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BY AUNT SUSIE.
(This is a corner set aside for the Little Folks of The Constitution for their enter
talnment and development in the art of let ter-writing.) —,
A Nose Out of Joint.
We've got a baby in our house,
A perfect little fright;
I think that is the reason
It came so late at night.
His eyes keep shutting all the time.
His head is awful baye;
And he makes so many faces,
" It gives me quite a scare,
o
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Mamma says he is beautiful.
Her precious darling boy.
Papa calls him his jewel bright.
His life, his light, his joy.
1 used to have so many names,
I can’t remember all,
But since that red-faced baby came
I'm plain Samantha Hall.
The Children’s Friend.
Children, I am going to tell you somo
th-.iig of a man who was one of the best
friends little < hildren ever had. Many years
ago there was a little boy born in Germany
whose name was Friedrich Froebel. His
parents were poor; his mamma died when
he was only two years old, and the poor
little fellow was very comely, for he had
no toys like most children, nor horses and
carts, but only a few books. He was a
v< ry gentle, lovely child and although he
had few playmates and playthings, yet he
was a very happy child. He used to stay
out among the birds and flowers and imag
ined they were all talking to him, so he
took the’ i for his plavmates an<l learned
from then: many beautiful things. His fa
■ ■■ pets were some doves. They -would
sit on his shoulders and when he would go
to look in their nest the mother bird would
n d. even move, but would let him look at
the baby birds.
One day his father came to him and told
him he was too big to be playing ail day,
ami he was going to send him to school.
At first Friedrich was delighted, 'out he bail
only been in school a few days when he
Mound studying uninteresting books was
'J
FRIEDRICH FROEBEL.
not fun, but very hard work, and he be
came very unhappy, for he missed his birds
and flowers, and he made up his mind right
then that when he became a man he would
try to teach little children in some way so
they jvould be cheerful and happy, and yet
bo learning something all the time. When
he became a young man a war broke out in
Germany and he was marched off to war,
but he was not hurt and came home safe
when the war was over, and then the beau
tiful thoughts about educating little chil
dren fame back to him. He would get a
numl er of ch ldr< n togi ther and take them
Into the woods and fields and tell them sto
ries about tile birds, flowers and insects.
He would play games with them and tell
them the wind taught him.
After a while- he had to give a name to
this kind of t aching and he called it his
rten, w lich means “chilli gar
den.’ Soon this kind of teaching became
▼ery popular and now there are kindergar
ten s. h >ols all over the country, and though
they are not all taught out of doors, yet
the teachers have studied the beautiful
■ways which Friedrich Froebel taught in his
country and they make their indoor child
gardens very happy places for little chil
dren.
I think you would like to see the picture
of this friend of little children and so give
It to you.
This good man has been dead a long time,
but he lived until he was seventy years old,
tieloved by every one, and his beautiful
thoughts will never die. I read all this in
a letter written to children by Harriet Lin
coln Coolidge, and she says if any of our
American children ever go to Germany she
hopes they will go to the little village of
Schweina and see a monument his friends
have erected to his memory, for there is not
another like it in the world. It is made
in the form of the three first gifts of the
kindergarten—the sphere, the cylinder and
the cube.
She says if you are a little kindergarten
child you will understand the meaning of
these forms, and if you are not you can get
some one to tell you all about them.
But there is one thing you can understand
from this man’s life, and that is if we w'ill
ail fill our lives with useful works and try
to benefit others that we will be remem
bered and loved long after we have passed
away out of this world.
AUNT bLSIB.
YOUNG FOLK’S CORRESPONDENCE.
Letters of Exchange Among The Consti
tution’s Little l‘’olks.
John Copeland. Bvrd I*. <)., Floyd County, Ga.—
Knowing the large circulation of your valuable
paper. I solicit, through the columns of your de
partment, any information concerning my broth
er , Dukey < opeland. AVe are orphan children,
live in ail—Telia, Holly, John, Dnkey amt b illie.
The )a-t we heard of Diikey, lie was living with a
family by the name of Camp, It is said they
moved to Texas. If this should fall m the bands
of our lost-sight-of brother or anyone that can
and would be Kind enough to write to his brother
be would gain my life-long gratitude.
