The Pansy, July 1886

"Agreed!" shouted the boys. "What shall we call ourselves?"

"The Do-Nothing Club," some one suggested; "we aren't going to do anything, only have all the fun we can."

"We can have that for our motto," said one of the boys.

"Well, we only have a few minutes before the bell will ring: let's elect officers."

So Will tore a few pages out of his note-book, and after some officers had been nominated, each one wrote the names of those he wanted, on his slip. The results were just being announced when the school-bell rang.

"The first meeting of the Do-Nothing Club will be held in our yard to-morrow afternoon," called Will Post, who had been elected president of the new organization.

So the next afternoon, immediately after school, ten boys wended their way through the back gate of Mr. Post's yard, and seated themselves on the woodpile.

"I know where we will go," said Will, "right out in the orchard in the boughs of those two gnarly old apple-trees that just touch." Everyone thought this a splendid plan, so soon the ten boys were in different places in the two great apple-trees in the orchard.

"Has any one a suggestion to make as to the first adventure of the Do-Nothing Club?" said the president, by way of opening the meeting.

"I have," said George Shaw, the treasurer of the club. "You know Mr. Clay's pasture?"

"Yes!" they all said.

"Well, it's just chock-full of daisies and wild strawberries, and I move that next Saturday we ask him if we can get some daisies, and each take a big basket and get it most full of strawberries with a few daisies on top, to make it look all right, you know;" and George chuckled.

"I think it is a splendid plan, worthy of our honorable treasurer," said President Post. A vote was taken, which was almost unanimous in favor of George's proposition, although there were a few demurs made at first on the ground of it's not being "quite honest."

"Honest!" sneered Will, "as if it wasn't all right to refresh ourselves in a big meadow, with what's there, free as grass!" So the objections were silenced, and the meeting adjourned.

Now it so happened that Mr. Post's orchard and Mr. Clay's farm were only separated by a high board fence. Close by this fence grew quite a little coarse grass, and as Mr. Clay thought it took too much room, on this very afternoon on which the Do-Nothing Club held their first meeting, he had taken his scythe and spade, and had gone to cut and dig up the offending material. The day was very hot, and he grew so tired and warm that he determined to lie down in the shade by the fence for a few minutes. But while lying there, he fell into a little doze, and was only awakened by the laughter of the boys as they climbed up the trees, getting seated for the meeting. He lay awake for a few moments, trying to make up his mind to arise, and consequently heard the conversation in the apple-tree, in which he became not a little interested.

Just here I must stop and explain that Mr. Clay knew his meadow was very productive of wild strawberries, and had said to his son, a few days before the time at which my story begins:

"James, there will probably be a quantity of strawberries in the meadow this summer, and if you pick them, you can sell them at a good price, which will bring you considerable spending money. Do you want to try it?"

"Yes, indeed!" had been the reply, and so it was planned that in about a week James should pick his strawberries, and have the money for his "very own."

To go back now to the new club, I may say that the next Friday afternoon (after the apple-tree meeting) the ten boys appeared at Mr. Clay's door.

"Mr. Clay," said the president, "we've formed a new club lately—the Do-Nothing Club, of which I'm the president, and George is treasurer. We decided that the first thing we'd do would be to pick some daisies out of your meadow, that is, if you would let us. You don't use them for anything, do you?"

"Not at all," said the gentleman, heartily; "you are perfectly welcome to pick just as many as you want. But don't step on any more wild strawberries than you can help."

"We'll be careful," said Will, so he nodded good-morning, and the club marched away. "Indeed we won't step on them," he added, when they were out of hearing, "we want the use of them, and it won't do to destroy them."

So bright and early the next morning the club marched to Mr. Clay's meadow, each member armed with a basket, with a good-sized pail inside. They were to fill the pails with berries, and completely cover them with daisies. They worked hard all the morning. About ten o'clock James Clay said to his father, "I guess I'll go out and help. They must be having great fun."

"No, my boy," said Mr. Clay, with a twinkle in his eye, "I would rather not."

When the town clock struck one, the boys had searched the meadow so thoroughly that there was hardly a berry in it, and their pails were nearly all full! Then they went into the woods back of the meadow to rest and take their fill of the fresh fruit. Now you who have no idea of the capacity of boys' stomachs, especially for berries, would hardly believe me if I should state the exact amount that those boys devoured! So I will not give it. Suffice it to say that there were some which they had to throw away, having no place to put them for safe-keeping, and not daring to share them with anyone, for in that case, as Will said, "the cat would be out of the bag." So it came to pass that the rapid river which flowed through Snyvylville could have told, if it had chosen, how one part of it was dyed as red as blood that afternoon, and how it looked as if some awful deed had been done there, until the strawberries were all washed down stream.

On Saturday evening, divers little girls went about the streets of Snyvyville with pails of wild strawberries, and the mothers or fathers of every one of the members of the Do-Nothing Club, happened to buy some of them for the Sunday dinner. But in each family there was great amazement because the boy or boys thereof would eat no berries, and because each boy had the headache and stomachache all day. "I don't believe it was good for you to be out in the sun so long," said Mrs. Post to Will, as she put a fresh cloth dipped in ice-water, on his head. He made no reply, for he knew that it was not the exposure to the sun that gave him the headache, but—quarts of wild strawberries! Too much of a good thing is worse than none at all.

"James dear," said Mrs. Clay to her husband on Saturday evening, after James, Jr., had gone to bed, "I don't believe it will be wise for Jamie to pick all those berries out in the meadow. Couldn't you get somebody to pick them, at two cents a quart? That would leave him quite a good deal of money. The sun is so hot, I am afraid he would get sunstruck."

"I think that will be all right," said Mr. Clay, looking earnestly at his newspaper; "I don't suppose you would mind at all if the person we hired did get sunstruck?"

His wife laughed, but turned again to her mending, and said no more.

On Monday afternoon Mr. Clay went out to continue the work of banishing the aforesaid offensive grass from the face of the earth, but lay down again as he saw, through a crack in the fence, the Do-Nothing Club wending its way toward the apple-trees where it was to meet to talk over the success of the strawberry plan.

"Twenty quarts!" ejaculated George Shaw, "that was pretty good. I hardly thought there would be so many. Wasn't my plan splendid, though, Will—oh! I beg your pardon, Mr. President?"

"Fine!" said the president; "all that you planned for was, anyhow, for I don't suppose you calculated for ten headaches and ten stomachaches, as well as ten pails of berries, did you? As nearly as I can find out, the other members of the club have suffered in these ways, like myself."

There was a good deal more talk; they decided what should be their password, and a great many other private matters. They would have been very much disgusted, I am certain, if they had guessed that Mr. Clay was intently listening to everything that was said. Their motto was to be "Fragi Agrestes," because, as John Clower, the only Latin student of the club, announced, that meant "wild strawberries." Of course that was to be used as the password, too. The seal was to be a leaf of that plant, while the color of the club was to be red.

When they went home, Mr. Clay got up and went to work again, but he didn't work as well as usual, for he had a plan in which he was more interested than he was in demolishing the grass. When he got home he sat down and wrote some sort of a letter which he sealed with a piece of red sealing-wax, and a button which he had found in his wife's button-box.

Thus it happened that on Tuesday morning, when George Shaw went to the post-office to get the mail, he found a big yellow envelope addressed to him. It had a red seal, on which there was stamped the outline of a strawberry leaf. He looked at it in amazement, for the writing was strange. He found the document inside to be sealed with the same seal. I will give you a copy of it:

George stopped on the street in perfect amazement! Then rushed to school, for the last bell was ringing.

At recess, he called a meeting of the club, and showed them the document he had received.

Then there were grave faces and anxious discussions. How could Mr. Clay have found them out?

At last the president said:

"Well, we'll just have to pay him; there is no help for it. Every one of the club must hand over twenty-six cents for his share. Here's another thing we didn't plan for in the strawberry idea. For my part, I wish 'Fragi Agrestes' had never been invented."

The club marched that very afternoon, in a body, to Mr. Clay's house to pay their bill. No willing delegate was found to represent them. Once there, the president had to make the speech.

"We've brought you your money, Mr. Clay. We can't imagine how you found us out; but we hadn't the least notion of stealing! Somehow it never entered our heads that it could be stealing, to help ourselves to wild strawberries. I never thought of such a thing until I saw your bill. There it is. Will you please receipt it? And we'll promise you we won't be likely to get caught in such a scrape again."

"Thank you," said the farmer, putting the money in his pocket, and taking up a pen to receipt the bill. "Boys, I'm not so anxious for money that I had to have my pay for the berries you stole. But I thought it would teach you a lesson; so I sent the bill to the treasurer. And now I want to advise you to take a new name for your club, for you won't prosper under the present one. When you aren't planning to do anything but have fun, you'll get into mischief.

"I'm agreed," said Will; "and I'll resign. I have an idea. Suppose you be our president, Mr. Clay?"

"I!" laughed the farmer.

"Good for you, Will," said the boys. "That's a first-class idea. Will you do it, Mr. Clay?"

"Well," said Mr. Clay, after a moment's consideration, "I don't know but I'll accept. It is quite an honor. President of the Snyvyville Do-Something Club!" and he laughed again.

I wish I had time to tell you the story of the new club! Under Mr. Clay's presidency, they prospered; and became proud of their club. True to their name, they "did" many things which were for their good, not only, but for the good of others.

Some day I may write out their story, or a piece of it.

They grew to be very fond of their president, as well as very proud of his schemes.

The Do-Nothing Club had but one report in the note-book of their secretary:

Resolved, That the Snyvyville Do-Nothing Club change its name to the "Do-Something Club," as it has not prospered under the former title, but has been the cause of ten headaches, ten stomachaches, and the loss of two dollars and sixty cents, to the members thereof.

(Signed)       James Powell, Sec'y.

The Club still kept its motto, "Fragi Agrestes," for they thought that "wild strawberries" had taught them a lesson they would not soon forget.

One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.

I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life.

"Grandma," said Marion, with almost a shade of reproach in her voice, "did you truly have miracles done for you?"

"I thought so, child, and I don't know but I thought pretty near right. They were the dear Lord's loving kindnesses and tender mercies to a naughty child; and those are miracles enough for reasonable people. I'll tell you the story, and see what you think about it.

"It was the afternoon before the Fourth, and everybody in our house was very busy. There was to be a great celebration the next day, the largest which had ever been in that part of the world. The speaker was to stop at our house, and several of the leading men were coming to take supper with him, and in the evening there was to be fireworks, great wonderful fire balls, such as we don't see now-days, and fine doings of all sorts.

"ME TUMBLING OVER AGAINST MOTHER."

"By the middle of the afternoon, mother began to look very tired. I can seem to see her face now, as she stood looking at the sideboard with its rows of shining dishes. 'That drawer ought to be cleared out,' said she, 'and fixed for the changes of knives, and forks, and spoons, but I don't know who can do it; everybody's hands are full and it is full of all sorts of things.' She wasn't speaking to anybody in particular, just talking low, to herself. I was only a little girl eight years old, and not supposed to notice all that was going on. But I heard it, and decided then and there, that as soon as my mother went out I would set to work at that drawer myself. And I did. It was a hard drawer to clear out; one of those places where in a hurried time things get put that don't belong, and you don't exactly know where they do belong. I worked away at it faithfully, until my back ached with stooping, and every nerve in my body seemed to be on the jump. Over in the corner sat my grandfather, talking with an old friend of his. They did not notice me, but I heard snatches of their talk, about the grand doings which were to be on the next day, and it seemed to me I could hardly wait. My work was almost done, and I was busy with the thought of how pleased mother would be, when I took up a long delicate glass bottle filled with some liquid. The glass was so thin I tried to look through it; as I held it up against the light, my hands must have been trembling with weariness and eagerness, for somehow, I never could understand how, that bottle slipped from me and shivered to bits on the hard floor! The liquid spilled over my hands and spattered on my face and eyes, and in an instant they began to burn as though they were in a flame of fire! To make matters worse, I clapped both hands, all wet as they were, right on my eyes. This made the pain more dreadful than ever. It all happened in a moment of time: the scream, and mother running, and grandfather springing up, and me tumbling over against mother, and hearing her say with a groan: 'Oh Ruthie, Ruthie! she has put out her eyes!'

"Then for a few blessed minutes I was free from pain; I fainted dead away for the first time in my life! The faint didn't last long; the pain in my eyes was too great. Oh! it was a dreadful time. Father went hurrying after the doctor, and mother tried cold water, and milk, and bran-water, and everything else she could think of, to relieve my suffering."

"But, Grandma, what was it? What had you done?" interrupted Marion, her face pale with sympathy.

"There was some dreadful liquid in the bottle, dear, that had burned grandma's eyes, and her skin, wherever it touched, and the doctor was afraid my eyes were put out. Mother said afterwards that she knew he thought so, by the look on his face, and by his refusing to answer her questions.

"He put something on, at last, which relieved the pain a little, then my eyes were bandaged, and I was put to bed. My dear mother, when she stooped down to kiss me after everything was done, did not forget to whisper that I was a dear little girl to try to help mother, and that the drawer looked beautiful.

"I sat up to the supper table that very night, but with bandaged eyes that ached a good deal, and every one at the table wore a sober face; I could tell, by the sound of their voices. I don't know whether father just happened to read those verses at family worship, that night, or whether the trouble made him think of them. However it was, he read the story of the blind man who was cured; and who, when the people questioned and questioned him, could give only this answer: 'One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.'

