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FISHER & BROTHER'S HOME JUVENILE TALES.
THE
GIRL'S TRUE JOY:
BEING THE HISTORIES OP
JANE DEW DROP,
OR,
SINCERITY MEETS ITS JUST REWARD.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE,
OB,
THE BEAUTY OF TELLING THE TRUTH.
BY MRS. MARY DURANG,
WITH SIX COLORED ENGRAVINGS.
FISHER & BROTHER, PUBLISHERS.
No. 8 SOUTH SIXTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA;
74 CHATHAM STREET, NEW YORK;
71 COURT STREET, BOSTON;
64 BALTIMORE ST., BALT.
TO MY
Y © tU M (& F IEU 1 M B 8.
If the Little Histories, and Tales now presented to my young readers,
instruct, or amuse them, it will be a heartfelt gratification to me.
All the events recorded, and the information given are realities ; the
description of floods, and tempests, are such as have occurred; the
beautiful, and magnificent scenes in nature which are referred to, are
to be found in the parts of the world in which they are mentioned as
situated; and the vegetable and animal species have given subjects for
entertaining knowledge, where the goodness, and greatness of God is
found in all his works.
If I have succeeded in instructing in an amusing way, my pleasing
task will be accomplished for the present, and I hope it will not be the
last time, that my efforts will be employed in the same manner. To
see a cheerful face on a lovely child is my delight; nor am I less grati¬
fied in hearing the infant voice enquiring eagerly for the knowledge of
events long past, or the nature of things existing at the present time.
I must now bid them adieu for the present; may they be happy, and
cherish the remembrance of God's blessings, is the anxious wish of
their friend,
MARY DURANG.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, 1847, by Turner & Fisher, in the Clerk's
Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
JANE DEWDROP;
OR,
SINCERITY MEETS ITS REWARD.
CHAPTER I.
MRS. DEWDROP CAUTIONING WILLIAM ABOUT
PLAYING IN THE STREET.
In one of those pleasant little towns in Mary¬
land, Mr. Dewdrop held a fine farm, their house
had every comfort that could be desired; it had a
handsome garden; the door of the sitting parlor
opened on a balcony, or portico that led into it.
Jane was drawing her horse, while her mother
who was nursing their little sister Clara, was
giving William strict orders not to be playing in
the street; for the wicked boys all wasted their
time and acquired bad manners by it.
" See," said the tender affectionate mother " you
have your sisters to play with and your little gun
and horses, what more do you want?"
6
JANE DEWDROP.
" I do not want any thing more; but there is
Harry Groodfellow, who tells such pretty tales,
and he says they are all truth, and I like to hear
him," was William's answer.
" Then let him come here, I shall always be
glad to see him," said Mrs. Dewdrop, "and then
your sister Jane will be amused as well as your¬
self, and if they are as you say, all truths, she will
be instructed also."
"Oh yes!" said Jane, "I do love to hear him
talk, he told William all about the blessing the
Neva."
" Do you recollect about it," enquired Mrs.
Dewdrop.
"Oh yes!" answered Jane, "I remember it all
and will tell it to you, that you may be convinced
that I do not forget any of it.
The blessing the waters of the Neva, takes place
on the sixth day of January, (old style.) It is
intended to show the respect and veneration of
the Russians for the waters of the Neva; it also
commemorates three great festivals, the Epiphany
or manifestation, the baptism of Christ, and the
birth-day of one of the royal family, an epoch that
the Russians consider of as much importance as
the other two; on this day, therefore, great prepa-
JANE DEWDROP.
7
rations are made for a solemn ceremony, called
the blessing the waters of the Neva. There is a
small stream called the Moika, which has been
formed into a canal, it communicates with the
large river through a magnificent arch, which
connects the Hermitage, with the winter palace;
and at the junction, the ceremony takes place.
A large platform was erected over the stream ;
and an Octagon temple on the platform; the
temple is open at the sides and ornamented with
carved and gilded cherubims, and other similar
figures. On four of the sides, are pictures repre¬
senting the preaching of John in the wilderness,
the miraculous draught of fishes, the passage of
the Red Sea; and the baptism of Christ in the
river Jordan. In the centre of the temple the
floor is open, and a flight of steps leads down to
the ice, in which a square hole was cut, that the
waters of the Moika, may be seen to mingle with
those of the Neva below; and above, is suspended
a golden dove, in the centre of gilded rays, hover¬
ing over the sacred spot.
The waters that mingle together are called the
Jordan.
About twelve o'clock the multitude assemble
round the quays, (or wharves, as we call them,)
8
JANE DEWDKOP.
on the ice; a broad passage is left from the temple
to the winter palace; about one o'clock the pro¬
cession which assembles within the palace, issues
from it. First, two priests in rich vestments,
bearing swallow-tail banners; they are followed
by another bearing a gilded lantern, with a huge
wax candle lighted on the end of a long pole;
then follows a long train of priests bearing tapers
and books; they immediately precede the patri¬
arch or metropolitan, as he is now called, with all
the bishops of the Greek Russian church, in
snow white robes. Behind these follows the young
Emperor Nicholas, with his brother Michael, the
Prince of Wirtenburg, and a long train of nobles
and officers of the court, all in splendid dresses.
The procession moves slowly along to the
platform, where they range round the temple, the
Metropolitan descending to the aperture in the
ice, utters a solemn prayer, and bending forward
through the opening, he addresses the mingling
currents, blesses the waters, and confers or pretends
to do so, every quality that can be useful or salu¬
tary to man; then drawing some up from the
stream, he sprinkles it round on the company, who
eagerly hold up their faces to catch the falling
drops. At this moment a, signal is given to the
JANE DEAVDHOP.
9
fortress at the opposite side. A discharge of
artillery blazes along the ramparts; tlie choir
chaunts a loud and harmonious hymn, while the
multitude join in prayers, kneeling, and crossing
themselves ; this day they commemorate the bap¬
tism of Christ; the event they next proceed to cele¬
brate which they do with much the same ceremony,
as the preceeding one, (which is done in honor of
one of the royal member's birth.) The waters of
the Moika representing those of the Jordan and
are called so on the occasion.
Mothers bring their new-born infants to be
baptised, and they are passed naked through the
frozen water to the great hazzard of all, and the
sacrifice of many lives, as some of them die from
the intense cold. On one occasion, a priest emi¬
nent for his sanctity, was engaged in this ceremony.
He took the naked children by the leg, and
plunged them head foremost through the hole in
the ice. One, more strong, and sturdy than the
rest, struggled to extricate himself from his disa¬
greeable situation; the priest let him go with the
current, and turning about when it had disappeared
under the ice, he carelessly said, ' He is gone to
God, give me another,' and another was handed
to him, the mother firmly believing that her child
10
JANE DEWDROP.
so consecrated, was consigned to everlasting bliss.
After this accident, the Empress Catharine issued
an order, (called a ukase,) that all children bap¬
tised on this day, at this ceremony, should be
secured in a basket, and so dipped in the water.
After the ceremony of baptism, the people fill
the vessels, (that they have brought with them)
from the precious stream, and take it home as a
panacea for all moral and physical evils. Many
of them scramble down to the ice, where they
prostrate themselves, and thrust their heads with
such eagerness through the aperture, as to plunge
themselves into the water, and it then becomes
necessary to catch them by the neck or leg, to
save them from drowning. Many of them are
drawn out almost suffocated. They fill bottles
and steep clothes, for their friends who cannot
reach the spot. These things are eagerly caught
by the surrounding people; some drink the water,
others pour it over their hands, or into their
bosoms, and others envelope their heads in the
wet cloths, bowing, crossing, and praying with
the greatest devotion.
When this is done, they all retire, with the
greatest appearance of happiness.
. Wherever the water falls, the intensity of the
JAKE DEWDROP.
11
cold freezes it stiff immediately ; while their hair
hangs in icicles round their chilled necks, yet
they seem not to feel it, the glow of enthusiasm
makes them insensible to the intensity of the frost.
Some few remain listlessly looking on and
laughing at the ceremonies ; but they arc mostly
of the degraded classes of society.
At Constantinople, they perform a similar
ceremony in the Bospliorus, on the same day,
in the year; being their ceremony of baptism.
The Venetians have a grand national ceremony:
which they call ' wedding the Adriatic,' on a par¬
ticular day in the year; all the gondolas, (which
are the boats used to carry passengers and mer¬
chandise through their canals, which run through
the principal streets, the town being built on
islands; some are kept by the Venetians for their
private use,) are decorated with flags, flowers,
and banners ; they form a procession which is led
by the Doge dressed in his magnificent robes, and
his gondola decorated with banners embroidered
on velvet, and satins, with jewels, pearls, and
precious stones. The wedding is performed by
the Doge dropping a splendid jeweled ring into
the water.
Thus, you see every country has its peculiar
12
Jane dewdkof.
ceremonies, and young people should make them¬
selves acquainted with them all, and avoid ridi¬
culing any of them; by study and observation,
you will become acquainted with many things,
that to the ignorant appears singular, which fre¬
quently happens with very trifling things.
A laughable circumstance happened one day
among the sailors on board a vessel at Portsmouth.
There is a very large biscuit bakery there,
which furnishes most of the ships with their supplies,
the demand being so great, they make them bv
machinery, and mark on the bags the Queen s
arms, and the word ' machinery.' There was a
vessel in port, whose crew was very much amazed
and puzzled at it, and could not make out what
it meant; they all collected round it, trying to
find out the meaning, at last one who appeared
to be considered very learned amongst them, knelt
down and studied it for some time, while all the
rest stood round him in a circle in perfect silence,
at last he started up and exclaimed, ' I Tve got it,
I've got it.' * What is it,' they all cried out at
once. 'Why!' said he strutting with the impor¬
tance of the discovery he had made; ' it is nothing
more or less than the baker's name, don't you all
See ? Mac Henry!' ever since this circumstance.
JANE DEWDROP.
13
the biscuits go by the name of Mac Henry's
biscuit."
"The sailors see many strange things, father!"
said Jane, "yet they do not seem to notice many
of them, how is that?"
" Because they do not prepare their minds by
previous study," answered Mr. Dewdrop, " for
instance, there is the simple sponge that appears
so insignificant in itself, yet an informed mind by
the aid of a microscope, will discover innumerable
wonders and beauties.
From each of the little holes, it throws out a
sparkling stream of water during its life; the jets
of which are so brilliant, that they dazzle the eye
after looking for any length of time; but they
cease immediately on the death of the animal, or
if it remains out of water. Thus, all those open¬
ings in a living state, are destined for the dis¬
charge of a constant stream of water from the
interior of the body.
In their general appearance, they resemble
many kinds of plants, they adhere to rocks and
places, the old ones never move; but the young-
move off from their parent branches, and choos¬
ing their future place of staying, attach them¬
selves and remain until the end of their existence.
14
JANE DEWDROP.
They thrive in the Mediterranean sea, and give
a living to many people, who are maintained by
sponge-fishing. At Cyclades, the sea is always
•extremely clear, and the experienced divers are
•capable of distinguishing to which point the
sponge is attached below, when an unpracticed eye,
•can scarcely distinguish the bottom. Each boat
is furnished with a large stone attached to a rope,
.and this the diver seizes in his hand on plunging
head foremost from the stern. He does this, in
order to increase the speed of his descent; thus,
economizing his stock of breath, as well as hasten¬
ing his ascent when exhausted at the bottom, be¬
ing then quickly drawn up by his companions.
Few men can remain longer than two minutes
below, and as the process of detaching the sponge
is very tedious, three, and sometimes four divers,
•descend one after the other to secure a fine
sponge.