11. W. Bighams. Highland Park, Fla.—l wish to
Know through Hie Constitution, of the where-
aboutsof my brother, James Bighams. Ihe last
time I beard from him he was living in Columbus,
Ga.,on Winton’s hill, near the dummy crossing.
He was married in Crawlord county, Geoigia, near
Fort Valiev, to Miss Alberta Locket. 11 some of
the Columbus fi Sends see this advertisement, 1
truly hope that they can give me some inlorma
tion concerning him 1 will return postage lor
every answer. Any information will be thank
fully received through The Constitution or by let
ter.' Answer as above.
Josie Shivers. Weston, ila.-I note the vast im
provements in the art of letter writing each week.
And as there is seldom ever a letter from this part
of Georgia, I concluded to ask for admittance
into the charming circle.
Let more of the older cousins write, and strive
each week to make our Corner more interesting,
for Aunt Susie must certainly have the patience
of Job comparatively, to do the good work she is
doing. Her crown will shine with the brightest
of diamonds in that world so bright and fair.
Ami 1 do earnestly pray that each am) every one of
her little cousins'may enter the fold and dwell
forever together.
Correspondents solicited.
’ v
Gcorgie B. Murray, Leesville, Texas.—l live in
the country about half a mile from the village of
Leesville, 1 like living in the country better than
the city. lam fond of horseback riding, hut very
seiuom have the privilege.
I am not going to school now, as school closed
list week. lam very sorry, because I like to go to
school and study so that I may recite my lessons
well.
Carrie Cushman, of Roseland, S. asked if
any of the cousins raised flowers. J do, for one,
or "at least try very hard.
1 have a nice organ and play several pieces.
Why don’t more of the cousins from Texas
write?
1 attend Baptirt Sunday school at Leesville.
Fred J. Thompson, Spring Garden, Va.—lt has
been unite a long while since I have written for
your corner, but it is not because 1 have not been
taking interest in it.
Pana lias been taking The Constitution for sev
eral years, and I am always glad when it comes,
so I can peruse its delightful pages (the tenth one
especially).
My brother and I have been going to tlie Spring
Garden High school ever since September, but
stopped three weeks ago, much to my regret, as
we had splendid teachers. 1 thought some of my
school-work wis hard, writing compositions es
pecially, but having been working on the farm
three weeks, I have decided that it is mere play
compared to making tobacco bills all day.
1 will ask a question and close:
What, and by whom, was the only paper ever
printed on wheels?
Alice Cook, Red Oak. Ga.— Aunt Susie, open the
door a little way and let me slip in, for I am not
going to tarry but a lew moments, as this is ray
first visit.
I lam a country girl, and like most of yourcoas
| ins, have a great deal ol work to do. lam not go
i ing to school now. 1 have been visiting my Aunt
| in Haralson where I spent six weeks very pleas
l an! ly, attending < ver so many nic ■ entertainments.
| It is a nice country and has good society.
My papa wishes to know the whereabouts of his
brother, Sebum Cook. When last heard from he
was in Mississippi. Any information would be
gladly received. Address as above.
If any of the cousins would like to write to a
bashful*country girl, just come ahead. As you
I hardly ever find a girl that will tell her age, I shall
I not break the rule.
Many good wishes to Aunt Susie and the cous
ins.
Nellie G, Wells, Climax, Gn,—l live in the lieau
til’.tl little town of Climax, of about, seven hun
dred inhabitants. ft is noted for its health. We
have three churches: Methodi-t. Baptist and
Presbyterian, and have three saw mills.
I am like all the rest ot the cousins, 1 do enjoy
reading the nice letters Irom so many, and hear
them describe their homes while Some are faraway
and then some are near by. It is kind in Aunt. Susie
to have so much care for us as to give us this Cor
ner lor our own benefit in letter writing, in which
v.e should strive wit h al! our might to do our best.
I thin., Lillian M uitgon: ry’s letter on the curi
osity-jug was grand, anil the boys ought to take
heed and shun such as tobacco and whisky, it
has led many a poor boy to ruin. Beware of the
first drink; "remember that tlie first calls for the
second, and thus it goes.
1 would like tor some of the cousins on the coast
to send iue some .shells and other curiosities.