"Father's voice trembled over the word 'blind,' and mother cried; I could feel her tears dropping on my hand. But I did not shed a tear; my heart was full of a great thought. Jesus had cured that blind man with a touch, and my Bible verse the Sunday before, had been 'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.' Why couldn't he cure people in just the same way now? Why didn't he? Perhaps he did, only I had never heard of it. Father's prayer made the thought all the stronger. He asked the Lord to bless their little girl, and, if it was possible, to take away the fear which was gnawing at their hearts. He didn't think I would understand. Mother did not know she had screamed out that I had put out my eyes. But I heard her. I knew all about it. I remembered the time when the dog slipped his chain and came and saved me; I thought God sent him; and God could in some way cure me now. Every waking minute that night I prayed to him to cure me. The first thing I did in the morning was to pray the same prayer. I will not deny that I thought about the beautiful fire balls, and all the wonders of the evening, and I asked God, since he could do it just as well, to cure me quick, so I could see all the lovely things.

"Well, children," Grandma dropped her knitting, and, leaning forward, folded her soft white hands over her knee in an impressive way she had, and looked her attentive little audience squarely in the face, "I don't know how it was; I don't pretend to explain it, never have, but when the doctor came that morning, and said he must take off the bandages to bathe my eyes, and warned me that the light would hurt very much, and I must try to be brave, and told my mother that when he saw my eyes, he could give her an idea of how many months I would have to wear the bandage, and when everything was ready, and mother had me in her arms, and father sat the other side, and held my hand, and the doctor unpinned the bandage, I looked straight at father with two eyes that did not even wink, and said: 'Father, they don't hurt a bit; not a single bit.'

"Why, we had almost as much of a time then as he had had the night before! That doctor couldn't seem to believe it; he was determined my eyes should burn, and sure that I could not see father's face. But I saw everything as plain as I do this minute. And my eyes did not hurt at all. I continued to see all day; and at night saw the fire balls, and laughed and made merry with the rest. The happiest girl, I do believe, that ever sat down to a Fourth of July feast. I believed that the dear Lord had touched my eyes and cured them."

"But, Grandma," said skeptical Ralph, "do you really think it was so? Don't you suppose the stuff in the bottle was weaker than they thought, and the doctor's medicine, and the night's sleep, cured your eyes?"

"I don't know," said Grandma, taking up her knitting again; "all I know, is this: the stuff burned so that I thought for a minute the whole of me was on fire; and when I came out of my faint, and tried to look up at mother, I couldn't see a thing! And they all believed that if my eyesight was not quite gone, it would be months and months before I could see again; and never, so well as before. And I know that in the morning when the bandage was taken off, I could see a good deal better than I can now, and my eyes never ached a bit from it afterwards. It is a little piece of the old story. Grandma can't explain it, couldn't then; 'One thing I knew; that whereas I was blind, now I see.'"

There had been a great deal to do to get ready. Hours and even days had been spent in planning. It astonished both these young people to discover how many things there were to think of, and get ready for, and guard against, before one could go into business. There was a time when with each new day, new perplexities arose. During those days Jerry had spent a good deal of his leisure in fishing; both because at the Smiths, and also at the Deckers, fish were highly prized, but also because, as he confided to Nettie, "a fellow could somehow think a great deal better when his fingers were at work, and when it was still everywhere about him."

There were times, however, when his solitude was disturbed. There had been one day in particular when something happened about which he did not tell Nettie. He was in his fishing suit, which though clean and whole was not exactly the style of dress which a boy would wear to a party, and he stood leaning against a rail fence, rod in hand, trying to decide whether he should try his luck on that side, or jump across the logs to a shadier spot; trying also to decide just how they could manage to get another lamp to stand on the reading table, when he heard voices under the trees just back of him.

They were whispering in that sort of penetrating whisper that floats so far in the open air, and which some, girls, particularly, do not seem to know can be heard a few feet away. Jerry could hear distinctly; in fact unless he stopped his ears with his hands he could not help hearing.

And the old rule, that listeners never hear any good of themselves, applied here.

"There's that Jerry who lives at Smiths," said whisperer number one, "do look what a fright; I guess he has borrowed a pair of Job Smith's overalls! Isn't it a shame that such a nice-looking boy is deserted in that way, and left to run with all sorts of people?"

"I heard that he wasn't deserted; that his father was only staying out West, or down South, or somewhere for awhile."

"Oh! that's a likely story," said whisperer number one, her voice unconsciously growing louder. "Just as if any father who was anybody, would leave a boy at Job Smith's for months, and never come near him. I think it is real mean; they say the Smiths keep him at work all the while, fishing; he about supports them, and the Deckers too, with fish and things."

At this point the amused listener nearly forgot himself and whistled.

"Oh well, that's as good a way as any to spend his time; he knows enough to catch fish and do such things, and when he is old enough, I suppose he will learn a trade; but I must say I think he is a nice-looking fellow."

"He would be, if he dressed decently. The boys like him real well; they say he is smart; and I shouldn't wonder if he was; his eyes twinkle as though he might be. If he wouldn't keep running with that Decker girl all the time, he might be noticed now and then."

At this point came up a third young miss who spoke louder. Jerry recognized her voice at once as belonging to Lorena Barstow. "Girls, what are you doing here? Why, there is that Irish boy; I wonder if he wouldn't sell us some fish? They say he is very anxious to earn money; I should think he would be, to get himself some decent clothes. Or maybe he wants to make his dear Nan a present."

Then followed a laugh which was quickly hushed, lest the victim might hear. But the victim had heard, and looked more than amused; his eyes flashed with a new idea.

"Much obliged, Miss Lorena," he said softly, nodding his head. "If I don't act on your hint, it will be because I am not so bright as you give me credit for being."

Then the first whisperer took up the story:

"Say, girls, I heard that Ermina did really mean to invite him to her candy pull, and the Decker girl too; she says they both belong to the Sunday-school, and she is going to invite all the boys and girls of that age in the school, and her mother thinks it would not be nice to leave them out. You know the Farleys are real queer about some things."

Lorena Barstow flamed into a voice which was almost loud. "Then I say let's just not speak a word to either of them the whole evening. Ermina Farley need not think that because she lives in a grand house, and her father has so much money, she can rule us all. I for one, don't mean to associate with a drunkard's daughter, and I won't be made to, by the Farleys or anybody else."

"Her father isn't a drunkard now. Why, don't you know he has joined the church? And last Wednesday night they say he was in prayer meeting."

"Oh, yes, and what does that amount to? My father says it won't last six weeks; he says drunkards are not to be trusted; they never reform. And what if he does? That doesn't make Nan Decker anything but a dowdy, not fit for us girls to go with; and as for that Irish boy! Why doesn't Ermina go down on Paddy Lane and invite the whole tribe of Irish if she is so fond of them?"

"Hush, Lora, Ermina will hear you."

Sure enough at that moment came Ermina, springing briskly over logs and underbrush. "Have I kept you waiting?" she asked gayly. "The moss was so lovely back there; I wanted to carry the whole of it home to mother. Why, girls, there is that boy who sits across from us in Sabbath-school.

"How do you do?" she said pleasantly, for at that moment Jerry turned and came toward them, lifting his hat as politely as though it was in the latest shape and style.

"Have you had good luck in fishing?"

"Very good for this side; the fish are not so plenty here generally as they are further up. I heard you speaking of fish, Miss Barstow, and wondering whether I would not supply your people? I should be very glad to do so, occasionally; I am a pretty successful fellow so far as fishing goes."

You should have seen the cheeks of the whisperers then! Ermina looked at them, perplexed for a moment, then seeing they answered only with blushes and silence she spoke: "Mamma would be very glad to get some; she was saying yesterday she wished she knew some one of whom she could get fish as soon as they were caught. Have you some to-day for sale?"

"Three beauties which I would like nothing better than to sell, for I am in special need of the money just now."

"Very well," said Ermina promptly, "I am sure mamma will like them; could you carry them down now? I am on my way home and could show you where to go."

"Ermina Farley!" remonstrated Lorena Barstow in a low shocked tone, but Ermina only said: "Good-by, girls, I shall expect you early on Thursday evening," and walked briskly down the path toward the road, with Jerry beside her, swinging his fish. If the girls could have seen his eyes just then, they would have been sure that they twinkled.

They had a pleasant walk, and Ermina did actually invite him to her candy-pull on Thursday evening; not only that, but she asked if he would take an invitation from her to Nettie Decker. "She lives next door to you, I think," said Ermina, "I would like very much to have her come; I think she is so pleasant and unselfish. It is just a few boys and girls of our age, in the Sunday-school."

How glad Jerry was that she had invited them! He had been so afraid that her courage would not be equal to it. Glad was he also to be able to say, frankly, that both he and Nettie had an engagement for Thursday evening; he would be sure to give Nettie the invitation, but he knew she could not come. Of course she could not, he said to himself; "Isn't that our opening evening?" But all the same it was very nice in Ermina Farley to have invited them.

"Here is another lamp for the table," said Jerry gayly, as he rushed into the new room an hour later and tossed down a shining silver dollar. He had exchanged the fish for it. Then he sat down and told part of their story to Nettie. About the whisperers, however, he kept silent. What was the use in telling that?

But from them he had gotten another idea. "Look here, Nettie, some evening we'll have a candy-pull, early, with just a few to help, and sell it cheap to customers."

So now they stood together in the room to see if there was another thing to be done before the opening. A row of shelves planed and fitted by Norm were ranged two thirds of the way up the room and on them were displayed tempting pans of ginger cookies, doughnuts, molasses cookies, and soft gingerbread. Sandwiches made of good bread, and nice slices of ham, were shut into the corner cupboard to keep from drying; there was also a plate of cheese which was a present from Mrs. Smith. She had sent it in with the explanation that it would be a blessing to her if that cheese could get eaten by somebody; she bought it once, a purpose as a treat for Job, and it seemed it wasn't the kind he liked, and none of the rest of them liked any kind, so there it had stood on the shelf eying her for days. There was to be coffee; Nettie had planned for that. "Because," she explained, "they all drink beer; and things to eat, can never take the place of things to drink."

It had been a difficult matter to get the materials together for this beginning. All the money which came in from the "little old grandmothers," as well as that which Jerry contributed, had been spent in flour, and sugar, and eggs and milk. Nettie was amazed and dismayed to find how much even soft gingerbread cost, when every pan of it had to be counted in money. A good deal of arithmetic had been spent on the question: How low can we possibly sell this, and not actually lose money by it? Of course some allowance had to be made for waste. "We'll have to name it waste," explained Nettie with an anxious face, "because it won't bring in any money; but of course not a scrap of it will be wasted; but what is left over and gets too dry to sell, we shall have to eat."

Jerry shook his head. "We must sell it," he said with the air of a financier. Then he went away thoughtfully to consult Mrs. Job, and came back triumphant. She would take for a week at half price, all the stale cake they might have left. "That means gingercake," he explained, "she says the cookies and things will keep for weeks, without getting too old."

"Sure enough!" said radiant Nettie, "I did not think of that."

There were other things to think of; some of them greatly perplexed Jerry; he had to catch many fish before they were thought out. Then he came with his views to Nettie.

"See here, do you understand about this firm business; it must be you and me, you know?"

Nettie's bright face clouded. "Why, I thought," she said, speaking slowly, "I thought you said, or you meant—I mean I thought it was to help Norm; and that he would be a partner."

Jerry shook his head. "Can't do it," he said decidedly. "Look here, Nettie, we'll get into trouble right away if we take in a partner. He believes in drinking beer, and smoking cigarettes, and doing things of that sort; now if he as a partner introduces anything of the kind, what are we to do?"

"Sure enough!" the tone expressed conviction, but not relief. "Then what are we to do, Jerry? I don't see how we are going to help Norm any."

"I do; quite as well as though he was a partner. Norm is a good-natured fellow; he likes to help people. I think he likes to do things for others better than for himself. If we explain to him that we want to go into this business, and that you can't wait on customers, because you are a girl, and it wouldn't be the thing, and I can't, because it is in your house, and I promised my father I would spend my evenings at home, and write a piece of a letter to him every evening; and ask him to come to the rescue and keep the room open, and sell the things for us, don't you believe he will be twice as likely to do it as though we made him as young as ourselves, and tried to be his equals?"

Then Nettie's face was bright. "What a contriver you are!" she said admiringly. "I think that will do just splendidly."

She was right, it did. Norm might have curled his lip and said "pooh" to the scheme, had he been placed on an equality; for he was getting to the age when to be considered young, or childish, is a crime in a boy's eyes. But to be appealed to as one who could help the "young fry" out of their dilemma, and at the same time provide himself with a very pleasant place to stay, and very congenial employment while he stayed, was quite to Norm's mind.

And as it was an affair of the children's, he made no suggestions about beer or cigars; it is true he thought of them, but he thought at once that neither Nettie or Jerry would probably have anything to do with them, and as he had no dignity to sustain, he decided to not even mention the matter. These two planned really better than they knew in appealing to Norm for help. His curious pride would never have allowed him to say to a boy, "We keep cakes and coffee for sale at our house; come in and try them." But it was entirely within the line of his ideas of respectability to say: "What do you think those two young ones over at our house have thought up next? They have opened an eating-house, cakes and things such as my sister can make, and coffee, dirt cheap. I've promised to run the thing for them in the evening for awhile; I suppose you'll patronize them?"

And the boys, who would have sneered at his setting himself up in business, answered: "What, the little chap who lives at Smith's? And your little sister! Ho! what a notion! I don't know but it is a bright one, though, as sure as you live. There isn't a spot in this town where a fellow can get a decent bite unless he pays his week's wages for it; boys, let's go around and see what the little chaps are about."

The very first evening was a success.

Nettie had assured herself that she must not be disappointed if no one came, at first.

"You see, it is a new thing," she explained to her mother, "of course it will take them a little while to get acquainted with it; if nobody at all comes to-night, I shall not be disappointed. Shall you, Jerry?"

