I • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES m RErFRElTCE Young Folks' Readings, FOE SOCIAL AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT. EDITED BY LEWIS B. MONHOE, BOSTON: LEE AND SIIEPARD, PUBLISHERS. NE^W YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM, 187T. Copyright By Lewis B. Monroe, 187G. Elcctrofyped at the Boston Stereot)-pe Foundry, 19 Spring Lane. en ?N ^ PREFACE Three volumes of " Public and Parlor Readings " ^ have already been given to the public, and have ll met a cordial reception. Now comes the demand rfor something adapted to younger minds. Accord- ingly this book has been prepared. The range of pieces it contains will be found suitable for young persons from ten to sixteen years of age. Yet, while there is little or nothing here which may not t be fully appreciated by the " Young Folks," we feel confident that adults will derive equal pleasure from the use of the pieces in their public and private entertainments. We are gratified to see on every hand indica- H tions that reading is more and more appreciated as ■r a graceful and elegant accomplishment, and a source of enjoyment in the social circle and public assembly. It only needs that this growing taste should be properly cultivated to make the art of reading a powerfid means of moral and esthetic culture, with- out losing a whit of its value as a delightful amuse- ment. "To read Avell is to think well, to feel well, 3 :5il44 4 PREFACE. iind to render well ; it is to possess at once intel- k'l-t, soul, and taste." ^W- hope that the specimens we have given will act as incentives to the young to go to the original sources,, and cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with the gifted authors quoted. A part of the pieces have been written or adapted especially for this book. Beyond this, our thanks are due to the various writers and publishers by whose kind permission the selections have been used. "We are particularly indebted to J. T. Trowbridge, Esq., for valuable assistance. His " Vagabonds " and "Darius Green," given in the other volumes of this series, have enjoyed a popularity with read- ers and audiences only rivalled by Poe's " Raven " and " Bells." And we doubt not the pieces he has furnished for this volume — some of them prepared by him especially for the purpose — are also destined to become prime favorites. CONTENTS PAGE Cicely akd the Bears . Lilliput Levee . . 9 The Test of Sight C. P. Cranch ... U That Ten Dollars IC The O'LiNcoLN Family Wilson Flag g . . 22 The Blacksmith of Bottledell .... Jas. M. Ttiompson 23 The Stone-Cutter Bayard Taylor . 25 The Two Chdrcu-Builders John G. Saxe . . 27 My Sister 29 Awaking a Boy J. M. Bailey ... 30 The Wonderfcl Sack J. T. Trowbridge . 31 Peter's Ride to the Wedding 38 Little Pat and the Parson 39 Both Sides Gail Haviilton . . 41 The Worsted Stocking 4-t The Story of the Little Rid Hin . . . Riverside Mag. . . 49 The King and the Locusts 53 Griper Greg 5G The Children Dickinson .... 59 The Eagle and the Spider Krilof Gl Never Give Up Tapper G2 Kitten Gossip T. Westwood ... G3 John Bdrns of Gettysburg Bret Harte ... 65 Lilliput Levee C8 The Soldier Bird 72 Beautiful Grandmamma Stand, of the Cross 75 The Boys 77 Politics Marion Douglass . 79 Little Benny 81 The Eternal Burden 83 Letting the Old Cat die 84 The Wives of Brixham 85 5 6 , CONTENTS. ClIRISTOrHER COLUMRUS 88 TiiK Pizzi-ED Census-Taker John G. Saxe ... 90 Thltii M. F. Tupper . . 91 Lingering Latimer 91 Ode to Spring 92 Robert of Lincoln Bryant \ 93 At Sea J. T. Trowbridge . 95 The Shadow on the Blind 9G The Puktraits 98 The Three Warnings Mrs. Tlii'dle . . . 100 ])er 15aiiv 103 (jlii.tv or Not Guilty? 104 Mv Balloon Ascent 106 Mrs. June's Prospectus Susan Coolidge . . 109 The King of Denmark's Ride Caroline E. Norton 111 The Forget-me-not 112 The Little Reader Olive Leaf .... 114 The Carriage and Couple 11(5 Little Diamond AND Drunken Cabman . George Macdonuld 117 Santa Claus and the Motherless Children 123 Only a Shaving Owen Meredith . . 127 lioMANCE at Home Fanny Fern . . . 130 JIow He Saved St. Michael's 132 Snyder's Nose ^^Fat Contributor" 13G The High Tide 139 The Motherless Turkeys Marion Douglass . 141 A Bied's-eye View 142 The Fox in the Well J. T. Trowbridge . 143 A Little Child's Trials John Neal .... 145 CuRKEW MUST NOT RING TO-NIGHT .... Rosa A. Ilordwick 147 My Father's Half-Bushel 150 The Fruits of Liberty Macavlay .... 151 Wink Mrs. E. D. Kendall 152 The Stubborn Boot Hearth and Home 154 Marston Moor W. M. J'raed . . . 155 Caldwell of Springfield Bret llaHe . . . 158 Washington Eliza Cooke . . . 159 A Hundred Years Ago IGO A Night of Terror 102 The Unfinished Pkaver 105 Blindman'h Buff Horace Smith . . 166 Kkakny at SEvjiN Pines E. C. Stedman . . 168 CONTENTS. 7 Babt Fatth Christian Observer 170 Be Patient Trench 171 My Dog "Sport," Rev. Thos. Street . 172 SciPio TO the Senate D. A. }yasson . . 170 King Kobeut of Sicily Longfellow .j . . . 177 Ouu Fathers Charles Spragiie . 183 Motives of Action Lord Mansfield . . 185 If I WERE A Voice Charles Mackay . 18G The Song of Steam 187 The Wreck of the Hesperus Longfellow \ . . . 189 A Grecian Fable 191 The Coming Woman Christian Union . 192 The Affray IN King Street, Boston, 1770, //ai^'^Aorne . . . . 195 Tit for Tat 197 To Whom shall we give Thanks ? 199 The Dynmouth Fisherman 2u0 Three Little Nest-Birds 204 Anger and Enumeration James M. Bailey . 206 King Christian the Dane 208 The BrAHJIIN AND THE TiGEK 211 Jingles Examiner .... 213 Prayer and Potatoes 214 Mice at Play Neil Forrest ... 217 The Petrified Fern 224 The Blacksmith's Story Frank Clive . . . 225 Naming the Chickens Mrs. L. B. Bacon . 229 The Advertisement Answered Frank M. Thorn . 230 Love in a Balloon Litchfield Moseley . 234 Tom's COME Home J. T. Trou-bridge . 241 Wyatt's Harangue to the London Crowd Tennyson .... 247 Waking Caroline Mason . 