• iVm f umfttf ftt/f. l^J-c^ ,, • -:. — -■ ^^^T^iiln !■ i !!J!!l_.,_UJJJ : ■ «Mf. 1WI U I IH II |-| UNIVERSITY OF N CAT CHAPEL Hja 00022245857 THE GAMMANS POETRY COLLECTION In Memory of GEORGE H. GAMMANS, II Class of 1940 First Lieutenant Array Air Corps Distinguished Service Cross Missing in Action January 15, 1943 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://www.archive.org/details/ourtreasurechestOOgrif #ft ] '¥} |JL — Merry Qin^Ima^ I c^^- \ OUR Treasure Chest FOR IJRES ^K© B@X MRS. WALTER T. GRIFFIN SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY NEW YORK UNION PUBLISHING HOUSE 1887 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1887, by the UNION PUBLISHING IIOUSE, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. Press of J. W. Weckes & Co., VS Duanc Street, N. Y. INTRODUCTION. S CHILDREN are readily attracted, and will always listen to pretty stories, one of the best methods with which to reach their minds and hearts will be found in illustrated story books. The more simple, the better. They will accomplish the purpose to a most desirable extent if every story, every picture is set for the moral lesson. It is not necessary to make a child acquainted with evil that he might be led to choose the good. It is important, however, that pure sentiment and wholesome truth be in- culcated. Fortify the mind and heart with the defences of virtue and the world's evil will have by far a smaller chance. He who clearly apprehends this will not ask that the writer apologize in the least for preparing this little '• Treasure Chest " for our girls and boys. It is written to amuse, though the object of training a child in the way he should go is not lost sight of. Many times a parent is puzzled by the anxious inquiry, * 'please Mamma find me a piece to recite." Much difficulty is experienced in getting something suitable for Sabbath School Anniversaries, Christmas festivals and such occasions. The last few pages have been reserved for a number of carefully selected recitations, and the writer hopes that the whole book will prove both healthful and hopeful for the little ones. It is sent forth on its mission with the prayer that our children be guided unto better things of the King- dom of Heaven. CONTENTS. The Christmas Tree, . Almosts, ', A Fearful Estimate, The Holly Bush, The Broken Ale-Jug, . Little Make-Believe, A Scene from Life, The Grebe, Where Convicts Come From, Nettie's Class, . The Mistake, The Drunkard and His Dog, Lost Cynthia, The Dying Soldier, The Ark, .... Papa's Watch, The Wise Indian, Deceiving Grandma, The Rescue, Animals of Africa, Bo3 r Character, Selfish Tom, . Who Made All That, . The Christian Sailor Boy, What Little. Hands Can Do, The First Fall of Snow, . Politeness, .... How a Kind Act Shines, . The Bird's Nest, . What Next, . . . . Just in Time, Little Mary, or a Better Way, PROSE. Page Page. - 9 The Naughty Goat, 70 10 The Best Boy, 73- 11 Mr. Wayback's Barber Shop, 74 12 Our Country's Flag, 76 14 Waiting for the Carriage, . 78 16 Jack's Ride, .... 81 18 The Intelligent Dog. . 82 22 Up for Repairs, . . , 86 24 The Old Woman who Lived in a 2G Shoe, ..... 90 28 The Menagerie, .... 92 31 The Eagles' Companion, 96 32 A Word Fitly Spoken, 98 34 Kept In, ..... 100 36 The Deserted Child, 102 38 LostMilly, .... 104 41 Little Jack and His Goat, . 107 42 Think Twice, .... 108 44 Janet's Text, .... 110 46 The Mischievous Mice, 112 49 Working Cheap, .... 114 50 Both Sides, .... 115 53 The Bear and the Gun, 116 54 How Two Little Boys were Punished ,120 56 The Youthful Florists, 122 58 Kitty and Must, 126 60 Friends — but not Ecpials, . 130 61 An Evening at Home, 132 63 An After-School Reverie, 136 65 Willie and His Pets, 139 66 The Firstlings, 142 68 Puss on a Bootless Chase, 145 CONTENTS. Love One Another, Christmas, , The Golden Rule, Friends Old raid Now, What Ailed Those Eggs? . Why They Go to Church, A Romance Sadly Dispelled, Farmer John's Advice, Safety from Temptation, The Opinion of Mrs. Nightingale. Be Pleasant, The Masterpiece, The Little Boy, . The Way to be Happy, . Have Courage to Say "No," "Wood for Winter Fire, Introductory Address, . Before Christmas, A Lesson in a Dream, . Remember, Boys, Two Boys, . POETRY. Page 19 20 25 30 40 45 43 52 85 S3 94 95 99 119 128 148 150 151 155 158 100 Page Thanksgiving, . . . .102 Temperance Address, . . 1G3 The Leaves and the Wind, . . 104 Time Enough, . . . 105 The Blue and the Gray, . . 108 Which Loved Best, . . 107 Don't Fret, 168 Bad Thoughts, . . . 109' Answered Prayers, . . .170 Wanted— A Minister's Wife, . 171 A Child's Conclusion, . . 175 Young Ladies of the Present Day, 170 The Water Drinkers, . . .177 Misplaced Confidence, . . 178 At Close cf Day, . . . 181 Poor, Dear Child, . . . 182 Dutchman's Breeches, . , 183 Fairy Folk, . . . . 184- The Lonely Grave and Effie, . 186 The True Story of Little Boy Blue, 189 Frontispiece. Page Holly Busk 13 Little Make-Believe 17 The Grebe 23 The Mistake 29 LobI Cynthia 83 Papa's Watch .39 Deceiving Grandma ... • 43 Animals of Africa ... .47 Selfish Tom 51 Christian Sailor Boy 55 Firnt Fall of Snow 59 Just in Time 07 ILLUSTRATIONS. Pag e The Naughty Goat 71 Mr. Way back's Barber Shop 75 Waiting tor the Carriage... 79 The Inteligent Dog 83 Up for Repairs 87 The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe 01 The Menagerie 93 The Eagles' Companion.. .. 97 Kept in 101 Deserted child 103 LostMil'y 1C5 Page 1 Think Twice 109 Janet's Text Ill Mischievous M ice 113 The Bear and Gun lir The Boys and the Bees ..... 121 The Youthful Florists 123 Fiicnds — but not Equals .. 131 An Evening at llomc 133 .\n After-School Kevcrio 137 Willie and his Pets 14* The Firstlings 143 A Bootless Chase 14G TilE CHRISTMAS TREE. @ur IJIreasure (^hest. ^^|X WAS the night before Christmas," when, after mamma ['^1iRl\ had tucked her little ones snugly in bed, that papa '-" '^NI»S^ Ill arfeS^l went out to the store and brought home a large J® ^ Christmas tree. This was more than the little ones ¥$ expected. How happy they were as they closed their eyes to sleep that night, thinking of the morrow when each one would do his and her best to be up first in the morning and wish each other a "Merry Christmas." Of the little group in the picture, who do you think was the first to open their eyes. Well, it was Georgie, the little fellow putting the flag in the top of the tree. They did not know that the tree was all ready filled with toys down stairs, but each one rushed to their stockings to see if Santa Claus had forgotten them. Xot a thing in them ! Can you imagine their disappointment as they looked in their stockings and found them empty? 10 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Georgie was not old enough to realize that Santa Clans had passed them by, but the others were. They didn't begin to cry, as some children would have done, but quietly thought he might come later. Passing down stairs to breakfast, Katie stubbed her toe, and falling against the parlor door, forced it open, and then and there the children spied the Christmas tree, full of beautiful presents. There was a horse for Georgie, a rabbit for Katie, a dollie for Susie, and something for each one. There were so many presents, the tree could not hold them. What a happy band of children as they gathered round the tree after breakfast and received their gifts, not forgetting to thank their Heavenly Father for his goodness. 0: "JQm@©t>@." KMOSTS stand on the brink of every great tem- poral advantage which the world has ever known. There are those who have almost conquered an -v evil habit, yet have relapsed, and have become wholly lost under its influence. There have been those who have been almost in time, yet have been, nevertheless, wholly left behind. And there have been those who have been almost saved, but who have turned back and become wholly lost. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 11 JL Etearful Estimate. >Bf^' SHORT time since, a young man, condemned to die for murder, lay in a prison-cell awaiting the t^\g) day of execution. A kind lady, who had heard ^X of his condition, visited him several times, and J sought to lead him to penitence and faith in Jesus as his only hope. On one occasion the lady was accompanied by her little son, who spoke kindly to the poor prisoner, and offered him some fruit. The man seemed much affected by the grace and gentleness of the child, and drawing him towards him, said, as the tears ran freely down his cheeks : "My dear child, let me tell you what brought me here. It was disobeying my parents, then breaking God's holy day, drinking and gambling, and at last murder, that grew out of the other two. Never forget this, if you would not be where I now am, and tell all your play-fellows to take warning by my sad fate. Always obey your parents, never drink a drop of anything that can intoxicate, keep holy the Sabbath-day, and turn, as from the Evil One himself, from any who would persuade you to enter a gambling-house or engage in a game of chance. These are the things that till the prisons of earth, and crowd the gates of hell with victims." OUR TREASURE CHEST. 25 ^ke (§l©Meia Hiale, >^im* yEAL with another as you'd have Another deal with you: What you're unwilling to receive, Be sure you never do. Be you to others kind and true, As you' d have others be to you ; And neither do nor say to men Wliate'er you would not take again. '7T X anxious Sunday-school teacher, whose heart yearned over a thoughtless scholar, said to her, as they were about to separate for the summer, "Will you not promise me to keep up the regular study of the lessons, and special seasons of prayer V ' "Ah, indeed, I cannot promise that," she said, in a tone of surprise; "I am going to Newport." Another little girl, in her last prayer at home before going on her vacation journey, said, "And now good-by, religion, I am going to Saratoga." Do you leave your religion at home, and pursue pleasure with the eagerness of a worldling? 26 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Nettie's ©lag®. OW HAPPY a teacher must be if she has a band of obedient children around her. What pleasant ■^fo&* W ork it must be to teach such children. Some child- 's} ren seem to ta k e delight in doing all they can to- provoke and discourage their teacher, and at the same* OUR TREASURE CHEST. 27 time lose all the affection the teacher could give them if they were good and tried to do right. But this was not the the case with Nettie McM 's class. Every Sunday she was at her place to welcome them as they came to her. She always greeted them with a smile and they always gave her some token of affection. She had taught her class a long time and the children seemed to love her dearly, and as she would tell them "the old, old story," they would listen and eagerly wish her to tell them more. When they left her on Sunday they did not forget the lesson she had taught them. She was anxious they should walk in the right path, doing good wherever they could. They loved to sing about Jesus, and their favorite hymn was — " Follow, follow, I would follow Jesus — Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on. Follow, follow, I would follow Jesus, Everywhere He leads me, I would follow on." With Christ for their Captain, the Bible for their guide, they knew they could not go astray. ^ — >-f*7 i — gJ sj »■ v ■* i ~* l— (S — 3 TN closing the eyes for nightly rest, it is good to say, "lie giveth his beloved sleep ;" and in opening them, when night is past, to say, "When I awake I am still with thee." 28 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ^ke JVlistake. ,^OOR LITTLE DAN has to stay in at recess. He did Mi J^&3 not get his example right, and the teacher said, r%£^> ' ' All who did not have their examples correct will have to stay in at recess." Daniel thought his was right, sure, but when the teacher examined it she said, " You have made a mistake, and will have to stay in at recess to find it out." Can you see where the mistake is? He is scratching his head and looking very hard. He hears the boys outside playing tag, and he wishes he was among them, but the mistake must be corrected before he goes. He has learned the multiplication table by heart, and yet there is one figure he has set down wrong. That one figure is enough to make the whole example incorrect, and poor Daniel has to stay in while the other boys are enjoying themselves. I hope he will get it right before the hour closes. These little mistakes cause a vast amount of trouble in the world. A chemist put up a wrong drug for two sick patients and both died in a few hours. A book-keeper put down one wrong figure and it made a man a bankrupt. One little mistake made in laying the foundation of a building caused the whole structure to be weak and finally fall. A boy or girl may think it is nothing to be a little in the wrong now and then, THE MISTAKE. 