Nothing in the world is so insignificant, but
that instruction and amusement can be drawn
from it. Therefore, neglect no opportunity of
learning."
JANE DEWDROP.
15
CHAPTER IL
WILLIAM AND JANE RELIEVING THE WANTS OF
THE BEGGAR GIRL.
The day being- verv fine, William and Jane
took a walk to their Aunt Caroline's, who was
very glad to see them; on their return home, she
gave them a large basket of apples; they had not
proceeded far, before the old dog that accom¬
panied them began to growl.
" Hush! hush your growling old Hector," said
William, "what is the matter with you?"
"Let me know, Hector?" added Jane, "he
seldom growls without a cause, what is it?"
While she was speaking to Hector of his
uncouth noise, a little girl turned round the angle
of the road, and requested charity for herself, and
her poor mother, who lay dangerously ill; she told
them that her mother feared her father had been
lost at sea, as they had not heard from him for
many months, and they were in great want."
" Here is all the money that I have," said
William, as he emptied the purse that Jane had
knit for him.
" And here is an apple," said Jane, " and here
is another, in short, take this basket full, I have
16
JANE DEWDROP.
110 money; but you may sell the apples, and we
will call for the basket, if you will let us know
where you live."
The girl thanked them very much and showed
them, where the little miserable house was, in
which they staid.
On their going home, they told their mother
what they had done, and she immediately put
up some tea, sugar, and flour in a basket, and
told them to take them to the poor woman, and
tell her that she would be there in the evening
herself, to see her. s
Little folks cannot imagine what pleasure it is
to do a good action, until after they have done
one. Both William and Jane, felt happier than
they had ever done before; they saw the poor
woman weeping tears of gratitude, and heard her
bless their future lives. They felt that one mo¬
ment like that, produced more joy than whole
days of pastime, which though occasionally neces¬
sary ought not to engross the mind at all times.
They saw Mrs. Buckingham daily improving
in health, and as her conversation was very
amusing, they often went to see her.
Her husband had once been a merchant; but
having failed, he was glad to go out as super-cargo
JANE DEWDROP.
17
in a vessel that lie had once owned; but alas!
that vessel had not been heard of for many months,
it was the fourth voyage he had taken in her.
She told them that her husband had always
made it a habit of writing down every thing he
saw at sea, or on land, that was strange, or had
any thing uncommon about it.
"Oh!" said Jane, "I should be delighted to
hear some of his adventures, "Would not you,
William?"
"I certainly should," answered William, " and
if we could only prevail on Mrs. Buckingham to
tell us some of them, we would be very thankful
to her."
Mrs. Buckingham assured them that she would
with the greatest pleasure; and not to lose time,
she began with a description of the bottom of the
sea and its brightness.
You must know my dear children that the
bottom of the sea, seems to have an unequal sur¬
face, the same as the land; it has its vallies, its
mountains, and plains. The soil, (if it may be
called so,) differs in various places; for instance,
the bottom of the Adriatic Sea, is composed of
beds of shells several feet in thickness. A cele¬
brated diver, employed to descend into the straits
18
JAN"E DEWDROP.
of Messina, saw with horror enormous polypi at¬
tached to the rocks, the arms of which were
several feet long, more than sufficient to strangle
two or three men at a time. In many places the
bottom is one level plain of sandy soil, for seven
or eight miles, without an intervening object.
But the Red Sea is very different, the whole
bottom of this extensive bed of water, is a forest
of sub-marine plants and corals, formed by insects
for their habitations, sometimes branching out to
a great extent; there amongst them you will find
Sponges, madrepores, mosses, sea mushrooms, and
various other things, which cover every part of
the bottom.
The beds of many parts of the sea near America
present a beautiful appearance. It is covered
with vegetables, which make it look as green as a
meadow, amongst which are seen thousands of
turtles, and other sea animals, feeding thereon.
In some parts, no bottom has been found ; still
it is not bottomless.
The color of the sea varies greatly in appear¬
ance ; but is generally of a deep bluish green,
which becomes clearer towards the coasts. This
apparent color, seems to arise from the same
causes which give a blue shade to distant moun¬
tains, and to the atmosphere its azure hue.
JANE DEWDROr.
21
The other shades in the colour of sea water,
depend on causes which are local, and sometimes
delusive. The Mediterranean sea, is said
sometimes in its upper part to hare a purplish tint;
in the Grulf of Guinea, the Atlantic has a whitish
appearance; and in the Indian Ocean around the
Maldive Islands, the sea is black. It is yellowish
between China and Japan, and greenish to the
west of the Canaries and Azores. The Yermeille,
or Vermillion sea near California, has received its
name from the red color which its waters often
assume. Among the more general causes of
deception, may be mentioned the aspect of the
sky; thus, an apparentlydarkcoloredsea,denotes
an approaching storm; not that the water is
actually blacker than usual; but because the
dark color of the clouds, distinctly seen in, or re¬
flected on the waves, is mistaken for the color of
the sea. Whatever other color the sky happens
to wear, has a greater or less influence on the ap¬
pearance of the ocean, as red clouds seem to give
it a red tinge. On some occasions, the edge of
the waves act like a three sided glass called a
prism, and refleets the sun's beams; thus, reflect¬
ing all the colors of the rainbow; which is still
more closely imitated by the refraction of its
2
22
JANE DEWDEOF.
rays in the spray. Yery frequently, an indistinct
image of the neighboring coast, reflected on the
ruffled surface, is mistaken for the color of the
water.
The green and yellow shades of the sea, are
attributable to marine vegetables, which in some
places rise to the surface of the water and cover
it entirely. Animal and vegetable remains in a
putrid state, may also probably communicate
various tints. The diffusion of mud and other
earthy substances, cannot fail to effect the color
of water, especially in the mouths of rivers.
"Where it is shallow, or very transparent, the
color of the bottom is frequently mistaken for the
color of the water.
The color of the Greenland sea, varies from
Ultra-marine blue to olive green, and from the
purest transparency, to great thickness; these ap¬
pearances are permanent and depend on the
quality of the water. The whalemen frequently
pass through stripes of pale green, olive greenr
and transparent blue, in the course of ten minutes.
The food of whales is found chiefly in the green
water, and there the fishers look for them.
"Whales are more easily taken in the green, than
in the transparent bluebecause they do not so
JAKE DEWDKOP.
23
easily see their enemies through the former. On
examining the different sea waters, various sub¬
stances and animalcules, (or small minute animals)
were found especially, in the olive green water.
After passing Cape Palmas, which stands at
the entrance of the Gulf of Guinea, Captain
Tuckey observed that the sea was whitish, which
increased until they made Prince's Island. The
luminosity of the sea also increased, so that at
night the ship seemed to be sailing on a sea of
milk. In order to discover the cause of these
appearances, a bag of bunting, having its mouth
extended by a hoop, was kept over board, and by
means of it, they collected a vast number of little
animals of various kinds, particularly a transparent
scaljxx, with innumerable little shell animals of
the scyllarus genus attached to themy to which
Captain Tuckey attributed the whitish color of
the water. Thirteen species of the cancer, not
above one-fourth of an inch in length, eight having
the shape of crabs, and five, that of shrimps.
When one of the species was examined by the
microscope by candle light, the luminous property
was observed to reside in the brain, which, when
the animal was at rest, resembled a brilliant
amethyst, about the size of a pin's head, and from
24
JANE DEWDROP.
this there darted when the animal moved, flashes
of a brilliant silvery light.
The sea exhibits the greatest brilliancy between
the tropics. Sometimes the vessel while plough¬
ing her way through the billows, appears to mark
her way through fire; each stroke of the oar
gives rise to sparks of light, sometimes brilliant
and dazzling, at others tranquil and pearly.
These moveable lights are grouped together
in endless variety ; and their thousands of lumin¬
ous lights, like little stars, appear floating on the
surface ; and then multiplying together, form one
vast sheet of light. Then the scene becoming
more tumultuous, bright waves heave up, and
break in shining foam. At other times, large
sparkling bodies resembling the forms of fishes,
pursue each other, disappearing, and bursting
forth anew.
Round the Sandwich Islands, the ocean is re¬
markably full of these nocturnal spangles, millions
of those little flowers of flame as they seem to the
eye, pass the side of the vessel every moment, and
form in her wake, (which is the mark the ship
leaves in the water,) a train such as no comet in
its course ever drew over half the heavens.
Beautiful illuminations of the same kind, what-
25
JANE DEWDROP.
ever may be their nature, are seen at a great
depth in the clear water, which at night becomes
jet black.
Often through this dark liquid medium, is the
mind amused by tracing out the route of fishes,
such as sharks, or porpoises, gleaming along a line
of light beneath the dark abysss itself invisible
with gloom.
They appear like a submarine aurora, which
is sometimes discovered at a great distance, shoot¬
ing and disappearing suddenly; but leaving a
path to shine after him."
AVilliam told Mrs. Buckingham, " that he felt
too thankful to her to express his gratitude." and
Jane, requested that she would allow them to
come some other time, and listen to her conver¬
sation.
Mrs. Buckingham assured them that it would
give her great pleasure; thus they parted
mutually delighted, and pleased with each other.
26
JANE DEWDROP.
CHAPTER III.
JERRY TRYING TO MAKE WILLIAM QUARREL.
It was a cold day, when William took Hector
into the barn, as he wanted to have a little play;
his favorite pony, was in the stall neighing, when
William gave him some good fresh hay to eat; he
had not been long there, before a boy of the name
of Jerry came in and began to worry him;
and very soon after black Jemmy come in, to
feed the Pony.
" Ah Jemmy," said William, u I am before you,
I have fed him enough for to day ; but as the rope
(which some one has tied round his leg,) seems
tight, take my knife and cut it."
As he was handing the knife to Jemmy, Jerry
stept between them, took the knife and threw it
a distance off, where it stuck in the floor, while
he held William by the arm, who fell on his knee
in the scuffle; all this time Jemmy stood with his
rake in his hand looking on.
" Take care Massa Jerry, and don't hurt Massa
Willie, or I will hurt you," said Jemmy.
Jerry instead of letting go his hold, used some
bad language to the poor black boy; who very
coolly took his rake and drew him away from
JANE DEWDROP.
27
William with it. Jerry then got furious, and was
going to fight both William and Jemmy, when
Hector flew at him, and made him run 'as if it
was for his life, while Jemmy stood shouting, and
laughing, delighted at the idea that Hector was
the best soldier of the three.
" Well Jemmy, if you had as much courage as
Hector, you would be a great man," said
William.
"Yes Massa, then we would both be great
men." While they were talking, Harry came in
with Hector leading him.
" What is the matter here?" enquired Harry,
" here is Hector out of breath, and you both talk¬
ing about being great men, come boys tell me
what you are going to do?"
" I am going to ask you to tell me who was the
last great man that you have been reading about,"
answered William.
" Sit down then and I will tell you," replied
Harry, "and you too Cuffee sit down."
" Me no Cuffee, me Jemmy," said the black boy.
" Then Jemmy sit down, and hide your white
teeth, that you are always showing with your
broad grinning, And let me proceed with my
story." Then turning to William, he said, "you
28
JANE DEWDROP.
wish to know who was the last great man that I
was reading about. There was a poor boy who
was an orphan, he was apprenticed to a tailor at
Newton; one day while he was seated on his
board at work he heard a great commotion in
the street, and hearing that a squadron of men of
war were coming round Dunnose, he ran out to
look, and followed with the rest of the people to see
the beautiful spectacle. Following the first im¬
pulse of his mind, he ran down to the beach,
threw off the rope from the first boat he saw,
jumped into it, and quickly reached the Admiral's
ship, where he engaged himself as a volunteer,
turned the boat adrift, and thus, suddenly and de¬
cidedly bade adieu to his native isle. Early the
next morning, they fell in with a French squadron,
an action commenced and was continued for some
time. Cheerfulness and alacrity characterized this
youth, he enquired of the sailors after two hours
hard fighting, 'what they wished to accomplish?'
