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THE SOtJTHERtt WORLD. JUNE 1,1884.
Our Young Folks.
“The world, deer child, la aa we take It, and
Life, be lure, la what we make It.”
WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING.
Pouting, my darling, becauae it ralna,
And the flowers droop and the rain ia falling,
And dropa are blurring the wlndow-panea,
And a moaning wind through the lane la call*
log,
Crying, and wishing the aky was clear,
And roaea again on the lattice twining! ,
Ah, well, remember, my fooliah dear,
“ ’Tie eaay to laugh when the aun ia shining! ”
When the world is bright and fair, and gay,
And glad blrda sing In the fair June weather,
And summer is gathering, night and day,
Her golden chalice of sweets together,
When blue seas answer the sky above,
And bright stars follow the day’s declining,
Why, then, 'tia no merit to smile, my love:
‘•’Tla eaay to laugh when the sun is shining!”
But this is the time the heart to test,
When winter ia here and storms are howling,
And the earth from under her frozen vest
Looks up at the sad aky, mute aud scowling:
The brave little spirit should rise to meet
The season’s gloom and the day’s repining:
And this la the time to be glad; for sweet,
“ 'Tia easy to laugh whcu the sun is shining! ”
Written especially for the Southern World. |
MlHM Mary Hrown.
BY C. K. MEANS.
It was an ugly rainy winter’s day.
The children had played out at dolls and
felt very forlorn when Aunt Nina caine
in. They were glad, because at once
they thought of a new diversion, and
begged her to tell them a story.
Aunt Nina declared she was told out
on stories, for they were cormorants and
exacted one or two every day. However,
little Nina and Blanche insisted and
presently, by mixing two old stories her
negro maumer had told her long ago,
Aunt Nina told them a tale that they
call “ Miss Mary Brown.”
Jack Jones and Mary Brown were
great friends. They were full of fun and
alwayB playing merry pranks. Her
nickname was Columbine, and she was
very pretty and dressed very fine. Jack
was often away from home, for his
mother kept geese, and when he wanted
to wander, he would fly through the air
on a very fine gander. After awhile
Mary Brown or Columbine got to be
grown and when Jack came back he
scarcely knew her or she him. About
this time an old man who bad lately
come to the neighborhood asked her to
marry him. Now no one knew much
about this old man. He dressed very
handsomely, and seemed very rich, but
he had not lived near Mary Brown al
ways, and people felt a kind of awe of
him. He had but one eye, and it was
so bright you felt as if he could look
right in your head aud tell what you
were thinking. Folks called him old
One Eye behind his back, to his face
they Baid Mr. Catcliemandburnem
When old One Eye asked Columbine to
marry him, she laughed in his face and
said “ no!” Not very polite was it?
Old One Eye went to his friend the
Black Witch and gave her a handful of
money to help him marry Columbine.
The Black Witch gave old One Eye a
vial of oil to rub on his face to make
look young, aud a pair of gold eyeglasses
to wear so as to hide his blind eye.
When he came back to see Columbine,
he looked so well she never guessed it
was old One Eye, but almost believed it
was Jack returned from his travels.
Old One Eye talked so well that he
persuaded her to go with him to see his
home, and if it pleased her she promised
she would marry him.
• Jack came back the very day that
Columbine was to start. He found out
that it was old One Eye in spite of his
slick looks, and told Columbine, but she
had to keep her word and go. She ask
ed that Jack should go too, and her fine
beau said that he might.
In the evening he drove up for Colum
bine. However, he talked very proper
and always called her Mias Mary Brown
He had a golden coach, with six horses
to draw it. Two were white, two were
black and two were bay. Jack got up
on the box with the driver, and off they
drove. The air as they rode along dried
the oil on One Eye’s face, and Colum
bine found him out. She was badly
frightened but did not say a word. She
was glad, you may believe, that her good
friend Jack was along.
As soon as she got to old One Eye’s
house she said:
“I can’t marry you. I want to go
home!”
“You must eat dinner first,” says old
One Eye, “and answer all my ques
tions.”
While Columbine was saying this
Jack had run to the White Fairy, and
asked her help. She gave him two eggs
and told him to give them to Columbine
to break when she was in great danger.
Then, too, she told him the answers for
old One Eye’s questions. She told him,
too, not to let Columbine eat any of the
dinner.
When Jack got back dinner was on
the table. He told Columbine when old
One Eye asked her to the table, to tell
him her feet were so cold she wanted to
carry her victuals to the fire and eat it
there.
Directly old One Eye said: “Miss
Mary Brown, come to dinner.”
“Oh, sir 1” she replied, “my feet are
so cold, can’t I take my plate to the fire
and eat didner in my lap?”
So old One Eye gave her a plate of
food and she went to the fireplace. Jack
had loosened a tile that he lifted up and
poured the victuals in, for the fcod was
bewitched or poisoned.
Then old One Eye tried to get Colum
bine to drink some wine, but she said:
“Oh, no; mother says I musn’t.
Please let me go home 1”
“If you answer all my questions I'll
let you go,” for old One Eye did not
believe she could reply correcdy.
