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PART TWO. MARGARET’S SURPRISE CHRISTMAS. A Holiday Story for Girls. By Gertrude Smith, "I am suing to have a Christmas party and Invite the boys and girls I love the most.” Margaret threw down her book and sprang to her feet, clapping her hands. “Oh. what fun Aunt Helen! Who shall we ask?” "I shall ask Mary Carver and Danny Came and Wisley Brown and Debby Madison.” ‘‘Why those are grown up. You said boys and girls.” “Well, they were boys and girls Just the other day,” replied Aunt Helen. "It is no time since Debby Madison and I were wading in Hickory creek and Wis ley Brown was throwing stones and splashing the water over us. Except for a few gray hairs and important wrinkles between our eyes we’ll dress up very well for children.” “Oh, will you dress up like children? Oh, oh, won't that be fun!” "Yes, I’ve just about bubbled over keep- • • Reading the Telegram. lng the surprise from you for a week past. The guests are invited and the costumes are planned. I tried io think of some thing entirely new and different so you would be happy and contented this first Christmas you were every away from home.” “I’ll be happy, I know, Aunt Helen. Of course, I’ll miss mamma and papa, be cause we’ve always been together Christ mas, but I can write to them about our party and they’ll send me a present. I want Hope Sargent because she’il make so much fun; I don’t know who else.” "Well, I’ve made out a list for you there on my desk. You may invite twelve.” Aunt Helen bustled out of the room to answer the door bell, which rang at that moment. “Here Is Mrs. Madison, Margaret,” she cdlled from the hall. “We have some work lo do on her costume. You may come with us, or you can ride over and Invito Hope, and tell her about the party.” "i ll go and invite Hope,” Margaret an swered, running to the door. Her aunt and Mrs. Madison were ascending the stairs with mysterious bundles under their arms. "Oh, wpn’t Mrs. Madison make a pretty girl. Aunt Helen?” she exclaimed, ns the little old lady turned and smiled down at her. "You used to he called the prettiest girl on Williamet river, didn’t you, Debby?” “Yes; just wait Margaret till you see me dressed and my hair in curls. You’ll choose me for your best friend, I know.” "I’m sure I will; isn’t Aunt Helen good to plan such a nice time for me? I’apv will bring her something splendid when I write him about it. ’ I AII I want your father to give me is himself home again safe and sound, and that closed house open once mote. Now go and see Hope and bring her home with you if you can. Tell her the party be gins to-night for her.” Margaret took her hat from the hall rack and went out of the front door. In •he adjoining yard was a b.autiful big stone house. The blinds were closed and • here was a deserted look about the entire place tiiat was very said at Christmas time. Margaret’s mother and father had ben traveling In Europe for nearly a year. It 1 ad not t>een thought best to take the !It ib- girl out of school, and so for the first bme In her life she was to be sepnrat and from her mother and father on Christmas day. H”r own little black pony wa< In Aunt Helen’s stable and she went around and ’ ‘ idled and bridled It herself and in a f "' v minute* was galloping along the real that bordered the WlUamet river. It won’t be like Chrlsunas at al with out skating, Margaret said aiouJ. looking 1 ros the dark flowing river. "I never *oew It to be so warm in December.” As ‘to spoke the wind suddenly wheclel "‘•ft to the northwest, und by the tint' in- had reached Hope's house, a ml e the mercury had dropped to t a ft "•sing point und all the little pooli *"ig the road were eruetel with white Hope ran down lo the gate in m red hao I “ and rape to meet Murgare . ''H, Margaret," she called, ‘’such e ’"“i-Jerfui thing happened Just now. i was wishing it would freeze so we could have 6kating Christmas and tho wind turned and it began to freeze!” "I was wishing the very same thing when it happened,” said Margaret, laugh ing. "I wish I could have everything I wish, as quick