30 OUR TREASURE CHEST. to say what is not exactly true, to do what they know is not right, but it is a mistake that will bring its punishment just as Daniel's mistake did. Once a little boy was visiting a silk mill ; they were just weaving an elegant roll of silk ; by mistake he let a pin fall on that roll. It was a little thing, but when it was unrolled, every yard had been cut by that pin, and the whole roll ruined. Many a man has been ruined by a mistake made in childhood. Correct your mis- takes now, while you are young. ITmeTid^ @M aiacl Xew, AKE new friends but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold; New-made friendships, like new wine Age will mellow and refine. Friendships that have stood the test — Time and change — are surely best. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 31 ^ke ©iFumkapd and Mis ©©g. ^/r-xrJ CROWD was collected near a pile of stones in Central Park, Xew York, evidently very intent upon some object that had brought together quite .g^^L a number of. policemen. On drawing near you would have seen nothing remarkable — only a drunken man, utterly insensible, lying upon a pallet of blasted rocks and stones. But for all there were so many officers on hand, they could not take the man away. He had a friend of whom he was wholly unworthy — a friend who stood by him like a brother, notwithstanding his degradation. A noble Newfoundland dog stood over him, looking down into his face, and would suffer no one to approach. He did not like the looks of the policemen, and they did not like his looks. Twenty feet was the regular distance he had settled upon, and it was at his risk that any one came nearer. They brought several pails of cold water and threw it over the dog, hoping to drive him away ; but he only drew closer to his unworthy companion. ''We can't take the man unless we shoot the dog," said one, "and he's to noble an animal to kill." "Which is the brute?" asked a passer-by, and very appropriately, too. 32 OUR TREASURE CHEST. t)B.ia. N tlie large city of New York lived Cynthia G . fefjf Sjw She was the only child of a poor woman, who was l£ ^ obliged every day to earn her own living. She was very careful of Cynthia, and when she would leave her in the morning to go to her day's work, her last words were, "Don't go too far from home." Cynthia tried to be a good girl to her mamma, and she knew too well that her mamma had to work hard to keep a little home for her, for her papa was dead and they were left without a penny. One day Mrs. G returned to her home and expected to find her little girl waiting for her, but to her surprise she was not there; fearing something had happened to her, she started out to search. Poor little girl, no one could tell how she felt as night came on, and no loving mamma to kiss her good- night, no knee to kneel beside and say her little prayer. But do you know God always hears prayers if we pray with a sincere heart? God always takes care of his little ones, but Cynthia felt sad and timid as night came on, and she crept in some dark out-of-the-way place and prayed that God would take care of her. The next day she stood on the corner of some street crying bitterly, when Ettie and Maggie came up LOST CYNTHIA. 34 OUR TREASURE CHEST. to lier and asked her what the trouble was. Not hesitating to tell them, they took her by the hand and led her safely to her home. How happy the mother and child were when they met ; but Cynthia felt badly to think she had disobeyed her mamma. How careful little ones should be not to stray too far from their earthly home. God has prepared a heav- enly home for us, and if we obey His word we shall never stray from it. t UT me down," said a wounded soldier in the Crimea to his comrades, who were carrying him; "put ^M§) me down ; do not take the trouble to carry me any farther; I am dying." They put him down and returned to the field. A few minutes after, an officer saw the man weltering in his blood, and said to him, "Can I do anything for you?" "Nothing, thank you." "Shall I get you a little water?" said the kind-hearted i officer. "No, thank you, I am dying." OUR TREASURE CHEST. 35 *'Is there nothing I can do for yon % Shall I write to yonr friends \ ' ' "I have no friends that you can write to. Bnt there is one thing for which I would be much obliged. In my knapsack you will find a Testament ; will you open it at the fourteenth chapter of John, and near the end of the chapter you will find a verse that begins with 'peace.' Will you read it?" The officer did so, and read the words : ''Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto yon; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not yonr lieart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." "Thank you, sir," said the dying man. "I have that peace ; I am going to that Saviour. God is with me ; I want no more." These were his last words, and his spirit ascended to be with Ilim he loved. +$&z= 7T LITTLE child, seven years old, one day said to her mo- ther, "Mother, I have learned to be happy, and I shall always be happy." "My dear," said her mother, "how can this be done?" She said, "It is by not caring anything about myself, but trying to make everybody else happy." 36 OUR TREASURE CHEST. |E have here a picture of the Dove returning to the Ark. The Ark was a sort of boat that God commanded Noah to build. Can you tell me why $$§* He told him to make it? Well, God saw that the people were very wicked, and it grieved Him greatly, so He told Noah He would destroy man, whom He had created, OUE TEEASTTEE CHEST. 37 and every living thing with him. Now "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God," so he did as God commanded, and made an Ark of gopher wood. It was three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. It had one window and a door, "with lower, second and third stories." When it was completed God told Noah that he, his wife, his sons and their wives should enter the Ark, and take with them living creatures. So after Noah and his family entered, it began to rain. It rained so much for forty days and forty nights that the mountains were covered with water and all that was on the earth was destroyed, both man and beast, and everything that had life. God did not forget Noah and his family, and after the waters had abated, the Ark rested safely on Mt. Ararat. When Noah thought the earth was dry, he sent a raven out, but it did not return to him. Then he sent a dove and it came back with an olive leaf. Then Noah waited seven days more, and sent the dove out again, but it did not return to him ; then Noah knew the earth was dry. If Noah and his family had not been good, God would not have chosen them to be in Ili<' Ark. Let us please God in everything, and some day we shall be one of his chosen ones. 38 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Papa's "Watek. LONG time ago there lived a little boy whose name was Walter. His papa was very fond of him and when he would return home from his day's work, he would take little Walter on his lap and show him his watch. This always delighted the little fellow, and as he was his father's pet, he was allowed to take the watch in his own hands. Now Walter was only three years old, but was very full of mischief, and was al- ways hunting up something new to play with. One day his mamma went out and left him alone for a few moments think- ing he would amuse himself with his playthings and the little kitten. But Walter soon grew tired of these, and began looking- for first one thing and then for another. Imagine his delight when he found his papa's watch. He didn't care then how long his mamma staid away. Suddenly she returned and found her little boy seated on the floor beside a basin of soapsuds. One glance at the child told the story. Walter had found the watch and thought it needed cleaning and considered it his duty to do it. After washing the outside thoroughly, he opened the case and poured the soapsuds into* the works. When papa came home at night, Walter told papa's WATCH. 40 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Mm how nicely lie had cleaned Ms watch, and that there was no need of taking it to the jeweler's. His papa gave a heavy sigh, making np his mind that after this event, he "would put his watch out of Walter's reach. -<>- — i $ o — —J y ^— — o t ~ — •-*- What affiled Itase Eggs? E bought some lovely Brahma eggs And brought them home for setting, V^ Thinking how lucky he would be — What fine chicks he'd be getting. He put the eggs beneath the hen, Then many days he waited ; When finding that but few had hatched, He was not much elated. The remnant of these eggs were put Beneath another setter, And much surprised was he to find That she'd done worse, not better. At last when patience all had fled And hopes received dismissal, He found the eggs that wouldn't hatch Were only artificial. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 41 The Wke Indian. CWlli 7 ^"'^'^ was an I n( ^^ ai1 c^ief wno lived a few years ago ¥ \Wmji in tlie great western country. He said "he didn't /S^\^M li^ e wn iskey, because it made the men look so ttajl f 00 ^ s ^i an( ^ ne wouldn't have it for his braves." The red man was wiser than many of our, white men, I think. He went on a journey, and was quite amazed at the '•railway horse." He said, "It gave a snort, and away it went with all the little houses after." He liked the white men and wanted to learn and do all they could do, "except telling lies and drinking whiskey." IT X officer, much addicted to profane swearing, visited one of the deep mines in Cornwall. He was attended by a pious workman who was employed in the works. During his visit to the mine, the officer uttered many profane expressions; and as he ascended in company with the pious miner, finding it a long way, lie said to him with an oath, t; If it be so far down to your work, how far is it to the bottomless pit?" The honest miner promptly and seriously replied, "I do not know how far it is, sir, but I believe that if the. rope by which we are drawn up should break, you would 1«" there in a minute." OUR TREASURE CHEST. Beeei^mg ©2®amdma. ?