Would like correspondents, either sex. Age
fifteen.
Rae Grove and Ollie Ramsay, Marlow, Ala. —Wo
live about seven miles from Mobile bay, and by a
small river < ailed Fish river, and we enjoy rowing
on the river very niucii.
I, Rae, came Irom Pennsylvania, to Alabama
about three years ago, and 1 like it quite well, as
we have nice times in the summer going in bath
ing and fishing, although we d > not catch many
fish. We both enjoy reading The Constitution
v< rv much, and tliin'k the young folks are improv
ing very fast, 1, (Oilie) wrote last.
We have been to tlie Gulf of .Mexico twice, anil
bad a very nice time. We have church here once
a month by Rev. Mr. Williams, Sunday school
every Sunday.
Cousins, do you like to ride horseback? We
have very nice times riding and often go together.
If any of tlie cousins will send us tlie songs:
“Alterthe Ball,” and “I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight,
Love,” we will send in return "Nellie Gray,”
“Down by the Weeping Willow,” and “Widow in
the Cottage by the Sea.’’
We will close with the best wishes for Aunt Su
sie and the cousins.
We would like a few correspondents of our age,
which is fourteen.
Lavinia Gellncr, Russellville, Ga.—Although si
lent lor several years, 1 have read with much in
terest all letter. However, of late 1 miss from
tlie columns some of its brightest stars, some of
whiehare: Lizzie Adams, Michigan; J. W. Magill,
Texas; Hairy Beldenmon, Mississippi; .1. M. Bar
ron. Atlanta, Ga., and many others that write
such excellent letters. Write again, J. M. Barron,
and tel! more about your city.
1 welcome all the new cousins, and extend to
them a cordial invitation to visit the columns of
ten. And oiler to the little aifiicted cousin my
most profound sympathy. I have a great desire to
help her, and wish to know her present address,
1 have a good many stamps to send her.
Some of the cousins give interesting descrip
tions of their home, town and travels. 1, as some
of the others, have never indulged in the latter
luxury, and would give a description of my town,
but from the fact ot being laughed at, 1 resist
Notwithstanding, I can boast ol a very pleasant
and comfortable country home.
While lain writing in the twilight, the plow
man is coining home from his day’s work, making
everything gay with his melodious voice, the
crickets are singing their sweet evening song, and
tlie song-birds their most lovely notes.
May the shadow of tiiis grand old southern pa
per never grow less, is the sincere wish of its con
stant reader,
Clara Holt, Ellii y. Ga.—My home is in the
country in the beautiful valley of Turnup Town,
on the Knoxville and Southern railroad. I live
three miles from Ellijay, tlie < ounty site of Gilmer
county, and three in ws from the famous summer
resort, White Path Spr.ngs.
1 am nowgvisiting niy Grandma Redmond, on
< arteeay, twelve miles from home; 1 have been
here a month. Grandma takes The Constitution,
and I like to read the cousins’ letters. I am the
only girl in a family of seven. My mamma died
when I was three and a half years old, and my lit
tle brother Gordon was eighteen months old. I
have five half brothers nearly grown, and three of
them are away I tom home now.
1 have no dear iiianima to watch over me, but
my papa is very good to me and f Jove him. He
calls Gordon and 1 Ills little pets. Aly pet cat is
named Julia; ray dog Ca sar, . ndall the chicken’s
are my pets, lor I have to see aft -r them all the
time.
1 am twelve years old, and will tell you all some
thing about housekeeping. 1 can't remember
when 1 first leared to cook. One of my brothers
helped me do the work while at home, but lie has
been away over a year, and I do all the cooking
myself. Jam a good housekeeper, it 1 do say it
myself. If Aunt Susie will come to see ti e some
day, I will get her a nice dinner without any help.
I have lots of pretty flowers in my yard in sum
mer. plant and work them myself. 1* am piecing
a quilt. Papa says ne is going to buy me an or
gan and then 1 will not get so lonely when alone,
for 1 love music and can S'llg anything.
Best wishes for Aunt Susie, tiie cousins and the
| dear Constitution.
The testimonials published on behalf of
Hood’s Sarsaparilla are as reliable and as
I worthy your confide.-?e as if they came from
[ your best and most trusted neighbor. They
I state simple facts.