He began then his questions in a sing
song rhyme:
“Miss Mary Brown 1 Miss Mary Brown!
What is white aa any snow?”
Jack whispered what to reply:
“Linen’s white! linen’s white!
Linen’s white as any Bnow!”
Again he sang:
“ Miss Mary Brown! Miss Mary Brown!
What is green aB any grass?”
Jack told her to sing:
" Poison’s green! poison’s green!
Poison’s green as any grass!”
Old One Eye was furiously angry that
she replied so well, but tried another
riddle:
" MIsb Mary Brown! Miss Mary Brown!
What is red as any lire?”
Jack almost forgot what the White
1’ airy had told him, but in a minute he
remembered and whispered to Colum
bine. So she sang:
” Flannel’s red! Uanuel’s red!
Flannel’s red as any Are.”
Then old One Eye jumped up and
bawled out:
“ Miss Mary Brown! Miss Mary Brown!
What Is deep as any well?”
She answered;
“ Hell is deep! hell is deep!
Hell is deep as any well.”
Old One Eye was very angry, but said
she could go. She and Jack started, but
presently they heard old One Eye coin
ing. He was going to catch them.
“Break an egg!” cried Jack.
bhe did so, and the broken egg spread
into a deep pond. Old One Eye went
back for a boat to cross it in, and Jack
and Columbine ran on. They were just
up a hill in sight of her mother’s, when
they looked back and saw old One Eye
was over the pond and nearly up to
them.
“Oh!” said Columbine, “he will
catch us for I’m out of breath.”
“ Break an egg!” cried Jack.
She threw the egg behind her, and
when it broke, a great forest sprang up,
and while old One Eye went home to
get an axe to cut it down, they ran on
and got safely home. Old One Eye then
had to let them alone.
OUR LETTER BOX.
An Alabama Girl.
Drab Southern World—Alter seeing so many
letters from your little readers, and alter seeing
and forming the acquaintance of one real lire
editor, I concluded to put to the testa resolution
formed more than a year ago, and to write one
letter, if it is not published no one will know it
but you and I. There is another thing that in
duces me to write, and that is having seen in
your paper the likeness of Dr. Willis Foreman
Westmoreland with a short sketch of his career.
1 wonder if he is not a kinsman of mine ? My
grandfather was also a Doctor Westmoreland,
and a native of Georgia, residing at one time
in or near Atlanta. 1 would ask mamma for ini
tials, but she does not know that 1 am writing
to you. 1 am only a little girl fourteen years of
age. 1 am not going to school at present, but
will go in the fall to Tuskaloosa. If my first
effort is not thrown aside I will try again and
tell you something of my beautiful black mare,
and give you a little pen sketch of our country
as it appears in the summer and the change that
winter brings. Before 1 close 1 must tell you
what my father says of the Southern World,
and it is just what 1 think, he says that it is the
only agricultural paper he ever saw that each
number was worth double the price of the paper
for a year. We have been taking the southern
World since its first issue, and we eagerly look
for its semi-monthly visit. One more word and
iam done; could nothing be said to iuduce you
you to come every week. Love to all the little
contributors. Emmie Westmoreland Jones.
Modesta, Ala.
Au Arkansas Lad.
Kind Editor—Seeing my last letter in print 1
thought i would write to your beautiful paper
again. Your last copy that came on the 15th of
April had such a beautiful picture of a boat. 1
live in the beautiful state of Arkansas, where
there is plenty of good, nice, cool, fresh water
flowing from springs and creeks. There is a
pretty little creea ilowiug through our larm; the
uame of the creek is Clear Creek. It is a great
place to catch fish. Most of the school children
are going fishing the first Saturday in May
Every Friday evening the children shout with
joy: “Oh, school is out, school is out, ha, ha!
Boys, we’ll have a fine time to-morrow.” Ar
kansas is a great State for raising cows, sheep,
hogs and horses aud most anything that a farm
er could wish for. This is a great State for
raising peaches, apples and a great many other
kinds of fiult. Cold weather has seriously in
jured fruit this year. Corn is not doing well on
account of the cool nights and so much rain
this spring. Most of the farmers are very late
planting cotton this spring. This is a fine State
for raisiug corn, cotton, wheat, rye, oats aud
potatoes. The soil is fine and will produce from
one thousand to fiiteeu hundred pounds of cot
ton per acre. The land is well timbered, con
sisting chlelly of pine and oak.
, ... Charlie A. Gill.
Princeton, Arkansas.
»■*•»
A Question Answered.
Editor Southern WoRu>-Having seen in
your excellent paper a question asked by Willie
Duggan, of Many, La.: Who was the oldest man?
i thought 1 would answer with pleasure his in
teresting question. Methuselah was the oldest
man; his age was D6U years. It will be found in
the tilth chapter oi Genesis', 27th verse. Now 1
will ask a question, myself, and the one who
sends the first correct answer, 1 will present
the Bender with a lovely Easter card. The ques
tion is: What verse contains the most words in
the Bible? Tobeauswered through the columns
of the World. You must be sure to write your
address in full. Many good wishes for the dear
little cousins and our much loved paper.