|g^^ RAjNTDMA had two little grand-daughters living in E^L^W the country, and they were delighted when the M^ 7 ^ season came for them to make her a visit. The $%% best dresses and shoes were packed with great care in their trunk, and their dollies were never forgotten, for grandma always made such nice little dresses for them, and this was one reason why they were always anxious to visit her. Their names were Mamie and Beckey, both ten years old and both about the same height. Grandma was quite old, and was obliged to wear glasses, and for this reason could not see very well. But because she could not see well, was no reason why she should be deceived by the twins. She asked them one day to stand side by side and see which was the taller. They did as they were told, and grandma was very much surprised to think they had grown so tall. She did not think they would stand on tip-toe and make themselves taller than what they really were. But do you know those little girls told a story ? Although they did not speak a word, yet "their actions spoke louder than words." Oh, how careful we should be of our actions ! Let our actions be such that we shall never be ashamed of anything: we may do. DECEIVING (illAXUMA. 44 OUR TREASURE CHEST. he Re^iie. "' = w¥^^ T much some little boys ^/ffi? love to tease animals. Especially if tliey are SV^ young and scarcely able to help themselves. They do not stop to think how much pain they give them, or how wicked it is to do harm to anything that has life, and that does not harm us. Our picture shows us how near a little kitten came drowning. Some children found this little kitten in the grass near a stream and thought it would be fun to see if it could swim. So they gave her a toss into the stream, and u ^^-— : every time the poor thing would come near the bank they would push her back. Poor kittie became so exhausted that she was almost drowned when little Mortie came along and tried to rescue her. He knew time was precious, so he hung to a limb on a tree and with a stick OUR TREASURE CHEST. 45 in the other hand, he placed it in the water close beside the kitten. She saw the limb was for her, so clinging tightly to it she was brought safely out of the water, and felt very grateful to Mortie for his kindness. Little children can do a great deal of good in* the world, if they only try, and if they begin young to do right they will love to do the Master's work, and rescue many a perishing soul. { f^y\ OME go to church just for a walk ; lj(^^% Some go there to laugh and talk ; i ^2> Some go there for speculation ; Some go there for observation ; Some go there to meet a friend ; Some go there the lime to spend; Some go to learn the parson's name; Some go there to sound his fame; Some go then! to doze and nod; But very few to worship God. 46 OUR TREASURE CHEST. JLr\iw\slm ©f J£tr®i@a. WijjgOULT) you like to live in Africa and see all the jpj animals that live there? I think yon would be »> \ $-*.**& /^£=|d£^ afraid of some, for they are so frightful looking. jgJjSi In this picture we see three beautiful zebras. The zebra is very wild and lives in the south of Africa. Their speed is very great and it is with great difficulty that they are caught. We are told that when they are attacked, they form themselves into a circle, with their heads towards the center and their heels towards the enemy, and defend themselves by their kicks. Their flesh is considered good and is eaten by natives and hunters. Look again at the picture and you will see a number of giraffes. They seem to be all neck and legs, and if we were to measure their steps by the length of their legs, I don't think it would take them long to run a mile. They have large beautiful eyes, placed so that the animal can see much of what is passing on all sides, and even behind. For this reason very few can approach them. If we go to Central Park we can see a number of animals that came from Africa, among them the giraffe and zebra. The giraffe is often called a camelopard, because it resembles the camel by its long neck and the leopard by its beautiful spots. 48 OUR TREASURE CHEST. A ]R<®>maB_@e Sadly Dispelled. ^^^'jjj'UNTING one morning tlie blooming fields over, I spied 'mong the grasses a fair four-leafed clover. And, like any miss whose heart is a rover, Put it over the door to see who was my lover. The Dickens ! A Paddy with a pack on his shoulder Came shambling in (old Nick himself isn't bolder); He was old as my father, or likely much older, And my greeting to him was like ice, or much colder. "Any Irish linen tablecloths, handkerchiefs, etc., etc., etc., etc?" "I have no desire, sir, to look at the linen!" (How Jeff in the meantime was winkin' and grinnin' And pointing, with mischief and leer, at my clover, Which tottled at once all my romances over), Then out stepped the "spark" that had thwarted my trust, And I threw down my clover and stamped it in dust, Resolved not to trust to a "lusus" of Nature If in winning a beau it should be such a "crayture." H. F. Bailey. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 49> ]B©y ©ka3®a@tei®. -T is the greatest delusion in the world for a boy to get the idea that his life is of no consequence and that the character of it will not be noticed. A manly, truthful boy will shine like a star in any community. A boy may possess as much of noble character as a man. He may so speak and live the truth that there shall be no discount on his word. And there are such noble Christian boys, and wider and deeper than they are apt to think is their influence. They are the king boys among their fellows, having an immense influence for good, and loved and respected because of the simple fact of living the truth. jf&*£@\f*-- CIIE mystic cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over the land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. A. Lincoln. r, 50 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Selfish ^©m. _HREE boys, Tom, Willie and Joe, were school-mates, ^ and had played together a long time. They had roamed over many a field, caught many birds, climbed hundreds of trees, and yet an unpleasant word had never passed between them. But how soon Satan can get control of children. Many a child has made a promise that she would not be naughty one day, and before night Satan would come along and make her break her promise. ~Now let me tell you how easily he governed Tom. Tom's mother had given him a few pennies for his own use, and one day he met a man selling cherries. Tom felt hungry and thought now was a good opportunity to spend his pennies, as he was all alone, and could eat every cherry himself. But just as he sat down to enjoy them, who should come along but Willie and Joe. Now here was Tom's chance to share with his companions. Joe and Willie had always been generous with Tom, and they supposed Tom had the same disposition. But when Willie asked him for "just a few" Tom gave him scowls instead of cherries. The two boys felt very sad to see their play-mate act in this way, but while it grieved two, it pleased one, and that one was Satan. Let us be careful not to please one who cares for us only SELFISH TOM. 52 OUR TREASURE CHEST. to destroy us, for God watches us and sees all our actions^ and He is the one to please, and not Satan. God loves us and is anxious about his little ones, and we should strive to please him in everything. ARMEK. John was wont to say (He was a man of thought austere), " Sunshine's the time for making hay And summer time to persevere ; Fruitage comes from pruned vines, And grafted trees will bear the best; But chickens that a coop confines Will never have a thirfty nest. "He that sits behind the stove And rubs his hands in winter time, Will, rest assured, an idler prove When harvests need the men of prime. Know the farmer by his fence: If vines and briers show their tops, His judgment isn't worth six pence; He'll sow and reap the stinted crops. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 53 "Youth must have a bloomiug spring Ere manhood earns a fruitage day ; Old age would be a barren thing, With spring and summer fooled away. Then go to work right earnest, boy, Give to thy spring a fragrant bloom; Then manhood will have fruit and joy And silvered age a flowery tomb." !© r — a v_y| &_ — > "'r Wh© ^lade All Wka.% ? ■HEN Napoleon was returning to France from the expedition to Egypt, a group of French oflicers one evening entered into a discussion concerning JSjJSi the existence of a God. They were on the deck of the vessel that bore them over the Mediterranean sea. Thoroughly imbued with the infidel and atheistical spirit of the times, they were unanimous in their denial of this truth. It was at length proposed to ask the opinion of Napoleon on the subject, who was standing alone, wrapped in silent thought. On hearing the question, "Is there a God?" he raised his hand, and pointing to the starry firmament, simply responded, "Gentlemen, who made all that?" 54 OUR TREASURE CHEST. I 'vfl 1 was a sad day to Willie when he said good-bye to $M liis parents and sailed for Australia as a sailor. s% Tears filled his eyes as he was packing his valise, Jpf V for he well knew that months would pass before he would see his parents again. The last article put in that valise was a Bible, given to him by his mother with a few words written on the fly-leaf. "To Willie, let this be your guide." When he left his home he promised his parents that he never would forget to pray, and if he could tell any one about Jesus he would strive to do it. All the sailors on board the ' ' Chichester ' ' were older than he, some old men who had always been sailors and were rough in their talk. This Willie did not like, and it greived him very much to hear the sailors swear. Sunday morning came, and as- Willie had always been in the habit of reading his Bible, he did not hesitate to do it now. He soon became a favorite among the sailors, and every Sunday when there was not so much work on hand, Willie would get some of the idle sailors together and tell them Bible stories. Some had never heard of Jesus, and when Willie read to them in Matthew of how Christ stilled the tempest, they seemed eager to hear more. When the ship reached Australia, the Captain and THE CHRISTIAN SAILOR BOY. 5G OUPt TKEASURE CHEST. sailors were a different class of men. The sailors did not swear at all, and were kind to each other. But poor Willie was taken sick and died before he reached his home. He had worked faithfully for his Master, and had put new thoughts in the minds of the captain and crew. As he lay on his dying bed and they all gathered around him to say "good bye," his last words were "Let Jesus be your Captain." ? — a) ^J » " fa-s--« F cs — I What little Mamd© Oaio. B©. HILDREN think they can do little good, and even their parents generally think the same. They can ^i^q be obedient and affectionate — this all admit, but iTO* few think they are old enough to do anything for the salvation of the world. Now children, this is a great error. Can a child do as much as an insect? "Why, yes," ex- claims every little reader, and "more too." Let us all imagine that you and I are sailing in a vessel upon the South seas. How beautifully we glide along ! The vessel skims the ocean like a swan. But what is that yonder, rising above the billows like a painted highland? How it sparkles in the rays of the sun like a rock of silver, and now it assumes different colors, variegated in the most OUR TREASURE CHEST. 