248 The Angel's Story Adelaide Procter . 250 How Tom Sawyer got his Fence m'hite- M'ASHEi) Mark Twain . . . 255 Our Oriole Neighbors Beverly Moore . . 258 Defence OF HoFER, THE Tyrolese Patriot 259 The Little Hero 2(52 TiiK Historical Butcher 2G7 Babie Bell T. B. Aldrich . . 2(58 Jimmy^ Butler and the Owi 271 8 CONTENTS. Bachelor's ITall 275 Shelling Teas ' C. P. Crunch . . . 27G The Two Weavers Ilannah More . . 278 The Art of Conversation Punch 280 BouiiY Robert Chambers .. 281 The Legend OF THE Organ-Builder . . Uarper's Magazine 283 Under the Wagon 287 A Boy's Journal 288 The Last Serpent T. Crofton Croker . 289 A Domestic Scene 291 The Sweets of Lidertv 292 A Letter of Blunders 293 On the Ramparts bare, stood the Lady fair 295 Count Candespina's Standard George H. Boker . 297 A Clever Trick 300 Katie Lee and Wil,lie Gray 302 The Sailor's Consolation William Pitt . . . 304 The Language o^ Signs 305 Tin: Haven Edgar A. Poe . . 308 An Evening with Helen's Babies . . . J. Ilabberton . . . 313 Has not since been heard of 316 The Discontented Buttercup Sarah 0. Jewett . 317 A Wedding March on Trial 318 Grandmother Gray Mary K. Boutelle . 320 The Sailor-Boy's Dream Dimond 322 Nancy Blynn's Lovers J. T. Trowbridge . 324 Young Folks' Readings. CICELY AND THE BEARS. OYES ! 0, yes 1 0, yes ! ding-dong ! " t The bellman's voice is loud and strong, So is his bell : " 0, yes ! ding-dong I " He wears a coat with golden lace ; See how the people of the place Come running to hear what the bellman says ! " 0, yes 1 Sir Nicholas Hildebrand Has just returned from the Holy Land, And freely offers his heart and hand — " 0, yes ! 0, yes ! 0, yes I ding-dong 1 " All the women hurry along, Maids and widows, a clattering throng. " 0, sir, you are hard to understand ! To whom does he offer his heart and hand ? Explain your meaning, we do command ! " 9 10 YOUNG folks' readings. " 0, yes ! ding-dong ! you shall understand ! 0, yes ! Sir Nicholas Ilildcbrand Invites the ladies of this land " To feast with him, in his castle strong, This very day at three. Ding-dong ! 0, yes ! 0, yes ! 0, yes ! ding-dong I " . Then all the women went off to dress, Mary, Margaret, Bridget, Bess, Patty, and more than 1 can guess. The}' powdered their hair with golden dust. And bought new ribbons — they said they must- But none of them painted, we will trust. Long before the time arrives, All the women that could be wives Are dressed within an inch of their lives. Meanwhile Sir Nicholas Ilildcbrand Had brought with him from the Holy Land A couple of bears — 0, that was grand ! lie tamed the bears, and they loved him true ; Whatever lie told them they would do — Ilark I 'tis the town clock striking two 1 II. Among the maidens of low degree The poorest of all was Cicely — A shabbier girl could hardly be. " 0, I should like to sec the feast, But my frock is old, my shoes are pieced. My hair ia rough ! " — (It never was greased.) CICELY AND THE BEARS. 11 Tlic clock struck three ! She durst not c^o ! But she heard the baud, and, to see tlic show, Crept after tlie people tliat weut in a row. When Cicely came to the castle gate, The porter exclaimed, " Miss Shaggypate, The hull is full, and you come too late ! " Just then tlie music made a din, Flute, and cymbal, and culverin, And Cicely, with a squeeze, got in. 0, what a sight ! Full fifty score Of danios that Cicely knew, and more, Fillhig tlie hall i'rom dais to door ! The dresses were like a garden bed. Green and gold, and blue and red — Poor Cicely thought of her tossy head I She heard the singing — she heard the clatter Clang of flagon and clink of platter — But, 0, the feast was no such matter ! For she saw Sir Nicholas himself, Raised on a dais just like a shelf, And fell in love with him — shabby elf! Her heart beat quick ; aside she stepped ; Under the tapestry she crept, Tousling her tossy hair, and wept ! llev cheeks were wet, her eyes were red. " Who makes that noise ? " the ladies said ; " Turn out that girl with the shaggy head ! " 12 YOUNG folks' readings. III. Just tlion tliore was heard a double roar, That sliook tlio place, both- wall and floor : Everybody looked to the door. It was a roar, it was a growl ; The ladies set up a little howl, And flapped and clucked like frightened fowl. Sir nildebrand for silence begs — 111 walked the bears on their hinder legs, AVise as owls, and merry as grigs ! The dark girls tore their hair of sable ; The fair girls hid underneath the table ; Some fainted ; to move they were not able. But most of them could scream and screech — Sir Nicholas Ilildcbrand made a speech — " Order 1 ladies, I do beseech ! " The boars looked hard at Cicely, Because her hair hung wild and free — " Related to us, miss, you must be 1 " Then Cicely, filling two plates of gold As full of cherri(,'s as they could IkjM, AVulked up to the bears, and spoke out bold : - " "Welcome to you ! and to you, Mr. Bear ! \\"\\\ you take a chair ? will you take a cliair ? This is an honor, we do declare 1" ' Sir nildebrand strode up to see, Saying, " Who may this maiden be ? Ladies, this is the wife for me ! " CICELY AND THE BEARS. 13 Almost before tliey could understand, Jle took up Cicely by the hand, And duiiccd witli her a saraband. Ilcr hair was rouj^h as a parlor broom ; It swung', it swirled all round the room — Those ladies were vexed, we may presume. Sir Nicholas kissed her on the face, And set her beside him on the dais, And made her the lady of the place. The nuptials soon they did prepare, With a silver comb for Cicely's liair : There were bands of music everywhere. And in that beautiful bridal show Both tlio bears were seen to go Upon their hind legs to and fro ! Now every year on the wedding day The boys and girls come out to play, And scramble ior cherries as they may. With a cheer for this and the other bear, And a cheer for Sir Nicholas, free and fair, And a cheer for Cis, of the tossy hair — With one cheer more (if you will wait) For every g-irl with a curly pate, Who keeps her hair in a proper state. Sing bear's grease ! curling-irons to sell ! Sing combs and brushes ! sing tortoise-shell ! 