On learning that the fighting must continue
until the white rag at the enemy's mast-head was
struck, he exclaimed; ' Oh! if that is all, I will
see what I can do.' At that very moment, the
ships were engaged, (as it is called yard-arm and
yard-arm,) and obscured in the smoke of their
JANE DEWDKOP.
29
guns. Promptly taking advantag-e of this circum¬
stance, lie mounted the shrouds unperceived,
walked the horse of the French Admiral's ship,
quickly ascended to the main-top-gallant mast-
iiead, struck and carried off the flag, and at the
moment of regaining his own ship, the shouts of
' Victory! Victory! Victory! arose from its sudden
yet wished for disappearance. Filled with con¬
sternation the enemy left their guns; and while
the Admiral and his officers, were endeavoring to
rally them, the British sailors boarded their ves¬
sel, and made it a prize. At this juncture, the
brave boy descended the shroud with the flag
wrapped round his arm, and then displayed it in
triumph to the astonished gaze of those on the
main-deck. As soon as the Admiral heard of his
gallant exploit, he took him under his protection,
and became a warm friend of his.
He continued his course as he had begun it, by
bravery and obedience. He was afterwards cre¬
ated Admiral Hobson, when Queen Anne, con¬
ferred on him the honor of knighthood, and a
handsome pension in consideration for his valuable
services He never forgot his former circumstances.
Being at Spithead, he determined to visit the
scenes of his early days; leaving his ship, he
30
JAtfE DEWDKOP.
landed at Brading, and soon arrived at his old
master's house, and found that he and his wife
were still alive. Having asked the latter several
questions as to their lost apprentice, she said they
supposed he was drowned, as the boat he went off
in, was found some days after, without any one in
it. However, while she was preparing some re¬
freshments, he began an air which was his favor¬
ite, when he was an apprentice; on which she dis¬
covered the fact, rushed into the room, and re¬
joiced that he was alive and distinguished, who
was supposed to be dead. Gratefully did he ac¬
knowledge their former kindness, and left with
them other proofs of a generous disposition.
Such was the history of the last great man that
I read of, and many more ought to be read. I
was also much amused by reading of the migra¬
tion of some fishes; it seems they make an annual
passage from the Black Sea, through the Bos-
phorus. The wind had been two or three days
from the North; when a rippling appearance was
observed in the midst of the waters of the
sea, forming a dark serpentine line, about a mile
and a half in length. Over and all around the
ripples, were assembled a prodigious number
of water fowls, swans, cormorants, pelicans,
JANE DEWDROP.
31
penguins, solan geese, and various others, which
shrieked and screamed in hoarse concert, as they
dived upon the myriads of Tunnies, or Pelamydes
which were thus floating down in mid-channel.
Yet this shoal only proved the advanced guard
of the grand army of these creatures, which were
coming down from the Palus Mseotis, terrified by
the first approach of the bleak northern blasts,
and equinoctial gales. Before mid-day, some
hundreds of boats having arrived, the number of
fish captured was prodigious. The boats were
navigated by Turks, Albanians, and Greeks,
habited in the diversified, and richly coloured
costumes of their respective nations, pushing
against the rapid current; bawling, shouting, and
wrangling for the prize, for which they were even
forced to contend with the fowls of the air, who
intrepidly descended to seize the fish when strug¬
gling amidst the meshes of their nets. They gave
an animation to the picture, which surrounded by
the sublime scenery of the Bosphorus constituted
a most superb and impressive spectacle.
Harry and William after conversing some time
in the barn, went to the house, where they were
soon joined by Jane, who was always anxious to
hear Harry Groodfellow relate amusing incidents,
when he was pleased to indulge her.
32
JANE DEWIXROP.
" What new travels have you made through
your books that are so amusing?" asked Jane.
"Some that have afforded me much entertain¬
ment," answered Harry, " and if I am not impor¬
tunate I will relate them, if they should be, I hope
that X may be excused, as I do not belong to the
academy at Amadan."
" What do you mean by that?" enquired Jane.
" Among its laws, there is one that com¬
mands the students to think much, write little,and
speak still less. There was one, Doctor Zeb, who
was very wise, and also very learned, he heard
that there was a vacancy for a Professor in the
school, and he immediately applied for it; but
unfortunately arrived too late; it had been bestow¬
ed on one who was unworthy of it, and who had
gained it through influence. The President felt
the injustice of the appointment that had been
made, felt that it was impossible for him to tell
him, and felt ashamed of what had been done.
He thought that he might convey the intelligence
to him by a hint, and thus spare both their feel¬
ings ; while he would also carry out their system
of silence, he therefore ordered a goblet to be
brought to him, which he filled to such nicety
with water, that another drop would have caused
it to over run the brim.
JANE DEWDROP.
33
The Doctor understood by this silent dismissal
that there was no room for him; he was leaving the
room vexed and disappointed, when he perceived
a rose leaf on the floor lying at his feet; a sudden
thought struck him and gave him courage, he took
the leaf and placed it delicately on the water,
which was in the cup so that not a drop escaped
or was disturbed. At this ingenious answer and
reproof, there was a general clapping of hands,
and he was received among the silent students as
their professor;
" I hope Harry, that you will never go to that
school, for I should be very sorry if you became
silent, for it would deprive me of hearing many
interesting things," said Jane.
" Then it might be of service to you, for then
you would have to read if you wished to inform
yourself about the them.
However I will have to go home now; but I
will see you this evening." With this promise
he left them anxious for his return.
34
JANE DEWDROP.
CHAPTER IV.
JANE WATERING HER FLOWERS.
In the fall months, the flowers have very showy,
rich colors. Jane was very fond of them, and
she would take particular care to water them every
morning, and she was rewarded by their beauti¬
ful varieties ornamenting the place; the Dahlias
were splendid; there were some purple, orange,
crimson, and scarlet, with their velvet-like leaves,
while the gay Queen Margarets, and bright, gold
colored Marygolds, assisted to make the garden
lovely and enchanting.
William followed her into the garden, to see if
he could help her; but her love of flowers, would
not let her fuel any fatigue in taking care of them.
" See!" said she, "how beautiful the dew hangs
an those flowers; I am very glad Clara will soon
be large enough to admire them."
" Cannot I admire them ?" enquired William,
'' don't I love flowers ?"
"Yes, but you are a boy," answered Jane, "and
boys have not the same likings that girls have.
You like a boat, and a horse, while I like my doll
and my flowers."
Jane not only liked her doll; but she liked every-
JANE DEWDKOP,
35
thing; she had a most affectionate disposition, and
nothing came near her, but what felt her goodness;
the poor were sure to receive the whole of the
money that would be given to her for toys, and
her goodness to her mother, made her an example
for all children.
Mrs. Dewdrop felt proud of her daughter,
whose mind was as- pure as her name, and she
appeared as lovely; her beautiful blue eyes, were
always wTatching to do good.
Harry Groodfellow came that evening according
to promise to see them, he took Clara on his knees,
and the little thing looked up in his face with a
smile, as much as to say, "now what are you
going to tell," they all seemed to understand it,
for Jane told him that Clara was ready to hear
what he had to tell.
" Well, I will tell you now; but mind you must
for the future read for yourselves, and as the
amusements of other people may instruct you,
I will give you an account of the water sports
of the people, in some of the Islands in the Pacific
Ocean.
The heat being very great, they always like to
go into the water; young children, three and four
years old, play on the sea beach in crowds, and
36
JANE DEWDROP.
almost every one of them can swim, and it is very
seldom that a child is drowned.
They have a variety of games, and play as fear¬
lessly in the water, as the children of a school, do
in their play ground. Sometimes they erect a
stage eight or ten feet high, on the edge of some
deep place, and lay a long pole over the edge of
it, on this they pursue one another to the end,
when they jump into the sea. Throwing them¬
selves from the bow-sprit of a ship, is also n favor¬
ite sport. But the most general and frequent
game, is swimming in the surf, and the higher the
sea, and the larger the waves, the better the sport.
They use a long board mostly a little hollowed in
the centre; this, they call a wrave sliding board,
it is generally five or six feet long. It is usually
made of the wood of the erythena, stained quite
black, and preserved with great care. After using
it, it is put in the sun to dry; when it is rubbed
over with cocoa nut oil, and frequently it is
wrapped up in a cloth, and hung up in some*part
of their dwelling house. Sometimes they choose
a place wh'ere the deep water reaches the beach;
but they generally prefer a part wThere the rocks
are ten or twenty feet under the water, and extend
to a great distance, from the shore, as the surf
JANE DEWDROP.
39
breaks more violently over tliem. When playing
in these places, each individual takes his board,
and pushing it before him, swims near a quarter
of a mile or more out to sea, they do not attempt
to go over the billows which roll towards the shore;
but watch their coming, and dive under the water,
and thus the billow rolls over their heads. When
they reach the outside of the rocks, where the
waves first break, they fix themselves on one end
of the board, lying flat on their faces, and watch
the approach of the largest billow; they then
poise themselves on its highest edge, and paddling
as it were with their hands and feet, ride on the
crest of the wave, in the midst of the spray and
foam, until within a yard or two of the rocks, or
shore, and when the observers expect to see them
dashed to pieces, they steer wTith great skill be¬
tween the rocks, or slide off their boat in a mo¬
ment, and grasp it by the middle, and dive under
water, while the wave rolls on, and breaks among
the rocks with a roaring noise, the effect of
which is greatly heightened by the shouts, and
laughter of the natives in the water. Those who
are expert, frequently change their position on the
board, sometimes sitting and sometimes standing
up in the midst of the foam. The greatest skill
3
40
JANE DEWDKOP.
is necessary to keep on the edge of the wave; for
if they get too forward they are sure to be upset,
and if they fall back, they are buried under the
succeeding billow. Sometimes they hare a light
canoe, which they use in the same manner as they
do the board.
The inhabitants generally go out when the wind
blows towards the shore, and they stay the whole
day in the water.
The only circumstance that mars the pleasure
of this play, is the approach of the sharks. This
sometimes makes them fly in different directions;
but if there are many persons together, they all
unite, set up a loud shout, and make a violent
splashing in the water, so as to frighten them
away. The fear of them however, is very great;
and after a party returns from this amusement
almost the first question asked, is "were there
any sharks ?"
It has a very singular appearance to see fifty
or a hundred persons riding on an immense billow,
and half immersed in spray and foam.
Some of the chiefs of the tribes living in those
Islands are very expert swimmers, and will swim
in the surf, which to so many of our bathers proves
fatal, as there is scarely a summer passes without
JANE DEWDKOP.
41
an accident happening at some of our fashionable
bathing places, from venturing too far in the surf.
So you see that what is sport to one set of people,
is death to another."
42
JANE DEWDROP.
CHAPTER Y.
WILLIAM AND HIS COMPANIONS DRAWING LITTLE
CLARA ON THEIR SLEDGE.
On the top of a hill was a small house, where
there was an old woman lived, who got her living
by knitting home-made stockings. As the winter
snow had covered all the fields; William and his
companions made a sledge, and placed little Clara
<on, after harnessing three boys for the horses, they
gave her the reins, while William went behind
and held her on, and his dog followed shaking the
snow off his feet.