THE WEEKJL.Y (JOJNSTITUTIOJN ; ATIxaJM VUL., MU.MJAY, 18,
LITTie MR. THIMBLEFINGER.
hj «
The Strnn, \ 'LER‘ the Children Saw and the Strange Stories They
, J °” ' flSDOrt. Heard There.
pdocWtJ in
By Joel Ch ? ,l of “Uncle Remus." Copyright, 1894, by the Author.
Once upon < / P laata ’
tion, in the^ ss ift’roteiieorgta,
a little gi’ \ :,ivt -jegro
nurse. T p ;'^a^-Senat 1 '
Vance —eci«
gave K tin -cci torg
was tjftjt /Mention V n 'esSL
‘‘“ft <T,' T*- "
“4r
n am^ S
fun f
a’chitaj
ter Jos ’ two '»
Bh * -n il M
and a cat b J.
Sweetest'h.
eyes like .
had golden 4. 1 w ms
mother. As to. i’liVlck
as the old black’! 1 '; ; . iee rood
humor, except whe J be
angry. Sweetest. Su’s-« ;-'iderful
dark eyes that made her . serious
except when she laughed, hie was as
full of fun as Buster was al
ways in some sort of mischiC hat did no
body any harm. * T
These children were not afraid of any
thing. They scorned to run from horses,
or cows or dogs. They were Dorn on the
big plantation, and they spent the greater
part of the day out of doors, save when
the weather was very cold or very wet.
They had no desire to stay in the house,
except when they were compelled to go to
bed, and a great many times they f-etted
a little because they thought bedtime came
too soon.
Sweetest Susan had a great many colls,
and she was very fond of thtm. She had
a china doll, a Jip-jap doll, a rag doll, a
rubber doll, a white doll, a brown doll and
a black doll. Sometimes she and Bru
silla would play with the dolls our in the
yard, and sometimes Buster John would
join them when lie had nothing better to
do. But every evening Sweetest Srusan
w
IBSSL. w)
Jfe liVa.
•‘DON’T YOU KNOW TT BRINGS BAD L
and Drusilla would carry the dolls into The I
bedroom and place them side by sale i
against the wall. Sweetest Susan wanted |
them placed there, she said, so she could j
see her children the last thing at night. ,
and the first thing in the morning.
But one night Sweetest Susan went to
bed crying, and this was so unusual that
Drusilla, forgot to put the dolls in their
places. Sweetest Susan’s feelings were
hurt. She imd not been very good, ami
her mother had called her Naughty Susan
instead of Sweetest Susan. Duster John,
in the next room, wanted to know what
the matter was, but Sweetest Susan
wouldn’t tell him, and neither would she
tell Drusilla. After a while Sweetest Su
san’s mother came in and kissed her. That
helped her a little, but she lay awake ever
so long, sobbing a little and thinking how
she must do so as not to be called Naughty
Susan.
Drusilla lay on a pallet near Sweetest
Susan’s bed, but, for a wonder, Drusilla
lay awake, too. She said nothing, but she
was not snoring, and Sweetest Susan could
see the whites of her eyes shining. The
fire that had been kindled on the hearth
S> as to give a light (for the weather was
not cold) dickered and flared, and little
blue flames crept about over the sputter
ing pine knot, jumping off into the air
and then jumping back. The blue flames
flickered and danced and crept about so
and caused such a commotion among the
shadows that were running about the
room and trying to hide themselves behind
the chairs and in the corners that the big
brass andirons seemed to be alive
While Sweetest Susan was lying there
watching the shadows and wondering when
Dusilla would go to sleep, she heard a
voice call out:
"Oh, dear! I believe I’ve got smut all over
my frock again!”
It was the queerest little voice that ever
was heard. It had a tinkling sound, such
as Susan had often made when she tied her
mother’s gold thimble to a string and struck
it with a knitting needle. Just as she was
wondering where it came from a little old
woman stepped from behind one of the and
irons and shook the ashes from her dress.