0, yes ! ding-dong ! the crier, the bell ! Isn't this a pretty tale to tell ? 14 YOUNG folks' READmOa. THE TEST OF SIGHT. A CHINESE STORY. TWO young, short-sighted fellows, Chang and Ching, Over tlicir chop-sticks idly chattering, Fell to disputing which could see the best. At last they agreed to put it to the test. Said Chang, "A marble tablet, so I hear, Is placed upon the Bo-hee temple near, With an inscription on it. Let lis go And read it (since you boast your optics so), Standing together at a certain place In front, where we the letters just may trace ; Then he wIkj quickest reads the inscription there. The palm for keenest eyes henceforth shall bear." "Agreed," said Ching ; " and let us try it soon : Suppose we say to-morrow afternoon." " Nay, not so soon," said Chang ; " I'm bound to go To-morrow a d?y's ride from Ilo-liang-ho, And shan't bo^ady till the following day. At ten A. M., on Thursday, let us say." So 'twas arranged. But Ching was wide awake ; Time by the forelock he resolved to take, And to the temple went at once, and read Upon the tablet, " To the illustrious Dead, The chief of Mandarins, the great Goh-bang." Scarce had he gone, when stealthily came Chang, Who read the same ; but, peering closer, he Spied in a corner — what Ching failed to see — The words, " This tablet is erected here By those to whom the great Goh-bang was dear." THE TEST OF SIGHT. 15 So, on the appointed day — both innocent As babes, of course — these honest fellows went And took their distant station. And Cliing said, " I can read plainly ' To the illustrious Dead, The chief of Mandarins, the great Goh-bang.' " "And is that all that you can spell ? " said Chang. " I see what you have read ; but furthermore, In smaller letters, toward the temple-door. Quite plain, ' This tablet is erected here By those to whom the great Goh-bang was dear.' " " My sharp-eyed friend, there are no such words," said Ching. " They're there," said Chang, " if I see anything, As clear as daylight." " Patent eyes, indeed. You have!" cried Ching, "Do you think I cannot read?" " Not at this distance, as I can," Chang said, " If what you say you saw is all you read." In fine, they quarrelled, and their wrath increased ; Till Chang said, " Let us leave it to the priest. Lo, here he conies to meet us." " It is wo|r\ Said honest Ching ; " no falsehood he will tdl." The good man heard their artless story through, And said, " I think, dear sirs, there must be few Blest with such wondrous eyes as those you wear. There's no such tablet or inscription there. There was one, it is true ; 'twas moved away And placed within the temple yesterday." C. p. Ceanch. 16 YOUNG folks' readings. THAT TEN DOLLARS. IT was odd, very odd ; reckon it up this way or that way, or in wliatever way I might, the result was just the same — I had ten dollars more than I could account for. I went over the whole quarter's receipts again, to see if something had not been omitted ; but everything was quite right. " Ha ! what's this ? It looks like a scratching out ; and yet it can't be, for I never use a penknife." So I held the leaf up to the light, and scanned it closely, and then, turning it over, scrutinized it again. " It certainly does look very much like an. erasure ; but no, 'tis only a little rough- ness on the surface of the paper." I was completely puzzled. It was quite possible for me to have too little ; but to have ten dollars too much — I could not understand that at all. " Well," I said to myself, " it's better, at any rate, than having ten dollars too little." Still, the idea of there being a mistake some- where made fnc feel very uncomfortable. I had been- busy preparing my accounts in order to present them to my employers in the morning, for the morrow was quarter-day, and I knew that in nothing could a clerk offend so much as by being wrong in his balance. So I thcmglit a little, and then deter- mined to consult Jackson, our managing clerk. I was young at the time — not more than twenty; and, having been in the establishment only a few months, I knew ])ut little of his character. He was exceed- ingly attentive to lousiness ; l)iit there were some vague floating rumors going the round of tlie place, wliich accredited liiin with aiiytliing but a steady life. THAT TEN DOLLARS. 17 But ho bad always been very civil, and even kind, to me ; and so, in my dilemma, I sought his advice. He went over my accounts with me, but could detect nothing wrong. " Well, Watson," he said, " you are on the right side now, and if you take my advice, you will keep there. Just pocket the money, and say nothing about it." Seeing that I demurred, he continued, — " Of course you can do as you please ; but I know this much, if you were that ten dollars short, you would have to make it up in quick time." I was again about to make my objections to this mode of procedure, when I was cut short by a sales- man, who came to say that ^Ir. Jackson was wanted in the sale-room. As he strode away, Jackson turned round, and said, — '' I'll see you about it again, Watson ; in the mean time, you need not mention it to any one." I saw no more of him till my labors were done for the day, and I was reaching my hat down from its peg, when he ta])ped me over the shoulder. " One word, Watson, before you go : if ever it should be found out where the mistake lies, I will make it all right for you. Good night." That night the ten dollars were ever before me. The last thing I remember, before ialling asleep, was thinking of the ten dollars ; I slept, and dreamed of ten dollars. In tho morning, whilst at breakfast, I laid the whole alfair before my mother, and asked her counsel. " Give up the money, of course." " 13ut you see, mother, I am afraid it would otfund 2 18 YOUNG folks' readings. Jackson, he seema so much to wish me to hush it up." *' Xcvcr mind Jackson ; do what is right, and I am sure it will be better for you in the end. Tell Mr. Elliot " — the head partner — " how it is, and I am certain he won't be angry." I ate the remainder of my meal in silence ; for, whilst I did not wish to make an enemy of Jackson, who could, if he pleased, make my situation very un- pleasant, I had strong compunctions about keeping the money. Breakfast was over, and, as I was leav- ing home, my mother took hold of my hand, and said, — " Promise, me, Henry, before you go, that you will give up the money." 