They drove the sledge round the hill, until they
got to the house, when the old woman made them
all come in and warm themselves; she gave them
some hot coffee, which warmed them and made
them all feel very comfortable. They put all the
money together that they had, and bought some
•of the stockings that she had made, and then they
set off at full speed to return home, on their way
they saw a carriage, from which a gentleman
alighted, and went towards Mr. Dewdrop's
On reaching home Jane came out to meet them,
"My dear sister I am glad you are come home,
for Mr. Buckingham has just returned, and Mrs.
JANE DEWDROP.
43
Buckingham Is so delighted; he lias been very
successful in all his sales, and has brought back
money enough to make them all comfurtable; he had
such an escape on the ice; they were crossing a
river which was frozen over; they were on a
sledge which was drawn by dogs, and when in the
middle of it, his guide heard what is called a
ground swell under the ice; soon after a hollow,
disagreeable noise was heard, and the motion of
the sea became quite preceptible to them; the ice
separated in several places, and the dogs leaped
from one piece to the others but when they got near
the shore, the ice rocked up and down so, that it
was with the greatest difficulty that the dogs
leaped to the land. He was thus preserved; but
it was a long time before he could get away for it
was dangerous to travel by water or by land."
They all went to see Mr. Buckingham; William
got the boys to draw the girls on the sledge, and
they all listened attentively to a description of the
Tiger that Mr. Buckingham had caught, and
brought home with him, of which he gave some
interesting accounts.
" He is the most ferocious animal I ever met,
and the most cruel. He has a perpetual thirst
for blood, and was very seldom quiet unless he was
44
JANE DEWDROP.
watching the banks of the river where he used to
wait for the other animals which resorted there to
drink, these became his prey. He would tear
them to pieces, one after the other, and did not
fear either guns or swords. He used to sacrifice
whole flocks of tame animals, and all wild ones
that came within the reach of his claws.
He delights in blood; I had a favorite dog,
whose body he tore, for no other purpose than to
plunge his head in it, and drink large draughts
of his blood; while his head was thus buried we
took the opportunity to shoot him in the leg, by
which means we took him captive; he became
weakly from the loss of blood. When in that state,
we had the nails on his claws cut, and bound him,
afterwards every attention was shown towards
his recovery; but mild treatment has no effect on
him, for he tears with equal wrath the hand that
feeds and caresses, as that which is raised to strike
him, nothing can calm his fury."
He then showed them the animal; they were
surprised and pleased at his beautiful skin, al¬
though they were shocked at his ferocious cruelty.
"Thus it is," said Mr. Buckinghan, "we should
never judge by appearances, the most beautiful is
often the most worthless."
JANE DEWDROP.
45
CHAPTER IV.
WILLIAM AND JANE AT THE WELL.
When the cold winter had passed away, and
spring with its soft, mild air, its beautiful flowers
springing up amidst the green grass, and its lovely
warbling birds had arrived, all seemed gay. Wil¬
liam and Jane had both grown taller; one day
Jane took a pitcher and went down to the well
for some water, when she got there she felt tired,
and sat down to rest herself.
On looking up, she saw her brother watching
her. "Ah! my dear brother," said she, "what
brings you here ?"
" To help you, my dear sister," was the gentle
reply of him, who loved with the affection that
childhood only knows. u I saw that you were
coming here, and therefore, I followed you to see
if I could help you with the water. I do not like
to see you fatigue yourself when I can help it."
Such feeling attention did not escape the grate¬
ful heart of Jane, as her affection for her brother,
and sister, was free from all selfishness.
William took the pitcher and carried it home
for her; but she had not gone far, before she
46
JANE DEWDROP.
traced the marks of his feet up the road to where
David, a poor dumb boy, who was trying to make
his escape from a man who was chasing him.
David knew her well, for she had often given him
cakes and pies, and the unfortunate, afflicted boy
always brought her fruit from his father's trees
when it was in season.
David ran up to them, and seemed to implore
their protection, they asked him, "what was the
matter," when he showed the mark on his arm
where he had been struck by a man who came up
in a great passion, swearing at the mute boy.
"You rascal, I will make you answer me."
"Hold!" said Jane stepping between the boy
and the man. " Hold, what has he done to you ?"
" Done!" reitterated the man, "treated me with
insolence, the rascal was making his monkey faces
at me, when I asked him a question."
" Calm your rage sir," answered Jane, "and let
me understand you; for while your anger is so
great, I cannot make out your wishes, so how
could this poor boy?"
The man being now a little calmer, began to tell
them, that he had gone into a house, and left his
horse at the door, and he did not stay long; but
when he came out, the horse was gone, and he
JANE DEWDROP.
47
found him, and the boy trying to get him out of
the ditch, on which I struck him, and he would
not tell me where he got the horse.
"Poor innocent!" said Jane, "where did you
find the horse?"
The boy described to her, that he was sitting on
the side of the road, when the horse came up and
fell into the ditch, when he was helping him out,
and the man came up and struck him.
" There!" said the man, "is not that enough to
make a man mad, see his motions and face
making."
And do not you see his innocence in those ges¬
tures?" asked Jane, "the poor mute boy, has de¬
scribed it all; he tells you, the horse came up to
where he was sitting and fell into the ditch, while
he was charitably employed in trying to relieve
him, you beat the poor dumb boy, whose afflic¬
tion God witnesses, and loves for the miseries
he endures."
" Dumb!" exclaimed the man, " what a brute I
have been. I did not know it, or I never would
have struck him."
" My father and mother, have taught us, that
we should govern our tempers, and I see how good
their advice is, and your having beaten poor David,
48
JANE DEWDROP,
will impress it still stronger on my mind, I see
you would not have done it, but for your passion."
"Never! and as a proof of it," answered the
man; "I will make amends to the boy for it, if he
will forget the injury I have done him."
The boy went up to him, took his hand and
kissed it, he then took Jane's, and smiled in her
face a look of thanks and blessing.
Jane asked them all to accompany her home,
which they did.
Mr. and Mrs. Dewdrop, were much pleased to
see them, the story of the runaway horse was told
them, and the man told the happy father and
mother, how much he was pleased with the inno¬
cence and kindness of their daughter.
"You may not know me personally," said the
man, "although you have often heard of me.
The name of Walter Harvey, is no doubt familiar
to you."
"Walter Harvey was once a partner in our
house, he went to South America, where he has
made a fortune, I hear," answered Mr. Dewdrop.
" He has made a fortune, which he intends to
bestow on those who deserve it, I hear," said the
man.
Mr. Dewdrop told him, " that he was very glad
JANE DEWDROP.
49
to liear of Mr. Harvey, for he had always felt a
friendship for him, while they were youths together,
and had often wished to gain information of him."
Mr. Dewdrop gave Mr. Harvey an invitation
to make his home at his house, which he did, and
his admiration of Jane's amiable disposition in¬
creased daily, he saw her love and affection for
her parents, brother, and sisters, and he was de¬
termined to reward it; he saw David's misfortune
in being a mute, had almost unfitted him from
earning a living in this world; he reflected on
these things each night, as he laid his head on his
pillow.
For what use are riches given us, thought he,
except to make those around us happy, here is a
poor, dumb boy, almost destitute in the world,
unable to defend himself by a word, and an amiable
child, who is beloved; with feelings of charity
towards all the poor around her. Now, I have
plenty; but is it mine? No, the rich man should
only consider himself the agent of the poor, and
such am I.
He rose one morning, determined to do what
he considered right; on going into the parlor, he
met Mr. Dewdrop, who wished him, "a happy
New Year," it being New Year's day.
50
JANE DEWDROP.
" This is a good day for my purpose," said he,
" I wish to give the children a party, will you be
so good as to let Jane invite them all here."
Jane lost no time, the dinner was prepared, the
invitations sent out, and accepted, and all the good
things that could be got, were put upon the table,
which was surrounded by smiling faces.
Mr. Harvey had not been idle, he got a lawyer
to draw out papers, which gave to Jane three
hundred dollars a year for her life, and a hundred
dollars a year to Clara and William; to David, he
also gave three hundred dollars a year.
Thus, the New Year brought happiness to them,
and to many that did not expect it; the poor and
hitherto friendless David, was put to school, to
the institution of the deaf and dumb, that was
established for the benefit of those who suffered
by the dispensation of Providence; there, his
bright intellect, which was hid in silence in his
own bosom, was brought to light, as he was taught
to write and speak by signs. Jane learnt with
him, so that they conversed together as rapidly
as other people converse.
All his good fortune was owing to her, she had
always been kind to him, but the day that she
stood forward in his defence, made his fortune in
this world.
JANE DEWDROP.
51
He learned very quickly, and became a good
accountant, so that before he was there a year, the
books of the institution.were placed in his charge;
thus, fortune smiled on him, and it gave Jane
great happiness, for her tender heart felt all his
affliction; she would often mourn his lot before
this good fortune occurred to him.
"Is it not dreadful," thought the kind child,
" he is not able to hear what those near him say,
he sees all the young people around him, enjoy¬
ing themselves together, while he appears among
them, as one cut off from all their pleasures, and
feelings; not able to express his wants, his joys,
or his sorrows, it is a mournful state; and he
has not wealth to compensate for his deprivation;
or to pay any one to take charge of him, for what
profit they can derive from him.
These ideas dwelt on her mind, and the morn¬
ing he was pursued by Mr. Harvey, was indeed
a fortunate day for him.
In the institution for the deaf and dumb, every
want he had was attended to, his fingers were
made to supply the place of the tongue; his
eye aided him in making his feelings known; and
his being surrounded by companions in misfortune,
made him feel as if he was placed in a society
52
JANE DEWDROP.
formed expressly for each other, while Jane and
those like her, who became instructed in their
methods of communication, were links to join
them to the rest of the world.
Mr. Harvey felt as if he had just began to
exist, from the time he had commenced his bene¬
volent actions; he had at last found the true va¬
lue of riches; he looked at Jane daily as his bene¬
factress, as she had first taught him the road to
happiness, and he blessed her for it.
Mr. Harvey's generosity to Jane were double
charities, it was one that gave her mind relief,
while she rescued from distress tho deserving
poor; he was well repaid by the gratification of
his own good feelings; happy are those who can
witness the effects of benevolence, on those who
are worthy; it is a blissful state, and known only
to those who have felt it, and by them it is never
forgotten.
Thus, it proves that trifling incidents are some¬
times of the greatest consequence, and no person
ought to neglect to do a good action, whenever an
opportunity occurs. Jane never did, and she was
rewarded for it.
In the midst of all her happiness, Jane did not
forget her old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham,
JAKE DEWDKOP.
53
she visited them constantly, and tlieir friendship
increased daily.
Jane was determined to celebrate the third
anniversary of the day that had made so many
independent; among the guests invited by her and
Mr. Harvey, Mr. and Sirs. Buckingham were
first thought of; then David, and all her young-
friends. Mr. Dewdrop welcomed them all, while
Mrs. Dewdrop's good cheer proved more than
words; all the poor of the town were invited to
partake of it, as Jane told her mother, " that she
felt more satisfaction at seeing the poor provided
for, than in feasting on luxuries herself."
Her heart had often felt sick for the miseries
of the poor around her, when the cold winter snow
covered the ground, and the shivering children
half naked, asked that charity, "which I could not
give I felt miserable, but now," said she " I can
relieve them and none shall want."
Such was the disposition of Jane Dewdrop, and
all loved her for it.