57 charming manner — red, gold and silvery hues, all blend together in delightful richness. Nearer and nearer we come to the attractive object, all the while appearing more beautiful and brilliant than the Crystal palace, when lo ! we discover it is the splendid work of insects, so small that we cannot see them with a naked eye. Yes, the little coral insect threw up those many colored reefs, a little at a time, until we have this magnificent sight. And just over there, beyond that line of reefs, you see that little island covered with tall palm trees, so green and slender. The foundation of that island, now a fit habitation for men, was laid by the coral insect. Myriads of them worked away, year after year, until a huge bed of coral became the foundation of the sland ; then the soil accumulated, and the trees grew, as they are now seen. This is what some insects do towards making this wild a habitation for mankind. They make islands. God did not create them to be useless in this world, where so much is to be done. Their work amounts to something. Would you not be as useful as the little coral insect? You cannot build islands, but you can help the people who live upon them, and those who live in other parts of the earth. A half-penny is a small gilt, but ten of them make a dime. A grain of .sand is very minute, but enough of them will make a 58 OUR TREASURE CHEST. mountain. So the little which one child does for God may seem too small to be counted, but perhaps twenty of these littles are equal to the work of one full grown man or woman. Do not forget that if 3-011 do nothing for God, you are not worth as much as the coral insect. ,<2>K9. The Mpst Fall ©f ga®w. -wl»iTTLB MAY had passed her summer months in the l^S> country, and was very happy as she frolicked over wS^Mi^S the fields, gathering wild flowers and pretty mosses. llpf She teased her mamma to stay longer, but mamma S& knew that when the cold winds began to blow and Jack Frost would come along that May would wish herself closely housed in her city home. After she reached her home it was her delight to sit by the window and throw crumbs to the little birds outside. They seemed to feel so happy and did not fear her at all. After she had fed them they would fly up in the tree and there sing their loudest notes as though they were thanking her for their breakfast. But one morning May went to the window to see if her birdies were waiting for her, and to her surprise the ground was white with snow. At first May did not know what to make of the white cover on. THE 1TKST SNOW GO OTJK TREASURE CHEST. the ground, and as she saw the flakes falling she wondered where all the geese feathers came from. Mamma soon told her it was the "first fall of snow." Then May's first thought was — what will become of all the little birds, for they will never find enough to eat. This worried May very much, but soon the warm sun came out and melted all the snow, and the birdies and little May were happy once more. Birds do not have to worry about what they will have to eat ; God provides for their wants as well as ours. „ - i,—aStez> ii r ■ P<®>lite:m.e^. To|| OYS and girls must be polite. When you come ■'-,* down stairs in the morning, say, "Good morning," 1§p|r^ to all in the room. When you go up stairs to bed be careful to say, "Good night," in the same way. If you see older persons looking for chairs, try to help them if you can. Little boys should lift their hats politely when they are spoken to in the street, and they should always take off their hats when they go into a house. These may seem like small things, but a true gen- tleman or lady will never forget them. Be polite in small things. Be as polite at home as when away from home. OUR TREASURE CHEST. CI Always be ready to do a kindness to any one who may need it. You know that you like to have people kind to you. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Hew a KmJfl,(SZr c : " TTOW beautiful it is to see the young reverence old age! / "We never see a little boy bowing respectfully to an aged man in the street but we feel sure he is a good boy. Rever- ence is always due to aged people. God, nature, and a proper education say to the young : reverence old age. The promptings of our kindly nature teach us to respect the aged, to rise up before the hoary head. The dim eye, the furrowed brow, and temples thinly clad, who would not respect, reverence, and love them. 74 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Mp. Wayfeaek's Bap'bei® Sk©p. ^HTS picture represents an old-time barber shop, and many a small country place has one. To us, who are used to the nicely fitted up shops of to-day, this old place looks queer enough. This old gentleman not only cut hair, and shaved, but he would cobble shoes, pull teeth, grind scissors, and do any other small job by which he might enlarge his income. This boy seems not to be enjoying himself very much. When the boy put himself under Mr. Wayback's care with- out first combing his hair out of tangle, the old gentleman himself took the snarl out, but the boy wished he wore a wig, which could be left with the barber to be trimmed and dressed — for Mr. Wayback was not very light with his hands, and would often pull and twitch the hair until the boy's eyes were full of tears. Boys, in time, become men ; and they can look back and laugh over Mr. Wayback's hair-cutting, and all the other trials of their boyhood. It is right to be neat with your hair and person generally ; but it is not right to give more care to the outside of your head than to the inside. So, laddies, fill your heads full of useful knowledge ; then put this knowledge into honest, persevering action, and in the |:B|M"r' -w « p oz —z "A W©2?d Mil j @p©kea." NE day, when two boys were playing together, they saw a poor sick dog lying under a tree. "I'll hit him!" said one of them, taking up a stone to 0^ throw at him. As he raised his arm a little girl put her hand upon it. "Tom," she said, "would you be so mean as to hit a dog who is too sick to bite you?" Tom prided himself on his bravery. He did not think what a cowardly act it was to do so mean a thing as that. It is for brave boys to defend helpless creatures. Many years after that the two friends, who had grown to be men, were talking together about their youthful sports OUR TREASURE CHEST. 99 and pleasures. "As I think my life over," said Tom, "there is one incident that I often recall. It had a great influence on me." " WTiat was that?" asked his friend. "I wonder if it was what little Mary did?" "That is the very thing," said Tom. " She asked if I could be so mean as to throw .a stone at a dog who was too sick to bite me. I have never been tempted to do a mean action but that has come to me. It is wonderful how much good those words did." This story is true. I heard one of the two friends tell it, and I thought it might encourage some one to be as brave as little Mary was when she stopped the big boy from 6) T HE fisher who draws in his net too soon, Won't have any fish to sell; The child who shuts up his book to soon, Won't learn any lessons well. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 10Z Mttle £Ta©k and Wim @©at. ' ' One, two, three, The bumble bee, And away she goes," ANG little Jack as lie ran around the corner of the -, v^^k house with his goat. It was a fine little goat and loved Jack, and Jack loved the goat and was very kind to her. lie would harness her to a little cart ^ and she would draw him everywhere he wanted to go. Jack had a little barn, as he called it, made of a large dry-goods box, for the goat, and every night Nancy slept there. In the morning, when Jack would go to let her out, she seemed to know his step when she heard him coming and would answer to his call. But one morning when Jack went to open the door he did not hear her loving call, and as he looked in, there she lay flat on her side and paid no attention to him. "Oh, dear," he cried, "I'm afraid Nancy is dead! What shall I do?" Then a bright thought came to him. "I can pray," he said; and kneeling down by Nancy's side, he repeated, " Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep," for that was the only prayer he knew. His kind father heard his little boy, and some medicine soon made Nancy well again. Jack insisted that his prayer helped to save the goat. 108 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Miak Twiec. UR boy Freddy, whose portrait is opposite, is in mis- chief. It is a rainy day, and he cannot have any fun out of doors with an umbrella over his head, fW^so he has kicked off one shoe, and has found a way to amuse himself in doors. By and by, when he wants his shoe, and forgets where he left it, he will have a long hunt for it. He has found Iii3 way into a sort of store-room where his father has put away a number of things, which are not of use just now ; and has brought with him a hammer, nails, a chisel, a gimlet, and a hat. I hope this is not his f ather" 1 s best hat ; because it seems as if it would be the worst before Freddy is done with it. By looking at the picture you will see that Freddy has chipped the chest with the chisel, has bored holes with the gimlet, has driven nails, and is now at work on the hat. Perhaps he means to make it into a watering-pot, or a pepper box ; any way, he is spoiling it, and when he thinks what he has done, he will be sorry ; for Freddy is not a bad boy, only he does not stop to think. A good many people, old as well as young, do not think until after the damage is done, and cannot be repaired. A good motto for boys and girls is: "Be sure you .are right, then go ahead." THINK TWICE. 110 OUR TREASURE CHEST. JANET'S home was in the country near the seashore jff|f|PiJP an( l every day she used to go down by the water ^OT 5 ^ 8 " an( l play in the sand. Very few little girls fy enjoyed this sport more thaD Janet. It was quiet there, and nothing disturbed her save the voice of a sea-gull occasionally. She would dig big holes in the sand with her shovel, and when she was ready to return home, she never forgot to bring mamma a kettle full of sand to scour the kitchen tins. How thoughtful some little children are, not only of mamma, but of their surroundings. Janet had been taught that God gave her everything and 1hat He gave his only Son to die for her that she might live. She loved Jesus and felt she was one of his little ones. Going to the beach one day, this thought came in her mind — that God was all love. Tired of digging holes in the sand, she turned around, seeing a stick picked it up and wrote in large letters on the sand, "God is love." She knew his love was everlasting, and she wanted those words to last forever — covering it over with something she found on the beach she left it and ran home. How much there is in that word — love. The waves could not wash it away, it was too far 112 OUR TREASURE CHEST. from the shore, the rains could not destroy it, for it was protected. Let us be as careful of God's love as Janet was of her text. HAT a bright little creature a mouse is. How sly and cunning are his ways. He takes good care not to be seen by anyone. How soft his fur '$$« and light his tread. Did } t ou ever see white mice? They are about the size of a gray mouse, only the fur is white and are often found in the hay fields. Mice are very full of mischief and can make a good deal of trouble. In the picture are two mice, drinking milk. Mrs. Pussy has surely gone out for a walk, and Mrs. Mouse has made up her mind to improve every opportunity during her absence. It seems to me they do all their mischief at night, when it is dark, or when the house is still and they feel sure no one is near. The mice are in their holes, And there they hide by day, But when it's still at night They all come out to play. THE MISCHIEVOUS MICE. 114 OUR TREASURE CHEST. They climb upon the shelves And taste of all they please, They drink the milk and cream And eat the bread and cheese. But when they hear the cat At once they stop their fun ; In fright they seek their holes As fast as they can run. HAT does Satan pay you for swearing?" asked a A. man of a swearing boy. ' ' Nothing, ' ' was the answer. "Well," said the man, "you work cheap. To lay off the character of a gentleman, to give so much pain to your friends and all civil folks, to wound your conscience and risk your soul, and all for nothing, you certainly do work cheap — very cheap indeed." ^TT BABE in a house is a well-spring of pleasure, a mes- senger of peace and love, a resting-place for innocence on earth,; a link between angels and men. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 115 ]B©tk (Hides. SOFTER one of the noted London infidels had con- cluded one of his infidel lectures in a village in the North of England, he challenged those present to discussion. Who should accept the challenge but an old, bent woman, in most antiquated attire, who went up to the lecturer and said : "Sir, I have a question to put to you." "Well, my good woman, what is it?" "Ten years ago," she said, "I was left a widow, with ■eight children utterly unprovided for, and nothing to call my own but this Bible. By its direction, and looking to God for strength, I have been enabled to feed myself and family. I am now tottering to the grave ; but I am perfectly happy, because I look forward to a life of immortality with Jesus in heaven. That's what my religion has done for me. What has your way of thinking done for you?" "Well, my good lady," rejoined the lecturer, "I don't want to disturb your comfort ; but " "Oli? that's not the question," interposed the woman; " keep to the point, sir. What has your way of thinking •done for you?" 116 OUR TREASURE CHEST. The infidel endeavored to shirk the matter again ; the feeling of the meeting found vent in uproarious applause, and the skeptic lecturer had to go away discomfitted by an. old Christain woman. ke Beap aad the (§riOL )ID you ever hear of a bear killing himself % That is certainly what the bear in the picture has done. I wouldn't wonder if he had been doing some mischief and the old farmer has laid a trap for him. Many years ago there was a man who came from Germany, and after he landed on this side of the Atlantic he was unable to find any of his friends. He concluded at last to build a house for himself somewhere, and perhaps he would after a while come across some one he knew. So taking his ax he cut down tree after tree, 'til he had quite a large place cleared. Of the trees he had cut down, he made a log-house, and had a real good comfortable home. No doubt he was lonely there in the woods but he was always busy, so the days passed quickly. He had a nice little garden, and quite a good deal of broom-corn ; of this he wanted to make a broom to sweep the dirt out of his house. He was miles away from village or neighbor, and quite THE BEAR AND THE GUN. 118 OUR TREASURE CHEST. unconscious of the fact that he had an enemy in the woods. Going out one morning to his cornfield he saw a number of" tracks in the ground that looked like those of an animal. Then he discovered that some of his melons were gone, so he concluded he would watch for whoever it might be. In day time he never spied a soul, so he thought he would watch, at night. He did not watch long before he saw a bear come out of the woods and walk right over to the corn-field. How could he kill him, he thought. If I shoot at him and miss, perhaps he will turn on me and eat me up ; so he concluded he would try a new way of shooting. Driving some stakes in the ground, he tied a rope to the stakes, and on the rope he tied a loaded gun with the trigger tied to the rope, so that if the rope was touched the gun would go off of itself. At night the bear walked out of the woods right over to where the gun was. tied. He was so anxious to get a meal of corn, he could not wait to go around, but made up his mind to jump the rope. Children, have you ever heard the old saying — "the- farthest way round is the surest way home." This would have- worked well in this case if the bear had taken more time and gone around instead of jumping the rope, for no sooner did the bear touch the rope than the trigger was pulled and the bear fell dead. This relieved the anxiety of the farmer and for a while he felt safe. OUR TREASURE CHEST. lit) Children, as we journey through life, let lis take good care to get rid of our enemies. There is one laying traps for us continually, and if we are not careful to be on the watch we will fall into his clutches. lie "Way t© fee Happy. / pW-l\WOW pleasant it is, at the end of the day, I'^ip^f) ~^° follies to have to repent; — (%-^J/kpk T° ren,ec fc on the past, and be able to say That my time has been properly spent. When I've done all my work with patience and care^ And been good, and obliging, and kind, I lie on my pillow, and sleep away there, With a happy and peaceable mind. But, instead of all this, if it must be confessed That I careless and idle have been, I lie down as usual to go to my rest, But feel discontented within. Then as I don't like all the trouble I've had r In future I' 11 try to prevent it ; For I never am naughty without being sad,, Or good without being contented. 120 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Jfow fw® Mttle B©j"^ wei®e THINK one glance at this picture will tell you just what these two boys have been doing, and what they received in return. Satan always finds something for idle hands to do, and unless we are very careful we are sure to get into trouble. Satan, you know, is never satisfied unless he is laying snares for innocent ones to fall into. The boys had been told often enough not to go near the bee hive, but they thought they -could have a good deal of sport tossing the honey bees ; so they cut from the trees a long stick, thinking the longer the stick, the farther they would be from the bees. They •did not seem to think that the bees had wings and could fly any distance, and they at last would be the sufferers. 'There they sat and teased those bees, and seemed to enjoy it, but suddenly there was a scream and both boys seemed to feel worse than the honey bees. They were glad enough to drop their stick and run away, making up their minds that after this they would listen to the advice of others, and not let Satan bring them into all sorts of mischief. THE BOYS AND THE HONEY BEES. 182 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ¥he Y«ia.-fehfial florists. 'RS. NELSON had a lovely liome in the country, surrounded on every side by beautiful flowers. A ^J^§£^ small creek flowed past one side of the Jiouse, and c^jl on the other side was a beautiful fountain always sending up its light sprays of water, watering the lawn, which looked like a green velvet carpet. Birds built their nests in the trees, bird houses were placed on the limbs, and every morning their notes were heard quite a distance. Mrs. Nelson took great delight in training her vines. There were the Clematis, running along the piazza, in full bloom; then in the evening the "Moon Plant" opened her flowers, and the odor of the plants was lovely. These attractions made her home so beautiful outside. Then the inside had just as many attractions, only of a different nature. Over the mantel hung the cuckoo clock, and every time the hour would strike the cuckoo would fly out and give a few notes. The aquarium looked so pretty as the fish would swim around trying to catch the little particles of food in the water. But of these attractions there were two that made home life beautiful. These were Mrs. Nel- son's two daughters, Flora and Bessie. They were orna- 124 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ments for any house, and Mrs. Nelson felt proud of them as she saw them go about their daily duties, cheerfully doing whatever they could to relieve their mother's care. The summer months passed quickly and when Jack Frost came Mrs. Nelson and the little girls were busy among the flowers. Each one had her favorite. Flora was very fond of the Heliotrope and Bessie of the Fushia, and Mrs. Nelson loved to train the Ivy vines around the windows. The Passion flower was the favorite, and was always admired by every one who chanced to see it in bloom. But the jolly time came for the girls when Mamma took the plants up. There was the Ivy to train on the ladder and the Fushia to tie against a stick, and when the plants were brought in the house and placed in the bay window the room looked like a hot house. How man y things there are to make a home attractive; not only flowers, but a lovely lit- tle child can do more to make a home beautiful than all the ornaments and flowers we can get, and the most beautiful attractions are goodness, obedience, and amiableness. Let these be flowers in each little ones lives. 7TYHAT children are, neighborhoods are. What neighbor- hoods are, communities are, — states, empires, worlds ! They are the elements of Hereafter made visible. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 125 "TOKN" G. SAXE sent the following epigram in reply to an invitation to address a temperance convention: "You have heard of the snake in the grass, my boy, Of the terrible snake in the grass ; But now you must know, Man's deadliest foe Is a snake of a different class. Alas! "lis the venomous snake in the glass I" O^USY had fixed some ginger and sweetened water for ^ drink one hot day, and carried some to her father. "It is too strong," he said, after trying it. Oil trotted the little one, and soon came back again. " Try it now, papa," she said, "I've unstrengthened it with water." '7T N old Quaker gentleman was once asked how he man- aged to keep down his temper. "My friend,'-* he said, "if thee always speaks in a low voice, thee will never be angry." Try the old Quaker's rule. T^ITERE is no word in the English language so full of thrilling and intense meaning as the word "HOME." 12G OUR TREASURE CHEST. Kitty and "jfest." GREAT cry came from the nursery. It was Kitty's cry. "What is the matter with Kitty?" thought her mother, who was lifting down a tureen in the china closet. Presently Kitty came down stairs sobbing. "I am afraid Kitty has somebody with her," thought her mother. Kitty pattered along until she put her little curly head in the china closet. Her mother saw she was not alone ; Ill-humor was with her. Her mother was sorry. "What is the matter, little daughter?" she asked. Sarah had called her from playing with Noah's ark, and said she must have her face washed. "For papa to kiss," said mother. "I hate Must" said Kitty. "Why so?" asked her mother. "Must always makes me cross," said Kitty. "Must only wants to make Kitty a good clean little child," said mother. "If you mind Must, you would love him dearly. Instead of that you take Ill-humor, who always quarrels with Must, and then there are sorry times. How nicely Must has washed Kitty's face." "Is it nice for papa?" asked Kitty going on tiptoe before the glass. " Very," answered mother; "and who curled Kitty's hair?" "Must did that," replied the little girl, "but he did that an hour ago." OUR TREASURE CHEST. U7 Tlie entry door opened, and papa's step was heard com- ing in. "There's my papa," said she, skipping into the hall, and leaving Ill-humor far behind. "My dear little daughter," said papa, lifting her up over his head, and then giving her a couple of kisses on her two rosy cheeks. "Do I look nice, papa 2" she asked. "I think you do," he said, looking at her hair and mouth and hands. "I think you do." " Must does know, I believe truly," thought Kitty; if 1 hadn't minded him, I should not have been fit for papa's kisses, after eating aunty's orange. Oh, I wish I could always mind Must, and not get cross as I do," and a little sorry shadow came over her heart. After dinner papa looked at his watch, and jumping up, said he must go. " Does Must make you, papa, as it does me?" Papa said yes. "Don't you think Must is hard, sometimes, making us when we don't want to, papa?" Papa answered that Must is one of our best friends, for it only urges us to do what we ought to do. Perhaps we might forget, or put off ; but Must says Do now ! Should we not be very thankful for such a friend? Kitty asked if God gave us Must. And papa rernied, Yes, and that he thought we should therefore love to mind him. AVhen papa had gone, Kitty trudged up-stairs. She wanted to get her black dolly. Sarah met her at the nursery 128 OUR TREASURE CHEST. door, shaking her head, pointing her to go back. Kitty whispered she wanted her black dolly. But Sarah told her she must go away now, as baby had just got asleep, and Kitty's black dolly was in the crib. No, no, she must not try to get it. Kitty grew red. Ill-humor was ready to join her. Then she swallowed the cry that came up in her throat, and said to herself that she would try to mind Must. At this Ill-humor ran away, and little Joy crept up by her side, and put her arms lovingly about the child. They went down stairs together ; and Kitty took one of her picture- books, and sat down on the rug at her mother's feet. Little Joy was with her all the time. You're starting to-day on life's journey, Along on the highway of life; You'll meet with a thousand temptations, Each city with evil is rife. This world is a stage of excitement; There's danger wherever you go; But if you are tempted in weakness, Have courage, my friend, to say NO. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 12& The syren' s sweet song may allure yon ; Beware of her cnnning and art; Whenever you see her approaching, Be guarded and haste to depart. The bright ruby wine may be offered — No matter how tempting it be, From poisons that sting like an adder, My friend, have the courage to flee. The gambling-saloons are before you, Their lights, how they dance to and fro, If you should be tempted to enter, Think twice, even thrice, ere you go. In courage alone lies your safety When you the long journey begin, And a trust in our Heavenly Father Will keep you unspotted from sin. Temptations will go on increasing, As streams from a rivulet flow, But if you are true to your manhood, Have the courage, my friend, to say NO. 130 OUR TREASURE CHEST. FpieB-d^— 3Bia.i B.©t Equals. ERE we have a picture of a donkey. Don't you think a donkey is a funny kind of friend ? What long ears he has, but he has a kind look and is O ood and gentle to his friend Kittie. She has had pleasant rides on his back, and every summer Kittie would take her donkey to the sea shore and pass away many pleasant hours. He was a great favorite among the children, and early in the morning the beach would be crowded with little ones, each hoping to get a ride before noon. Some- times he would walk so far in the water that the waves would wash over his back and the child on his back would "be the sufferer. Donkeys are useful animals, and are very strong. Travelers use them in the Alps for climbing the mountains and carrying their baggage. In France they are used among the j)easants, harnessed before a little cart, and oftentimes they are compelled to draw very heavy loads. Sometimes they are very stubborn and won't go when you want them to, and will stand and kick with all their might and open their mouth and make a horrible noise, that can he heard quite a distance. Kittie had a cart she used to .harness her donkey to, and sometimes they would go ou1 132 OUR TREASURE CHEST. early in the morning to gather ferns and pretty leaves. She had trained him to get down on his front knees when she wanted to get on his back, and he conld perform several kinds of tricks, such as walking on his hind legs, nodding his head and dancing to music. All these tricks amused the little ones at the beach. Will I tell you what happened to Kittie 1 s friend ? One day she was out riding, and was going to cross a railroad track. He stumbled and fell, throwing Kittie out of the reach of the passing train which completely crushed the poor donkey. Kittie felt badly about her loss, still she knew she had other friends that she valued more highly than she did the donkey. The donkey had been a faithful friend to her, but yet she did not consider him her friend in the same light she did her companions. J£n. Evening at H©me. ^\J!jj||S UPPER was all over, dishes cleared away, everything n k3|| in order, and the family had gathered in the sitting mM^S room to pass a pleasant evening. The first thing X02 the children asked for was a story from Grandma. There she sits in the arm-chair, with a white cap on her head. What a pleasant face she has. She has four grand- 134 OUR TREASURE CHEST. children, and every evening it is their delight to gather around the dear old lady and hear the stories about the Indians. She tells them how they used to come to her home when she was a little girl, and try to sell some fancy baskets of their own make. She remembers, too, about a squaw who used to come for milk, always bringing her papoose with her. Do you know what a papoose is \ It is a little baby. How they did listen to her story as she told them of how the squaws would take a piece of bark from the trees, strap their little one on it, and in this way carry the papoose on their backs ; and if they were working in the fields, they would take the little one, strap it on a piece of bark and hang it in a tree. The gentle breeze would rock the child to sleep. One evening after Grandma had told her story, Willie, who is quite an artist, asked Grandma to sit still till he coald take her picture. Did you ever sit for a picture % Then you know how funny Grandma feels as she sits there with, folded hands, trying to look her prettiest. But do you know there is one face missing in that picture? That is Pajja's. Yes, Papa is absent and his face has been missing four years. Many times have they spoken of his death and of the acci- dent that befell him while he was working in the machine- shop. He enjoyed his home so much, because when ha entered it after his days work, he was always greeted with. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 135 smiles and kisses from the children and loved ones. What makes a home happy \ Is it not pleasant faces and kind- words % What makes a home miserable \ Is it not quarrels, and harsh words \ In making our home, let ns make one that will make every one happy around us. Then we will be sure to be happy ourselves. j^t^2^H UR life is a school-time ; and, till that shall end, With our Father in heaven for Teacher and Friend, O ! let us well perform each task that is given, Till our time of probation is ended in heaven. 2t^> — w — ^b. IT MAN who had opened a liquor-saloon was about to put- up his sign, and requested his neighbor's advice, what he should put on it. The man replied, "I advise you to. write on it, 'Beggars made here.' " T RUTII crushed to earth shall rise again ; The eternal years of God are hers ; But Error, wounded, writhes with pain,, And dies among her worshippers. 136 OUK TREASURE CHEST. Ati Aftep-S§@h©®l ]Re~repie. ERE sits little Grace under the apple tree. Her books and slate she has thrown down and she looks y®* tired and worried. She is almost home ; but thought she would rest a little while until her school- mates passed by. Gracie did not have a pleasant day in school ; her lessons were not perfect and everything seemed to go wrong with her, and she felt discouraged as she sat down under the tree and began to wonder what the next day would bring forth. Her school-mates loved her very much, and if at any time there was any trouble Gracie was always the one to settle the dispute. In her class she was either first or second, and her class-mates were always anxious to help her to the utmost of their power. She never would allow them to prompt her, for that she con- sidered wrong, and would fail before she would allow the others to assist her in any way. Why was she so anxious about the morrow? She knew vacation was drawing near, and only a few days remained to tell the story whether she would be promoted or not. As she left school that afternoon, the teacher came to her and said "Gracie, what is it that troubles you so?" Gracie AN AFTEE-SCHQOL BEVEBIE. 138 OUR TREASURE CHEST. made no reply but passed on, firmly resolving to do her best the next day. Just before she reached her home she saw something lying on the ground. She stooped down, and picking it up discovered it was a little horse shoe, with the two words "good luck" on it. How this made Grade's heart leap for joy, for now it seemed to her that the mor- row would be a joyful day to her and all would end well. Gracie studied hard that night, and when she closed her eyes to sleep she did not feel so worried. How many little girls know what it is to be disappoint- ed. How anxious they are when examination day comes and to know who will carry off the first prize. Gracie was not the brightest scholar in her class. There was one ahead of her, a little boy only a year younger. Grace feared the little boy would take the prize, and she, being older would feel ashamed of herself. Examination day came, bright and lovely, and every scholar was wild with excitement. The school-room was crowded with visitors, each mother anxious that her child should do the best. The spelling class was called to take their stand. The class numbered twenty, and all failed on one word but two, and those two were Grace and her little friend. Now came the time when Grace or the boy would take the prize. It was a hard pull, and after spelling word after word, the judge said it OUR TREASURE CHEST. 139 s could easily be decided which should have the prize, but h& would leave it entirely to the judgment of the visitors. Imagine Grace, how astonished she was when it was decided that both should have the prize. Now this pleased Grace more than if she alone had received it. Both scholars went home that day happy, and Grace attributed her good luck to the finding of the horse shoe ; but it was in reality due to the careful preparation and hard study which she had given during the preceding weeks. "Willie and His Pets. OME little boys and girls may wonder what strange looking animals Willie has. The one on his shoul- i^^ der looks something like a little pig and the one in his hand looks like a little rabbit. Willie's pets are guinea pigs, and they seem very fond of him. What do you suppose Willie does with his pets? They are not trained to perform as monkeys do for organ-grinders, and it does not seem that he is going out for a walk with them for he has a strap around his neck, and fast to the strap OUE TREASURE CHEST. 