Howard, Ga. M,TTl,C Montuo “**y.
George's Gratulotiout*.
Kind Readers Southern World—1 am a
quite a small boy and 1 am happy to say 1 live
in a town where there is uo liquor sold. We are
all happy up here on that account; we have no
need lor marshals, everthing is quiet. We have
a nourishing lodge of Good Templars, of which
I am a member. There are lots of pretty girls
that belong to the lodge; one is especially pretty
her uame is Daisy. We have the best college in
the State. This is the place I will advise people
to come and live. Good schools, Good Templars
and good people, and a pretty town situated oil
the banks of the beautiful river, Oostauaula.
Calhoun, Ga. Georoe Connor.
Iola Heard From.
Dear Southern WoRLD-Papa likes your pa
per very much and 1 enjoy reading the letters
from my little Southern friends and I decided
“ I * ,OU M eW * r - * e hav ea splendid school
here, MI pupils. Prof. J. o. Ryals, Jr, is the
president of our school Our lady teacher in
the school is Miss Eliza Bowen. 1 live in Jack
sonville, Calhbuu Co., Ala. Our town is noted
for Us health and good water. As 1 like your
paper so much 1 will try and get you some sub-
scribers. We have a little girl from your city
going to school here; her name is Ruth Randall
W e have a large limestone spring in the center
of our town; it is snout flitjr yards long
Your, truly, Iola Whoenavt
Jacksonville, Ala,
A New Friend.
Dear Editor—Here comes another
your little friends asking permission toTriu
1 take your paper and think it just SDlendTs
am thirteen year. old. 1 live in a 1
and my father has a store as Urge as the e u?
the town. My sister and myself have l0 1! “
the store. I thought 1 would like it better J “
going to school; but believe now that i ,
going to school. 1 would like for some Hm
friends to correspond with me. Now
itor.if you will be so kind as to publish thu,'
will write again. Minnie
Gordon, Ga.
a ♦>—
IAttle Haidee.
Dear Editor-I am only a little girl just »i,
years old, but can read quite well in the second
reader. I want to write and tell the Utile Kirl ,
of the Southebn World about my dolls j have
four; their names are Mary, Faustlne, Kulaand
Nellie Gray. Saute Clause broughtthem to me
also a little toy stove. My brother takes you,
paper aud we like it very much. With much
love ’ Maidek Collins
Camilla, Georgia.
»» a-m
Auotlier Arkanslau,
Drar Editor—As my father takes your paper
1 have the pleasure of reading the little folks’
letters, which 1 like very much. My fathei likes
your paper very well. 1 am a little boy thirteen
years ot age. I live on a farm seven miiei
northeast of Clarksville. My father moved to
this county three years ago last January, i fik e
to live here very well. w. A. sllby.
Clarksville, Ark.
Written specially for Southern World. |
Tliat Boy!
Pope in one of Bis essays said: “The
greatest study of mankind is man.”
But to play a little upon the subject in
the quoted sentence, we are sometimes
constrained to believe that the greatest
study of man is a boy.
What is an infant boy baby ? A little
lion with soft paws and silken hair, the
possibilities of an angel or a devil.
A strange coincidence it is, that most
young mothers discover their first boy
baby to be an angel.
“ Lol at the couch, where infant baby sleeps
The silent watch the happy mother keep*-"
She bends over the tender form, and
with anxious heart she watches the
gently heaving breast, and soliloquizes
to herself a beautiful compliment:
“ 0, you darling boy, with sparkling
eye and dimpled cheek, you are the per
sonification of perfection. Yes, you’re
an angel, the very image of your moth
er!”
Such a man as LycurguB could see the
possibilities of but one thing in an in-
rant boy baby: “It might make a sol
dier.”
But “ she who rocks the cradle moves
the world”—moves it in science—moves
it in art—moves it in literature—moves
it in religion! The highest perfection
of human existence is embodied in an
infant child.
But this is an exceedingly progressive
subject.
Five years from the date oi cradle,
carriage and mother’s “lullaby song,
that boy has stepped forth into another
world of existence and activity.
By this time he iB capable of riding *
horse, driving a cart, running a eteam
engine, aud throwing the whole fami j
into utter consternation with one of his
fierce shrieks!
He builds houses, railroads and bridges
out of corncobs; tunnelB diminutive
mountains with the fire shovel; screeches
and squeals like an enraged hyena, an
makes the domestic animals hide out oi
a week at a time.
Five years later, and we lift
tain again, aud there he stands,
great unwashed!” His hands lire *
dirty, his face is all smutty and ins
look like the claws of a miul ‘ tu * h .
His pants are supended by one 1®*
siring, weighed down with pebl ^s
marbles and sling-shots and horses
and chewing gum. He is no* rea P
the retribution for his early acti' ‘V*
He is made the butt end of e ' er - ^ ^
in the whole neighborhood. He w
quiredtowait till the second Uije
tear of reflecting discreditupon the I®*
1 breeding of bis paternal aocest'