"Why, yes," said Jerry, "I should; because I know of one boy who is coming, and is going to have a ginger-snap and a glass of milk. And that is little Ted Locker who lives down the lane; they about starve that boy. I shall like to see him get something good. He has three cents and I assured him he could get a brimming glass of milk and a ginger-snap for that. He was as delighted as possible."

"Poor fellow!" said Nettie, "I mean to tell Norm to let him have two snaps, wouldn't you?"

And Jerry agreed, not stopping to explain that he had furnished the three cents with which Ted was to treat his poor little stomach. So the work began in benevolence.

Still Nettie was anxious, not to say nervous.

"You will have to eat soft gingerbread at your house, for breakfast, dinner and supper, I am afraid," she said to Jerry with a half laugh, as they stood looking at it. "I don't know why I made four tins of it; I seemed to get in a gale when I was making it."

"Never you fear," said Jerry, cheerily. "I'll be willing to eat such gingerbread as that three times a day for a week. Between you and me," lowering his voice, "Sarah Ann can't make very good gingerbread; when we get such a run of custom that we have none left over to sell, I wish you'd teach her how."

I do not know that any member of the two households could be said to be more interested in the new enterprise than Mr. Decker. He helped set up the shelves, and he made a little corner shelf on purpose for the lamp, and he watched the entire preparations with an interest which warmed Nettie's heart. I haven't said anything about Mr. Decker during these days, because I found it hard to say. You are acquainted with him as a sour-faced, unreasonable, beer-drinking man; when suddenly he became a man who said "Good morning" when he came into the room, and who sat down smooth shaven, and with quiet eyes and smile to his breakfast, and spoke gently to Susie when she tipped her cup of water over, and kissed little Sate when he lifted her to her seat, and waited for Mrs. Decker to bring the coffee pot, then bowed his head and in clear tones asked a blessing on the food, how am I to describe him to you? The change was something which even Mrs. Decker who watched him every minute he was in the house and thought of him all day long, could not get accustomed to. It astonished her so to think that she, Mrs. Decker, lived in a house where there was a prayer made every night and morning, and where each evening after supper Nettie read a few verses in the Bible, and her father prayed; that every time she passed her own mother's Bible which had been brought out of its hiding-place in an old trunk, she said, under her breath, "Thank the Lord." No, she did not understand it, the marvelous change which had come over her husband. She had known him as a kind man; he had been that when she married him, and for a few months afterwards.

She had heard him speak pleasantly to Norm, and show him much attention; he had done it before they were married, and for awhile afterwards; but there was a look in his face, and a sound in his voice now, such as she had never seen nor heard before.

"It isn't Decker," she said in a burst of confidence to Nettie. "He is just as good as he can be; and I don't know anything in the world he ain't willing to do for me, or for any of us; and it is beautiful, the whole of it; but it is all new. I used to think if the man I married could only come back to me I should be perfectly happy; but I don't know this man at all; he seems to me sometimes most like an angel."

Probably you would have laughed at this. Joe Decker did not look in the least like the picture you have in your mind of an angel; but perhaps if you had known him only a few weeks before, as Mrs. Decker did, and could have seen the wonderful change in him which she saw, the contrast might even have suggested angels.

Nettie understood it. She struggled with her timidity and her ignorance of just what ought to be said; then she made her earnest reply:

"Mother, I'll tell you the difference. Father prays, and when people pray, you know, and mean it, as he does, they get to looking very different."

But Mrs. Decker did not pray.

We make a great many stops. "Fourteenth street," shouts the man at the gate, and there is a rush of people to get off, and a rush of people to get on, and away we go; and in almost less time than it takes to get our breath, Twenty-third street, or some other, is shouted, and we stop again.

At last Forty-second street is called, and we hurry off; everybody in New York is in a hurry. Yet we have reached a quiet place; the New York Central Depot. "A railroad depot a quiet place!" That astonishes you, does it? Still it is the truth; I am not sure but you would think yourself in a great public library, where people move quietly, and speak low. There is no rush, nor bustle; and the room which we have entered is so large that there can hardly be a crowd, even when many people are there. Many doors line one side, and large clock-faces are set over them; but they keep curious time; no two are alike. If you watch, however, you will discover that the doors and the clocks are all named. One is "N. Y. C. & H. R." another is "N. Y. & N. H." and another is—something else.

The hands of the clock point to the hour and moment that the next train on that particular road will be ready to leave the depot. All we have to do is to look for the name of the road on which we want to travel, and then study the clock over the door. Here is ours, "N. Y. & N. H." We have still fifteen minutes. Before that time, the door is quietly opened, and a man whose duty it is to see that we, by no possibility, make a blunder and board the wrong train, takes his station behind it, and looks carefully at our tickets as we pass; we are seated and away.

The train moves very rapidly, and the sensation is pleasant. No rocking motion, and not nearly so much noise as we sometimes find. We chat together pleasantly, without the feeling that we are talking in a locomotive boiler, where work is going on. We make frequent stops at pleasant villages, where green fields stretch out, on either side, and where the air is sweet with the breath of flowers. One name is called which makes us stretch our necks from the open windows to get as good a view as we can. This is New Haven, "the city of elms," and the seat of Yale College. It is a beautiful city; we can be sure of that, even from the depot view. But we have not time to linger. Some day we will stop there, and take a walk around the college. Now we must make all speed to our destination. At last we hear the name: "Ansonia." And we seize our wraps, and satchels, and umbrellas, and lunch boxes, and make haste. What a pretty village! And what a strange one! The river cuts it in two; makes another village on the other side, which, after all, is the same village, or looks like it. There are many trees, hiding nice old-fashioned houses, near which we get glimpses of many flowers. But the buildings which most attract us to-day are not dwelling houses; unless indeed a race of giants live in them. They are so large! Manufactories? Yes, you have guessed it; the State of Connecticut, you know, is famous for its industry. We have spent so much time in getting here, that we will not be able to stay long in the great building to-day. Still, let us stop a few minutes before this queer machine; it is apparently eating wire. What a stomach it must have! Long coils of fine wire rush into its mouth with such speed that one can hardly see the process. How fast it eats! Such large mouthfuls as it takes! about eight inches of wire at a bite. Now what? No, it doesn't swallow the wire, it simply bites it off, and sends it on. Not far, for as the wire is scurrying by a corner, some one of the wicked people who dwell in this machine, seizes it and bends it double! Poor thing! But as you would naturally expect, it hurries the faster now. Not two inches away, it meets another enemy who in sheer ill humor, apparently, seizes it and in an instant of time has given it such a pinch that its right side is all crinkled; it will bear the marks of that grasp all its life! It scuds on, without a groan, intent apparently on getting out of that country as soon as possible. But no, it is seized again, and the two ends of its poor body are rubbed hastily and mercilessly against a rough surface, until they are like needles for sharpness. It takes but a second, and then the wicked sprite seems to have had revenge enough, and lets the poor wire pass. There is a little open place for which the wire is evidently making; it hopes to slip down there out of sight—hurry! almost there! Alas no, one more sprite reaches out a long finger, and gives that horrid pinch to the other side! "Maimed for life!" the poor wire groans, and at last, at last, having suffered a life-time of torture, so it thinks, though really its whole journey has not taken more than half a minute, it drops breathless and exhausted into the box below. Let us go around and look at it, poor thing! Why, how it shines! And what a merry company it has gotten among! Not alone any more; literally millions of friends of the same outward appearance as itself. "Hairpins!" you exclaim. Yes, indeed; hairpins for the million. Can it be possible that the world will ever want them all? But how pretty they are; and how smooth and fine their points are! Besides, those horrible pinches which we thought were simply vents for ill-humor, were to put those convenient crinkles into the pins, and help them perform their duty in life. In short, the dabs, and pinches, and grindings, hard as they were to bear, were the very things which shaped a mere bit of wire into a useful member of society.

And, when one thinks of it, what a bit of time it took—this preparation—compared with the time which they will now spend in usefulness! No wonder the hairpins in the great box shone brightly when at last they began to understand it all. The question is, little Pansy Blossoms, can you and I, as we stand looking at them, and thinking of all this, learn a lesson which will apply to our human rubs, and pinches, and sharp places? If this be so, then we shall be well repaid for going, and seeing, and thinking.

He quietly resolved to try. But how to get an eaglet was the question. Day after day he would go alone and examine the rocks to see if there was not some way of getting to the nest. There seemed to be none. It was a ledge, almost smooth, and one hundred feet high where the nest was. No ladder would reach it, and if he should go around and climb to the top, he would not be near, as it was many feet down.

THAT PALACE OF ROCKS.

One night as he lay thinking the thing over, a thought struck him. "I will go to the top, fasten a rope and let myself down and capture one and climb up again."

In the morning he was a bit wiser and said: "Now if something should happen while I am down there pocketing a young eagle, I might need both hands; in that case how could I climb up? I'll tell the secret to John and Joe Grimes." So they went around to the top of the ledge where they could look over down to the nest.

The old eagle was gone; but there were the five children, talking together at a great rate, not thinking who were near by listening to their conversation and about to knock at their door.

The next moment as they looked up they saw a man coming down by a rope fastened about his body. He seized one and was being drawn up when suddenly the Mother Eagle seeing from far away in the sky an enemy enter her home, and, coming like a flash, dashed upon the robber and would have torn his eyes out; but he fought desperately with his long, sharp knife.

One of his blows almost severed the rope. John and Joe, however, tugged bravely at the other end and their friend with his prize was soon safe but panting at their feet. It is said that when he saw how nearly he came to cutting the rope in two and falling a hundred feet, his hair became instantly white from terror.

The young eagle was taken home and tenderly raised and became as tame as any fowl in the barnyard. It grew to immense size—would fly away out of sight among the clouds, but always return at meal-time and behave like any respectable person. He thought much of his friends; not so much of his friends' enemies. And he had his way of showing his friendship.

And now you need not be surprised to be told about the queer things that the eagle, "Old Abe," did in the War of the Rebellion in 1861-65; how he actually went South with a Western regiment in which were some of his friends, and during battles would fly high and hover over his favorite regiment to cheer it on!

After the battle he would come down and walk among the soldiers and line with them.

The war over, he came back with his regiment and was received like any loyal soldier, with great honor; and his State appropriated a sum to maintain him comfortably in his after years.

There are over thirty references in the Bible to eagles. They are remarkable. A concordance can point them all out. Hunt them up.

Her trunk was on the little front porch waiting for Farmer Dodds, whenever, with his fat white horse and rattling spring wagon he should make his appearance coming over the hill.

Rose seated herself on the trunk, and lightly tapping her heels against the side, looked off in a dreamy way toward the dusty road that wound down from among tree-covered hills, on its way past their own white cottage with rose-vines climbing over the small square windows, and so prettily set down in the midst of an old-fashioned garden, with a broad, straight path leading from the gate to the porch, and at that season bordered with asters of all colors.

Farmer Dodds was not in sight, and Rose, now turning toward the left, followed with her eyes the line of the road, where, having left the slope of hill behind, it struck out across the level. Stubble fields down there were yellow, the green of the meadows was turning into a soft pale brown, and far off the horizon was like a rising mist of purple.

"Aunt Alice," said Rose, stopping the tapping of her heels, "some way the sunshine down yonder looks almost as if you could take it in your hands."

"Tangible light?" said Miss Alice, coming to the porch to look abroad.

"What's that?" asked Rose.

"Why, just the opposite of 'darkness that could be felt', I think."

"Is it?" said Rose gravely. "But, aunt Alice," she continued, "I wonder what I'll do without you here to ask questions of. And how will I ever get along without the Saturday afternoon talks—I've got so used to them, you know. I'll just be awfully lonesome."

"We'll have to plan a way to help that," returned her aunt. "Let me see—how would you like to write a letter to me on the first Saturday? Only you must be careful to write what you would be most apt to talk about if I were here."

"Oh! I'd like to do that," interrupted Rose.

"And then," continued Miss Alice, "I could have a little packet for you at the post-office. Perhaps grandma would let you ride to town with Mr. Dodds, when he goes for his mail, and you could have the pleasure of getting the packet yourself."

"That's a splendid idea!" cried Rose. "But what will you put in the packet?"

"I don't know yet," replied her aunt. "That will depend upon the letter you write to me. It may be some trifling present, or perhaps a single Bible verse, such as I often give you on Saturday evening. But of one thing you may be sure, there will be something in it that will be a true answer to your letter."

AUNT ALICE FAIRLY STARTED.

While they were talking Mr. Dodds' wagon had come rattling up to the gate. Immediately everything was in a bustle. Grandma came out to see the trunk lifted into the wagon—aunt Alice found that she had left her gloves upstairs and must go after them at the last minute—and there came Priscilla Carter running up the road with a great bunch of bitter-sweet, which Miss Alice was to take to a friend. Rose thought it was delightful, and kept skipping up and down the path, wishing all the time that she were aunt Alice, with a new trunk and going to have a trip on the cars. But at last good-bys were said, the wagon rattled and jingled off, and Mrs. Harrison, Rose and Priscilla were left standing quietly by the white picket gate in the pleasant autumn sunshine.

When Saturday afternoon came around Rose asked her grandmother for pen and ink. Then drawing a square writing-table out to the porch, where it was shady, she began the task of writing a letter that would tell all that had been going on since her aunt went away. Mrs. Harrison was sitting by the window sewing, and for nearly an hour there was no sound save the scratching of her little granddaughter's pen, or now and then a question from her as to how a word should be spelled.

But by and by Rose threw down her pen and pushed her chair noisily back, exclaiming as she did so:

"Well, grandma, I declare! I've got it done at last! Wouldn't you like me to read it to you?"

"Of course, dearie, I should like it very much," answered Mrs. Harrison, glancing up from her sewing.