Let her goodness bean example to many others,
instead of scoffing at the poor helpless children
of want; if they cannot assist them, let them at
least pity them.
The party that assembled to celebrate the day,
54
JANE DEWDKOP;
was a happy one, all wore cheerful, merry faces,
for benevolence filled the hearts of those who gave
the feast; and when the joyous song was heard,
it filled the hearts of the poor with rapture, and
as David and Jane joined in the sports of the day,
they felt that they had done their duty to their
fellow creatures, and their light hearts bounded
with joy to their Creator for the blessing He had
given them; and whieh they enjoyed so well.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE;
OR,
THE REWARD OF TRUTH.
On the pleasantest part of the Hudson river,
called West Point, lived Mr. and Mrs. Ellis; they
had two children, one a boy and the other a girl;
the boy was called William, who for shortness
they called Willie, and the girl Jessie; they had
every prospect, of being able to leave their children
well off as to money, if any thing should happen
to them; but they were determined, to bring them
up with industrious habits, as all prudent people
should; so that they may be prepared to work if
required, or not, if they can do without it.
Jessie did not at all relish having her amuse¬
ments interrupted, she had a kind and loving heart,
but would a great deal rather play with her doll,
or romp with her play mates than go to school,
but her mother ways always firm in making her
attend to her lessons; with Willie thejr had no
trouble, for he was always ready, willing, and
anxious to study.
4
58
WILLIAM AJTD JESSIE,
After Christmas and New Year's holidays were
over, Mrs. Ellis desired Jessie to put away her
playthings, and resume her studies:
" Oh dear me," was the pouting remonstrance
of Jessie, " what is the use of having toys if one
cannot play with them."
" Then I can give them away to those who will
be satisfied to play with them at proper times, my
dear, I don't wish you to be dissatisfied," said her
mother.
Jessie knowing that it was of no use to say any
thing, went to her lessons, and got them in half
the time, that she usually did; as a reward, her
mother assisted her to cut out the clothes, for her
doll, while she sat down and made them.
There are none so happy, so free as children at
play; they mimic the sorrows and disappointments
of those of riper years, while mirth bounds in their
hearts which leap for joy, as each idea of apeing
the manners and customs of those around them,
suggests itself. The whole course of visiting, such
as, "Come to day ma'am, and take tea with me
"I am engaged," is answered with loud mirthful
laugh, betokening more real joy to the child
mimicing its elders with their fashion wearied
ways, than the originals have known for years.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
59
Afl young people should enjoy the days of their
childhood; they are days of comparative hap¬
piness ; yet the little child, of twenty-four moons
of age, feels as if the weight of Empires were on
its shoulders; a few weeks after Christmas, and
Kriss Kringle has made his ideal visit, you will
see the remnants of his gifts, strewed over the
floor, sad remembrances of departed joys.
"Where are those pretty cups and saucers,
Jessie ?" asked Willie.
" Broken,"
" Where is the wooden carriage ?"
" Burnt."
" Where is the little woolley dog ?"
" Lost."
" Where is the sugar candy ship ?"
" Oh! I eat it up."
" And where is that beautiful doll ?"
" Oh! here it is," said Jessie, glad of the op¬
portunity to show, that there was at least one
relic left, as she drew it from under the table.
" Here is the dear little darling, with her nice
black apron, and pretty white frock, why don't
you come and nurse it, instead of laying on the
sofa, see here the little dear is standing on the
centre table, how I do love her. Come get up
60
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
and play, exercise is good for the health, father
says. What are you looking so sour at me for,
G-randmama's picture will see you, there she is,
hanging over your head, it seems to frown at her
lazy boy."
" No not lazy, Sissy Jessie, for I am reading,"
answered Willie.
"Well then, tell me what you have learned,
for I always like to listen, to what you have been
reading."
» Why then, I have been reading about Niagara,
Goat Island, and other parts of our beautiful
State."
"Oh dear me," said Jessie, "I wish my doll
would not take up so much time, and I might
read of such places; you know Willie, that reading
of such places is next to seeing them; but tell me
all."
" I will, if you promise that you will not let it
make you lazy, for you ought to read yourself;
and it would make more impression on your mind;
but listen, and attend to me:
In the midst of what was a wilderness a few
years ago, we now behold splendid edifices erec¬
ted, where all the fashion of the civilized world,
resort for amusement and health. These places,
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
61
one called Sarotoga and the other Ballston, are
situated on the rout to Niagara.
These falls and Vesuvius, and Etna, are con¬
temporaneous rivals, as wonders of nature ; it is
not the cataract alone that excites admiration;
but the beauties that surround it, and which
cannot fail to become objects of serious reflection;
behold the great lakes from which the water
falls, and it will afford subjects for religious
contemplation.
Lake Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior, and
various others, whose beautiful scenery would
almost make you believe that you were in fairy
regions, join with a superb chain of rivers, and
congregating their force, swell the torrent of this
mighty cataract.
The observer is struck mute with the indefina¬
ble course, that nature pursues, in her wandering
waters, many of them are leaving the bosom of
mountains from whence they spring, glide in clear
and murmuring rills to the river's banks, whose
streams they mingle with, and onward roll, until
they reach the mighty lakes; here the gentle
rivulet is borne by the current, in waves over that
inward sea, whose rough, rude centre, ill accords
with its quiet shores, where the water seems t<?
62
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
sleep on the bosom of the land, where sheltered
from the strong winds it becomes calm and serene,
as it glides into the river it seems unconscious
that it is destined to rush oyer the tremendous
precipice, which lies before it, there plunging into
another majestic lake, flows through a thousand
islands, rough rapids, and swift rivers that glide
on until they are lost in the deep sea.
Such is the fate of each rich passing stream,
which in interminable numbers follow one another.
Hitherto low murmering sounds alone have
broke on the ear, but around Grand Island, the
waters break their silence, speak in foamy bil¬
lows, and white crested rapids; the whole scene
becomes spirited and full of meaning, while the
cataract is heard with its loud monotonous roar.
From Grand Island you can behold the misty
particles, that float in the air like distant smoke,
forever changing its form, yet ever there, as an
eternal testimony, to mark the spot, where nature's
strong convulsions are at their height.
After riding three miles, the ascension to the
public house is gradual, from this house the tra¬
veller can proceed through the garden, down a
steep and thickly wooded bank, to Table rock,
which is a flat brimstone ledge, about forty, or
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
63
fifty inches thick at the jutting end of it, which
hangs over the gulf below.
Here the spectator can behold the great Horse
shoe fall, which is one hundred and fifty feet deep,
and two thousand three hundred and seventy six
wide. On the opposite side is Iris, or Groat Island,
which divides the falls, and still further down on
the left side, is the American falls.
Here is beauty, magnificence and grandeur; its
splendid coloured water, foliage, and rocks, all
mingle, the deep sea green of the great mass of
the clear element, contrasting with the light foamy
white, that dashes up the side, and from the bot¬
tom ; while the sober grey of the precipice of Iris,
or Groat Island, crowned with luxuriant foliage, and
forest trees, serve to harmonize, and aid the mist
in softening the surrounding scenery, that the
rainbow crown which the sun places over the vast
waters may glow brighter.
The traveller may then visit Goat Island if he
wishes, for a road has now been cut in a' slanting
direction down a perpendicular solid path to the
river; where there is a boat ready to ferry pas¬
sengers across to the American side; in crossing
the ferry an excellent opportunity is offorded to
see the fall in another posistion, but to see is all
64
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
you can do, for being on the water increases the
sound, which here becomes almost deafening; it
resembles the roar of artillery, the bodies of spray
exploding frequently in the abyss with a crushing
noise.
But the most beautful view of all is yet to be
presented to the spectator, which is the one from
Goat Island. This Island is the paradise of the
Western continent; it is but a mile in circumfer¬
ence ; it is clothed in a rich yariety of wild shrubs
and plants; tall forest trees which are entwined
with clung ivy, and many of them draperied with
moss, and various views of the rapids. The great
Crescent, or Horse shoe fall, can be seen after you
pass round the smaller American fall; on it is
erected a small log hut shaded by vines, and in
the front of it, is a beautiful little garden, which
leads to the waters edge; on this Island a great
number of sheep are continually browsing which
adds to the picturesque view, the strong contrast
of light and shade, may be seen in all its brightest
colours; the dark and foamy waters, the angry
rude rapids, appearing as if they would bear down
in full force, and sweep away the peaceable flock
of sheep, that quietly repose, or feed beneath the
trees to enhance the beauty of the rural scene.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE,
65
By turning to the right, through the shady wood
the margin of the smaller American fall can be
reached; there the hands may be bathed in its
waters; and if the traveller has sufficient courage,
he can pursue his course by a circuit of the
Island, he will there find a spiral flight of stairs,
which leads to a narrow foot path, which is cut in
the cliff horizontally, and leads into the magnifi¬
cent hall, which is formed by the boiling water ;
if the spectators can command their nerves, they
may look up eighty feet, to the arched and crystal
roof, and down eighty feet on the terrific and spray-
covered floor.
It is a sight never to be forgotten.
By reaching the upper bank, another view may
be obtained; there is a bridge, or platform which
has been made over some of the rocks, which
reaches to the very brink of the Horse shoe fall,
and projects beyond it, so that persons going on
it w;:i be suspended over the fall.
There are numerous other objects that attract
attention, and create wonder and delight; among
them is the view from Prospect tower, or Ter¬
rapin rocks, where you can see Grull Island, Moss
Island, Dear Island, Cynthia Island and Long
Island.
66
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
There is a bridge built from the American side,
over Bath Island, to Iris, or Groat Island.
It is supposed that five billion, eighty-four mil¬
lion, eighty thousand, two hundred and eighty
barrels of water decend the falls every twenty
four hours.
The name Niagara is derived from the Indian
name, Onyakarra.
"I should like to go there," said Jessie.
" And so should, I" continued Willie," let us
study well this year, and I am sure, that father
will take us next summer."
While they were talking Ponto, (Willie's dog,)
jumped on the table, and snatched off Jessie's doll
from her, and ran off with it; poor Jessie cried
very much after it, and Willie could scarcely ap¬
pease her, although he assured her that he would
get it for her, without its being hurt.
They found the doll in the corner of the dog
house, and two large silver spoons with it.
"Why Ponto, what have you been about," said
Willie.
They carried the spoons to their father and
mother, and told them where they found them;
their father said he thought that it was a very
mysterious affair how the spoons could have got
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
67
there, for he did not think that Ponto would have
carried them away; he thought some one else
must have put them there.
" Dogs," said he, " have frequently an instinc¬
tive feeling when any thing is going on wrong;
there are many anecdotes related of their sagacity
and usefulness; one that occurred to a friend of
my father's was very singular.
The gentleman lived in Deptford, in England; a
person applied to him for lodging, who pretended
that he had just arrived from the continent. Hav¬
ing agreed upon the terms, he said that he would
send his trunk that night, and come himself the
next day.
About nine in the evening the trunk was
brought, and the family were about going to bed,
when the little house dog, placed himself opposite
the trunk, and commenced an incessant barking.
The suspicions of the family were roused; they
broke open the trunk, and found in it their new
lodger, who had thus been conveyed into the house
with the intention of robbing it.
Therefore I think Willie, that you had better
put them back where they were, and watch for
some time, if any one has put them there, they
will go there for them."