1 hesitated. " Surely, Henry, you would not steal ? " " Steal? Never ! " And I promised at once. Jackson found no time to speak to me that morning, being engaged witli Mr. Elliot ; but when, in my turn, I entered the private office, I saw him cast an inquir- ing glance towards me. " This seems all right, Watson," said Mr. Elliot, after looking over my account. " Have you anything else ? " " Yea, sir ; I have still ten dollars, of which I am unable to give any account." " Strange 1 Are you sure that you have missed nothing ? " "Quite, sir; I have been over everything several times, and lat.t night Mr. Jackson was kind enough to assist me." *' It's strange ; but you can put the money back into THAT TEN DOLLARS. 19 your safe. I dare say it will be found out before the next quarter is up. And by the by, Watson, I intend to raise your salary. HoUoway is going to leave, and I wish you to take his place." I thanked him, and heartily, too ; for a hundred dol- lars a year was no small increase at our house. " Let me see. I think, Jackson, he had better begin to-morrow." " Yes, sir ; it will be most convenient." " You hear, Watson. I believe there's nothing more. Good morning." There was joy in our house that night, and on the morrow I went forth with a light heart to take posses- sion of HoUoway's stool. And now, dear reader, just take a jump over the next three years. Jackson was still in his place ; but I had risen step by step, until I occupied a post in- ferior only to that held b)'' himself. The mystery at- tached to my ten dollars had never been unravelled, and they still reposed peacefully in my safe. Jack- son and I got on very- well together ; but there was one thing which I could not understand. For a feAV nights before quarter-day, Jackson always, under some pretence or other, took the books home with him ; but as I did not consider it my place to inter- fere, I said notliing. It was the quarter-day at the end of the three years of which I have spoken, and I was assisting Mr. Elliot in examining the account of one of the junior clerks, whose ledger exhibited a glaring deficiency of one. luindred and fifty dollars. The youth was not the Itrightest in the world, and for a time he seemed stunned. But he was sure it must be some mistake 20 YOUNG folks' readings. of mine; liis cash was all right three days ago; and he took the book to see ibr himself. The result was the pame — deficit, one hundred and fifty dollars. Again he went over it, and I could see the big drops of sweat roll down his face as he again came to the same horri- ble conclusion — deficit, one hundred and fifty dollars. A third time he essayed to reconcile the difi"erence ; but, suddenly stopping short, he turned to Mr. Elliot, and cried, — *' These are not ray figures, sir." " Then whose are they ? " " I don't know, sir ; they are not mine ; look, sir, something has been scratched out here." " Umph 1 So there has. Has the ledger ever been out of your care ? " *' No, sir — that is, yes — twice." " When ? " " Last niglit and the night before." " Who had it ? " " Mr. Jackson." " Then call Mr. Jackson up here." He came. " Mr. Jackson," said Mr. Elliot, " there's an error in Brown's account : something appears to have been scratched out ; and as I understand you have had his ledger the last two nights, I thought perhaps you could explain it." Jackson turned deadly pale, and, bending down to hide the ghastly hue of his countenance, he pretended to examine the figures. Yes ; there had been an erasure ; but he could ex- plain it. He had a private memorandum in his dusk; he would fetch it. THAT TEN DOLLARS. 21 Ten mimitcs went by, but Jackson did not return. " Watson," said Mr. Elliot, " will you go and say that I shall be pleased if Mr. Jackson will come here immediately ? " I went, but could not find him. " Osborne," I asked of a porter, " have you seen Mr. Jackson ? " " Yes, sir ; he went out about ten minutes ago." "Went out?" " Yes, sir ; he came down stairs looking very white, and, taking his hat, he said he felt rather ill, and would get a little air." I went back and told Mr. Elliot. " ! " was all he uttered ; and then turning on his heel, he motioned for us to follow. He first went to Osborne, who repeated his story again ; and then he crossed to Jackson's desk, which was locked. A smith was sent for, and the lock forced. " Mr Watson," said Mr. Elliot, taking out Jackson's books, — he had never called me Mr. Watson before, — " will you come with me to my private room ? T shall want you for a few minutes." That few minutes expanded into hours ; and the dis- covery of embezzlements by Jackson, to the extent of some thousand dollars, was the result of our labor. These frauds extended over several years ; and, by a curious coincidence, the very first of them was con- nected with my ten dollars — the last, of course, with Brown's hundred and fifty. Need I say that Jackson was never heard of again ? That night I walked home as the managing clerk of the firm of Elliot and Co. ; and never since have 1 forgotten the lesson taught me by my ten dollars. 