So Rose sat down on the doorstep and began to read as follows:

Dear Aunt Alice:

I started to school Tuesday, and I'm awfully sorry I was not there the first day, for my seat isn't one bit nice. I'd a great deal rather have the one Altie Crawford is in. She can look out the window and see everybody drive by. There's a real hateful girl sits just behind me too. She is always twisting my curls around her finger; or if she isn't doing that, why, she is borrowing my white-handled knife—the one Mr. Dodds gave me. Miss Milton has a new blue dress. Priscilla took her a great big bunch of white chrysanthemums to put in her belt, and she looked lovely. She is the meanest teacher, though, that I ever had. She won't listen to a word you say to her, and she makes me lend my eraser to everybody in school.

I don't think that's one bit nice of her, and its most worn out, too! She just does it because it is a pretty one. There's a new boy named Robert Wilkie, just started to school, and Miss Milton pets him to death. She is always holding him up for an example, but I think he don't know his lessons any better than the rest of us. I told the girls that you were going to send me a packet, and they were all as excited trying to guess what would be in it!

I've been trying to be real good, and I help grandma wash the dishes most every day, especially when she looks tired. Last evening I got supper all by myself. I fried potato cakes. The edges were a speck jagged, but they were just as brown and nice!

Now I'll have to stop. I've thought and thought, but there isn't anything else to write about. I wonder what you'll put in the packet. I told Priscilla I most thought it would be a ribbon. She's crazy to see what is in it.

Your loving niece,
Rose.

P. S. Priscilla says she can't bear that new boy either. Miss Milton sent her love to you.

"I think that is quite a nice letter," said Mrs. Harrison, when Rose had come to the end. "But however your aunt is to answer it is more than I can guess."

"Don't it seem a long time to wait until Saturday?" said Rose as she folded the letter carefully and put it in an envelope which she brought to her grandmother to address.

"The more patiently you wait the shorter the time will seem," returned Mrs. Harrison.

Rose did wait patiently and cheerfully, and on Saturday afternoon it was a happy girl who rode home beside Farmer Dodds in the spring wagon.

As they drew near the white picket gate she saw Priscilla sitting on the horseblock.

"Have you got it?" cried Priscilla, jumping down, and running to meet the wagon.

For answer Rose held up a square package wrapped in white paper.

"I don't know yet what is in it," said Rose when they drew nearer, "for grandma told me not to open it until I got home. It feels flat, and then there's something round, like a stick of candy, only its pretty large."

The white horse had come to a decided stop by this time and Priscilla held out her hand for the package, while Rose clambered down from the wagon.

"I thank you for the ride, Mr. Dodds," said she, when she reached the ground, "and I'll tell you what is in my packet the next time you come by."

"All right," replied Mr. Dodds, with a sort of merry chuckle, "but be a leetle careful how ye open it. It might be candy, and it might be red pepper."

So saying, he drove off uphill.

"There might be something you wouldn't like," suggested Priscilla, looking a little doubtfully at the package.

"O pshaw!" retorted Rose; "I know better than that. Let's get the scissors."

About one hundred and forty years ago, near the city of Philadelphia, a boy named Benjamin Rush was growing up. It is said of him that as he advanced from childhood to boyhood his love of study was unusual, amounting to a passion. He graduated from Princeton College when only fifteen years old, and with high honors. He began the study of medicine in Philadelphia, but went abroad to complete his medical education and studied under the first physicians in Edinburgh, London and Paris; thus the best opportunities for gaining knowledge of his chosen profession were added to natural abilities and the spirit of research. He became a practising physician in Philadelphia, and was soon after chosen professor of chemistry in a medical college in the same city. While he is now at the distance of a century, best known as one who struck the first blow for temperance reform, yet it is interesting to know that when in 1776, he was a member of the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania, he was the mover of the first resolution to consider the expediency of a Declaration of Independence on the part of the American Colonies. He was made chairman of a committee appointed to consider the matter. Afterwards he was a member of the Continental Congress, and was one of the devoted band who in Independence Hall affixed their names to the immortal document which cut the colonies loose from their moorings and swung them out upon a sea of blood, to bring them at last into the harbor of freedom and independence. As was said of him at the meeting in Philadelphia, last year: "He was a great controlling force in all that pertained to the successful struggle of the colonies for national independence." We are told that "He was one of the most active, original and famous men of his times; an enthusiast, a philanthropist, a man of immense grasp in the work-day world, as well as a polished scholar, and a scientist of the most exact methods."

He was interested in educational enterprises; he wrote upon epidemic diseases, and won great honor for himself, so that the kings of other lands bestowed upon him the medals which they are wont to give to those whom they desire to honor. And now let me quote again from one who appreciates the character of this truly great man:

"This matchless physician, eminent scholar and pure patriot blent all his wise rare gifts in one tribute and cast them at the feet of his Master. He was a devout Christian."

At length his soul was stirred within him as he witnessed the increasing evils of intemperance, and he wrote and published his celebrated essay upon "The Effects of ardent Spirits upon the Human Body and Mind, with an account of the means of preventing them, and of the remedies for curing them." This is said to have been the first temperance treatise ever published—the beginning of a temperance literature. One hundred years ago, just one pamphlet of less than fifty pages; now, whole libraries of bound books, besides scores upon scores of pamphlets, leaflets and many periodicals devoted exclusively to the cause of temperance! and nearly three quarters of a century after this good man had gone to his rest, men and women from all over the land thronged the city of his birth "To recount the victories won in the war—and to strike glad hands of fellowship."

And now what made Doctor Rush great? What is the best thing said of him?

Sarah Margaret Fuller was a native of Cambridgeport, Mass. Very early in life she gave promise of the brilliant literary career which she afterwards ran. She was a fine scholar even in childhood, especially in the languages, and in general literature. Her education was carried on in private. After she entered her teens, she became a teacher of the languages in classes in Boston, and in Mr. Alcott's school, and was at one time the principal of a school in Providence. While she was a contributor to the Tribune, she was a member of the family of Horace Greeley. Her views of life were modelled after the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and about the year 1839, or 1840, she gave a series of lectures, or talks, though I believe they were called conversazioni, especially for ladies, the object being the propagation of then somewhat novel ideas. She also became the editor of a paper. She wrote much, and with considerable brilliancy. Her "Summer on the Lakes" gives pictures of the Lake Superior region. Her "Woman in the Nineteenth Century" has to do with some phases of the "Woman's Rights Question." In 1846 she went abroad, and married, in Rome, a nobleman, Giovanni Angelo Ossoli. But she bore the name and the title attached to it only a few years. For when she was returning to America, accompanied by her husband, both lost their lives in a shipwreck. She was a woman of strong passions, indeed it has been said of her that "She was noted for her eccentricities and her ungovernable passions." Not just what I would wish to be written of any of my young friends of The Pansy. It is a sad thing when a great and gifted woman misses the happiness of a quiet spirit.

RARE SPORT.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. (See page 301.)

Wilfred's voice was harsh and unpleasant, and he looked at St. George in a way decidedly disagreeable.

George Edward went on whittling.

"Allen, it's no use to pretend that I'm not in an awful scrape by that little affair over at Sachem Hill. Goodness! why don't you speak to a chap?"

"I've nothing to say," observed St. George, proceeding with his work.

"Your tongue is ready enough generally," retorted Wilfred in a temper. "Now, if it suits you to be an oyster, it don't me. I'd rather you'd preach, infinitely."

"I don't do that," cried St. George, throwing down knife and stick, and turning a countenance by no means saintly upon his visitor. "You sha'n't stand there and throw that at me," he declared in a heat.

"I didn't say you did," said Wilfred coolly, "I only said I'd rather you would. So go on."

"It's none of my business what you do," cried St. George, "I'm not going to say a word about it."

"Confound you!" cried Wilfred irritably, flinging his long figure on the bench amongst the shavings, and pushing aside the tools that lay in the way. "Well, hear me, then—I'm in for it, and no mistake. Father is so angry just because I didn't report in time that night, that he threatens to pack me off to boarding-school. In fact, it's as good as decided, and I go next week. Now, you've got the whole."

He threw himself down to the floor as abruptly, plunged his hands in his pockets, and walked to the window.

St. George stood aghast, looking after him.

"Did your mother say so?" he asked at length, hoping, from his knowledge of the Bangs family, that a reprieve might yet arrive from the true head of affairs there.

"Yes," said Wilfred gloomily, "she's worse than father about it, and determined that he sha'n't give in." St. George looked pityingly at him.

"Well, it can't be helped," he said, longing to bestow something better.

"Of course it can't," cried Wilfred, whirling around; "a plague upon you for saying that."

"You wanted me to say something," contributed St. George.

"I know it. But why don't you say 'I told you so,' or, 'If you hadn't been a first-class idiot you'd have dropped that last confounded skate!' Then I could fight you. As it is now, there isn't anything to strike against."

"I'm as sorry as you are," said St. George dubiously, overlooking his ill-success in the matter of conversationally pleasing his friend; "whatever shall I do without you?" There was such genuine regret in his voice and manner, that Wilfred forgot his irritation, and began to look mollified.

"We've had awful good times," he said, coming up to the work-bench again.

"I should think we had," declared St. George in that hearty way of his that made all the boys willing to call him "capital."

"And it's perfectly horrid to begin again with new boys, I tell you. I'd rather run away to sea!" Wilfred's courage failing him once more, he looked the picture of despair.

St. George seeing it, left his own part of the trouble, and turned comforter:

"We're in for it, so all that is left is to face the music."

"Only half-yearly vacations," threw in Wilfred.

St. George's face fell.

"And no boxes from home allowed."

St. George had no words of comfort.

"And no extra 'outs' ever given for good behavior. If there were, I'd set up for a saint," added the victim savagely.

St. George was still silent.

"And all letters must pass through preceptor's hands. Oh! I've seen the bill," said Wilfred in the depths, "besides hearing father and mother read it a good half dozen times. It's just as bad as it can be—a regular old hole of a prison, is Doctor Gowan's Select School for Boys," throwing into his voice as much animosity as he was capable of.

St. George indulged in one or two uneasy turns about the room—his workshop, made out of a part of the generous garret that crowned the old house.

Was not this a terrible punishment indeed for a boy's misdemeanor? Too terrible, it seemed to him, and he felt a growing bitterness in his heart toward the parents who could plan and carry it out, and thus mar, not only the happiness of their own son, but that of a large circle of boys who were to lose a jolly companion.

But at last conscience spoke: "You are wrong. You know that Wilfred has done many things of late that have tried the patience of his father, his mother, and his teachers. You know that they have borne with his increasing unfaithfulness—that they have labored with the boy, hoping and praying for better things. You know they take this course feeling it best for him, and while it is hard for him and for you, it must be borne, realizing it to be the result of the boy's own course. You know all this, now give the case the justice in your own mind that is its due."

St. George turned around and frankly put out his hand.

"It's right you go," he said quite simply, "we'll all try to get along till vacation, old boy."

Wilfred, finding no pity forthcoming, put his hand within the brown palm, waiting for it.

"Keep the rest of the chums together," he begged.

"I'll do my best."

"And remember, we're to go to the same college."

"All right."

"And chum it there."

"All right."

"And I wish," Wilfred looked steadily into the blue eyes gazing into his, "I hadn't done it—dallied over those old skates—but minded father."

St. George bit his lip, but yet he would not preach.

"I'll give you my word it's the last time I'll ever get caught that way."

The blue eyes leaped into sudden fire, and Wilfred's hand was wrung hard.

"All right, old fellow."

Mr. Dalton, the father of the boy who was the host of the evening, stood behind his son's chair looking on and smiling at their eagerness. Presently he said, during a pause in the game;

"Well, boys, you do well; you certainly have a number of interesting facts and dates fastened in your memories, but it occurs to me to wonder if you know anything more than the mere fact. For instance, take this question which is the first that comes to mind, 'What two remarkable events in the reign of Charles the Second?' and the answer, 'The Great Plague and Fire in London.' Now what more do you know of those events?"

Fred Dalton looked up quickly. "I know a little about the Fire, but I do not know about the Plague. I suppose that there was a sort of epidemic raged in London at that time."

"And it must have raged extensively or it would not have been called the Great Plague, and have got into history," said Will Ely.

"You are both very good at supposing," said Mr. Dalton, laughing, "but it is sometimes better to know about a thing than to guess at it."

"I have read an account of the Plague," said Fred Smith. "It raged several months, all one summer, and one third of the people of the city died. Great numbers fled from the city, and so many died that they could not have any burial service, but just buried them in a great pit in the night. They built great bonfires in the streets hoping that the fire and smoke would prevent the spread of the disease, but heavy rains put out the fires. It was a dreadful time!"

"Indeed it was," said Mr. Dalton; "the accounts of it are harrowing. And now what do you know of the Great Fire, Fred?"

"I know that it started in a baker's shop near London Bridge, and that it burned over about five sixths of the city. It burned three days and nights. It was in September, after a very hot and dry summer, so that the houses built of wood were in a well-seasoned state, and made first-rate kindling wood. And then there was a wind that fanned the fire and carried sparks and cinders a long distance, so that new fires kept breaking out in different parts of the city. It is said that there were two hundred thousand people who lost their homes, and that the streets leading out of the city were barricaded with broken-down wagons which the people flying from the fire had overloaded with their goods."

"It was a terrible calamity," said Mr. Dalton; "but like many another it proved a blessing, for the new London was much better built."

"Was the fire set by bad men, or was it an accident?" asked one of the boys.

"Without doubt it was set accidentally, though many people thought otherwise. A monument was erected near the place where the fire started in memory of those who lost their lives in that terrible time, and there was an inscription upon the monument charging the Papists with the crime, but this unjust accusation was afterwards removed by the order of the public authorities. But I will not hinder your game any longer."