"I think I’d better stay at home,” said
the little old woman, "if I can’t come down
the chimney without getting smut all over
my frock. I wonder where Mr. Thimblelin
e I’m here,” exclaimed another tink
ling voice from the fireplace, “but I’m not
coming in. They are not asleep, and, even
if they were, 1 see the big Black Cat in that
Cl ‘*\ i ]ueh t l t care!” cried the little old woman,
snappishly. "I’ll call you when I want
y< Then she went around the room where
Sweetest Susan’s dolls were scattered, and
looked at each one as it lay asleep. >Then
she shook her head and Sighed. . • .
-They look as if they were i’ rm -.>or
things!” she said. "And no wond* he pla,x
pect they have been pulled :' Jr to be 11
about and dragged around fro ■
post since 1 was here last. the'.
Then the little old woman ,
dolls with her little cane, one . ssrs> Sargent,.; (
doll called out as it was tou' ' f
"Is that you, granny’.’” „ <
And to each one the little <
“Reser, roser, rise! to ]
And r'b and rub your ra { wa [tr 1
Sweetest Susan was not at . benc f ’
She felt as if she had been exp Deiiei inc re
thing of the kind. The dolls W
ranged themselves in front of Z.ace
all except the rag doll. «
"Where’s Rag Tag?” inquired the little old
woman, anxiously.
"Here I am, granny!” replied the rag doll.
“I’m lame in one leg and I can t walk with
the other, and my arm’s out of joint.”
“Tut! tut!” said the little old woman.
“How can you be lame in your legs when
there’s no bone in them? How can your
arm be (fit of joint when there’s no joint?
Get up!”
Rag Tag rolled out of the corner and
tumbled across the floor, heels over head.
“Now, then,” said the little old woman,
opening her satchel, “what can I do for
you ?”
"She’s pulled all my h'air out!” whis
pered the China Doll.
“She’s mashed my nose flat!” cried the
Jip-jap Doll.
“She’s put out one of my eyes!” whined
the Brown Doll.
“She’s put chalk all over me!” blubbered
the Black Doll.
“She hasn’t hurt me!” exclaimed the Rub
ber Doll.
I “She’s made a hole in my back, and the
‘xwdust is all running out!” whined Rag
£ 'g.
sum attend to you first, before you bleed
yefieath,” said the little old woman, frown-
Then she rapped on the floor with her
Ane and cried out:
“Long-legged spinner,
II Come earn your dinner!”
' While Sweetest Susan was wondering
what this meant she saw a big black spider
swing down from the ceiling and hang,
dangling close to the little old woman s
face. Its little eyes sparkled and its hairy
mouth worked, as if it were chewing some
thing. Sweetest Susan shivered as she look
ed at it, but she didn’t scream.
“A thimbleful of fresh cobwebs, Long-
Legged Spinner!” said the little old woman,
in a°business-like way.
Then the big black spider moved his legs
faster than a cat can wink her eyes, and
in a few seconds the fresh cobwebs were
is very nice,” said the little old
woman. “Here’s a fat bluebottle for you.”
The big black spider seized the fly and
ran nimbly to the ceiling again. Ihe fly
buzzed and buzzed in a pitiful way, and
Sweetest Susan thought to herself, “Oh,
what should I do if that was poor me!”
Thc.i the little old woman hunted in her
satchel until she found a piece of mutton
suet, and with this and the fresh cobwebs
she quickly stopped the hole in Rag Tag s
back. This done she went around and doc
tored each one. Site glued some more hair
on the China D6ll. She fixed the nose of
the Jip-Jap Doll. She gave a new blue eye
to the Brown Doll.
“There!” she exclaimed when she had
finished, “I think you look a little more
like yourself now. But you would look
a great deal better if you had any clothes
LUCK T f O HIT A BLACK’’r-'sp; tins’a‘ ri
fit to wear. Now, pay attention! Wnat is
the name of this horrible giantess that
drags you about and beats you so?’
“It’s no giantess, granny,” replied Rag
Tag. “It’s a little girl, and sometimes she's
very, very good.”
“Hush!” cried the little old woman.
“Speak when you are spoken to.”
"She is a giantess, granny,” said the
Brown Doll. “She’s taller than that chair
yonder.”
“Where is she now?” the little old woman
asKed fiercely.
“She’s asleep in the bed, granny,” said
the Brown Doll.
“Pinch her good, granny!" cried the
Wax Doll. “Put out her eyes!”