141 is a box. I wonder what the box is for. He carries something to eat in that for the guinea pigs. But what does he do with the guinea pigs % Well, he does what a good many boys do for their mother. He sells them and gives the money to her, for she is poor. Sometimes he gets a good price for one, and then how pleased he is when he gives her all his earnings. Did you ever see a guinea pig ? They have a short neck and legs, four toes before and three behind. Their fur is quite long, shiny and coarse ; the color is black and white with a faint streak of yellow. They live on carrots, parsley, apples, and other fruits and are very fond of tea leaves. Like hares they sleep with their eyae half open. Their flesh is not eaten and the fur is useless. The only reason they are thought much of is on account of their harmless disposition as well as beauty. They never attempt to scratch or bite and are pleasant pets for children. The tortoise shell ones are the most highly prized. k IIE moments fly, a minute's gone; The minutes fly, an hour is run ; The day is fled, the night is here ; Thus flies a week, a month, a year. 112 OUK TREASURE CHEST. ?lie Mpstliia^a |^0 you see what happy faces these children have? Let me tell you why they look so happy. These jr|3yC^ children are brothers and sister, and their mamma gave them each a dozen eggs, and told them they «^f might have the little chickens that would hatch from them. Now Jim, the one that is sitting down with a skull cap on, put his eggs under the first hen that wanted to set. Jim felt proud of his hen and dozen eggs, and every day would run to see if any of the eggs were hatched. One day he went and toftk a sly peep at the eggs while the old hen was off her nest, and he counted only six. Where had the other eggs gone to. At first he thought they were hatched out and the chickens had walked off. But where are the shells he thought. He soon made up his mind something was wrong. Poor Jim felt very sad, but did not tell his brother nor sister. He felt sure, though, about the other six. He waited patiently for his little chicks to put in their appearance, but each day brought its disappointment to poor Jim. His hen at last gave up all hope of raising a family, so she walked off one day, and gave up her nest. Then came 144 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Jack's turn. Poor Jack's eggs met almost the same fate. One day when he went to see if any chicks were around he saw a big rat carrying off an egg, and as it was impos- sible for Jack to catch the rat, he made way with every one. But little Lulu had better luck than her brothers. Her hen was an old one that had been in the family for years, and was quite a pet. With the children she would play tag and fly up on their shoulders and would do many cunning things. Whenever Lulu would go and look at her eggs to see if any chicks were hatched, the hen would stand upon her nest and let Lulu see just what was there. Now her brothers were as anxious about her chickens as they had been about their own, and oftentimes while Lulu was fast asleep early in the morning Jack and Jim were by the hen. One morning the boys went out to see if they could find any chickens, and there on top of the hen's back sat a little chicken not more than an hour old. They ran in great haste to tell Lulu, and she was so delighted that she ran out to see her ' ' firstlings ' ' without stopping to dress herself. How delighted they all were ; but among the breed of chickens was a rooster. Now, when the rooster was old enough to crow, he used to get up on Lulu's window sill every morning and crow 'till he would wake her up. Lulu never overslept herself, and was always in time for breakfast. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 145 UN for your life little mousey or you will be caught, for some one is after you. Poor Puss had been hunting in the fields all day for something to eat. She had quite a family of little kittens, and as they were too young to hunt for their own living, puss was obliged to do it for them. She was very proud if she could catch a mouse to bring home, for the kittens seemed to enjoy that for their meal more than anything else. There was a room in an old house where puss had spent much time, and in that same room many a mouse had been chased by a cat. There were a good many hiding places in the room for the mice, but one place in particular they seemed to feel safer ; that was in an old chest. For years they had lived there and many a family had been reared. Puss had walked so many times around that old chest, only wishing she might get inside and have the contents. But as she saw the lid was tight down, and the only opening she could find was a little hole in one corner not larger than a copper, she gave up all hope of ever getting it. So many times she would feel sure she had a mouse, but just as poor puss would get at the corner of the chest she met her il OUR TREASURE CHEST. 14? disappointment — the mouse had disappeared. One day up in that old room puss watched faithfully. Suddenly a mouse came slyly around the corner of the chest, and was quietly walking about, when puss made a spring and jumped for the mouse. In the boot rushed the mouse and puss after it. She felt sure she had her prize, but as she darted in the boot the mouse rushed through a hole in the toe. But what happened to poor puss. Her head was fast, and took so much time to get it loose that mousy had reached her home in safety before puss was able to get her head out. Here and there and everywhere, Up the loft, and down the stair, Past the barrel, past the broom, Now in shadow, now in gloom ; Till at last in John's big boot Mousey finds a place to suit. In she creeps from puss to hide, Pussy' s mouth is open wide ; Quick, oh quick she follows after, Mousy nearly bursts with laughter, For a hole yawns in the toe, And out of it does mousey go ; And while pussy sticks there fast. Little mouse escapes at last. l-k> OUR TREASURE CHEST. W©©od ; And I have been talking for fun. Why, you're the best man I have seen, The very best under the sun. The things I am making for you ! You' 11 have them at Christmas ; you' 11 see> I haven't the faintest idea What you will be giving to me. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 155 And I am not going to ask ; I know they'll be lovely and new. And oil ! they'll be precious to me, For they'll be exactly like yon. \ r, •Dp? m A ]2iegs©ia m JL ©ream. 'J<\§X years gone by I had a child, § KSKWith ros I thought her very fair, pJI'With rosy cheeks and dimpled chin, )M?y Brown eves and golden hair. r She was a wayward, laughing child, So full of careless glee. I often mourned to think how sad Her future lot might be. But grandma said, " Though faulty, she No penalty incurs ; You'll never find a woman's head On shoulders young as hers." 150 OUR TREASURE CHEST. One night I had a fearful dream; The memory haunts me yet ; A dream so fraught with agony I never can forget. Methought in answer to my call, She came with measured tread ; When, lo, upon her shoulders fair Was poised a woman's head? I saw the scanty grizzled locks, The features stern and bold, Instead of brown eyes, dimpled chin, And floating locks of gold. A harsh voice from the thin lips said, ' ' You were displeased with me, So I've exchanged my giddy head For a steady one, you see." ' ' O woe is me ! What have I done I ' ' I cried in my despair ; "Lost are my darlings childish ways, Brown eyes and golden hair ! ' ' OUR TREASURE CHEST. 15? ' ' Wake, mamma, wake ! " a sweet voice called, fc ' Oh, tell me, mamma, why You toss and moan so in your sleep I It makes me want to cry." I opened wide my wondering eyes With rapture to behold Again the brown eyes, dimpled chin And floating curls of gold. I caught my darling to my heart, I kissed her o'er and o'er; Restored to me as from the dead, I could not ask for more. Be patient, mothers, every day, Although with mischief rife Are the fair-haired, brightly ed little ones, So full of love and life." 158 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ITTLE friends, when you are at play on the street, Half frantic with frolic, laughter and noise, Don't ever forget to bow when you meet — When you meet an old man with gray hairs, my bovs. Is the aged man feeble, decrepit and lame ? Does he lean on his staff with unsteady poise ? Never mock at his sorrow, but stop in your game And bow to the man with gray hairs, my boys. If he sometimes halts in his tottering pace To witness the flow of your innocent joys, Don't jostle the old man out of his place, But greet his gray locks with a bow, my boys. Remember, the years are only a few Since he, on the street with his games and toys, Was healthy and happy and active like you ; And bright as the sun were his curls, my boys. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 159 But age lias furrowed the cheek that was fair ; While sorrows have broken his once mellow voice ; And now there is many a silvery hair On the head where the curls were so bright, my boys. The Spring-day of youth is a gem ; it is gold. But Time all its glorious luster destroys ; And, gay little friends, if you live to be old, Your steps will be slow, your locks gray, my boys. So, when you are blithely at play on the street. Half frantic with frolic and laughter and noise, Remember to pleasantly bow when you meet — A V lien you meet an old man with gray hairs, mv boys. ID E live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths. In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. 160 OUR TREASURE CHEST. rw© WO boys came into the world one day ; And each gave joy to a mother's heart. The one was sad, and the other gay, And both were fitted to play their part. One was sober, quiet, and sad ; But quick and bright was the other lad. One went out with his flag unfurled To meet the breeze ; and was swiftly borne To the Friendly Isles, and there gayly whirled Over the breakers from night till morn ; Young and careless and full of joy, All hearts made room for the lovely boy. His handsome face and his merry glance, His ready wit and good-natured wiles, Made even the distant ones advance To bask in the light of his sunny smiles. Ah, he was flattered and much caressed, And many a glass to his lips was pressed. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 161 Many a glass of a poisoned sweet, Fearing nought, did he drain, in truth, That in slippery places drew the feet Of the friendly and unsuspecting youth ; And down and down he began to go, Caught in the treacherous undertow. The other boy, of a quiet turn, Of awkward manners and solemn looks And surly speech, cared little to learn The lessons of life not found in books ; Cross, ill-natured, severe and grim, Little joy could be had with him. His friends were few ; but ' twas all the same, What did he care for a smile or a frown \ He'd his way to make — a decided aim; And no one living could put him down ; Lord of himself, stubborn and proud, He kept his place 'mid the jostling crowd. No heed to those who would lead astray, No heed to the siren spell he gave ; But went right on in an earnest way Till he rode at ease on the topmost wave ; 162 OUR TREASURE CHEST. And those who thought him a churl began To respect and honor the self-made man. ' Tis thus that the children play their part ; And the boys we love for their liveliness, Who hold our hearts from the very start, Seldom if ever attain success. Easily tempted they are, and so Caught in life's treacherous undertow. I — g) - ^1 _— zfv ^ fc (s — l j^JJI'LL tell you about it, my darling, for grandma's explained it all, So that I understand why Thanksgiving always comes late in the fall, When the nuts and the apples are gathered, and the work in the field is done, And the fields, all reaped and silent, are asleep in the autumn sun. It is then that we praise Our Father who sends the rain and the dew, Whose wonderful loving kindness is every morning new ; OUR TREASURE CHEST. 163 Unless we'd be heathen, Dolly, or worse, we must sing and pray, And think about good things, Dolly, when we keep Thanksgiving Day. But I like it very much better when from church we all go home, And the married brothers and sisters, and the troups of cousins come, And we're ever so long at the table, and dance and shout and play, In the merry evening, Dolly, that ends Thanksgiv- ing Day. ■I *r 9;/-~V lS * f [for a very young lecturer.] THINK that every mother's son, And every father's daughter, Should drink — at least till twenty-one Just nothing but cold water. And after that they might drink tea But nothing any stronger. If all folks would agree with me They'd live a great deal longer. 1G1 OUK TliEASUKE CHEST. ^J^jjp^OME, little leaves,'' said tlie wind one day — ^H-Cw/i "Come o'er the meadows with me and plav ; ^^^W Put on your dresses of red and gold — ^y^ Summer is gone and the days grow cold." Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call, Down they came fluttering, one and all : Over the brown fields they danced and Hew, Singing the soft little songs that they knew : k ' Cricket, good-by, we 1 ve been friends so long ! Little brook, sing us your parting song — Say you are sorry to see us go ; Ah, you will miss us, right well we know. "Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, Mother will keep you from harm and cold ; Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade : Say, will you dream of our loving shade?" Dancing and whirling the little leaves went ; Winter had called them, and they were content. Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds, The snow laid a coverlet over their heads. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 165 ime EnoiiLgli, WO little squirrels, out in the sun- One gathered nuts, the other had none ; "Time enough yet," his constant refrain, "Summer is still just on the wane. 1 '' Listen, my child, while I tell you his fate ; He roused him at last, hut he roused him too late. Down fell the snow from a pitiless cloud. And gave little squirrel a spotless white shroud. Two little boys in a school-room were placed ; One always perfect, the other disgraced ; "Time enough yet for learning," he said, " I will climb, by and by, from the foot to the head." Listen, my friends ; their locks are turned gray ; One, as a governor, sitteth to-day ; The oilier, a pauper, looks out at the door Of the almshouse, and idles his days as of yore. Two kinds of people we meet every day; One is at work, the other at play. Living uncared for, dying unknown, The busiest hive hath ever a drone. 166 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ^ke Blae aB_d tke ©kpay. HEY sat together, side by side, In the shade of an orange tree ; One had followed the flag of Grant, The other had fonght with Lee. The boy in blue had an empty sleeve, A crutch had the boy in gray ; They talked of the long and weary march, They talked of the bloody fray. "My chief is dead," the Johnny said, "A leader brave was he; And sheathed fore'er at Lexington, Doth hang; the sword of Lee. 1 ' *o "My leader lives," — the boy in blue Spoke low and with a sigh — " But all the country waits in fear That he to-day may die." "God bless our Grant!" the vet' ran said, And dropped a tear, and then In heartfelt tones the answer came, For the rebel said — "Amen" OUR TREASURE CHEST. 167 WMB.fideB.@e. SAT me down upon my nest ; I covered with my soft, warm breast Eleven eggs, so fair and white, And knew, or thought I knew, that when A certain time had passed, that then Eleven chicks would greet my sight. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 17S> Three weeks in this most dignified Retirement did I sit and bide My time. I did not even take The necessary exercise. From dawn to dark, sunset or rise, I sat there, for dear duty's sake. I hardly dared to eat or sleep, Lest I should miss the first faint peep. If ever living hen did try To do her very level best By eleven eggs in a nest, Her utmost duty, then did I. I heard them peck against the shell ; I was more glad than I can tell, So glad was I when first they peeped. And now the end is come, and now, I pray you, let me tell you how, And what the sad reward I've reaped. When first they left the nest, my eyes Were stricken with a great surprise ; With dire dismay my heart was struck. 180 OUR TREASURE CHEST. They waddled ! waddled ! Do you hear ? As sure as I am standing here, My every chicken was a duck ! Imagine, if you can, in part, The sadness that weighed down my heart When first this broke upon my view ; A sense of confidence abused, A sense of being most ill-used Made me a sad hen through and through. I'd had my dreams ; how I would bring Each little, feathery, fluffy thing Up unto henhood, fair and sweet. And now what chance have I? It fills My heart with grief to see their bills And their ridiculous webbed feet. Hens have some rights ! I do not know That there is aught that I can do ; But I'm resolved, for one, that, when I'm so imposed upon, I'll dare To tell the story everywhere. I will, indeed, though but a hen. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 181 JLi> ©l©^e ©f ©ay. F you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done ; And, counting, find One self-denying act; one word That eased the heart of him who heard; One glance most kind, That fell like sunshine where it went — Then you may count that day well spent. But if, through all the livelong day, You've cheered no heart by yea or nay; If through it all You've nothing done that you can trace That brought the sunshine to one face; No act most small, That helped some soul, and nothing cost — Then count that day as worse than lost. A KINDLY act is a kernel sown, That will grow to a goodly tree, Shedding its fruit when time has flown Down the gulf of Eternity. 182 OUR TREASURE CHEST. P©i® ©eap ©MM! ICTURE me in broad-brimmed hat, Four years old and small at that, Out one sunny afternoon In the latter part of June, In a field of daisies. Bobbing round in childish glee, "Chasing butterfly and bee, While the old folks in the shade Watched as in and out I played In the maze of daisies. I could see — they were so tall — Sky and daisies — that was all. So I raised a wailing cry ; There they looked and there was I Lost among the daisies ! I have never since then known What it is to be alone As I was. Poor little me ! In that wide, green, white-capped sea All engulfed in daisies. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 183 H! Mamma! Mamma! What do you think?" Cried out my merry May, "As sure as you live and breathe and wink, It's the fairies , washing day. "I've been in the woods with Bell and Grace ? And I know what I talk about, For under the trees in every place Their clothes were hanging out. "Tiny breeches, as white as snow, Hung on the stems to dry, Swinging and dancing, row on row, Whenever a wind goes by. "Just as cunning as clothes can be, Puckered around the band ; But never a fairy could we see, Not even a little hand. "But, Mamma, they hung no aprons there, Though we watched and made no noise. And oh! I'm. afraid — and it isn't fair — That the fairies all are boys ! " 184 OUR TREASURE CHEST. ITaiiJHf ]T®Ik. O I believe in fairy stories?" Darling, of course I do ; In giants so tall, And Titania small, I believe in them all. Don't you? "Was there ever any Red Riding Hood?*' Oh, yes; without a doubt. There are wolves to-day, To lead you astray. When they come into your way, Look out? "And was there really a Cinderella, With haughty sisters?" Why, yes, I've met with her since, And, though proud ones may wince, She'll marry the Prince I guess. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 185 : 'And was there a Blue Beard?" Yes, my darling, There was. But the beard's turned red. If you tread on his toes Or his secrets disclose In a minute off goes Your head ! And the fairy-folk will never, no, never Refuse to help you along, If you form an alliance With first-class giants And bid defiance To wrong. Love and Duty are real twin fairies, Beautiful, good, and true ; By them we' re attended ; By them we' re commended ; I think they're just splendid. Don't you? 186 OUR TREASURE CHEST. he Eonebf (SkpaTe and Effie. DOWN the street the soldiers came With steady, marching feet. The "bands" were sending everywhere Their strains of music sweet, My little Effie went with me To watch the soldiers strew Bright buds and blossoms on the graves Of their old comrades true. One lone, neglected grave lay bare Beside the fence near by. "Whose is it?" Effie asked of me. " Some stranger's " answered I. Now here, now there, the flowers were laid By loving, loyal hands, In honor of the men who died At Freedom's loud demands. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 187 I missed my little one at last, And turned about to see If in the crowd that gathered near My little girl might be. Not there ! Ah no ! but close beside The stranger's grave I found The little figure stooping low, And pulling from the ground The yellow dandelions which grew So free for all to find. She raised her troubled eyes to mine: " Mamma, it wasn't kind To pile those flowers all over there, And give the stranger none. I'm sorry for this grave, Mamma, 'Cause it is all alone." And then she spread with little hands, Above the grave so bare Her golden dandelions, and dressed The lonely spot with care, 188 OUR TREASURE CHEST. The while the breezes kissed her cheek And stirred her curls of gold, And down the leafy avenues The martial music rolled. " There, now, Mamma, the stranger won't Feel lonely any more ! ' ' I clasped my baby in my arms And kissed her o'er and o'er. And well I know that angels blessed The child I bore away ; The child who dressed the ii stranger V grave On Decoration Day. G OD is my friend ; I need not fear, For he is good and always near; And he will keep me by his power From day to day, from hour to hour. I am a sinner, but I know, For God's own Word has told me so, That Jesus Christ came down from heaven To die, that I might be forgiven. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 1S9 Blue. TITTLE Boy Blue, so the story goes, I One morning in Summer fell fast asleep, mS^I When he should have been, as every one knows, I 3$ Watching the cows and sheep. m All of you children remember what Came of the nap on that summer morn ; How the sheep got into the meadow-lot, The cows got into the corn. Neglecting a duty is wrong, of course, But I've always felt, if we could but know, That the matter was made a great deal worse Than it should have been ; and so I find, in my sifting, that there was one More to blame than little Boy Blue. I'm anxious to have full justice done, And so I know are you. 190 OUR TREASURE CHEST. The one to blame I have found to be, Urn sorry to say it, Little Bo-Peep ; But you will remember, perhaps, that she Had trouble about her sheep. Well, little Bo-Peep came tripping along, The sheep she tended were running at large ; Little Boy Blue sat singing a song, Faithfully minding his charge. Said Little Bo-Peep: "It's a burning shame That you should sit here from week to week. Just leave your work, and we'll play a game Of — well, of hide and seek." It was dull work, and he liked to play Better, I' m sure, than to eat or sleep ; He liked the bloom of the Summer day ; He liked — he liked Bo-Peep. And so, with many a laugh and shout, They hid from each other — now here, now there ; And whether the cows were in or out Bo-Peep had never a care. OUR TREASURE CHEST. 191 *' I will hide once more," said the little maid, " You shall not find me this time, I say (Shut your eyes up tight." Boy Blue obeyed), " Under this stack of hay." " Now, wait till I call," said Miss Bo-Peep, And over the meadows she slipped away, With never a thought for cows or sheep — Alas ! alas ! the day. And long and patiently waited he For the blithesome call from her rosy lip. He waited in vain — quite like you see, The boy on the burning ship. She let down the bars, did Miss Bo-Peep — Such trifles as bars she held in scorn — And into the meadows went the sheep, And the cows went into the corn. By and by, when they found Boy Blue In ilic merest doze, he took the blame. It was very fine, I think, don't you? Not to mention Bo-Peep 1 s name. 192 OUR TREASURE CHEST. Thus it has hapx^ened that all these years He has borne the blame she ought to share. Since I know the truth of it, it appears To me to be only fair. To tell the story from shore to shore, From sea to sea, and from sun to sun, Because, as I think I said before, I like to see justice done. And, whatever you've read or seen or heard, Believe ■ <■ children, I tell the true And only genuine (take my word) Story of Little Boy Blue. :£. THE EXD. /9