22 YOUNG folks' readings. THE O'LINCOLN FAMILY. A FLOCK of merry birds were sporting in the g-rove ; Some were warbling cheerily, and some were mak- ing love : These were Bobolincoln, Wadoliucoln, Winterseeble, Con- queodle ; A livelier set were never led by tabor, pipe, or fiddle ; Crying, "Pliew, shew, Wadolincoln! see, see, Bobolincoln, I)(jwn among the tickle tops, hiding in the buttercups ! I know tlie saucy chap ; 1 see his shining cap Bobbing in the clover there : see, see, see ! " Up flies Bobolincoln, perching on an apple tree, Startled by liLs rival's song, quickened by his raillery. Soon he spies the rogue afloat, curveting in the air, And merrily he turns about, and warns him to beware ! " 'Tis you that would a wooing go, down among the rushes, ! But wait a wecik, till flowers are cheery ; wait a week, and ere you marry Be sure of a house wherein to tarry 1 "NVadoliuk, Whiskodink, Tom Denny, wait, wait, wait!" Every one's a funny fellow ; every one's a little mellow ; P'ollow, follow, follow, o'er the hill and in the hollow ! Merrily, merrily, there they hie ; now they rise, and now they fly ; . _ Thoy cross and turn, and in and out, and down in the middle, and wheel about. With a " Phew, shew, Wadolincoln ! listen to me, Bobo- lincoln ! IIapj>y'8 the wooing that's speedily doing, that's speedily doing ; That's merry and over, with the bloom of the clover ! Bobolincoln, AVadoliucobi, Winterseeble, follow, follow rac ! " THE BLACKSMITH OP BOTTLEDELL. 23 0, whiit a liappy life they lead, over the hill and in the mead ! How they siii<^, and how they play ! See, they fly away, away ! Now they gambol o'er the clearing' ; off again, and then appearing ; Poised aloft on quivering wing, now they soar, and now they sing, — " 0, let us be merry and moving I 0, lot us bo hapi)y and loving ! For when midsummer has come, and the grain has ripened its ear, The haymakers scatter our young, and wc mourn for tlie rest of the year ! Then Bobolincoln, Wadolincoln, Winterseeble, haste, haste away ! " WlLSOS Flagg. THE BLACKSmTH OF BOTTLEDELL. HORNY hands and swarthy face, Burliest of a burly race, The Saxon blacksmith took his place, Beside his anvil. " Sir," said I, " They say you've laid a fortune by ; Why still your hard vocation ply ? " " Stranger," said he, " I see your plan, A prying, interviewing man. Come to find out all you can, " And put it in the papers. Well, You see I did quit work a spell. Till Tom Sparks came to Bottledell ; 24 YOUNG folks' headings. " Tom Sparks, the blacksmitli over tlicre, At t'other corner of the square, And folks said I wa'n't anywhere — " Tliat this Tom Sparks could beat me blind At blacksmith work of any kind, Specially putting on bosses' shoes behind ! " The speaker paused and breathed a spell, And from his eyes the flash that fell Lit the bravest face in Bottledell. " Stranger, I don't care what you say ; I'm rather odd, I've got my way ; I'll get on lop, and there Fll stay — " That is, I don't care what the loss is, Learn my trade over, work under bosses, Or beat Tom Sparks a shoeing bosses 1 " There is a lesson, — learn it well, — Taught in the story that I tell Of that proud smith of Bottledell. He had a soul, the type of those To whom success forever goes. For whom the victor's laurel grows. Such wills as hie have caught the world. And held it fast when thrones were hurled Together, and the red flames curled Above the wreck. AVhen Caesar fell No grander spirit said farewell Than had the smith of 'Bottledell ! James Mal-iiick Thompson THE STONE-CUTTER. 25 THE STO^^]-CUTTER. ONCE upon a time there was in Japan a poor stone- cutter — a simple workman in the quarries. His Hfe was rude ; he worked much, gained little, and was not at all contented with his fate. " 0, if I could only be rich enough to rest, to sleep on thick matting, wrapped in a kirimon of soft silk ! " Such was the sigh which he breathed to Heaven. An angel intercepted it. "It shall be according to thy desire," said the angel to him. And he at once became rich ; and he rested, slept upon thick matting, and wrapped himself in a kirimon of soft silk. It happened that the emperor passed by. He was preceded by heralds on foot and horseback, followed by a brilliant escort of cavaliers, and surrounded by persons who held over his head an immense parasol, resplendent with gold. " What good does it do me to be rich," murmured the man, " as long as I have not the right to go out with an escort, and my head protected by a golden parasol ? Why am I not the emperor ? " " Thou shalt be," said the angel. And, indeed, he became the emperor. He had an escort before and behind him, and people who held above his head an immense parasol, resplendent with gold. However, the sun, with his ardent beams, dried up the country, and the dusty road, quivering with his brightness, Hitigued the eyes. " It is a great advantage to be emperor," cried the 26 YOUNG folks' readings. man, " when the heat of the day exhausts you, and the sun never ceases to make you feel his power ! But if one could be the sun ! " " Behold ! are you satisfied ? " the angel asked ; for ho had become the sun, and he darted his beams up and down, right and left, and all around him. And he scorched the herbage of the earth and the faces of the princes upon the earth. But now a cloud thrust itself between the earth and him ; it held back the rays of the sun, and pre- vented them from falling upon the earth's surface. " There is strength," cried the sun ; " a cloud capa- ble of resisting my power. It would be better if I were a cloud." " Very well," said the angel. And the transformation was at once accomplished. The new cloud placed itself haughtily between the Bun and the earth, and so thoroughly intercepted the rays of the sun that it soon saw the earth covered with its shadow. Then it caused big drops of rain, and pouring showers, and waterspouts to fall on the lands, so thattlie torrents burst their bounds, and the rivers spread over and devastated the fields. Nothing resisted the force of the inundation ; only a rock defied it, perfectly motionless. In vain the bellowing waters beat in their fury ; the rock yielded not, but the foaming waves died at its foot. " A rock, then, is my superior," said the cloud ; " I would rather be in its place." " You shall be," said the angel. And he was transformed into a steep, unshaken rock, insensible to the rays of the sun, indifTerent to the tor- rents of rain and the shock of the tumultuous waves. THE TWO CHURCH-BUILDERS. 