as that.” "Perhaps, If two or three wish at exact ly the same minute, exactly the same thing, with all their heart and might it comes true,” said Hope, bobbing about to keep warm, wiiile Margaret was tying her pony. “lad's both wish for something else as hard as we can and see if it hap pens.” ”1 wish with all my heart and might that mamma and papa were going to be home to-morrow, but it won't bring them.” said Margaret, sadly. “I wish with all my heart and might they were going to be home, too,” said Hope, with a little scream of laughter. “iVhat are you laughing at?” asked Margaret, quickly, turning to look at her. “Oh, nothing, you musn’t ask questions Christmas time. I know what you came up to see me for. You came to invite me to the party.” "Why, I didn't know you knew about the party!” "Yes, we all know. My costume is all ready. I’m going to be Topsy, ’cause I'se so funny end so wicked, you know.” “Oh, oh, what fun! Aunt Helen didn’t tell me you were all going to wear differ ent characters; Who am I going to be?” “You are going to be little Red Riding Hood. This is your hood and cape. Mother made it. She had Just finished it when we saw you ride up to the gate. Aunt Helen kept everything from you so there would be more fun in a bunch, but you mustn’t ask me any more questions, for I’m not going to tell you another thing.” “All right, I won’t. Can you go home with me and stay ail night?” “Yes, that's all planned, too. Mother told Aunt Helen I could go.” Mrs. Sargent met them in the doorway, smiling. “Every one has secrets that I don’t know,” said Margaret, kissing her. “You don’t know haif i You don’t half!” sang Hope, dancing about the room. Mre. Sargent rolled up the bundles with the costumes for Topsy and Little Red Rid ing Hood, and very soon the two little girls were on Margaret’s pony galloping back to Aunt Helen’s. "You must tell me one thing,” said Mar garet, “are we expected to give presents? I only have one for you and one for Aunt Helen, and that wouldn’t seem fair.” Santa Claus is going to bring the pres ents. He’s going to fill your stockings and—oh, I mustn’t tell!” “Oh, are we going to have a Santa Claus?” “Yes, and you musn’t ask another ques tion. I’ve told you mere now than Aunt Helen said I could.” “Let’s get the key and go over to my house. I want to get something out of my rcom,” said Margaret, as they rode into Aunt Helen's yard. “Oh, no, I hate to go into a ©,'o.ed house where it is so dark!” said Hope, in a tone of great alarm. “Why, we’ve been in there lots of limes when it was nearer dark than this,” re plied Margaret. “I don't care, it’s awful spooky. I wouldn t go in Christmas eve for any thing.” Al that moment the p ny stopped before the door and Hope stopped off and ran on before into the house. “Oh, Aunt Helen,” she exclaimed, bourc ing Into the roam where Mrs. Madison and Aunt Helen were still at work on the cos tumes. “Margaret says she's going over home after something. If she do s she'll guess the biggest. beat part of the secret. She wanted me to go, too, but I toll her I was niraid when it was so near dark.” “Now, Topsy, you musn't tell fits, even to ke p a secret,” said Aunt Helen, laugh ing. "Go and tell Margaret I want her 10 make a cup, cake for supp r. The only thing to do Is to keep her busy every min ute until the party begins.” 11. Margaret made cup oakc for supper and afterwards Hope proposed making mo- I,inset* candy, and so ail the evening was full, and at 9 o'clock Aunt Helen sent them to led. "To-morrow H* going to b* the happiest, funniest Christmas you ever had." raid Hope, when they were cuddlid down in !