“Scratch her, granny! Pull out her hair!”
pleaded the Brown Doll.
“Bump her head against the wall, granny!
Mash her nose!” exclaimed the Jip-jap Doll.
The Rag Tag Doll S' . not a word.
All this time the li old woman was
scratching in her satchel for something
and Sweet Susan began to get frightened.
“I’ve come off without my specks,” said
the little old woman, “and 1 can’t see
a stiver with such a light as this.”
Just then tlie big Black Cat that had been
sleeping quietly in a chair rose and
stretched himself and gaped, showing his
long white teeth. He jumped to the floor
and walked back and forth purring and
rubbing against the little old woman In a
friendly wy.
“Get out! You’ll push me ovqr,” she
cried. “Oh, will you go away? I’ll stick
you with my needle! I certainly will!
Keep your long tail out of my face! Oh, how
can 1 see to do anything? Will you go
away? I’ll hit you as sure as I am stand
ing here!”
“Don’t,” said the big Black Cat, stopping
and looking straight at the little old woman.
“Don’t you know it brings bad luck to hit
a black cat?”
“If I hit you, you’ll feel it,” cried the
little old woman.
“Stop,” exclaimed the big Black Cat. “I
know what you are here for. Do you see
my eyes? They are as green as grass. Do
you see my teeth? They are as strong as
iron. Do you see my claws? They are as
sharp as needles. If 1 look at you hard
you’ll shiver; if 1 bite you you'll squall; if
1 scratch you you’ll bleed.”
The Grandmother of the Dolls looked at
the big Black Ca>t long and hard.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“1 know you,” replied the Black Cat.
“What is your name?” she asked.
“Billy-Billy Blackfoot.”
“It is time for you to go hunting,”
she said. She wanted to get him out of
the room.
“I’ve found what I was hunting for,”
said Billy-Billy Blackfoot.
“There’s a rat gnawing in the pantry.”
“He’ll be fatter when I catch him.”
“There’s a piece of cheese in the dining
room.”
“It won’t spoil until I eat It.”
“There’s a pan of milk in the kitchen.”
“It won’t turn sour till T drink It.”
“There’s catnip in the garden.”
“It will grow till I want it.”
The Grandmother of the Dolls then made
a cross mark on the carpet and waved her
cane in the air. This was done to put a
spell on Billy-Billy Blackfoot, but before
the spell could work Billy-Billy made a
circle by chasing his tail around. Then he
glared at the little old woman and slowly
closed one eye. This was too much. The
Grandmother of the Dolls seized her cane
and made a furious attack on Billy-Billy
Blackfoot, but he leaped nimbly out of the
way and the cane fell with a whack on the
bald head of the Brown Doll.
At this there was a tremendous uproar.
B’r
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v liiuul fhkp containing <> knives ami G forks, band-engraved, guaranteed by
oiler is ” tint this out. return it to us with your full
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S'l .rl’fl, <r<iniination After examining every thing, if satisfactory, pay
Silverwair foi ex. n nat on • instead of the Silverware y.m can
> Shatter 32 or .V calibre double action Nmith A Westou,
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Mention The Conatitutlott,
The Brown Doll screamed: “Murder!” Billy-
Billy Blackfoot’s tail swelled to twice its
natural size; the hair brush fell on the
floor; the dustpan rattled; the shovel and
tongs staggered out from the chimney corn
er and rolled over on the hearth; the dolls
scrambled and scu ed under the bed, and
the little old woman whisked up the chim
ney like a spark from a burning log.
When Sweetest Susan raised up in bed to
look around she saw Drusilla sitting on her
pallet rubbing her eyes, but Billy-Billy
Blackfoot was sitting by the fireplace wash
ing his face as quietly as if nothing had
happened. At first it seemed to Sweetest
Susan that it had all been a dream, but
presently she heard a little voice that came
down the chimney:
“Mr. Thimblefinger! Mr. Thimbleflnger! It
is nine minutes after 12.” There was a
pause and then the little voice sounded
farther away, like an echo, “Nine minutes
and two seconds after 12!”
(To be continued.)
Our Prize Offer.