27 Nevertheless, ho distinguished at his feet a man of poor appearance, hardly clotlied, but armed with a chisel and a hammer ; and the man, with the help of these instruments, struck off pieces of tlie rock, which he dressed into stones proper for cutting. " What is that ? " cried the ruck ; " has a man the power of rending pieces of stone from my breast ? Shall I be weaker than he ? Then it is absolutely necessary that I sliould be that man." " Have your will," said the angel ; and he became again what he had been — a poor stone-cutter, a simple workman in the quarries. His life was rude, he worked much, and gained little ; but he was con- tented with his lot. [From " Japan In Our Day," by Batabd Taylor.1 THE TWO CHURCH-BUILDERS. A FAMOUS king would build a church, A temple vast and grand ; And, that the praise might be his own, lie gave a strict command That none should add the smallest gift To aid the work he planned. II. And when the mighty dome was done, Within the noble frame, Upon a tablet broad and fair, In letters all allame With burnished gold, the people read The royal builder's name. 28 YOUNG folks' readings. in. Now, when the king-, elate with pride, That iiig-ht had soug'ht his bed, lie dreamed he saw an angel come (A halo round his head), Ei'ase the royal name, and write Another in its stead. IV. What could it mean ? Three times that night That wondrous vision came ; Three times he saw that angel hand Erase the royal name, And write a woman's in its stead, In letters all aflame. V. Whose could it be ? He gave command To all about his throne To seek the owner of the name Tliat on tlie tablet shone ; And so it was the courtiers found A widow poor and lone. VI. The king, enraged at wliat ho heard, Cried, " Bring the culprit here !" And to the woman, trembling sore, lie said, " 'Tis very clear Tliat you have broken my command ; Xow let tlie truth appear I " VII. " Your majesty," the widow said, " I can't deny the truth ; I lovu the Lord, — my Lord and yours, — MY SISTER. 29 And so, in simple sooth, I broke your majesty's command. (I crave your royal rutb.) VIII. " And since I had no money, sire, Why, I could only pray That God would bless your majesty ; And when along the way The horses drew the stones, I gave To one a wisp of hay." IX. " Ah ! now I see," the king exclaimed, " Self-glory was my aim ; The woman gave for love of God, And not for worldly fame ; 'Tis my command the tablet bear The pious widow's name." John O. Saxk. MY SISTER. WHO held the tempting cherry nigh. And always tried to make me cry. And stuck the scissors in my eye ? My sister. Who threw my plaj^things on the floor, And broke my doll behind the door, And my best ribbons always wore ? My bister. Who pinched my kitten's ear or tail. And ducked her in the water p;iil, And laughed at her unearthly wail ? My sister. 30 YOUNG folks' readings. "Who spilled lier coffee in 1113^ lap, And tore nitiniina's new breakfast cap, And blurred with ink my atlas map ? My yister. Who's glad dear sister's married now, And not at home to raise a row ? 1 know who's happy, any how ! Her sister ! AWAKING A BOY. CALLING a boy up in the morning- can hardly be classed under the head of " pastimes," especially if the boy is fond of exercise the day before. And it is a little singular* that the next hardest thing to getting a boy out of bed is getting him into it. There is rarely a mother who is a success at rous- ing a boy. All mothers know this ; so do their boys. And yet the mother seems to go at it in the right way. ►She opens the stair-door, and "insinuatingly observes, "Johnny!" There is no response. ''John-???/.'" Still no response. Then there is a short, sharp " John ! " followed a moment later by a prolonged and emphatic " John Henry ! " A grunt from the upper regions signifies that an impression has been made, and the motlicr is encour- aged to add, " You'd better be getting down here to your breaklast, young man, before I come up there, an' give you something you'll feel." This so startles the yoinig man that lie inunediately goes to sleep again. And the operation has to be repeated several tinjes. THE WONDERFUL SACK. 31 A father knows nothing about this trouble. lie merely opens his mouth as a soda bottle ejects its cork, and the " John Henry " that cleaves the air of that stairway goes into that boy like electricity, and pierces the deepest recesses of his very nature. And he pops out of that bed, and into his clothes, with a promptness that is commendable. It is rarely a boy allows himself to disregard the paternal summons. About once a year is believed to be as often as is consistent with the rules of healtli. He saves his father a great many steps by his thought- fuluess. THE WONDERFUL SACK. THE apple boughs half hid the house Where lived the lonely widow ; Behind it stood the cliosttmt wood, Before it spread the meadow. She had no money in her till ; She was too poor to borrow ; With her lame leg she could not beg ; And no one cheered her sorrow. She had no wood to cook her food, And bnt one ciiair to sit in ; Last spring she lost a cow, that cost A whole year's steady knitting. She had worn her fingers to the bone ; Her back was growing double ; One day .the pig tore up her wig, — But that's not half her trouble. 