68
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
They took Ponto with them and put them back,
and Willie showed them to the dog, and told him
to take care of them. Willie and Jessie had their
dinner at one o'clock, that they might go to
school; Willie had finished his, when Ponto came
in, and made all kinds of strange noises to attract
Willie, who thought he was hungry, and therefore
held up a piece of meat on a fork, but Ponto still
stood up on his hind paws, growling without at¬
tempting to touch it, while Jessie watched him,
and offered him some of hers; but he would touch
nothing, but beg and make his growling noise; as
he still continued his strange freaks; Willie stood
up, the dog ran to the door, and looked back to
see whether Willie was coming, and ran on to his
house; when they looked in they saw two more
spoons there; as soon as he saw Willie touch them
he was satisfied.
Willie told his father immediately of his finding
another pair of spoons; Mr. Ellis accompanied
Willie and Ponto to the dog house, and taking a
spoon showed it to him saying, " catch him Ponto!
catch him!" on which the dog led the way to the
kitchen, and caught hold of Betty the chamber¬
maid's dress; Mr. Ellis called the dog off, not
wishing to make a charge against the girl without
william and jessie.
69
further proof; so lie remained silent to her; but
determined to watch himself.
He did so, and before two days were over, —
he heard Ponto barking, and on going there, saw
Betty coming out of his house; Mr. Ellis looked
in the corner and found four spoons.
" Now Betty," said Mr. Ellis, "jtou cannot de¬
ny the charge that I have to make, and which I
have now detected you in; there have been some
articles stolen; among them was four table spoons,
which I have found you concealing here. JSTow
what have you to say for yourself?"
Betty said she had nothing to say, she was sor¬
ry for what she had done, and if Mr. Ellis would
forgive her she would never do so again.
Mr. Ellis asked her how he. could be assured
of it. "Why sir," said Betty, " I have lived with
you sixteen years, and during that time I have
never told you a falsehood, is it not so?"
"It is so," answered Mr. Ellis, "and I am
truly sorry that an error of this kind should ever
have been committed by one that I thought so
highly of."
Then sir, I took the spoons not with the idea of
stealing them, but to raise money on them, for to
give my poor father, who is in want; I thought
70
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
that I could raise money in a few months, to give
them back to the house; I took six silver spoons
and got four dollars, but I told the man that they
were a friend's, and not mine; you were a friend to
me when I took them, and indeed my heart is al¬
most broken for having abused that friendship; I
did not want to let my father go to the poor-house,
but he will have to go if you punish me."
Mr. Ellis felt sorry for the woman, and puzzled
what to do, it would not answer to let the thief go
unpunished, but she had told him the truth; and
her crime was committed from a dutiful and chari¬
table feeling. Mercy is taught as a duty, forgive¬
ness a virtue; and yet to let crime go unpunished
was a bad example.
He thought for some time, and during those re¬
flections, found that the actual knowledge of the
crime was known only to his Maker, Betty, and
himself; G-od is merciful, and forgives those who
confess with humility, he knows her fault, and if
he thinks fit, can punish her; ought I not to leave
it to him? therefore, I must see that I am not in
fault myself.
" Tell me, Betty," said he, speaking to her
aloud, "why did you not come and ask me for
it?"
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
71
" Because sir, the last time I got money from
you, you said your servants wages would ruin you
if you did not keep tliem down." Mr. Ellis abso¬
lutely felt relieved, lie felt that the fault was in
part his, and deemed it a duty to atone for it, so
he told her that for telling the truth, he would over
look her fault, and as to her father he would attend
to him himself.
Betty learnt a lesson for the future, and her
gratitude to Mr. Ellis was without bounds.
Jessie and Willie both inquired of their father
who had taken the spoons, but were only answered
that it was one who had told him the truth.
"Ah," said Jessie, "that's what father likes,
you know Willie, he has told us that we must never
tell a falsehood."
" JSor should we Jessie, it is sinful and wicked,
and no person can tell what mischief they may do
by not telling the truth, or by telling that which is
untrue.
There was an instance of that with James
Warner; you must know Jessie, that he is a very
bad boy; no person could rely on what he would
say.
One day, he did not want to go to school, and
thought he would pretend that he was very much
72
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
hurt, so he daubed his arm all over with some red
and black paint that his father had in the closet;
he put it on so that it looked exactly as if it had
been bruised, when he had done it, he said to
himself, it will all wash away when I want it off.
His mother has a large parrot, which is an ex¬
cellent talker, and can tell almost every thing that
she hears.
As soon as he had finished daubing himself
over, he began to roar and hollow that he had
fallen down and hurt himself, so that he could
hardly move; his mother did not discover the
fraud, or story, and was in a great fright; she
brought down a pillow for him to lie on the sofa;
when she would leave the room, he would get up
and play; all this amused Poll the parrot, and she
would sing out "high times," "pretty paint,"
" how bad it looks." " What's that to you ?" said
James, " it will all wash off."
In the afternoon his mother felt very uneasy,
and told him that she had sent for the doctor.
"Wash it off," said Poll, "wash it off! pretty
paint! high times ! wash it off!" his mother was
astonished; she examined it, took some warm
water, and soap, when lo! it all washed off.
Mrs. Warner was very angry, and told him she
[ 74]
WILLIAM ANE JESSIE.
75
would never believe a word that lie said, for the
future.
As he came home the next day he was stand¬
ing on the steps, when something attracted his
notice, his foot slipped and he fell to the bottom
of the steps, by which he broke his leg; at first he
fainted, but when he came to himself he screamed
and roared so, that his mother came to the door,
and told him to stop his nonsense and come in, for
he was not going to deceive her again, so she went
in and left him there,
A man came by the house, and seeing him there
carried him in; on examining him, it was found
that his leg was broken in two places.
So you see, Jessie how he was punished, for
having told stories, his mother could not believe
him when he told the truth.
Now Jessie let us go and take a long walk, we
will take Ponto with us and I have no doubt, but
we will have a very agreeable time,"
Jessie lost no time, but put on her bonnet, and
they set out on their walk; they had not pro¬
ceeded far before they met an old man, on the
road, who told them that he had just come from
Ireland; as they walked along the road, the man
got over a fence that was put up by the side of
the road, and he told them to do so likewise.
5
76
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
" Why," said Willie, " this is very good walk¬
ing here, why should we go in the enclosure.
" Because," said the man, " it may bite your
nose, as it did mine."
Willie looked round, and he saw a snapping
Turtle moving along, which it appeared had been
the cause of the man's alarm.
"That won't hurt us," said Willie.
"Yes but it will," said the man, "I tell you he
carries a snuff box on his back to deceive people,
I met one of the things this morning laying still,
and I thought it was a real snuff box, but I did
not see the things head that got into it, so I jufet
put my nose to it, to smell it; and, behold out
pops the intruder's head, and snapped hold of my
nose; oh I but did'nt I scream ? but it would not
let me go, until it snapped a piece of the skin off."
"Why," said Willie, "it is only a poor harm¬
less snapping Turtle, and if you had not put it to
your nose, it never would have hurt you; it is
their nature to snap at anything, that is put before
them in that way; it will shut himself up in his
shell, or run from you mostly."
" Oh ! but you have curiosities, my young lad
in this country, I slept in a house last night, they
Jiad a pond beside it, and I could not sleep all
night, for what I thought were birds singing in the
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
77
pond, so I got up early, and I caught one of the
things that were making the noise; he had his
head, and big eyes staring at me when I caught
him, and my heart ached for him, for not one
feather had he, ah! thought I, that was what kept
him crying all night, and singing, so they were
stealing his feathers; when I took him in the
house, they all laughed at me, and said it was
only a bull frog, I never saw a bull frog before,
nor a snapping Turtle, that walks about deceiving
people."
^ They walked on together for some time, the
man was pleased with their explanation of things
and they were amused with the man.
They wandered together up the mountain side,
until they came to a clear stream, where the
speckled trout were playing in the water, uncon¬
scious of any danger being near them.
"Willie selected the side of a fine green hill,
with a large oak tree to shade it, and took his fish¬
ing rod out of his basket, and began to angle for
the trout. Jessie did not altogether like it, as his
father had often told him he would rather that he
would not indulge in angling, for fear of some
accident, unless there was some grown person
with them.
78
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
But Willie told her not to worry herself for as
long as Ponto was with them there was no fear,
for he would bring him out, if he was to fall in;
Jessie requested him not to trust to it; but Willie
was resolved to show her, what Ponto could do;
so he took her hat and threw it in the water,
the dog immediately sprang after it and brought
it back.
"Well," said Jessie, "I don't doubt Ponto's
ability, but now you have spoiled my hat, however,
I will hang it up to dry, so I must content myself
to watch you trying to get a bite at your bait,
while it dries, and if it is injured I will do the best
I can not to let mother be angry with you."
"Then my dear sister Jessie, you must tell her
the truth you know, for fear of difficulties; don't
be like John Smith in Paris."
Now Jessie felt very anxious to know what her
brother meant by John Smith in Paris; so she
requested that he would explain it to her, and he
always willing to gratify her, commenced.
"John Smith, you will please to recollect, is a
very common name, and two John Smith's ar¬
rived in Paris together. I must now tell you that
people in traveling through Europe, must have
their passports; in which their age, height com¬
plexion and occupation, are mentioned.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
79
Now one of those Jolin Smiths was a clerk in a
public office, the other a coachman, they both got
to the office, where they were to show their pass¬
ports together; and unfortunately the clerk ex¬
changed them without knowing it.
John Smith, the clerk was in great haste, he had
travelled with speed the whole day, until he reached
the town where he was to show his passport;
the officer approached and asked him for it; he
handed it to him.
The officer began reading: five feet, six inches,
fair complexion; age, twenty-seven; name, John
Smith; occupation, coachman; he stared at him,
and John Smith stared at the officer. On look¬
ing at the passport, John Smith saw at once the
mistake that had occurred; but not being willing
to risk a delay, he made up his mind to let it pass,
and that he would pass for a coachman.
The officer, after looking at him for some time
said: "Sir, you are an imposter."
"What do you mean?" asked John Smith.
" Why, that you are an imposter; that you are
no coachman, look at your hands, and look at
your dress, there is no coachman that wears such
clothes, or has such an air, and such soft hands,'
added the officer.
80
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
"Sir," continued John Smith, "I suppose a
coachman may dress as he pleases, and I will
dress as I please, and that has nothing to do with
you; and as to my manners, I suppose driving a
coach need not deprive me of manners."
"Well dress, or no dress, manners, or no man¬
ners, you must come before the superior officer."
Smith still persisted that he was a coachman.
The superior officer examined the passport;
"Humph! said he, "so you are a coachman?"
"Yes," answered John Smith.
"Well! then you can have no objection to
prove it, by driving me and my assistant round
the town."
John Smith was in a new dilemma; he had
never drove a horse in his life; what to do he
could not tell, however, he had persisted in it that
he was the coachman, and it was too late to re¬
tract; so he agreed to drive them, where they
wished him; to add to the worry it happened to be
market day, and the streets were crowded; the
coach was brought to the door, and he was placed
on the coach box; he did not know how to handle
the reins, consequently he could not get the horses
to go any way but the direction that they liked
themselves, and that unfortunately, for him, was
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
81
over an old woman's basket of eggs; the old wo¬
man flew after them, which frightened the horses
so, that they rode over fruit baskets, vegetable
trays, butcher's stalls, and every obstacle that lay
in their way, until at last they upset the coach,
spilled the officers out of it, and broke John
Smith's arm.
It was in vain to insist any longer that his occu¬
pation was a coachman; he confessed that his ea¬
gerness to get to the end of his journey, had in¬
duced him to pass for a coachman, owing to the
mistake of having his passport exchanged in
Paris, and that he was a clerk.