"We like this sort of hindering," said one of the boys. "It makes it more interesting."

Mr. Dalton soon returned to say, "Boys, there is a 'Great Fire' in the kitchen, and a pan of corn waiting to be popped, and a Bridget there who does not think boys a 'Great Plague.'"

In less than half a minute there were no boys sitting around that table!

BABY HARRY.

ON ST. HELENA.

All Europe seemed draped in the weeds of mourning during the years of his power and greatness. I have often thought his reflections must have been sad indeed, when, during the last five years of his life, he was a weary exile on the little gum-tree island of St. Helena, with only a few friends around him, and subjected to great unkindness from the governor of the island.

St. Helena is an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, belonging to the British. It acquired celebrity from being the place of Napoleon's banishment. From the ocean it has the appearance of a lofty pyramidal mass of a dark-gray color, rising abruptly from out its depths.

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.

But on approaching, a number of openings are discovered, forming the mouths of narrow valleys or ravines, leading gradually up to a central plateau. On these, at all openings where a landing might be effected, military works have been erected for the purpose of making it secure.

What a contrast does his life there present, to the time when great continents trembled before the power of his triumphant armies.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica, 1769, and died at St. Helena, 1821, where he was buried beneath a weeping willow, for nineteen years, when France demanded his remains, and gave such a funeral as few perhaps have ever witnessed.

If any of the Pansies live near a river or lake, and are accustomed to row over the clear, shining surface, they can enter heartily into this most delightful of games. I should first seriously recommend that father or big brother John be invited to take charge of the boat, or if there are not enough big brothers to go around so that every boat can be under trusty guidance, there always is a big cousin or an uncle, or perchance a paid boatman who is competent to assume such a responsibility.

This being all arranged, the fun of trimming the small craft begins. Let each boatload keep all matters secret, so that the grand surprises that come out when the Carnival takes place, may form one of the pleasantest features of the occasion.

Get Chinese lanterns, fasten a pole at either end of row-boat, low enough so that the boats can pass safely under bridges if necessary. Two poles at either end are pretty when decorated with gay lanterns. Pass strings from one pole to another, and across from bow to stern. Hang on these bright bits of tinsel, silver, or any other trifle that will sparkle in the moonlight. Put tinsel or silver bands around top of oars above the hands—and a band around the rower's arms, and around caps. Let the girls wear white, with bright colors, and fancy hats or jaunty caps, carrying garlands.

When all is ready, the forward boat must carry one who rings a bell as the signal to start, also if possible some boys who can play on flutes or horns. There should be sweet voices on all the boats that can sing by a preconcerted plan, something in unison. As the boat sweeps around curves, and dips into bays, and shallows, one could never witness a prettier sight than the carnival presents. It is a regular game of "Follow my Leader" on the water. There must be complete obedience to the one who is leading, great good-nature, and a positive determination on the part of every child who enters into the sport to try his or her best to make all the others enjoy it.

After sailing around and around, singing and playing until tired, the Carnival ends with tying the boats fast, and "following the Leader" over the fields home, dropping the flowers at the doors of those who were not able to take part in the sport.

May you enjoy this Carnival of the Boats, dear Pansies, making it a bright spot in the lives of many, and a memory to gladden the heart.

Paper made of cotton rags was in use, 1000; that of linen rags, in 1170; the manufactory, introduced into England, at Dartford, 1588.

"He described it briefly and simply, but it would fill a volume of beautiful meaning.

"His family dog had made the acquaintance of a neighbor's child on the other side of the street.

"While lying on the door-stone, he had noticed this little thing sometimes at the chamber window, and sometimes on the pavement, in a little carriage.

"During one of his walks on that side of the street, he met the baby, and looked over the rim of the carriage, as a loving dog can look, straight into a pair of baby eyes, and said, 'Good morning!' as well as he could.

"Little by little, day by day and week by week, this companionship went on growing with the growth and strengthening with the strength of the little one. The dog, doubtless because his master had no young child of his own, came at last to transfer frequently his watch and ward to the door-stone on the other side of the street, and to follow as a guard of honor to the baby's carriage on its daily airings. He gave himself up to all the peltings, and little rude rompings, and rough and tumblings of those baby hands.

"One day, as the dog lay in watch by the door-stone, the child, peeping out of the window above, lost its balance, and fell on the stone pavement below. It was taken up quite dead! The red drops of the young life had bespattered the feet and face of the dog as he sprang to the rescue. His heart died out within him in one long, whining howl of grief. From that moment he refused to eat. He refused to be comforted by his master's voice and by his master's home. Day by day and night by night he lay upon the spot where the child fell.

"This was the neighbor's errand. He told it in a few simple words. He had come to my friend, the druggist, for a prescription for his dog—something to bring back his appetite."

VIEW OF THE FALLS OF GIESSBACH.—INTERLAKEN.

HINDOO WOMEN OF BOMBAY IN CEREMONIAL DRESS.

Have you any sort of an idea what it is to travel in a bullock bandy? The wagon itself I suppose to be somewhat like what the Western emigrants used, in days gone by. It is supposed to be very comfortable, and sometimes three or four persons occupy one; but how they do it, is a mystery to me, for my two trips have been by myself, and I certainly had no room to spare.

My first experience was in going to visit a sick missionary thirty-eight miles away. It was during the rainy season. I took with me a servant, who spoke English, and if it had not been for that, I don't know what I should have done.

Bullocks were supposed to be posted along the road, but at the first changing place, none could be hired. We went on, four miles, and there succeeded in getting a pair so frisky that I seemed at times in danger of losing my life. How they did behave! One was especially unwilling to be tied. More than once the bandy bumped down with me, and one bullock ran away up the road, leaving the other beside himself with fear. However, we got started at last, but I was afraid of something happening all the time we had those animals.

The river, which in the dry season is simply a great bed of sand, in the rainy season is sometimes so high that bandys cannot cross, except on rafts, and sometimes not at all, because of the very swift current.

On our return trip the river was nearly its full width, and was rushing along with a tremendous sweep. It was not very deep, however, and I decided not to wait the river's pleasure, but to risk crossing it. It took twenty-one men to get us across that river! Pudchi, my servant, piled all my boxes on the board, which, in a bandy, is the bed, and he and I perched ourselves on them, balancing as best we could. One man went ahead to sound the river, two guided the bullocks' heads, two drove, eight took the wheels, five pushed, and the others steadied us; for more than once it seemed as if the current would sweep us over. However, after the first scare, I felt safe, and rather enjoyed my ride. Landed on the other side of the river, the water was emptied out of the bandy, and we went on, for hours, through the palm-tree forests and the banyan-lined avenues. The moonlight was almost dazzling, and the banyan and palm-trees glittered like silver.

Would you like to know the cost of getting over that river? It cost two cents a man! The roads were so muddy that we had occasionally to get help, to push the bandy along. Once, in getting out of a hole, the wheel was thrown over the bank of a tauk; the driver did not dare try going on, with me inside, so I crawled out over the wheel! We were thirteen hours in making the thirty-eight miles. Part of the time I arranged my pillows and tried to be comfortable; but what comfort can you take when, even by bracing yourself, you cannot keep quiet for a moment?

After part of the thirteen hours were spent, I found I was indulging in a headache. I did my head up in a wet towel, and tried to apply "Mentholine" to my forehead; but the jolting of the bandy caused me, when aiming at one temple, to thrust the instrument into the opposite eye. After some experiments I thought it might be safer to make a dive for an eye in the first place, and see where the cone would land, but concluded not to try it.

I called to see a dear friend lately, and she repeated to me a lovely poem in which these two lines occurred:

And yet Alice Merwyn was not easily discouraged; she had a certain self-poise which some people called self-conceit, others named self-confidence, but which, name it as you will, grew out of a knowledge of her powers coupled with a strong faith in her Leader.

As the days went by she found she had no easy task. There were two or three disorderly spirits in the school who set at defiance all rules. She was surprised at the utter ignorance which some of her pupils showed of the Bible and religious truth.

She had resolved to open school with devotional exercises, as the trustee had assured her there would be no objection to such a course. None of the children brought their Bibles the first day, but in compliance with her request there was quite a show of Bibles the next morning. One or two said they had none, and these were allowed to "look over" with those who were willing to share their books with them. Alice gave out the chapter which she had selected for their reading, and one little girl looked up in surprise to see them all finding the place, and asked with a puzzled expression:

"Is it alike in all the books?" And then she as well as others had to be shown how to find the chapter. And Alice explained that the Bible was the word of God, and the books they had brought were all copies of the words which God had given to his people. When she asked how many knew the Lord's Prayer, only three raised their hands. And as for the Ten Commandments, the most of the children had never heard of them. And Alice thought, "surely here is work for some one."

During that week she tried to teach them the Lord's Prayer, but as they made slow progress in the few moments which she felt that she had a right to use in that way, she thought of a plan.

"How many of you would like to come here Sunday afternoon and be taught about God and the Bible?"

Almost every hand went up, and the appointment was made and kept, too.

And every Sunday afternoon all through the summer Alice Merwyn spent an hour in the dingy little country schoolhouse surrounded by a group of children who soon came to hang upon her words as well as upon her chair.

"Dear me! I should think you had enough of those children through the week without going there these hot Sunday afternoons!" said May Andrus, the daughter of the lady with whom Alice boarded.

"Well, it seems that they do not have enough of me!" replied Alice, laughing a little.

"But they have no right to your Sundays!" said May.

"I differ with you; I think they have the best right."

"I do not understand; I supposed you were hired to teach five days in the week, only," replied May.

"True, Mr. Pratt engaged me for the school week, but I have another Master, May. And he seems to be saying to me 'do this thing.' The children need me, I think, and that is why I said they have a right to a part of my Sundays."

"O, you are too good to be comfortable! Now if you would give up the scheme and sit in the hammock this afternoon and read, how we would enjoy ourselves!"

"I must not disappoint the children!" and Alice went down the dusty road wishing that May was interested in the matter enough to go with her.

After the lesson of that afternoon they lingered a little in familiar talk. Fred Pratt had been the most unruly of all her pupils, but of late he had changed greatly, and his example was having a marked effect upon the good order of the school. That afternoon Alice said:

"I wonder how many of us hope we are Christians? or how many are trying to be Christians?"

There was a little hesitation, a looking shyly at each other, then three hands went up. And Alice's heart gave a great bound of thanksgiving.

"What makes you think so?" she asked, and Fred spoke first:

"For one thing I think I am not as saucy to you as I used to be, and I know I could not help it, if Jesus did not hold me back from getting mad. O, Miss Merwyn! I have learned a great deal from you. I never knew anything about the Bible before you came! I've read it some, but it never seemed a bit interesting, but now I love it, and I just want to tell people how nice it is. I don't believe everybody knows about it!"

"ALICE WENT DOWN THE DUSTY ROAD."

"I am afraid they do not," said Alice, "and, Fred, it is a good thing to want to tell others the good news and perhaps the Lord will want you to do that when you are older. Who knows?"

Then little Annie Andrus spoke.

"I think, teacher, that I am a better girl than I was, because I do not get so vexed at sister May when she pulls my curls mornings; I used to scream sometimes, and now I just set my teeth hard and ask Jesus to help me to keep back the yell! and I haven't quarrelled with Kittie in a week."

Fannie Brown was older than Annie, indeed she was the oldest scholar in school, and as Alice turned towards her, she said softly,

"I am so happy, and the little hymns which you have taught us keep bubbling over all the time. Everything goes right, and I love the Saviour, and am trying all the time to do what He would like to have me do. I don't know as it is being a Christian, but I want to be one, if I am not."

"What makes you so queer to-night?" asked May that evening.

"Queer, am I?" returned Alice.

"Yes, queer and quiet. Your face shines as if you had heard some wonderful news or something."

"I have!" said Alice. "I have heard of that which angels smile over." And then she told May the story of the afternoon, and May replied, more soberly than her wont, "I declare, Alice Merwyn, if there is anything in religion that will subdue such a boy as Fred Pratt has been I shall believe in it! Why, he has been the terror of the neighborhood! And dear little Annie! I shall never twitch her hair again."

May put up her frizzes silently with a quiet look on her face, and at length she turned to Alice and said:

"I believe I'll go to Sunday-school with you after this. I can't have my little sister getting ahead of me."

Do you think Alice Merwyn will ever regret the effort she made to help the children in that out-of-the-way neighborhood to a knowledge of the truths of the Bible?

Of "Nina's" childhood we are told of her "golden hair, fair cheek and graceful form; of her quick, laughing eye, of her sensitive face reflecting every changing thought—her ready answers to all Sabbath-school questions, and her sunshiny presence at school and at home."

"Her scholarship was bright, quick and accurate.

"In social life few shone more brilliantly, or were more admired and sought after.

"Her beauty was of a rare and noticeable type, her conversational powers were fascinating, and she early developed rare powers of mind."

Her beauty, intelligence and social powers were early consecrated to the Master's service. We are told that "when a little child, from eight to twelve years old, she and some of her companions formed a praying circle and had a little room in one of their homes which they called the house of prayer. They met often in this room which they delighted to decorate after their childish fashion."

I can imagine the little girls bringing from the old-fashioned gardens bunches of flowers, snowballs, peonies, honeysuckles and sweet-smelling pinks and roses, or bringing from the woods evergreens and trailing vines to garland this bower where they met to hold sweet childish communion with their Saviour.

"Another favorite occupation was teaching some poor children whom she and her companions gathered for lessons in sewing and reading."

I cannot tell you all the sweet story of this beautiful life, only a bit here and there. When she was eleven years old she was asked by her pastor how long she had loved Jesus, and she replied, "Oh! a great many years."