32 YOUNG folks' readings. Ilcr best black gown was faded brown ; Her shoes were all in tatters, "With not a pair for Sunday wear : Said she, " It little matters ! " Nobody asks me now to ride ; My garments are not fitting ; And with my crutch I care not much To hobble off to meeting. " I still preserve my Testament, And though the Acts are missing, And Luke is torn, and Hebrews worn, On Sunday 'tis a blessing. " And other days I open it Before me on the table, • And there I sit, and read, and knit, As long as 1 am able." One evening she had closed the book, But still she sat there knitting ; " Meow-meow ! " complained the old black cat ; " Mew-mew \" the spotted kitten. And on the hearth, with sober mirth, " Chirp, chirp ! " replied the cricket. 'Twas dark, — but hark ! " Bow-ow ! " the bark Of Ranger at the wicket ! Ib Ranger barking at the moon ? Or what can be the matter ? What trouble now ? " Bow-ow ! bow-ow ! " — She hears the old gate clatter. " It is the wind that bangs the gate, And I must knit my stocking ! " But hush ! — what's that ? Rat-tat ! rat-tat ! Alas ! there's some one knocking ! THE WONDERFUL SACK. 33 " Dear me ! dear mc 1 who can it be ? Where, where is my crutch-handle ? " She rubs a matcli witli hasty scratch ; She cannot lig-ht the candle 1 Eat-tat ! scratch, scratch ! the worthless match ! The cat growls in the corner. Rat-tat ! scratcli, scratch ! Up flies the latch, — " Good evening, Mrs. Warner ! " The kitten spits and lifts her back, Her eyes glare on the stranger; The old cat's tail rufTs big and black ; Loud barks the old dog Ranger ! Blue burns at last the tardy match, And dim the candle glimmers ; Along the floor beside the door The cold white moonlight shimmers. " Sit down ! " —the widow gives her chair- " Get out ! " she says to Ranger. '•' Alas ! T do not know your name." " No matter ! " quoth the stranger. His limbs are strong, his beard is long, His hair is dark and wavy ; Upon his back he bears a sack ; His stall" is stout and heavy. " My way is lost, and with the frost I feel my fingers tingle." Then from his back he slips the sack, — Ho 1 did you hear it jiugle ? " Nay, keep your chair ! while you sit there, I'll take the other corner." " I'm sorry, sir, I have no fire ! " " No matter, Mrs. Warner ! " 3 r> 1: YOUNG folks' EEADINGS. He sluikes his sack, — the magic sack ! Amazed the widow gazes ! Ho, ho ! the chimney's full of wood I lia, ha ! the wood it blazes 1 IIo, ho ! lia, ha ! the merry fire ! It sputters and it crackles ! Snap, snap ! Hash, (lash ! old oak and ash Send out a million sparkles. The stranger sits upon his sack Beside the chimney-corner, And rubs his hands before the brands, And smiles on Mrs. Warner. She feels her heart beat fast with fear ; lint what can be the danger ? " Can I do aught for you, kind sir ? " "I'm hungry ! " quoth the stranger. " Alas ! " said she, " I have no Ibod For boiling or for baking ! " ** I've food," quoth he, " for j'ou and me !" And gave his sack a shaking. Out rattled knives, and forks, and spoons Twelve eggs, potatoes plenty ! One large soup dish, two plates of fish. And bread enough for twenty ! And Rachel, calming her surprise, As well as she was able. Saw, following these, two roasted geese, A tea-urn, and a table I Strange, was it not ? each dish was hot ; Not even a plate was broken ; The cloth was laid, and all arrayed. Before a word was spoken ! f THE V,-ONDERFUL SACK. 35 " Sit up ! sit up ! and we will sup, Dear madam, wliilo we're able ! " Said she, " The room is poor and small For such a famous table 1 " Again the strang-er shakes the sack ; The walls begin to rumble ! Another shake 1 the rafters quake ! You'd think the roof would tumble ! Shake, shake ! the room grows high and large. The walls are painted over ! Shako, shake 1 out fall four chairs, in all, A bureau, and a sola ! The stranger stops to wipe the sweat That down his face is streaming. " Sit up ! sit up ! and we will sup," Quoth he, " while all is steaming !" The widow hobbled on her crutch ; lie kindly sprang to aid her. " All this," said she, " is too much for mc ! " Quoth he, " We '11 have a waiter ! " Shake, shake, once more ! and from the sack Out popped a little I'ellow, With elbows bare, bright eyes, sleek hair. And trousers striped with yellow. His legs were short, his body plump, His cheek was like a cherry ; He turned three times ; he gave a jump ; His laugh rang loud and merry ! He placed his hand upon his heart, And scraped and bowed so handy ! " Your humble servant, sir," he said, Like any little dandy. 36 YOUNG folks' readings. Tlic widow laughed a long, loud laugh, And up she started, screaming ; When ho ! and lu ! the room was dark ! — She'd been asleep and dreaming ! Tlie stranger and his magic sack, The dishes and the fishes, The geese and things, had taken wings. Like riches, or like witches ! All, all was gone ! She sat alone ; Her hands had dropped their knitting. " Meow-meow ! " the cat upon the mat ; " Mew-mew ! mew-mew ! " the kitten. The hearth is bleak, — and hark ! the creak, " Chirp, chirp ! " the lonesome cricket. *' Bow-ow ! " says Ranger to the moon ; The wind is at the wicket. And still she sits, and as she knits. She ponders o'er the vision : *' I saw it written on the sack, ' A Cheerful Disposition.' " I know God sent the dream, and meant To teach this useful lesson. That out of peace and pure content Springs every earthly blessing ! " Said she, " I'll make the sack my own ! I'll shake away all sorrow ! " She shook the sack for me to-day ; She'll shake for you to-morrow. She shakes out hope ; and joy, and peace. And happiness come after ; She shakes out smiles for all the world ; She shakes out love and laughter. THE WONDERFUL SACK. 37 For poor and rich, — no matter which, — For young' J'olk8 or for old folks, For strong and weak, for proud and meek, For warm folks and for cold folks ; — For children coming- homo from school, And sometimes for the teacher ; For white and black, she shakes the sack, — In short, for every creature. And everybody who has grief, The sufferer and