•■ and. ■ It may be the funniest, but it can’t he the happiest, wlihout mamma,” said Margaret. A moment later Hope felt the bedclothes rl re and fall and knew thru Margaret was cr|n. “It * 100 bad fob her to cry *0 on Chrfaf mas eve," she thought. ’’l n * good mini to tel! her, then she’ll wake up hat py In the morning. TU tt4 1* tm much going to SAVANNAH, GA., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1891). happen any way to-morrow eho’ll have enough. If I was going to be, oh. aw fully happy to-morrow and I felt bad now, ■wouldn’t you tell me something to make me happy a little now if you knew it?" Hope asked, slipping her arm around Mar garet. “I don’t want you to tell me anything and spoil the surprise. Aunt Helm wouldn’t like it." sobbed Margaret. “Oh, even if I tell you this, there will be iots left that’s going to happen. Does Aunt Helen know how bad you feel?” ■ “I haven't let her see me cry, because she'd think I was ungrateful, when she's so good to me.” “Well, you can pretend you're surpris ed about this. You might as well pre tend you don’t feel bad, when you do.” Hope sat up in bed. “Margaret, jour mamma and papa are coming home to morrow!” "Oh, Hope are they? Are they?” cried Margaret, sitting up and throwing her arms around her little friend. “Oh, Hope, you're not just making it up, are you?” "No, of course I’m not just making It up! I knew I’d a million times rath- r know, if I were you, than to cry mvs If to sleep Christmas eve.” “Oh, yes, I’m so glad you told me. How do you know they are coming?’ ’ “There's a telegram for you. Aunt Helen is going to put it in the top of your stocking, so you’ll get it the first thing in the morning.” “I want to see it to-night! I want to see it right now!” said Margaret, spring ing out of bed. She lit the candle, and on tip toe the two little girls stole out of the room, and down the stairs to the library. There were her stockings hanging at the side of the fireplace, stuffed to the toes. “I’ll find it,” said Hope, running for ward. “You mustn’t look at your pres ents.” The next morning Margaret was hold ing the candle close to the telegram and was reading; “Will be home Christmas morning, Mar garet, darling. Mother and Father." “They’re in New Y'ork now. Aunt Helen says they sent the telegram the minute they landed,” said Hope, capering about the room. "Oh, this Is the best of all my Christ mas,” said Margaret, hugging the tele gram. “No matter how many surprises Aunt Helen has for to-morrow, this is the best!” Very early Christmas morning Aunt Helen’s surprises began. At 7 o’clock little silver bells woke Mar garet and Hope from trappy dreams, and the next moment there was a knock at the door, and then the door opened and there stood Santa Claus with a pack on his back and a powdered wig and such a funny mask on his face that both the lit tle girls broke out laughing. “I have found so much to do through the night, I couldn't get here a moment sooner,” said Santa Claus, in a high pitch ed, unnatural voice. “Oh, who do you suppose it is?" eaid Hope, clapping her hands. “I guess it's Aunt Helen.” "Why, no, it’s a man’s voice. Can’t you tell it’s a man’s voice?” snir Marga ret. “There ain’t very much left in my pack,” said Santa Claus, throwing them a kiss and making them a splendid bow, "and I all I have here is for Miss Margaret, but she must share with her little friends— I didn’t expect to find her here." Santa Claus swung the pack from his shoulder to the table and began carefully to uniie (he string which bound it. Margaret and Hop© were sitting up in bed watching him. “Who do you suppose it is?” said Hope, giggling. (She knew very well who it was.) “Now here is a locket and chain tiiat a certain little girl has been wanting for several years,” said Santa Claus, speaking in the same funny high voice. He held the locket and chain out before him. “Oh, oh, isn’t it lovely!" said Margaret, standing up in the bed and holding out her hands for the locket. "In the locket you will find a picture of your beautiful mother,” said Santa Claus, coming over to the bed. “Oh, I know you! I know you!” said Margaret, throwing her arms around Santa Claus’ neck. “The minute I saw your hands I knew you. Oh, papa, papa, papa!” Santa Claus sat down on the edge of the bed and tore off his mask and kissed Mar garet again and again. * “Come in Mrs. Santa Claus,” he shout ed, “the fun is over. She knew me right away.” And then the door opened, and with a glad cry of delight Margaret was in her mother’s arms. “Yes, you've guessed part, but that Isn’t half," said