" If you are a clerk, then you can arrange those
accounts, we are very much in want of a person
to do it." They were placed before him, and the
way he went to work, and set the most complicated
accounts to rights, at once proved the truth of
what he now told.
" Ay!" said the officer, " we find that you are a
clerk, why did you not tell the truth at first, and
then we might have believed you; however, we
have a confirmation of it, in our answer from Pa¬
ris, so here is your own passport, and I hope it
will be a lesson to you to tell strict truth for the
future; and you can proceed on your journey, as
soon as your arm will permit you."
82
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
In the mean time John Smith the coachman
arrived at the place that he was going to in a
couple of hours; he presented his passport, also
without looking at it; the officer looked at it and
then at him.
"My friend," said the officer, " do you usually
dress in this way, for I should not like to see you
seated at one of my desks in that dress."
" Indeed sir," answered John Smith, " I would
not know what to do at your desk, I would find
myself much more at home at your box."
u At my box, what do you mean ?"
" Why your coach-box to be sure," answered
the wondering man.
" I never before heard of a clerk acknowledg¬
ing himself to be more at home on a coach-box,
than at a desk," said the officer.
" Why sir, I am no clerk," exclaimed the aston¬
ished John. I am only a coachman, and if that
passport says any thing else, it must be changed,
for there was another John Smith at the office,
that they called bureau in Paris. I hope you will
be able to get me my own again."
The officer seeing the truth of the man's state¬
ment, corrected the error, and he passed on with¬
out any further trouble.
WILLIAM AAD JESSIE.
83
Thus you see that the one who told the truth,
g< t off without any trouble; while the one, who to
aT oicl being detained a few hours, told falsehoods,
got his arm broke, and was detained five times
the length of time that he could possibly have
been, if he had told the truth.
By the time that he had done telling her about
John Smith the clerk, and John Smith the coach¬
man ; the hat was dried, and no trout bit the bait,
so he took up his basket, and followed by the dog,
they pursued their way up the mountain side;
that mountain one of the most magnificent fea¬
tures of nature's beauties; its towering height
seemed to linger below by reflecting its image in
the placid stream that glides in purity at its base,
kindling in the bosom a spirit of lofty thoughts
that fills it with religious inspiration.
Here it was the two children wandered, joining
their voices in sweet melodies that floated over
the gentle rills, until the high peaks echoed them
around, until some rude wind would catch the dy¬
ing sound and drown it in the distant air.
Willie pointed to the rich russet hues of the
distant mounds; while the hazy clouds that
were floating past, rested on the tops of the
highest, concealing them from the sight; this is
84
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
one of the most beautiful scenes that any one can
boh old; a mountain whose top rests among the
clouds; by climbing up its sides for more than half
a day, they saw the fleecy vapors flying below
their feet; a storm arose, they heard the thunder
roll, and saw flashes of lightning playing in the
clouds that were beneath them.
They began to get frightened, they had been so
much delighted, that they did not think it was so
late, they felt alarmed at the idea of going back
through the storm, and they did not know the
way to the mountain house.
Jessie sat down and cried.
" Come," said Willie, "This will never do to sit
down and cry, take a drink from this cool spring,
and then we will try to find our way;" she then
took a drink and gave her his arm. " Now then
Ponto come along, you must be our friend."
The dog seemed to know what they meant, he
jumped up and fawned upon them, and then ran
on, smelling the ground, they followed him for
some time, until at last he began to bark.
" Ponto hears something you may depend," said
Willie, when to their great joy they heard Ponto's
"bark answered, and before they had proceeded
giany yards they saw the smoke ascending among
the trees.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
85
Just as it was getting dark they reached the
mountain house; the people were astonished to
see them, and told them to come in and get some
supper; they did not at first wish to stay, but the
good people of the house told them that it would
be impossible for them to get home that night,
but that there was a man there who would leave
in about an hour's time for the village, and that he
would call and let their parents know where they
were, when they could return in the morning.
They both agreed to the arrangement, for they
were too tired to proceed; so with many thanks
they told the man to tell their father and mother,
that they had wandered so far, before they were
aware of it, that they could not get back that
night, that they were very sorry for it, as it must
have given them much anxiety.
When they got up in the morning, Willie took
his seat in the room, to read a book that he found
there. Ponto was seated by his side; when sud¬
denly the dog began to scratch at the door, and
as Willie was very intent on his reading, he did
not perceive that Ponto had lifted the latch for
her, (until Jessie put her hand on his shoulder.)
" There, you see how that dear little fellow has
opened the door, for you to take a walk before
86
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
breakfast, and then we will return liome; I do feel
so anxious to get home, on account of what mother
will suffer at our absence, that I could not sleep,"
said Jessie, " so give me my hat that is hung up
at the door, and come along."
" I think," answered Willie, "that you had bet¬
ter sit down and read, until we are ready to go,
for it will require all your strength to get home;
here are some very interesting books; here is one
that gives a very entertaining account of the Date
Palm tree, it forms a subsistence for man in many
countries; it grows where very few esculent vege¬
tables will.
In the immense desert of the east which extends
near four thousand miles, where tropical fruits
grow only on the banks of its rivers, there are
small Oasis, or Islands of vegetation; here the
Date tree flourishes, and wherever there is a clus¬
ter of trees growing together, (with their beautiful
shining green leaves,) there is sure to be a foun¬
tain of cool refreshing water, which flows under
their shade.
At Hedjoz, tliey look for the harvest of dates,
with the same anxiety that Americans look for
their harvest of corn, or the Frenchman his vin¬
tage.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE,
87
The crop is frequently destroyed by locusts,
which causes desolation and trouble throughout
the country.
For ten months in the year no ripe fruit can be
obtained; during that time, the inhabitants sub¬
sist principally on the date paste, which is made
by pressing the fruit when fully ripe in large
baskets; they are generally gathered before they
are quite ripe, when they are wanted for preserv¬
ing; but when they are to be eaten fresh, they
are allowed to ripen perfectly; when fresh they
are a delightful fruit, when kept for any length
of time they become acid, and ferment, therefore
they have to preserve them at once, or else dry
them in the sun, upon mats.
In some parts of the east, those dates that fall
upon the ground are let lie there for the benefit
of travellers.
The date palm is a beautiful tree, it is not so
majestic as some of the palms; but still it is ele¬
gant, while its utility makes it appear still more
lovely.
Its stem shoots up fifty or sixty feet without any
branches, in a cylindrical column, which is from
one foot to eighteen inches round; from the
summit of this magnificent trunk it throws out a
88
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
crown of leaves, which are beautiful and graceful
in their form and arrangement; the main stem of
the leaves, is from eight to ten feet long, firm,
shining, and tapering, and embraces at its inser¬
tion a considerable part of the trunk.
The leaflets, or leaves are in the form of a
feather, growing alternately on the main stem, and
of a bright lively green, near the base of the
stem; they are often three feet in length.
From between those leaflets, the flowers spring
out on the stem of the main leaf in bunches, or
spikes; the flowers that bear fruit, instead of
having stamens in their centre have the rudi¬
ments of dates, about the size of a currant.
In the valley of Hedjoz there are upwards of a
hundred species of date trees, each of which has
its own peculiar virtue, and each belongs to its
peculiar district.
They serve the same purpose as money in this
country, each tree has its value, and on a girl's
marriage, her father often receives a number of
trees, for giving his consent.
There is scarcely any portion of it but what
has its uses; the sap is converted into wine, called
Palm wine; most of the vessels that navigate
the Red sea, are rigged with ropes made of the
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
89
fibres of the bark; and the circular boats of the
Euphrates and Tigres, are made from these trees;
the ribs being formed of the leaf stems of the
date, it is entwined with the leaflets; the open¬
ings are fastened up with bitumen.
Besides, various articles for domestic uses .are
made from the different parts of the tree, such as
baskets, tubs, beadsteads, chairs and many other
articles.
It is said, that an Arab woman visited England
as a child's nurse, she remained there four years.
When she returned, she had many curious cir¬
cumstances to relate, of what she had seen ; she
had been delighted with the country, and, "Oh 1"
said the woman, " you have no idea of what a fine
place it is ; the whole country is like a beautiful
rich garden, no sandy deserts there, and instead
of our miserable tents, they have fine houses, and
fine clothes to wear."
" Oh my," said one of her friends, "what miser¬
able beings we are: why should we remain here ?
why cannot we go there, where there is every
thing that man can want ? How large are their
date trees ?"
" To tell you the truth," said the woman, "there
is one thing that they have not got there, they
nave no date trees."
90
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
At this declaration, those friends, who had
looked so desponding and envious, at her descrip¬
tion of England, immediately changed their sorrow
to content.
" What," exclaimed the repining friend, "no
dates ?"
"JNTo," said the woman "there is not a single
date in the whole country!"
" Is this certain ?" enquired her friend.
"I looked for them myself," answered the
woman, "the whole time that I was there, but
looked in vain."
Instead of regretting the loss of the fine country
the fine houses, and other things, that she told
them of, they went away pitying those poor people
who had no date trees, and wondered how any
person could live in a place where there were
none.
After their breakfast the gentleman of the house
had them taken home, by the nearest road, and
their happiness, at once more seeing' their home
was very great.
Jessie and Willie told their parents every thing
exactly as it occured, and they were too much re¬
joiced at seeing them, to be angry with them, for
their prolonged rambla
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
93
As Autumn crept slowly on, its trees became
clad in rich, and russet colours, while the fine
grapes clustering hung upon the bushes, tempting
the wild urchin to play truant from his school, and
wander forth to gather the enticing fruit, which
mingled their deep purple hues, with the pale
blossoms of the mountain laurel; while bright
berries invite the unwary robin to feed, until
unconsious sleep overtakes his feelings, and he
falls down in his dormant state an easy prey to
those who wander through the forest in search of
nuts, and berries to supply the markets of the
neighboring cities.
In one of their excursions they were examining
those many beauties, which were much increased
by the stream that ran through them; they ob¬
served the fish swimming in the clear water, and
Willie felt almost tempted, to take off his shoes
and follow them.
" No, no, you will do no such thing; you are so
fond of fish, that I believe you would almost leave
me to the bears that prowl through the woods and
let them seize me, rather than lose the opportunity
of catching one little gudgeon."
" Well sister don't you be a coward," answered
Willie, " for many bears, or bug bears, are the
6
94
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
creation of our own fancy; for by giving way to
fear, we may imagine that a tree is an assassin,
and a man an elephant.
Behold those splendid fields, and take a full
survey of the many beauties around them, the rich
crimson sumach, in clustering berries spreading
out its branches towards the tall Maple, whose
beautiful foliage has acquired variety and beauty,
by its changing colored leaves; while here and
there, a small bright evergreen flourishes, in its
harsh hardy, but lively green.
"You know then my dear sister, that most of
our happiness, will depend on the manner in which
we govern our passions; anger you know, is a
passion that is mournful to those who encounter
its effects, and to those in whose temper it origi¬
nates, it is dangerous; it destroys their health,
and renders them hateful to their fellow creatures;
fear anger and affection all by turns take possession
of our minds, therefore we ought to be cautious
which we allow to govern.
There are many changes take place in a short
time; the wild war-whoop has often sounded
through these woods, in which we now ride
together, and how many have fallen by the rifle
and the tomahawk, leaving many helpless widows
and friendless orphans to mourn their loss; and
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
95
that proud river, that we now see in the distance,
where swiffc steamboats bear their gay rich freights
in rapid course; there the frail canoe with rude
carved paddles, has often glided peacefully along
heedless of danger or distress.