We are beginning to receive responses to
the offer made last week for J 5 in gold to
the boy or girl under fifteen years of age
who sent us the best story on the theme
"A Summer Vacation.” The children are
at work and we expect to receive some
very fine stories from them before the 22d
of June, the day on which the contest
closes.
Rules of the Contest.
The story must not be longer than l,ow
words. It must be written without any as
sistance from any one, and a pledge to that
effect must be enclosed witii each story.
The name and address of tlie writer must
be written at the beginning or the end or
each story, and the manuscript must be
written on cne side of the paper only.
These directions must be closely followed,
and you should cut this out and keep it
before you when you write.
You may write your story about anything
that the theme—“A Summer Vacation” —
suggests, but it must be a story. Just go
off to a quiet place and sit down and think
about what might take place during a
summer vacation. All children are natu
rally story-tellers, and if you will just give
rein to your imagination it will not be leng
before you will have a good story in your
mind. Then write.it out and send it in to
compete for the ?5 in gold.
All stories must be in hand by the 23d
of June. This is an open contest to ail
boys and girls under fifteen years of age.
Heretofore we nave offered separate prizes
for the boys and girls. This is offered tor
both, and it will be a good way to see
whether the girls really write better stories
than the boys.
Plunkett’s Story.
Little readers would not know without
being told what manner of country it is
that give the name of “Wilderness” to
Grant’s first great battle with Lee. Upon
a part of this same battlefield there had
been some terrible fighting once before —
it was called the battle of Chancellorsville,
this first fight, and it was there that Stone
wall Jackson received the deadly wounds.
Chancellorsville was a. little settlement
just on the edge of a great pine wilderness—
a great old “tavern” being the most promi
nent thing of the town —if it rose to the
dignity of a town. These pines did not
grow tall and slim, as our Georgia pines,
but limbs reached close down to the ground
and spread into tangled meshes of wiid
wood. In places, it was hard for men to
pass erect among these limbs, and once
during the battle General A. R. Wright
(Rance Wright, tlie soldiers called him,)
was caught by the hair and jerked from
his horse by these limbs. General Wright
wore his hair long like a lady, but the
golden curls did not impress one with a
timidity in keeping with female character
as the battle raged—as a lion he moved and
his golden curls shook like a lion’s m ine—
but he came near being hung like Absolem
in these pines at Chancellorsville. This
section was once a mining region, and the
pfil mines were yet there, and furnished
’Hiieltc'; at times to whichever side chanced
to have them. Just a few old deserted houses
stood here and there scattered through this
great wilderness, and it was just such a
place as the poor refugees of that period
felt themselves secure in from the terrors
of war, which had so overrun the grand
“old dominion.”
It is of one of these “refugeefl” families
I wish to tell you, and of the heroism of
a sweet little girl of that poor family. In
one of these old deserted houses a good
mother with three little children had taken
up her abode, and they were happy in the
thought that at last they had found a
place to rest in peace from the terrors
which had followed them and pressed them
from a happy home in the valley beyond
the Blue Ridge. Never did they dream
that an army would enter this great wil
derness; but in this they were mistaken,
for twice did two great armies struggle
there.
A blight morning, about the first of May.
1863, the good mother found it necessary to
go up the river to a mill to secure some
bread. She kissed tlie little children, and
tears came to her eyes as she charged
little Mary not to get scared, and to take
good care of the baby and little Rob.
Once along the river’s bank, the mother
found a dim trail which made her journey
easier than pressing through the tangle
of the main wood. It was some four miles
to the mill, making it quite a job for this
delicate mother, who had been reared with
the instincts associated with the refine
ments of the “old Virginia home,” to travel
there and back with her load of grinding
in one day. And she did not return in one
day, for, before she knew it, Hooker had
crossed his army over the river, swung it
round and was between her and her little
ones at the desolate home. The first she
knew the pickets were firing, and then
the skirmishing got lively, while now and
then a battery would turn loose a volley of
‘ searchers,” as soldiers called the shells
which were thrown in front as “feelers”
before the advancing hosts.