Hope. And so they ran downstairs and across the yard and into the big stone house. "Oh!” cried Margaret, clapping her hands, “Oh, it looks Just like a fairy house, doesn’t it?” “There, I didn't tell you the best of all. did I?” said Hope. “Oh, no, isn’t it lovely?" It was indeed a sight to remember. The large hall, and all the beautiful rooms on the first floor were decorated with cedar bows and holly and bunches of little red berries; and in the drawing room was a big Christmas tree loaded with presents. "How can we ever thank Aum Helen enough for this beautiful Christmas sur prise?” said Margaret's mother, coming Into the hall to meet them. "Isn't she good? Are there presents for all the party on the tree?" asked Mar garet. “Yes, presents for ail. Now come out to breakfast,” replied Mrs. Graham, and led the way to the long dining room at the end of the hall. And when they went Into the dining room there was the greatest surprise of all. “Oh, oh, the party is here now! The party is here for breakfast!” cried Mar garet. ”6h, how beautiful you all look!” There were twelve children dressed in costume and six grown people dressed as children; and, oh, they were the funniest of ail. Every one laughed to see them. “I’m so surprised and happy!" sitd Mar garet. looking, fiom one dear face to the other. "1 101 l her about the te’egram because she cried last night," sail Hop*. “You said we wouldn’t tell,” laughed Margar it, “Hope can’t keep uecie-* at all.” “Y'ou Just watt ands elf 1 ean't keep a secret. I didn t te 1 you that your papa whs to be Hama 8 bus and the o are lois of things I haven’t tod." said Hope, "Aunt Helen ha* our house all In order and the fires started so we can go right over home the minute you are dressed,” said Mrs. Graham. "Oh, 1 can’t to home! We’re going to have a party. Didn’t Aunt Helen tell you?” “Yes, but she expecie us to go home to breakfast.” replied Mr. Ora ham. Hug ta li'*. “Yes, si e does, Margaret, and I'm going with you.” said Hope, aid thtn put her hard quickly over her mouth. "Oh, I al most hi another kitten "U- of the ha*!” Whin Margaret waa dr vised she exumla- ed the pack that Santa Claus had brought, but she found it was only a large rod of cotton cloth. The rest of the presents were to come Inter. And when he ran down Blairs to examine her stockings she found nothing In them but r. sy cheeked apples. And when she went to Aunt Hel en's ro tn to say good morning and "Merry C hris mas ” she tound the 100 m empty and the Ih.U all neatly made. "Oh, I've guessed! I've guesstxl! The party Is going to be over at my house, because it's faiger and Aunt Helen Is over there." Aunt Helen wore a blue sack apron, and her hair was curled and tied with pink ribbons on each side. "I can think Just how you looked when you were a little girl," said Margaret, ad dressing her. “What do you think of Debby?” a ked Aunt Helen. Mrs. Deborah Madison tripped forward in a little white muslin dress, flounced to the waist. She wore a blue sash with a large bow, and her white hair hung in tong curls and was bound w.th a blue rib bon. “Oh, you are so little I ran see Just ex actly how you used to look! Isn't s e lovely?" "Y'es, it is just as though little Debby Madison of HO y< are ago hud come back to us.” said Aunt Helen. The two men. who were <lr sred a lit tle boys, acted very much m re ike boys than they looked, but they were wry funny. Margaret and Hope ran away !o put cn their costumes of Topsy and L’ttlc Red Riding Hood, and then they ad sat down to the Christmas breakfast. And this is only the beginning of a long da.v of rollc and fun. Skating and danc ing and singing, and the good Chi Ist mas tree in the evening". "It is the best Christmas I ever hid,” said Margaret, when she kbsed her moth er good night, "but the best of all is hav ing you home again uni to think I can sleep in my own little room once more.” Gertrude Smith. PECULIARITIES OF THE STATES. Some of tire Physical Feature* for Wiileli Commonwealths Are Noted. From the New York Press. “Has It ever occurred to you,” said the committeeman from Powesiek, “that