There was nothing unchildlike in her ways. She is said to have been a peculiarly bright, active and happy child, growing to womanhood the delight of her home and tenderly shielded from rude contact with the world. But this noble woman, "so eminently fitted for usefulness in circles of refinement," was called to spend her life among the degraded Indians of the Northwest. There were those who thought it a great wrong that such a beautiful and accomplished girl upon whose education so much pains and money had been expended, should be given to the Missionary work among the coarse, ignorant Indians. They thought that some one less fit for the adornment of social life could do the work as well. But both she and her parents felt that the best was not too precious to be given to the Lord to be used wherever he directed. And this is a thought that I would like you to stop over. Let us give our best of everything to the Lord. And when we have given it let us be willing that He should do with it as he sees fit. Sometimes we think we are ready to give our best, but we would like to dictate as to where or how it shall be used. Let us see to it that it is a complete surrender.

If you will look upon the map and trace the course of the Missouri River you will come to a place marked Fort Sully, near the centre of Dakota. To this far-away region as the wife of an Indian Missionary, who was himself the son of a pioneer in Indian Missions, Nina Foster went to make her home in a log cabin, shutting away from the busy world her beauty and her talents, giving her young life to the cause of Indian Missions. She gave herself to the work joyfully. We are told that her "sense of humor and keen wit lightened many a load for herself and others; the more forlorn and hopeless the situation, the more elastic her spirits." She always made the best of everything. Even when the road was so rough and the riding so insecure that she had to be strapped in to keep from falling out of the wagon she made merry over the circumstance instead of detailing it as a hardship. For five years she labored among the Dakota Indian women, who speak of her as the "beautiful woman who spoke so well." Then God called her to himself.

Was this life, with its beauty and its talents, wasted? We cannot think so; we know not why God called her to bury herself for a few years in that remote region, and then, just when the work seemed opening before her, why he should call her away. Perhaps he wanted to show to a doubting world that the cause of Missions was so important that for its advancement he would use the very one whom the world looked upon as too good for the work. Perhaps he wanted to prove to some doubter the power of that love that would draw such an one as Nina Foster Riggs away from the admiring and flattering circle in which she moved and lead her to give herself to a life of self-sacrifice.

It may be that he wanted to put a bright gem in the midst of the darkness of ignorance and heathenism, that its shining might "enlighten, captivate, lead forth and refine."

For us, we may learn that our best, our very best, even ourselves, is the gift we are called upon to give. Shall we consecrate whatever we have, whatever we are, to the service of our Lord—now?

But this made Jennie angry; and she went away to nurse her anger.

The first book she took up happened to be a Bible; it opened of itself to the place: "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

Meantime, would you like to know what was the trouble? On their way home from school, Jennie and her friend Albert quarrelled. Albert said Jennie's friend Lila Johnson missed a word, and Jennie said she didn't; and they disputed until both were angry.

As Jennie read the Bible verse, she could not help thinking what if she had answered Albert that perhaps she was mistaken; then she was sure all would have been right between them; however, she was too angry to listen to the soft voice which was whispering this in her ear; she closed the book, and went down stairs.

Cousin Harold was in the sitting-room with Ella; when he caught sight of Jennie's red face and tearful eyes he began to question. Harold's advice was to ask Albert's pardon; and he volunteered to go with her to Albert's house.

Jennie was almost sure to do as cousin Harold said, and in a short time they were walking down street together.

Only a block from her own house she met Albert, and stopping, said hurriedly: "Albert, I'm coming to tell you that I'm sorry."

Said Albert, "So am I."

"There!" said cousin Harold, "I fancy you have gained quite a victory. What a fine thing it would be, if you were always a brave general, and gained victories for the right."

After that, she went to a store with Harold, and waited while he did some errands. While they were there, Albert came skipping back to ask Jennie to go home with him to tea; that mamma said so, and she had a real nice tea for him, "because it's my birthday, you know."

Cousin Harold gave permission, and away went the happy children who were enemies such a short time before, but had been made friends by a few "soft words."

SOME OF MISS MERWYN'S SCHOLARS.

Now! Attention! If you, my Blossom, have received, with your badge, a letter signed "Pansy" in which I have answered your questions, and given you greeting, you of course will not expect me to reply to your letter again in The Pansy. Because people do not receive two replies to one letter, now do they? But if, on the contrary, you have received through my secretary, your badge, and a line stating that your letter will be answered in The Pansy, in due time, why, then look out for it; though when its turn will come is more than I can tell you; the truth is, there are at least a thousand letters now awaiting answers! If some of you get gray before I can reach you with a letter, you will not blame me, will you? Because, really and truly, I am doing my very best; and I answer privately all the letters I possibly can, so that you will not have to wait so long.

Meantime, I expect each of you to show how patient and unselfish a Pansy Blossom can be in this matter, as well as in larger ones.

I wish you a very pleasant Fourth of July. I hope it will be "independence day" to you; that you will each prove yourselves free from every chain which Satan can think of to try to throw around you on that day.

If you feel like writing to tell me how you spent the day, and what one thing you did in it to give some one a happy time, whom you thought might else be forgotten, I shall be very glad to hear the stories. Remember to send your letters to Chautauqua, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and my secretary who is there, will see that I receive them promptly.

And now, good-by once more, until August.

Violet from Maine. So violets can blossom in your State in the midst of a snowstorm! I am glad; and I hope it is a very sweet flower. Still I see the weeds trouble you. The one you mention, grows very fast, unless constantly watched. Don't let it hurt the perfume of your blossom.

Clintie from Massachusetts. Dear little boy, we welcome you to our garden. Fretful words are troublesome weeds; and it is sometimes a great temptation to use them to those who are in our family, but not of it. I am glad you are pledged to watch their growth. Those who are all the time away from their homes and friends, need our help in every possible way.

Emily from Connecticut. Dear! dear! these tongues. What shall we do with them! And yet, what would we do without them? It is so easy to think of some bright little word to say in return, at just the moment when we ought to keep quiet. I read of a boy who kept a clothes pin in his pocket, ready to clap on his tongue when he was tempted to speak words which he ought not. But I think there are better checks than clothes pins. Don't you?

Lulu from New York. Another Blossom from the "Snow!" You are welcome. "Slang" is a word which covers a very disagreeable habit indeed. It astonishes me to see how many people who think themselves cultivated, indulge in it. I have noticed that it is sometimes connected with the other weed of which you speak. By all means get rid of them both, keeping the "Whisper Motto" in mind.

Bertha and Stella from Iowa. It is natural enough to like to play rather than to work. I presume men and women who work hard would often rather play. The great difference between people is, that some of them do what they would rather not, because it is duty; and some of them do what they would rather, because they want to. I am glad to think of Bertha as belonging to the first class; for the others are rather worthless people. As for the dear little Blossom who describes herself in this way:

Mabel from New York. I once had a kitchen girl who was a source of great amusement to my family because she fretted about everything. One morning I said to her: "Rebecca, we are going to have a rainy day, I fear."

"Of course we are," she answered; "as sure as I have a large wash, and need sunshine especially much, it is sure to rain." An hour afterwards the sun was shining brightly. As I went through the wash-room I said to Rebecca, "It didn't rain after all, did it? See what beautiful air for drying clothes."

"Oh yes," she said, "sun hot enough to bake me just as I am ready to hang out clothes; that is always the way."

The fact was, poor Rebecca in her younger days had contracted such a habit of fretting, that she really seemed unable to find a bright side to anything. I am glad you are pledged against such an enemy.

Agnes from Illinois. I think The Pansy is a very nice present. I am glad you agree with me. I agree with you that forgetful people are very troublesome, and sometimes in danger. There was once a little girl who forgot to turn out the gas in her room, but blew it out instead, as though it was a candle, and lost her life in consequence. We welcome you to the P. S.

Mertie from Maine. "Foolish" questions are really very troublesome. The other day I sent a boy to the cellar for a certain jar. "Which jar?" he asked. "I told you there was but one," I said. "Oh, where is it?" "In the cellar, as I told you." "Which cellar?" said this foolish boy; and yet he knew as well as I did, that there was but one cellar in the house.

This same boy once lost his breakfast because he did not get up when he was called. I congratulate your mother because of your pledge.

Medie from Michigan. Carelessness is a dangerous enemy. A careless little girl set a bottle on a chair within reach of her baby sister, and now poor baby is blind! It only took a moment to put the bottle in the right or wrong place. So sometimes the carelessness of one minute causes a life time of sorrow. Welcome to our garden. I am glad you mean to work to extend the usefulness of The Pansy.

Hattie from Illinois. Did you ever read the story of the great man who had a little dog named Diamond? I always admired his patience. If you do not know the story, suppose you look it up. Will you kiss Marion for me?

Your age? Let me think; I am not good at "guessing." Suppose I say twelve? Is that it? When you get the missionary society in good working order, send us a report of its doings.

Ella from Pennsylvania. It seems to be a very hard lesson for my Blossoms to learn—that of prompt obedience. It is well for the world that so many are working hard at it. As for doors, I have heard them slam when I did not think the wind was to blame. Hands can do wrong as well as feet and tongues. The truth is, all our body-servants need watching.

Bessie from Iowa. I shall have to tell you a story about Neddie. His brother Rob who loved him dearly, was tempted to tease him, occasionally, "just for fun!" One day he said in a frightened tone: "O Neddy! What is that great big bug on the back of your neck?" Poor Neddy was afraid of all kinds of bugs. He gave a quick little jump from the piazza where he stood, fell over backward, hit his head against a stone pillar, and never spoke again! Poor Rob! Doesn't your heart ache for him?

I once heard a good man say that "by-words" were side doors to profanity. What do you think?

H. E. from Kentucky. You have left me to guess your name. Well, I "guess" that it is Harrison Eleazar. Am I right? Never mind, you know your own name; see that you do credit to it. I like your pledge. It is a very common fault to speak ill of persons. I wish all the Pansies would take a resolution against it.

Jennison and Milton from Virginia. It gives me pleasure, my boys, to know that you enjoy your badges, and that they help you. I earnestly hope to hear that Warren and Jennison are able to wear theirs to all appropriate places; yet I confess I wouldn't like to think of them as being worn by boys who had not tried hard to do them honor. I expect to hear good news from you all, next time.

Albert from California. Obeying "after the third or fourth time," is sometimes obeying too late. It does me good to know that one more boy is resolved to cultivate the habit of prompt obedience. I know you will make a better man because of this. There was once a boy who had a sharp lesson on promptness. His uncle called two boys, Warren and Robert, to come to the yard at once; Warren went on the instant, but Robert waited to finish the page in the story he was reading. When he finally reached the yard, he found Warren seated on a pony's back, and he shouted out that the pony was his. "Yes," said his uncle, "I intended the pony for both of you; but since Robert did not come I concluded he did not want any pony; and gave it to Warren."

I think that was pretty hard. Don't you? But the truth was, Robert had such a habit of waiting awhile, after being called, that I suppose his uncle thought he needed a severe lesson.

Walter and Harry from Rhode Island. Two brothers, one of whom is to learn "patience," and the other means to "stop whining." Good resolves, both of them. A whining face is never a pleasant one; and as for patience, it is needed all the time to help us through this world.

Minnie from Kansas. I don't like to be teased; do you? I'm sure I hear you say, "No, ma'am." Then, according to the Golden Rule, you and I ought not to tease other people; and I am glad you have resolved not to do so. As to the finger-nails, of course they do not like to be bitten. Only three Pansy Blossoms in your city? Why, that is too bad! Can't you plant some more?

Florence from Missouri. Give my love to my namesake, the dolly; though I am afraid she will care nothing about it. After all, I don't know how many cats you have, though you undertook to tell me. Can you guess why I do not know? Please try.

Minnie from Connecticut. Your letter was not at all "silly," my little friend, but we only publish in The Pansy those letters that give interesting stories about people or animals, or places; something which will interest all. You know one doesn't like to publish one's personal letters for others to read. I hope you will have your wish and "change into a very good girl." In fact, I know you will, if you wish it enough to keep daily trying, and trust in the great Helper.

Maggie from Kentucky. How glad I am that we have another Blossom who has resolved to guard her lips from the use of slang words! Think of a flower speaking in any but sweet and refined language! Who would want to make bouquets of flowers whose breaths were impure?

Alma from Kentucky. You have taken a very important pledge. There is hardly another so important. I hope every Pansy in our garden will be a brave earnest worker for temperance; by which I mean the sort of total abstinence which determines to "touch not, taste not, handle not."

Mollie from Kentucky. How much I should like to hear that your pledge had helped you to be present in Sabbath-school each Sabbath this year! Wouldn't that be pleasant? But there are some absences over which we have no control, are there not? Well, suppose we put it, each Sabbath that you are not detained by sickness, or by some cause which you could not help? Then let us hear at the close of the year, what success you have had.

Lizzie from Illinois. It is pleasant to hear of an entire class joining the P. S. You can be helpful to one another. "In a minute" is a very bad sprite, who gets many people into trouble; have nothing to do with him. I think many persons who really intend to do the right thing, are caught by Satan, in this way; instead of trying to get them to decide against it, which he knows they wouldn't do, he coaxes them to put the duty off until they forget all about it. I trust he will not get the advantage of you.

Lara from Illinois. So the meek little pansy on its satin bed has done its duty and helped you? I am glad. Do you know, I think "little things" are harder to bear than big ones? Someway, we make up our minds to be patient and brave over real troubles, but little pin pricks are likely to find us off our guard; so a pledge against just these "little foxes" is very important.

Elma from Dakota Territory. Dear little Blossom, what a sweet letter you wrote me with your own hand! I think your lips must be very sweet when they have a smile on them; but "grumbles" are almost sure to dress themselves in ugly pouts. I would have nothing to do with them.