I will not attempt to describe the feelings
of that mother when she took in the situa
tion. Her “grinding” was forgot, the tired
feeling was all gone. The tangled meshes
of the wilderness no longer stayed her
movements, but, with a fleetness akin to
wildness, she pressed through, unheeding
the scars she was giving to her own tender
flesh. The little ones at home—if it be
called a home—Mary, but twelve years old
herself, and little Bob and the baby both
to care for. This was the thought that was
in that mother’s heart when she ran right
upon the line of battle of Hooker’s right.
She must stop—war knows no mercy, but
many a brave yankee In Hooker’s line
that day shed tears of sorrow as she told
her tale and struggled to get free.
We must leave the mother, though we
leave her in tears, and go to the house
where Mary, little Bob and the baby are
crouching in fear as the battle rages. Poor
little Mary; how she longs for the mother
who cannot pass the battle line. The balls
rattle upon the old house, and shells go
tearing through the pines of the wilderness.
Never once did Mary think of deserting
her post. “God will protect us and mother
will come,” was what she whispered to
little Bob, as a great shell crashed through
the old house. But there came something
more terrible than the balls. The wilder
ness was on fire! They could see the leap
ing flames through a crack in the boards.
XJOAO jo sdO) om 3UDPH
pine with its withering touch. It s
the wounded who lay up and
battle lines. The cartr , idge . boXe ®
ing from the dead men s sides. The wound
ed soldier’s scream for help and two battle
lines are contending for possession. ihe
fire rolls on, and great tongues of flame
reach out and lick the little house.
Mary must flee! With the baby in one
arm and little Bob by the hand, she
dashes out the doorway. The fire is roar
ing and the bullets are flying. Mary bounds
like a ball in her speed, but a cruel bush
trips her and the baby goes flying from her
arms and iittle Bob’s face plows into the
wilderness of straw. How the battle does
rage, but Mary is upon her feet again.
Will she leave the children? Twice she
has picked up the baby, and twice she has
fallen in her haste. But now she has it
fast and has little Bob by the hand again.
She almost flies and her hair streams out
behind. The soldiers see her as a cruel
bush trips her again. The firing is hushed,
the balls cease io fly, and two armies raise
their caps as the children pass over the
hill. Sarge Plunkett.
The Bumblebee-
Wiser far than human seer,
Yellow-breeched philosopher.
Seeing only what is fair,
Sipping only what is sweet,
Thou dost mock at fate and care,
Leave the chaff and take the wheat.
—Emerson.
N ATI IlAI? 111 ST 011 Y NOTES.
The colors of the chameleon do not changi
instantaneously, but require a considerabk
length of time. The change is a provision
of nature for the protection of a helpless
animal from innumerable enemies.
When suddenly frightened, .lizards will
often drop their tails and scurry away. The
discarded member, bouncing up and down,
attracts the attention of the enemy and en
ables an escape to be effected.
Almost every kind of animal seems to
have what may be called a weather in
stinct. The approach of rain is indicated
by the flight of cranes and swallows, by
the cries of waterfowl, by the actions ot
cows and pigs.
Condors have been seen to circle to and
fro in the sky for half a day at a time, ris
ing and descending without once flopping
a wing. There is a mystery about their
method of motion which has never been
explained.
The green tree frog is an excellent barom
eter. Put him in a jar with an inch or two
of water at the bottom and a little ladder
running up to the top. If the weather is
to be fine he will ascend, if bad be w.ll go
down.
We have always had an idea that the
philisopher who takes everything as it
comes, without swearing, has a hard time
of it.
-.rn-l"! 1 ’
Tlje Notibk Success
achieved by our wheels has been
made possible by the perfectly com
, plete facilities afforded by our great <
< manufacturing establishment located
at Hartford, Conn. This plant is
1 equipped with the most advanced
machinery for the performing of
every detail of tlie work of convert
ing the raw materials into the
finished product by the most ap- 1
proved methods, and in the process i
of construction 1 ,
(olGipbkßicyde;:
are submitted to many tests under
an elaborate scientific system simi
; lar to that established by the United
Slates Government, which begins
with an analyzation of the raw
materials and extends to every com
pleted part, thus insuring for these
1 famous wheels perfect uniformity
of strength and great wearing
powers, unequalled by any bicycles
in the world.
POPE MFCi. CO., Boston, New York,
Chicago, Hartford.
Catalogue free nt Columbia agencies, (
or mailed lor two two-cent stamps.
——
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