lowa is the best watered slate in the Union and has less sterile land than any other?" No, it has not. Never thought of it. In fact, we don’t know much about lowa over here Festivities 1 n tile Cave. in the East. She gave us some clever men tn Alilson, Frank Hutton, Postmaster Gen eral; Horace Boies, W. W. Belknap, Secre tary of War; James Harlan, Secretary of the Interior; George W. McCrary, Secre tary of War; Senator Gear and Gov. Kirk wood. Jeff Davis, a lieutenant in the Unit ed States army, thrashed a lot of white folk in Dubuque and the Mormons settled at Council Bluffs. Another thing—lowa passed a law prohibiting liquor dealer* from making more than 33 per cent, profit on sales. What else is she famed for? The Powoshieker’s remark led lo study of the physical peeuriaClties of several states. In proportion to size Georgia has a great many more counties than any oth er state, the liresent number being 137, with promise of anew one to be named after Lieut. Brumby. Texas, with nearly four and a half times the area of the “Cracker” slate, has 244. Georgia has no lake, and her rivers and creeks are not above the average. Massachusetts has 208 ponds. 122 rivers and more coves and harbors than any other state except Flor ida. Hard to believe, isn’t It? The average leader will be amazed to learn that little New Hampshire, with less than 14,000 square miles, ha* no less than 4C6 lakes and ponds, 154 brooks, 58 rivers and 2M mountains. This makes lowa uok small. Colorado, a big slate, has CM creeks. Texas hss comparatively few rivers, lakes and creeks. Alabama has Ml creeks am! 87 rivers. lows cannot ap proach that record. Minnesota has 222 iskes and 140 rivet*. t Pennsylvania, one of the biggest, richest states, has altogether only 10 river* and not t* creek. Kentucky, also a big state, ha* no creek* und only 23 river*. Tennes see has 31 rivers slid creek* ad told. In diana ha* 8 creeks, 2 takes and If rivers. New York, . #iat of modest size, 1* well equipped with rivers, lakes, island* and mountain*. Louisian* Is nearly nil rivers and bayou* and Florida t* largely mod* up of creeks, islands, lakes and rivet*. CHRISTMAS AT CORAL MANSE. By L. H. Tupper. Three little mermaid >, playing on tho yellow beach of a little leanl in the North Atlumlc, lo'ked up wistful!)*, and era Id: "Shall w© have a Christmas tree this year, Aunt Margaret?” “Aunt Margaret was a mid Me axed mer lady, who acted as a cha ire lone und gov erness for young m rmalds. She glanced over her spectacles, and replied: "If your depcrlment continues to Ire cor rect, we will have a Christmas tree at t otal Maine. All who are in Ihe swim will be invited.” In her youth "Aunt Margiret" hud filled a holiday engagement in 1 ar,urn's mu seum, at New York. She saw m ny Chris mas trees in the metropolis, and on her i eturn lo her ocean home t id the mor-peo ple all about them. They thought it a pret ty custom end wi re al out to adopt t “And now, little mermaids,” said thi n orgevernness, "you may return to c oo and resume your basons in reash'll . ' The three little meimal ls uivO into the blue waves o:i their way io tile lilt e lod coral school house. Aunt Margaret sliil s t on the b u h knitting. Hhe was knitting glows, f t- the mermaids do n t wear h se. And ,t wit ; 1 reoisefy because they have n> sto k ngs to hang up, that they were all so eager to have a Christmas trie. II Christmas eve came. Cora! Manse, which was an 011-fashloned house, witli seaweed growing on the roof, was bril liantly illuminated by an electrical-eel apparatus. Us old red wails, whh many a tower and angle, were ruddy witli cheer ful light. On the green lawn grew many dellcat© sea flowers and rare submarine plants. In the garden beyond the manse, flourished sea-cucumbers and other ma rine veretnbles. Tho Christmas tree, a handsome pink coral, with many delicate and airy branch es, stood in the middle of the drawing room, mellow with Hi. Elmo's lights, gill ie ring with star-fish, and gleaming with pearl! Boughs of mistletoe und bunches of rixl holly berries, drifted hither by the Gulf stream, added to its