Olive and Hattie from Michigan. A "black" Pansy? No I do not think "thoughtlessness" is black. It is my opinion it is a dull gray-brown; such as my children in Sabbath school call dirt-color. Let us remember that it is a weed, not a pansy, but has crept in among some of our Blossoms unawares, and is to be rooted out. May you succeed in keeping your corner free from its power. Hattie dear, I am sorry for your long waiting. The first letter must have gone astray. What good news you both gave me! May you shine so brightly in your home, that "baby May" will early follow your example.

Rose from ——. You forgot the State, little Rose, so I have to guess at the place where you bloom. I think it is better to wear the badges only on special occasions, and so to keep them fresh and neat-looking, a long time. However, they can be renewed at ten cents each, whenever the owners think they ought to have new ones.

Gertie from Massachusetts. You are right, little girl. All over the world, young people seem to be troubled with very much the same weeds. Satan must depend a great deal on these "quick tempers," he has so many of them at work for him. I rejoice over every boy or girl who resolves to break from his power. How glad I am that The Pansy helps you! That is sweet praise. I am also glad that you send it on, to help others, when you are through with it.

Julia from Connecticut. Whispering tongues make a great deal of trouble. Watch yours with care. Dear Julia, one who truly wants to be a Christian has to bring her will into the matter. Do you know what I mean? As soon as we honestly determine that, whether it is easy or hard, whether we are happy in it or unhappy, we will from this moment give ourselves to the Lord Jesus to obey Him in all things, He comes, and takes possession of our hearts, and makes them new. Take your decision to Him, and He will help you.

Helen from New York. I am much interested in your society. I think you must have a very ingenious leader, to plan amusement for you. All the pledges, too, are important. I feel sure there must be some happy mothers in your neighborhood; for I have observed they are always glad when they see improvements in their children. I hope you will write us often; and give us the benefit of any new ideas which you get.

Julia from Colorado. Oh, yes, we like to hear about the mountain scenery in your grand State. I am glad you give time and thought to the mountains, for they are among the wonderful works of God. Have you ever noticed what beautiful Bible verses there are about mountains? Once I made a copy of them all, and enjoyed it much. We shall always be glad to hear from you.

Walter from Massachusetts. Indeed you can "belong!" Boys used to be rather scarce in our society. I used often to wonder why they were not so eager to overcome their faults as girls seemed to be. But we have a great army of them now. Your pledge is very important. I am sure "mamma" will rejoice; and watch your improvement with a thankful heart.

Edna from Iowa. Indeed I think you wrote a very nice letter. So you want to "shoot" a great many things, do you? I think, with you, it is very wise to overcome the habit of using that, or any other by-word. To say the least, it is inelegant; and Pansy Blossoms should be very elegant, to match their lovely dress, and general appearance.

Louie from Maine. Dear little seven-year-old Blossom, we welcome you with pleasure. Do the weeds of cross words trouble you? They are very poisonous weeds; I would be glad if they were rooted out of all the heart-gardens in the world. Look well after yours, my dear, and there will be fewer than ever before.

Mrs. V. R. from Florida. Thank you, dear friend, for your sweet bright letter, and for joining our P. S. and so giving aid and comfort to the many little feet that are treading the same road. Indeed I know, by experience, that if any one in the world has need of patience, and finds it hard to lay in enough for each day's supply, it is a mother. If all the mothers would join us in honest effort, it would be easier to lead the children.

Lelia from Minnesota. A "whining" flower! Wouldn't that be a curiosity? I am so glad you are working to overcome. I know ever so many Blossoms who ought to join you in that pledge. Can you not induce some of them to do so?

Louise from Dakota. Here is another "careless" Blossom whose temper also troubles her. What an army of them we have! Every name added to my roll gives me a feeling of satisfaction; I know there is just so much less sorrow in the world, because of each pledge.

Hattie from Connecticut. Thank you, my patient little girl, for being willing to wait your turn for a letter. Not all the Blossoms are so thoughtful. I shall now think of your "things" as always in place. Shall I? How pleasant that will be! For I know just how trying it is to have them lying around where they do not belong. I am glad you are also a little worker for The Pansy.

I wonder if any of the Pansies will recognize their words in the list?

It was my indention to wright you about my Journey north, this month, butt as nothing of interest ocurred, I have desided to tel you of a pretty little villiage where I once went to a Sundy school meeting. It seems it was the habbit of the peple to take the babies to Church, and as, on that day it was not convient for eny boddy to stay at home with them, fifteen babies suceded in atending the meeting!

It was a verry plesent day out of doors; and I could not help feeling sory for the poor babies, because they were not out in the Sun shine. They had a fassion of all talking at once; and it was sometimes nesary for the speeker to speek quite lowd in order to be herd.

While one man was telling a storry which of coarse the babies did not understand, one of them hoped up on the seet in front of me and began a game of hide and seek. He was very still about it, hiding his curly head on his mother's sholder a minit, then bobing it up and looking at me. He was so sweet I could not help ansering him with a little smile, and a speck of a nod, until sudenly his plesure became to grate, and he shouted out "Peek-aboo!" Poor baby! It realy was not his falt so mutch as mine; and I realy suppose I ought to have been the one to have been caried out in disgrase. But I do not think his mother was seveer with him, for I herd her not long afterwards, calling him "Mamma's little hart seas!"

I find so many letters in your magazine from children that I can not forbear writing to you.

Although I am not a child, I think I am as much interested in the magazine, and in the Pansy Blossoms, as any child can be. Possibly you will remember my writing you about the organization of our Pansy Club. It has been a success; the children are delighted with it.

Not long ago we gave an entertainment, followed by refreshments—ice-cream, watermelon, etc. We cleared a little over twenty-seven dollars. The children sang a number of songs, and recited selections, largely from The Pansy. I wish you could have heard them! It seemed to me that if I were not a Christian, the love which sprang up in my heart that night for those dear children, would have drawn me to Jesus.

I have long felt as though my life was almost a blank, but this P. S. has opened a way for me to accomplish some good. I am anxious to do good. I can meet those dear little ones in grove, or hall, or parlor, from week to week and perhaps sow a seed in some heart that shall blossom for God.

At our entertainment, fifty children were in the procession, and marched into church led by a drum corps of little boys. Our banner is made of cream-colored silk; arched over the top in large blue letters are the words: "The Children's Union Pansy Club." Underneath: "Our Motto is to OVERCOME." In the centre, the words: "For Jesus' Sake." At the left corner there is a bouquet of pansies, painted in their natural colors.

All the money we have saved, or earned, we have appropriated to our pastor's salary, which is small, and not paid regularly.

One night I was going down to the pasture after the cow, and I saw Jip, our neighbor's dog run, barking, into a clump of alders; so boy fashion, I ran after him. As soon as I reached the bushes, out came a rabbit; then Jip and I joined in for a share of the fun. Jip caught him by the hind leg and tossed him into a pile of underbrush. The poor creature was so scared that he crouched down and did not attempt to stir. I caught him in my hands, and carried him home. Papa fixed a barrel for me to put him in. In the morning we built a pen for him in the barn. At first he was very wild, and would cry almost like a child; but I petted him a great deal, and when he found I was always kind, I could go in and lie down beside him on the hay, and he would hop back and forth over me.

I kept him for a month; then as winter was coming, I thought I ought to let him go for fear I could not get the right kind of food for him. One day when I went to school I took him with me. When I reached the woods, I put him on the ground, but he would not go away from me. I had to carry him away into the middle of the woods; there I left him to find his old home.

I have wished, ever since the first number of The Pansy arrived, to try to thank you for your goodness to the children; at this late date, I have still nothing to offer save all the thanks from each of our family circle, that can possibly be crowded into one envelope.

We were snowbound all winter. The Pansy was almost our only visitor, and the good things it brings each month were devoured with such eagerness and gusto as are possible only to those who, like ourselves, have been famishing for lack of mental food. I try hard to keep the magazines clean, but they are read over and over again, and the pictures inspected with ever new delight; and they are in danger of being worn to tatters. The mother, being only a child of larger growth, enjoys the little books as much as her bairns, and is in much more need of their healthful and helpful teaching.

I find one needs all the help possible to keep one's flag flying with its motto of "Onward," and its voice ever shouting "No surrender!" And this, amid all the wounds which that merciless tyrant, "Poverty," can inflict. May God bless and reward you, is a loving mother's prayer.

Here comes an old "Mother Pansy" of thirty-one summers, to join the ranks of your thousands of correspondents. I picture your smile of amusement at the faded appearance which your imagination must necessarily attribute to this ancient flower, but I assure you her feelings and desires for the happiness of the sweet young Blossoms are as strong and fresh as they were in her youthful days. Hence, by order of the President of our Pansy Society, of which I am Secretary, I must write you something of the proceedings of said P. S. Our "Club" was organized about a year ago and has been holding regular weekly meetings since September last, at which each member reads or recites some instructive, moral and entertaining selection often from your magazine, The Pansy. Our Society consists of six members:

Charles T. Crawford, Pres., aged 12 years; Mrs. Walter Crawford, Sec., 31; Blanchie Crawford, 10; Geo. W. Crawford, Treas., 8; Victorine Crawford, 5; Jas. Warren Crawford, 2. This is quite a "Crawford Clan" you see, and quite a home affair, with regard to members and meetings, but we are trying to make its influence for good extend far and near.

At Christmas time we got together a large lot of old toys, picture books, etc., with boxes of cake and bonbons, and sent them to some poor children in our community who were not able to buy new ones. We also sent a box of Christmas goodies to each of the real old ladies and gentlemen living near us who were likely to be overlooked in the overflow of young life surrounding them. Also sent out some suitable presents and eatables to needy negro families. At our yesterday's meeting a motion was made, seconded and voted in that as "St. Valentine's Day" was near at hand, each member of the Society prepare and send a Valentine to some little child who would be likely to be forgotten on this festive occasion. We gave to the "Missions" last year and will give again during this. The Pansy has been a regular monthly visitor here for the past four or five years, and we would feel very much as if "one of the family" were gone if we were deprived of it. Earnestly wishing the progress of each P. S. in the wide world and asking your own and their prayers for the further success of ours,

During the last three months the Pansy Junior Society of Tompkinsville, Staten Island, N. Y., has entered into a new field of action, that of specific work for others who have fewer advantages than they.

Forty paper dolls have been made and dressed. About one half of these are babies with one dress each, the others being children each provided with six dresses. Two china dolls have been entirely fitted out, while others are in various stages of completion.

Having heard of an invalid who was patching a quilt and desired pretty pieces outlined in colors for it, the Society decided to work a few for her; five of these are already finished.

Up in Essex County, deep in among the Adirondacks, lives a lovely Scotch lady who has interested herself in the children of that region. These little ones have absolutely nothing in the line of reading, and by a unanimous vote of the Society, it was decided to send them some nice books and Sunday-School papers, thereby forming the nucleus of a sort of circulating library, of which the Scotch lady will be the head. We hope, sometime in the near future, to open correspondence with the children themselves, and if possible, to start a branch of the P. S. in Essex County.

The members of our Junior Society show great interest in the work of subduing their faults, and many have been the conquests over self. Of course we all often forget, but frequently the knowledge—and acknowledgment—of our shortcomings, has but added fresh earnestness to the desire not to be overcome.

At a recent meeting we decided to have a motto, and the one chosen was, "For we are laborers together with God." With this watchword, and with the help of Him who is our Captain, we intend to go on—and up.

With this introduction, I am going to let the story speak for itself, by giving you a page or two from it, together with the picture of "The Cradle Tomb."

"THE CRADLE TOMB."

"On what used to be the altar step of the north aisle of Westminster Abbey, stands a baby's cradle—a cradle on real rockers. A gorgeous coverlet, all trimmed with rich guipure lace, falls from the corners of the cradle in splendid rich folds. The arms of England, Scotland and Ireland are carved on the back. And when you look under the head of the cradle you see that a baby lies sleeping in it. A darling tiny baby it is—its little wee face set in a close lace cap and lace ruff, under a kind of lace-trimmed hood that forms part of the pillow. You can almost fancy that if the cradle were set rocking, the babe might open her eyes. But 'baby and cradle, and all,' are marble—marble, yellow with the dust and wear of nearly three hundred years!

"'The Cradle Tomb' of Westminster, as it is called, has been far better described than by any words of mine. A card hangs close beside it, placed there by desire of Lady Augusta Stanley, on which is a poem by an American lady. That lady is a well-known favorite of American readers; for she is none other than Susan Coolidge. And the lovely verses—some of which I venture to transcribe—appeared in Scribner's Monthly for 1875:

"The inscription on her cradle tells us that this dear baby, 'Sophia, a royal rosebud, plucked by premature fate, and snatched away from her parents—James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and Queen Anne—that she might flourish again in the rosary of Christ, was placed here on the twenty-third of June, in the fourth year of the reign of King James, 1606.'

"The little creature was born on the twenty-first of June at Greenwich—a favorite palace of the English sovereigns. Great preparations had been made for her christening, and for the tourneys which were to be held at the same time in honor of her grandfather the King of Denmark's visit. But the baby only lived two days, and was hastily baptized 'Sophia,' after the Queen of Denmark. James the First gave orders that she should be buried 'as cheaply as possible, without any solemnity, or funeral.' Nevertheless he made a contract with Nicholas Poutrain, the royal sculptor, for her monument, the cost of which was not to exceed one hundred and forty pounds. And we find that her coffin was very solemnly conveyed up the river by barge, covered with black velvet, accompanied by three other barges covered with black cloth and bearing many nobles, lords, ladies, and the officers-of-arms, to the Parliament stairs at Westminster. Thence the procession went to the southeast door of the Abbey, where it was met by the great lords of the Council, the Heralds, and chief officers of the court."