Often has this same clear stream, that is now
wandering in the same placid course, reflected
the wild deer's branching head as its hunted form
escaped pursuit, happy to slack his thirst, and
cool his heated limbs, in its refreshing waters."
" The poor Indians," said Jessie, " must have
been very happy here, when they had this beautiful
country ; they must have been very sorry to part
with it."
"They must indeed," added Willie, "and it is
said that an old warrior, sat watching the Hud¬
son's course, (after they had sold a large portion
of ground, for a few barrels of whisky,) when a
tear was perceived to roll down his cheek, and a
sigh was suppressed in his bosom; it being a very
unusual thing, for an Indian to express joy, or
sorrow ; he was asked by General Knox, what was
the cause of the emotion and dejection ?
" Brother," said the General, " What has hap¬
pened to you ? you look angry, is there any thing
to disturb you ?"
96
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
He answered: " Brother I '11 tell you, I have
Ibeen looking at your beautiful city; the great
water; your fine country, and see how happy you
all are. But then I could not help thinking that
this fine country, and this great water was once
ours. Our ancestors lived here, they enjoyed it
in peace. It was the gift of the great Spirit to
them and their children.
At last the white people came here in a great
canoe; they asked us only to let them tie it to a
tree, lest the waters should carry it away, we con¬
sented. They said some of their people were
sick; and they asked permission to land, and put
them under the shade of our trees. The ice then
came, and they could not get away. They then
begged a piece of land to build wigwams for the
winter; we granted it to them. They then asked
us for some corn, to keep them from starving; we
kindly furnished it to them, they promised to go
away when the ice was gone.
When the ice and snow were gone we told
them, that they must go away with there big canoe;
but they pointed to their big guns, and, said they
would stay, and we could not make them go away
Afterwards more came, they brought spirits, and
intoxicating drinks with them, of which the In-
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
97
dians became very fond. They persuaded us to
sell some land for their fire water.
Finally, they drove us back, from time to time
into the wilderness, far from the water, and the
fish, and the oysters. They have destroyed our
game; our people have wasted away, and now we
live miserable and wretched; while you are en¬
joying our beautiful country. This makes me
feel sorry, brother and I cannot help it."
" This story is told us by one of our best writers
and we should not forget it."
Time after time would they wander to those
delightful retreats, and watch the eager king
fisher skim over the surface of the water, while
his keen eye watched his prey, that swam through
marshy weeds, unconscious that in a few' moments
the swift winged bird would seize them.
Jessie and Willie would watch their flight; at
first they did not know what to make of the birds
darting into the waters; but to a mind that re¬
flects, nothing of natural history passes unnoticed
but every thing is investigated.
As soon as the lamps were lighted of an evening,
they would sit down and study their lessons; after
they were perfect in them, they would take out
their notes, that they were in the habit of writing
98
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
down during their rambles, where they would find
memorandums of what they had seen and
could not understand. Thus many books of
natural history were referred to, by such a course
they soon became acquainted with the names,
natures, and uses of all the plants, that grew on
the mountains around them.
The natures of the animals and birds, also
became to them a study of delight, they read the
whole history of the king fisher, and many other
birds; thus every object animate and inanimate,
became dear to them, even the very earth that
they walked on, became a subject of interesting
investigation to them, by their finding what dif¬
ferent compositions were contained in the various
soils, and their different uses ; while many moun¬
tains yield coal, some copper, others granite and
marble, and the most barren and desolate looking
have buried in their bosoms gold and silver, and
in the muddiest streams the brilliant diamond is
often found.
Thus each year's study disclosed to them, what
inexhaustible treasures would become theirs by
cultivating their minds; besides the benefit lhat
would arise from it to themselves, they vould
be of use to their fellow beings.
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
99
No one could behold that enchanting home,
where the two children resided without delight;
their parents felt blessed, in having such obedient
offspring; their fireside was a happy one.
The charitable feelings that were instilled into
their minds, rendered their characters as near
perfection as we can. find on earth; the kind affec¬
tion that they felt for each other, made them
happy, and others also felt happiness on behold¬
ing them, the strict truth that was always adhered
to by them, commanded respect.
There were two little boys and one girl, of the
name of Fearall, who came to the house; they did
not always tell the truth; no one could rely on
what they said; they came in one day and told
"Willie, that their father and mother had not been
expected to live, that it was supposed that they
had been poisoned,, as an immense snake had
been found in their bed, and that no person could
tell how it got there.
"Willie was very much surprised at what they
told him, he asked what color the snake was, the
girl told him it was green, one of the boys said it
was red, and the other black.
"Well," said Willie, "that is very strange,
black, red, green, there is a great difference in all
those colors, which is right?"
100
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
" Oh!" said they, " we are all right."
At that moment the charitable father and
mother of Willie came into the room, and Willie
told them, of the dreadful situation of the parents
of the children.
The good people were very much shocked to
hear it, so they told Willie to tell the coachman
to get the carriage ready immediately, that they
might visit them, and see if any succour was
needed.
The coachman hearing the strange story, told
it to the rest of the servants; they told it to the
neighbors, and before an hour was over, the whole
village was in consternation about the snakes, and
many of them on the way to visit the poisoned
Mr. and Mrs. Fear all.
A story never loses as it passes through differ¬
ent hands, but generally gains, so it did on the
present occasion; some said that there were three
snakes, a red one, a black one, and a green one,
others said it was of the Anaconda species, which
is one that can crush a man to death; they entwine
themselves round the body, and by tightening
themselves, strangle their victim to death.
As the coach with Willie and his parents in it
drove up to Mr. Fearall's, expecting to find them
very ill, they were surprised to see them sitting
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
101
the door, as well and hearty as they could be,
"How do you do," said Mr. Ellis to Mr. Fearall,
"you had a great escape I hear."
"Escape, sir!" answered Mr. Fearall, "what
do you mean ?"
" Why, from the snakes."
" The snakes!" reiterated Mr. Fearall.
By this time some other people came up; one
asked whether it was a red one, another whether
it was green, and some asked if it escaped.
"I believe you are all mad!" exclaimed Mr.
Fearall, " with your escapes."
" Why sir, your children told us of your finding
a snake in your bed, that had poisoned you, and
we came to offer you what assistance we could,"
said Mr. Ellis.
Mr. Fearall called to his children, and they
confessed that they intended it as a joke.
" Your joke is nothing more or less than down¬
right falsehood, which has inconvenienced many
persons, and your parents among them, for I see
they will be tormented with crowds coming to
question them; who will find out your characters,
and that your words are not to be depended on,
and I hope it will be a warning to you for the
future," said Mr. Ellis, as he got into the car¬
riage and drove off.
102
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
As winter approached they used to take their
rambles, but in more confined limits. Willie
tried to make a sledge, to draw his sister on; not
being able to make one to his liking, he went to a
carpenter, who made him one with many pecu¬
liar qualities about it; in the front was a place that
she could take hold of, to stop it when she pleased;
his big house dog would often draw her in it: at
other times Willie would take his place behind, and
guide it for her; thus of a cold bracing morning,
they would wrap themselves up warm, she in her
large cloth cloak with its capes, her nice muff,
and moccasins, felt as comfortable, as if they were
by the parlor fire; whilst Willie in his fur cap,
and warm coat, would guide her sledge through
the beautiful scenes of pure snow, where the trees
bearing on their dark boughs a light burden, that
has its pure icicles hanging in crystal drops, glit¬
tering with all the hues of the rainbow, as the sun
reflects its rays from them.
Such scenes remind us of fairy lands, each
branch bearing its own gems, just as valuable as
those which adorn the votaries of fashion; their
beauty being equal, and their use greater; for
every drop that is dissolved upon the earth, nour¬
ishes it, and prepares it to yield fruits, and grains,
for the sustenance of mankind*
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
103
Christmas with all its merry games, was ap¬
proaching, and the father and mother of Willie
and Jessie, as a reward for their obedience, gave
them a party.
Among the invitations that were sent, an old
gentleman of peculiar habits received the first one;
the old gentleman was a great lover of truth; he
had carefully watched every action of the two
children, and while he admired their affection for
each other, he loved their truth and many virtues.
A large cheerful fire enlivened the already
merry dining room, the walls were hung with
evergreens and holly, the large table in the centre
of the room covered with a white cloth, in color
rivalling the snow that adorned every object out
of doors, was laden with good cheer, among which
were mince pies, plum-puddings, turkeys, hams,
and chickens.
At the side table were apples, nuts, and other
fruits, for their diversions.
Long before the dinner hour, the place was
filled with merry hearts and cheerful faces; gay
youths in the full enjoyment of health and happi-
.ness; it seemed as if care was banished from the
earth; in the midst of all their mirth, a large cake
was brought in as a present from Mr. Davis.
104
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
" Now," said Mr. Davis, " there are two rings
in this cake, and whoever gets the slices with the
rings in; the rings will become their property."
There was a merry assemblage, of anxious faces
watching the division of the cake; one little boy,
who had been very boisterous all day, his name
was James Wilcox, saw the knife graze past the
edge of one of the rings; Willie who was stand¬
ing next to him at the same time saw it also;
James was so very anxious to get the slice that it
attracted Mr. Davis's notice, and having been
annoyed by the boy's previous rudeness, he would
not gratify him.
" Why are you so anxious for this slice?" said
Mr. Davis, "have you perceived any thing par¬
ticular about it, has any of the glitter of one of
the rings shown itself:"
"Oh no!" said James, "but I have taken a
fancy to that one."
" And I have taken a fancy to give it to your
neighbor Willie, so here is the one for you, and
Willie take this."
James flew in a rage, and was about venting on
all around, when Willie interrupted him.
" Mr. Davis, I should be almost guilty of deceit
and falsehood, were I to receive that slice; as you
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
105
cut it I perceived the ring, and therefore, if I re¬
ceived it, already knowing its contents without
letting you know it, I should not think that I had
acted honestly."
"A general look of surprise and admiration
appeared on the countenance of all around, except
James; he felt guilty, and tried to hide himself
amongst his young companions.
" My dear boy," said Mr. Davis, " you have
now convinced me that your principles are those
of strict morality and truth; from the accident of
this ring's discovering itself to you, much good
may arise; as you cannot take this slice, I will
give you one of the last, I will take this ring with
me into the next room and deposit it in another
slice, as I shall conclude the division, where I
cannot be watched; accordingly he took the cake
away to cut it up, in a few minutes he returned
with it all in slices, one for each person present.
They were all highly diverted, each one search¬
ing their slices for the ring; James eat his without
looking for it, his previous mortification had been
a good lesson to him; Jessie clapt her hands for
joy when she found a ring in hers, the other ring
was found by a very good little boy in his slice;
but Willie's surprise was great on searching his
106
WILLIAM AND JESSIE.
slice to find not a ring; but a paper nicely folded
up.
They all gathered round him, when he read as
follows:
" My dear boy, continue your virtuous course;
God will reward, and man will love you. I hereby
settle five hundred dollars a year on you until you
reach the age of twenty-one, to be paid to you
quarterly, and on attaining that age, if I should
be living, you shall inherit half my property;
this is my Christmas gift, to him who merits it."
They all congratulated Mr, and Mrs. Ellis, and
Willie; there never was a happier party than
were met that day.
Mr. Davis had the papers made out legally the
next day and drawn; they were delivered into
Willie's hands on New Year's day.
Mr. Davis lived seven years after, in his will he
left the principal part of his large property to
Willie, and the remainder to Jessie, as the reward
of TRUTH and VIRTUE.
THE END.
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