beauty. It hung fu!) of toy drum-fish, tin sword-fish, and wooden sea-horses, and whales, that had been saved from the Hood, paided from its branches. It had many Ingenious me- chanical toys, such as toy lobsters, that walked backward; toy oysters, that open ed and closed their shells, arid toy fish that really swam. Toy pirates looked grimly down from the coral bough*, und mermaid dolls smiled radiantly beneath the soft St. Elmo's lights. "All who were “In Ihe swim" flocked to Cora! Manse. At an early hour the house was crowded with sea-urchins. Dainty mermaids and merry mer-boys came In laughing throngs. Marine debutante* floated Into the drawing toom, escorted by howling ocean swells. Even gouty old mermen arid stout mer-dowagers eagerly Joined the merriment. Some of the mermaid rosebuds looked very preity and qualm in Spanish gowns of the Court of Isabella, with old India gems and Moorish Jewels as ornaments. These picturesque costumes had come from a Spanish galleon, wrecked in the Atlantic centuries ago. Of curious appearance, too, were some of the mer-matroivs, in poke bonnets, Eliz abethan luffs, enormous hoops, end gowns of tile seventeenth century. These fas*i ion cam* from the ancient wreck of an English colonial ship, and the stately mer matriarelis wore them, quite unconscious that they were not modern. Six of the handsomest young mermaids in deep-sea society, al! daughters of old blue-water families, received ihe guests. Each had twinkling green eyes, and shin ing golden half, caught in psyche knot with a golden comb. Tliey wore ultra marine gowns, trimmed with sea-foam lace, atal carried bouquet* of choice sea flower*. Green and pink pearl were their ornaments. Their names were: Miss Di ana Dac*. Ills# Grace Mullet, Mia* Tlllla Tarpon. Miss Ethel Hass, Mias Edith Hereto and Mis* Saille Salmon. 111. The distinguished guests did not come till late. Among them were Aid. Turtle of Barbados*; Cap*. Hwotdfisli, with many haul, gears; Hlr Gregory Grampus, genial and poni|toua, an.l a fine old family of et- Jlel rfpuu.sli mackerel, that tied left the We take this method of wishing our friends and patrons A Merry Christmas! E^^^S^BHmuinuuais, shores of Ctilxt. at the close of the war be tween Hie United Stales nn<l Spain. Neptune, with Jon*', foam-white beard, entered the manse, hun* his crown and trident In the hat rank, putted the sea-ur chins on the head, shook hnnds with ttio little mermaids nnd the exiled .Spanish mackerel, and said a pleasant word to everybody. “(live me a small seat In the corner,” said the whale, as he rattle in. puffing nnd 'blow'ln*. He shook hand with tha little mermaids, naked the Spanish mack erel if they had lost much properly In Culm, by the war, and wished all a happy Christmas. The devil-fish pronil.tfd to be sool if they would let him come In and see the Christmas tree. He folded all Ids arms, and oat In a corner, as quiet us a church mouse, thlnkin* how good lie was. *'ho Hit e sea-urchins amused them-elv< s by counting the arn.w of the oel pus. Santa Clous came in a rainbow-tinted a a-shell, dtawn by six dappkd set-horses. He rnld; “Merry Christmas, little mermaids. Its a tiltle damp on the way to Coral Marne Thera must hav betn a heavy dew In the oceen this evening.” The fit tie n.etnvultls laughed, and said it was as dry in the ocean as It always-was. Tim s> a-urchins eiioke up and said they had never known the ocean to be <lr.er, Suddenly all the lights went cut nnd Jell the cirul Chrt-lmas ire in the dark. "What is the matter with the eo a?" unit ed Santa < bans. The eleettlc eels w're turmd on again. Some sea-robit a settled In a coral light tree, an ler a w n low of the Manse, and sing Chrit* man carols. l.a er cn to U iiua dlsir huird the gifts. To every si a urchin, he gave a Noah's Ark, fall of marble animats l! at had been saved frcm the flood; and to evi ry member of the school of tish, a nau tical dictionary. Then he presented lo each little mermaid u golden comb, a ne k ace off ear s. a mer doll Htid many oth r beau tlfcl pusnis. As t: e ilalmy llitle m< rmalils walked home