To carefully read the extraordinary premium offers made on the following pages. We have selected a few of our most attractive premiums, and have made special offers, for the summer months only, to those sending us clubs.

Should you desire to obtain any article not on our list of premiums, write to us fully about it, and we will cheerfully answer all your inquiries. If you wish to earn a book, a toy, a game, a stamp or mineral collection, or anything dear to the heart of a boy or girl, write to us about it and we will make such arrangements as will enable you to secure the desired article by obtaining subscriptions for our magazines.

If you do not care to secure any of the premiums we offer, will you kindly call the attention of your friends to the suggestions we have made, thereby obliging us, and perhaps doing them a great favor?

A specimen set of our magazines will be sent to any boy or girl wishing sample copies to show, on receipt of ten cents in stamps. Address all inquiries and orders to

We are pleased to announce that we have made such arrangements as will enable us to offer these superior hammocks for a smaller number of subscriptions than ever before. Every hammock is warranted by the manufacturers; and nothing but the best material and workmanship enter into their construction. Each grade is tested at a given number of pounds. They are warranted, when colored, not to soil the finest fabric.

Given for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women, and 40 cents cash additional.

This is the strongest hammock made, warranted to hold 1100 lbs. It is made of very heavy cord. Length, 13 feet; length of bed, 6 feet. Price $1.15. Postage and packing 30 cents additional.

Given for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women.

This is a nice hammock for the little ones. It has variegated colors in ends and body. Has a miniature Horseshoe for the fastening at the ends and safety cords at the sides. It is perfectly reliable and far preferable to a crib or cradle. Length, 7 feet; length of body, 3 feet. Price $.75. Postage and packing 15 cents additional.

Given for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women, and 25 cents cash additional.

This hammock is made better than ever before. The web is of extra heavy cord, and bright colors which are warranted fast. It is a splendid hammock. Length 11 feet; length of bed, 6¹/₃ feet. Price $1.00. Postage and packing 20 cents additional.

Given for one new subscription to Wide Awake, or for two new subscriptions to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women and 40 cents cash additional.

A double web hammock that is very popular. Length, 12¹/₂ feet; length of bed, 7 feet. Price $1.75. Postage and packing 20 cents additional.

Two BABYLAND subscriptions will be equivalent to one PANSY subscription.

Given for two new subscriptions to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women, or for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women and 50 cents cash additional.

This outfit is put up especially for our use, and we can recommend it to the boys who enjoy fishing as a very good outfit for the price asked. It consists of a 12 foot jointed rod with brass tips and ferules, 1 bob, 2 sinkers, 1 36 foot line, 1 dozen hooks assorted, 2 flies, 1 bait-box, 1 trolling hook for pickerel, and 2 hooks ganged (i. e., with hair or gut snell.) Postage prepaid. Price $1.00.

Two Babyland subscriptions will be equivalent to one Pansy subscription.

Given for two new subscriptions to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women. Or for one new subscription to either magazine and 60 cents cash additional.

The American Foot Ball is made of heavy canvas, thoroughly saturated with rubber, very strong, so as to be blown up with a key which goes with each one. It is 22 inches in circumference. Price $1.50.

We also include in this offer the American College Rules of Foot Ball. Price 15 cents.

Two Babyland subscriptions will be equivalent to one Pansy subscription.

Given for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women; or for one new subscription to Babyland and 20 cents cash additional.

No one need be without a microscope. We have made special arrangements by which we can offer a Combination Microscope (or Floroscope), 2 inches in length. It has in addition to a powerful microscope lens, a mineral glass for examining plants, minerals, etc. It is very convenient. It can be put into a vest pocket, and yet is as serviceable as many more expensive microscopes. Price 50 cents.

Given for one new subscription to Wide Awake or for four new subscriptions to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women.

Two Babyland subscriptions will be equivalent to one Pansy subscription.

This instrument will show satisfactorily the larger animalcules in pond water, the scales from a butterfly's wing, etc. The stand is of polished brass, handsomely lacquered, with one eye-piece and one object-glass, magnifying, when combined, about 40 diameters or 1600 times. One prepared object, two glass slips and a pair of brass forceps, are furnished with it; the whole is packed in a neat polished walnut-wood case. Price $2.50. Postage paid.

Our latest Special Premium given to any subscriber sending us SIX NEW subscriptions to Our Little Men and Women or The Pansy (at $1.00 each); or for FOUR NEW subscriptions to Our Little Men and Women or The Pansy (at $1.00 each) and $1.00 cash additional; or for TWO NEW subscriptions to above magazines (at $1.00 each) and $2.00 cash additional.

HAND-INKING PRESS.

Having made special arrangements with the manufacturers we are enabled to offer the celebrated Excelsior Printing-press Outfits as premiums for new subscriptions.

The premiums are given to present subscribers to any of our magazines sending us new subscribers to Wide Awake, The Pansy, Our Little Men and Women, and Babyland, at full subscription rates. The following special inducements are limited to Aug. 15th, 1886.

A SELF-INKING PRESS will be substituted in any of the above offers for additional subscriptions amounting to $2.00.

(With a Self-inking Press, price $1.00 additional.)

A SELF-INKING PRESS will be substituted in any of the above offers for additional subscriptions amounting to $5.00.

(With a Self-inking Press, price $3.00 additional.) This outfit will do work from the size of postal card down.

A SELF-INKING PRESS will be substituted for additional subscriptions amounting to $10.00.

(With a Self-inking Press, price $6.00 additional.) This outfit is an excellent one, as it will do for bill-heads, note-sheets, etc.

SELF-INKING PRESS.

The mechanical plan of the SELF-INKING PRESS is the same as with the hand inker except that inking rollers are added to work by the stroke of a lever. The advantage of a self inker over a hand inker is mainly in speed, which is increased because both hands are left free, one to feed paper and one to work lever.

ALL EXCELSIOR PRESSES use ordinary printers' type, as made in any part of the world. No Excelsior Press is cheaply made, but has steel bearings, best of screws, etc. All presses print within 1/8 inch of full size of chase as screws are used to lock up the forms.

Every Excelsior Press is fully warranted in every respect. With every press we send out is included full printed instructions on every point, by which any purchaser can manage type-setting, press-work, etc., successfully and satisfactorily.

The Outfits must be sent by Express at receiver's expense.

Remittances should be made by Post-office order; by registered letter; by express money order; or by bank check. These four ways are safe. The American Express Money Orders are very cheap and perfectly safe. Obtain one when possible. Remittances for small amounts may be made by postal notes, but not at our risk. D. LOTHROP & CO., Boston.

THE HOUSEHOLD RECEIPT BOOK for a 2-cent stamp.

THE HOUSEHOLD GAME BOOK for two 2-cent stamps.

THE HOUSEHOLD PRIMER for a 2-cent stamp.

Send to D. Lothrop & Co., 32 Franklin St., Boston, for them.

This beautiful and instructive set of minerals will be sent to any subscriber to one of our magazines who will send us one new subscriber to The Pansy, or Our Little Men and Women, or for two new subscribers to Babyland. We will send three of the Cabinets to any subscriber who will send us one new subscriber to Wide Awake. Read the conditions on second page of this list if you are not a subscriber.

"WIDE AWAKE may now be fairly regarded as the leading magazine in the country for young people. It has kept apace with the advances which literature for young people has made of late, and is the most attractive, instructive and practical magazine which can be put into the hands of young people."—Cincinnati Times-Star.

A FEW OF THE ATTRACTIONS FOR '86:

A Midshipman at Large and The Cruise of the Casabianca, two yachting (serial) stories by Charles Remington Talbot; A Girl and a Jewel (serial), by Harriet Prescott Spofford; Dilly and the Captain and Peggy (serials), by Margaret Sidney; and a six months' story by Charles Egbert Craddock. Also, Royal Girls and Royal Courts (12) by Mrs. John Sherwood; A Cycle of Children (12 historic holidays), by Elbridge S. Brooks; Stories of American Wars (12), In Peril (12 Adventures), Youth in Twelve Centuries (24 Costume and Race Studies), etc.         (Full Prospectus Free.)

WHEN GRANDMA WAS A GIRL

Never fails to carry delight to the babies and rest to the mammas, with its large beautiful pictures, its merry stories and jingles, in large type on heavy paper. 50 cents a year.

With its seventy-five full-page pictures a year, and numberless smaller, and its delightful stories and poems, is most admirable for the youngest readers in homes and schools. $1.00 a year.

Edited by the famous author of the "Pansy Books," is equally charming and suitable for week-day and Sunday reading. Always contains a serial by "Pansy." $1.00 a year.

Bound volumes of all the magazines for previous years can be supplied. Also thousands of beautiful illustrated books, in colors and in black and white—for little folks, boys and girls, and the family. Catalogue free.

Send for specimen copies of the magazines, circulars, catalogues of books, etc., to the Publishers.

The Waterbury Watch (and Chain) given for Four New Subscriptions to either The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women; or for Two New Subscriptions and $1.30 cash additional; or, given for one new subscriber to Wide Awake, and 65 cts. cash additional ($3.65 in all), if sent before August 1st, 1886. Two Babyland subscriptions will be equivalent to one Pansy subscription.

NEW ENGRAVED CASE (BACK).

We make this special offer only to present subscribers who send us new subscriptions. Full rates must be paid for each subscription (no club rates being allowed) and the order must be sent to us direct, not through an agent. The subscriptions must be secured between April 10th, 1886, and Aug. 1st, 1886. (Premium credits not taken up cannot be used for this special offer.)

The above amount includes postage. If the watch is to be registered (and we do not assume responsibility of safe delivery otherwise), 10 cents should be added.

The Waterbury Watch will be found a marvel of accuracy and cheapness.

Accurate, because it will run 24 hours, and keep time equal to the better grade of watches.

Cheap, because it will wear for years, and is offered at a price within the reach of everybody.

Every watch is perfect before leaving the factory and is tested a few days in our office before being sent away.

The price of the watch is $3.50.

Remember, the Waterbury Watch is not a toy, but a real watch, having less than one half the number of parts to be found in any other going watch in the world. It is a stem winder.

Remittances may be made by Money Order, Draft, Bank Check or American Express Money Order, at our risk.

Given for two new subscriptions to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women and 10 cts. cash additional Or,

Given for four new subscriptions to Babyland and 10 cents cash additional.

TWO RACQUETS will be given for one new subscription to Wide Awake and 50 cts. cash additional.

This is a good light Racquet, very suitable for the boys and girls. It is well made, with maple or sweet gum throat, and redwood handle. The handle is finished with round corners.

Lawn tennis is fast becoming the most popular game in this country, as it provides pleasant and healthful outdoor exercise for both boys and girls. Price of the Racquet, $1.75. Postage and packing 15 cents when sent as a premium. More expensive Racquets will be furnished at proportionate rates.

Read the very liberal Premium Offers we make, and improve the best opportunity you will ever have. A little earnest endeavor will bring you a valuable reward.

A Book for the Little Folks, a Book for the Young Folks, and a Book for the Older Young Folks, given with a handsome three-shelf Book-rack (No. 322), to any present subscriber to one of our magazines who will send us one new subscriber to Wide Awake (at $3.00) and 20 cents cash additional (total, $3.20).

The book for the little folks may be selected from the following list: "Alice's Alphabet," beautifully printed in colors; "Art in the Nursery;" "Outline Drawings for Little Paint Brushes;" "Nursery Tiles;" "Little Folks' Bible Pictures and Stories." Fully illustrated. Price, 50 cents each.

For the young folks select one from the following list: "In No-Man's Land," a wonder-story. Price, 75 cents; "The Story of Puff," a lovely story of bird-life. Price, 60 cents; "In the Woods and Out," by Pansy. Price, $1.00.

For the older young folks select one from the following list: "Five Little Peppers, and how They Grew," price, $1.50; "Two young Homesteaders," price, $1.50; "Cooking Club of Tu-Whit Hollow," price, $1.00; "Half Year at Bronckton," a story of schoolboy life, price, $1.25; "Boy Life in the U. S. Navy," price, $1.50.

The books and book-rack will be sent in one package by express, charges to be paid by the receiver.

This Offer is limited to Aug. 15, 1886.

Given to any subscriber who will send us one new subscription to Babyland and 15 cents cash additional, before Aug. 15th.

This book-rack has two shelves 22 inches long, will hold thirty volumes of suitable size for student's use, and can be put in a small trunk or large valise. Price, 65 cents. Receiver to pay express charges on the book-rack.

These book-racks are light and ornamental.

Given to any subscriber who will send us one new subscription to The Pansy, or Our Little Men and Women and 25 cents cash additional; or, given for one new subscription to The Pansy or Our Little Men and Women and one new subscription to Babyland. (Total $1.50.)

This book-rack has three shelves 22 inches long, with capacity for holding 60 volumes of ordinary size, and when packed for removal will occupy a space of 7 by 30 inches and about 2 inches deep and weighs only 4 pounds. Price, $1.15. Receiver to pay express charges.

These Book-racks are something entirely new; something which everybody needs.

Many people having a taste for reading, are prevented from purchasing book-cases on account of their high cost. Consequently their books will lie around on tables, on the floor or in closets until they become soiled or destroyed. This difficulty in keeping books from being injured can be obviated by obtaining the "Lock Shelf Book-rack," an article both beautiful and useful.

The simplicity of their construction will enable any one to take them apart and put them up again in a moment's time. They are made to hang on the wall from strong screw hooks which are furnished with each rack. (Put hooks close to the uprights.) Can also stand on the floor.

There are many white soaps, each represented to be "just as good as the 'Ivory';" they ARE NOT, but like all counterfeits, lack the peculiar and remarkable qualities of the genuine. Ask for "Ivory" Soap and insist upon getting it.