the mourner, From far and near, come now to hear Kind words from Mrs. Warner. They go to her with heavy hearts, They come away with liglit ones ; They go to her with cloudy brows. They come away with bright ones. All love her well, and I could tell Of many a cheering present Of fruits and things their liiendship brings, To make her fireside pleasant. She always keeps a cheery fire ; The house is painted over ; She has food in store, and chairs for four, A bureau, and a sofa. She says these seem just like her dream. And tells again the vision : " I saw it written on the sack, — ' A Cheerful Disposition ! ' " J. T. Tkowbkiitgk. ^jr^i S/sJ 38 YOUNG folks' readings, PETER'S RIDE TO THE WEDDING. PETER would ride to the wedding- — lie would ; So he mounted his ass ; — and his wife, She was to ride beliind, if slie could, " For," says Peter, " the woman, she should Follow, not lead through life. " He's «)ighty convenient, the ass, my dear, And pn^per and sate — and jiow You hold by the tail, while I hold b}' the ear, And we'll ride to the kirk in time, never fear. If tlic wind and the weather allow." The wind and the weather were not to be blamed. But the ass had adopted the whim, That two at a time was a load never framed For the back of one ass, and he seemed quite ashamed That two should stick fast upon him. "Come, Dobbin," says Peter, "I'm thinking we'll trot." " I'm thinking we won't," says the ass, III hiDguage of conduct, and stuck to the spot As if he had sworn he would sooner be shot Than lift up a toe from the grass. Says Peter, says he, " I'll whip him a little." " Try it, my dear," says she. lint he might just as well have whipped a brass kettle. TIk; ass was made of such obstinate mettle Tii.it never a step movels of (Jod in disguise ; His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses, His glory still gleams in their e.yes. 0, those truants from home and fit 'in hoaveii, They have made me more manly and mild ! And 1 know how Jesus could liken The kingdom of God to a child. 60 YOUNG folks' readings. I ask not a life for the dear ones, All radiant, as others have done, Ikit that life may have just enough shadow To temper tlie glare of the sun ; I would pray God to guard them from evil. But my prayer would bound back to myself; Ah ! a sera}))! may pray for a sinner, But a sinner must pray for himself. The twig is so easily bended, I have banished the rule and the rod ; I have taught them the goodness of knowledge, They have taught me the goodness of God. My heart is a dungeon of darkness. Where I shut them from breaking a rule ; My frown is sufficient correction ; M^i" love is the law of the school. I shall leave the old house in the autumn, To traverse its threshold no more ; Ah ! how I shall sigh for the dear ones That meet me each morn at the door ! I shall miss tlie "good nights" and the kisses. And the gush of their innocent glee. The group on the green, and the flowers That are brought every morning to me. I shall miss them at morn and at eve, Tlieii- song in tlio school and the street; I shall miss the low iiuni of their voices, And the tramp of their delicate feet. When the lessons and tasks are all ended. And Death says, " The school is dismissed 1 " May the little ones gather around me, To bid me good niglit and be kissed. Dickinson. THE EAGLE AND THE SPIDER. 61 THE EAGLE AND THE SPIDER. AN eagle had soared above the clouds to the loftiest peak of the Caucasus. There, on an ancient cedar, it settled, and admired the landscape visible at its feet. It seemed as if the borders of the world could be seen from tlience. Here flowed rivers, winding across the plains ; there stood woods and meadows, adorned with the full garb of spring; and, beyond, frowned the angry Caspian Sea, black as a raven's wing. " Praise be to thee, Jove, that, as ruler of the world, thou hast bestowed on me such powers of flight that I know of no heights to me inaccessible," — thus the eagle addressed Jupiter, — " insomuch that I now look upon the beauties of the world :from a point whither no other being has flown." " What a boaster you are ! " replies a spider to it from a twig. "As I sit here, am I lower than you, comrade ? " The eagle looks up. Truly enough, tiie spider is busy spinning its web about a twig overhead, just as if it wanted to sliut out the suiiliglit from the eagle. " How did you get up to this height ? " asked the eagle. " Even among the strongest of Aving there are some who would not dare to trust themselves here. But you, weak and Avingless, is it possible you can have crawled here ? " " No, I didn't use that means of rising aloft." " Well, then, how did you get liere ? " " Why, I just fastened myself on to you, and you brought me yourself from down below on your tail- feathers. But I know how to maintain my position G2 YOUNG folks' readings. here -witlioTit yonr liclp, so I beg you will not assume such airs in my presence ; for know that I — " At this moment a gust of wind comes suddenly flying by, and whirls away the spider again into the lowest depths. A Krilof. NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER give up ! It is wiser and better Always to liopo, than once to despair ; Fling off the load of doubt's cankering fetter, And break the dark spell of tyrannical care. Never give np ! or the burden may sink you ; Providence kindly has mingled the cup ; And in all trials and troubles, bethink you, The watchword of life must be, " Never give up ! " Never give up ! There are chances and changes. Helping the hoixdul, a hundred to one ; And, through the chaos, high Wisdom arranges Every success, if you'll only hope on. Never give up ! for the wisest is boldest, Knowing tliat Providence mingles the cup ; And of all maxims, the best, as the oldest. Is the true watchword of, " Never give up ! " Never give up ! Though the grape-shot may rattle. Or the lull thunder-cloud over you burst ; Stan