ah ng the ce an 1100-, the moon shone down through the waves, and gl til ed on thdr golden combs and t ( in me red in ih lr pearls. They felt sorry fir Ihe Ills tie earth-ina ds, who live where pearls are si nice, and hate no Christmas tree—only stockings to hung up. PAWtOTS AT fMHOOI,. When They Swear nt ft Preacher It In to tin- Credit of Their Tcnelier in One Way. From the New York Sun. "If you was to Judge by what you can hear almost anybody say.” said the little old man In the bird store, “even If you was to take the word of lots of them that sells birds there wouldn't be any need of my business, which is teaching birds to talk and sing. I guess If I was a younger rnnn with a good deal more push than I've got now, I’d call myself profeirsor find be running a Conservatory of Hlrd Music. As It is, I guess I get all the promising birds, and when I rend them back to the dealers It’s not until I'm sure they'll do me credit. Take parrots. There’s plenty to tell you that all the education any parrot needs la to put it In a cage for a few days an t swear at It regular. I have known deal ers who would pay $2 for a bird on the docks here, give It a regular cussing every day, ami fit the end of a week charge J. 7) for it as an educated bird, nnd what’s more, get It, too, and no questions asked. Now mind you, I'm not denying that there Is something educational In swearing at a parrot, but that's only one part of the business and a mighty email one, at that. "A parrot Is a mighty sagacious bird. IPs got Just as much intellect ns it has beak, end it uses both for the same pur pose, namely and to wit, improving Itself and taking unexpected nips out of some body else. You can't begin to teach a par rot without recognising its intellect and devoting your attention to that In order that you see how you can best bring It out. The first thing I do 1 to feed the bird properly, for on Jhe ships which bring them here they get almost anything and It most likely disagrees with them. You've got to remember that the parrot is a fruit eating bird and It's strong beak was not given to It for nothing; so don't crack the nuts first; let the bird do that, and it will be so much the better for his health. Brazil nuts is what I give them, and I let them feed hearty until they are plump and in good feather. When the bird 1* content with his material surroundings then's the time to begin his education. “Just about the strongest sentiment there Is In a parrot Is curiosity. Did you notice how a |arrot acts when there'* anything new about? Itoesn't he sidle up and examine first from one side and then another, first with one eye nnd then the other? Well, that'* hi* curiosity. When I have a parrot to teach I put a light bag over his cage. It should lie thick enough to keep him from seeing through and at the same time light enough to give a p.enty of light. Whether there's one or a dozen birds in a class it's ail tha same. Each bird is in * cage by himself, end a PAGES 9 TO 1 6. bag over that. Then I speak distinctly the sentence I want the birds to learn. I say it over once u minute, and it may bo that I filive to keep It up aa much os ant hour before a single parrot does anything but Bcream. llut all the time the birds are devoured by curiosity to know what's going on outside of Their own individual bags. After a lot of figuring the parrots begin to repeat the sentence to themselves In what you might .nil u whisper. As woott as one Of the birds gets so he can say ine sentence without an error my work is done, for that parrot will leach all the rest and I cun go away and leave them In the Imga all day, without a knowledge that their education will go on. “Then comes the very Important thing, and that Is the application of the lesson. We'li suppose I've been teaching the class the sentence, 'Come, kiss me.' 