acuminate one.
[Note. —This distinction between a Mucro
and Mucronate Apex is not generally re
cognized by Botanists: but as it exists in
nature, I venture to describe the two as
distinct forms.]
A little dumb boy, when asked
what forgiveness was, wrote: “The
odor which violets breathe out when
trampled upon.”
Written for Burke’s Weekly’.
A Memory,!
@EEP, deep in the forest shndc,
A rippling stream sweet music
v 8 ' While on its banks so soft and
green
Flowers of beauty and grace were
CD seen;
And in the trees that waved above,
Tho wild birds whispered tales of love;
While happy sunbeams played around,
Enchanted by the charming sound.
Fit spot it seemed indeed to be
For wood nymphs’ gayest revelry,
While sister nymphs from laughing wave
Their hands in merriest dances gave.
Within this beautiful arcade,
By Nature’s hand so deftly made,
Two children oft in sportive gleo
Chased the golden hours merrily’.
And never on this earth, I ween,
Were happier spirits ever seen
Than theirs, as o’er their tiny feet
The rippling waves made music sweet;
While they wove chaplets bright and gay
Os flowers to crown them in their play;
And sang in wanton mimicry
Os wild bird’s sweetest minstrelsy.
Where’er those children's feet have strayed,
And years have passed since there they
played.
In fond remembrance oft they gaze
On this bright spot of childhood’s days,
Happier for a memory given
Os earth, yet wearing tints of heaven.
Clio.
•. o- -
By the Tail.
_
< MILLER, who is a neighbor
of mine, having informed me
r ‘ that he was going to empty
his mill-pond, I went to the spot in
company with a friend. We found that
men were already engaged in deepening
the bottom, and raising some of the
bank which had fallen in. At the same
moment we observed a compan}’ of mice
which left the threatened bank and ran
for to a heap of stones about
twelve paces distant. There might be
a dozen mice, all of the same size, and
an ashy grey color, which ran off as
quickly as the common house mice
usually do. We saw plainly that each
mouse held the tail of the one before it
by the teeth, so that all their tails were
hidden except the last. The last mouse
had evidently the easiest part to per
form, while the leader of the train occu
pied a position of no small difficulty,
though one also of high dignity. Now,
before these mice could form such a
chain, they must have been assembled
together. Owing to their wandering
habits it is not at all probable that they
happened to be all together in a hole
just at the time of danger. They must
have had some means of giving an
alarm, of gathering their number toge
ther, and of electing a leader. But was
it instinct which taught them to form a
train by each swallowing the tail of his
forerunner; or was it not rather saga
city, stimulated by the passing danger,
which led them to devise this plan for
this particular occasion?
155