'l'fie birds, we will say, are all letter perfect in their parts, but they have no idea of the.busi ness. The (tret Impression when the. bags are lifted off the cages i what docs the application. For that sentence 1 have young girls come In and lift oft the bags. That fixes that sentence in the parrot's deep brain with pretty girls, and he uses It ever afterward In the right place. When 1 hey've been learning to say, ‘Gran ny, where's your specs?' they learn to as sociate It with an old woman with glasses and white hair. Then, of course, peopla have ti right to expect that every parrot Shull have a few phrases that are unfit for publication. Well, when I've been giving n lesson in the damns and dashes I uncover them with a very exaggerated clerical make-up. That's the real reason why most birds fairly rip and tear when the minister la making a pastoral call; they've been taught lo do It as a part of their education But most i**opl** think it'* natural, and I've had ’em tell me It showed the old Adam in the birds. It didn’t do anything of the sort; It only showed that they was a credit to their teacher. "Sometimes 1 have sijeclal orders, and It may be that I stated as much as a year teaching some |*articular bird. Hut thg most of my work comes from dealers. They buy up the young birds ami send them to me to work over. That takes aIKJUt four monihV nnd in that time I figure on leaching them twenty phrases with the words and business complele, to scare a cat and a dog, to whistle fivg ways, and to sing one line of a and that's the hardest thing Ihero Is to learn Is my academy. A bird with those accom plishments has olso acquired a groat deal r.f self-confidence, and that makes it easy for him to pick up a whole lot of things apparently without teaching, and that makes the parrot seem like a member of the family. Borne things they teally do Invent for themselves. Iv;ok at this old bird of mine. She's so wise that you might almost call her a professor in the academy. Now, listen, will ,vou, to what she aayg when I show her this tin pall and say, "Polly, ohus the can.' Would you lis ten to that, now? 'To hell with the beer.* There. Hint’s not nice language for a gen teel bird, but somehow or other she learn ed it for herself, nnd site's proud to teach It to the other birds. She well knows whul she’s about.” I.ong-Toed Shoes. From the Gentleman’s Magazine. .Front the reign of William Kurus to that of Henry VII, fashion uiqtears to have played ihe most remarkable freaks with shoe* nnd boots, all the more remarkable because played In a practical very much out-of-door and athletic-recreations age with articles of drees which were neces sities for use, not mere accessories capa ble of any amount of grotesque absurdity. Fashion dictated as cnorrooua absurdities ns tl did, say, among the grandfathers in ihe days of the regency. Especially dur ing the reign of the Plantagenets, the ehos craze at mined its most extensive dimen sions. Richard ll—who was, however, in '"his earlier manner” a far more strong minded nnd clever Prince than usually • deemed—had later a good deal of Georgs IV in him as regards interest In matters sartorial. Probably the high-water mark of shoe folly' was reached at that Plantagenet period when the leaders of fashion had the points of their shoes turned up much In the fashion of a ram’s horn, and linked up with golden chains to the knights knees. Grim-visaged war had here. Indeed, smoothed his wrinkled front, for the doughty warrior, however renowned in battle or at the chase of the tall deep—the only occupations for nous autres for cen turies—could not, when wearing these up to-date shoes, get his feet into the stir rups. And walking, except on the most level surfaces—which in the days of rush strewn floors and roads of the most rudi mentary kinds, such as Arthur Young hun dreds of year* later execrated, mint hava been rare—difficult. Indeed. Fulke, fount of Anjou, Is credited with having origi nated the fashion, to hide an excrescence of one of hla feet, Sometimes at tile ex treme point of th shoe In ultra-faahlon able wearer* some fantastic device, as tor instance n bird, was carved. —A bullet fired at King George of Oteeea by a murderer Imbedded Itself in tha framework if hla carnage. He had It eg. traded and mounted as a wateh charm, and think* it ia a (auxinon for hi* safety.