The Sunday Oregonian., June 22, 1902, PART FOUR, Page 28, Image 28

THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JUNE 22, 1902.
REAL LIVE
BY DAN BEARD.
FROM her hole In -the old chestnut
tree Fanny Flying Squirrel watched
the sturdy lads "snaking" logs
through the grove, and she saw them roll
the logs up skids until the pile took on the
form of a house; the little squirrel waited
until the house was all finished, and then
Bhe passed the word to the wood brownies
and they all moved in. The bats
took up their quarters between the logs
of the second story, the red squirrel be
tween the logs of the first story, the
white-footed mice and large black wood
rats in all unoccupied nooks.
The Phoebe bird took possession of a
projection over the kitchen door, the robin
built its nest on the soap shelf by the
towel rack, the black-tailed hornets defied
the paper trust and built themselves a pa
per balloon under the apex of the eaves,
the woodchuck satisfied himself with a
home under the kitchen floor, the bum
ble bees occupied an auger hole in a log
of the area way, and Fannie Flying Squir
rel found a fine place on top of the frame
of the bedroom window. All seemed to
think that the log cottage was built espe
cially for them, and at Jirst they resented
human intruslonr but after a while, even
the hornets would fly about In the most
friendly manner catching the flies on the
dinner table or even picking them from off
one's nose or hands.
None of these wild creatures can be
taught the sacredness of property rights.
They are all born communists, and be
lieve that all forms of wealth are public
property, and this belief often produces
dire results to the brownies themselves.
Morning after morning the milk was
given to the dog because he was the only
one of the legitimate household who had
no objection to milk with a drowned wood
mouse in it Once the strained honey was
poured out on a flat stone for the benefit
of the wild bees, because a white-footed
mouse had gnawed a hole through the lead
covered cork. The mouse had then fallen
Into the honey and perished, but Its re
mains were preserved in the sweet liquid.
The wood mice did not oat our fish, but
they often took them from the plate in the
cellar and hid them where they could not
be found until our noses told us the secret
of the hiding place. The little brownies
once unwound a ball of twine and draped
It all around the room, making a half
hitch or two on a hunting knife and a
pipe, without dislodging these objects from
their insecure perch on the narrow edge
of a board. They also took all the tacks
from a new package and neatly stowed
them away In the eggshells kept for set
tling the coffee.
But it was when the offspring of Fany
Flying Squirrel filled the house that the
real trouble began. The mother squir
rel was content at first with making her
nest from the tufts of cotton nibbled from
the mattresses. This first nest she made
over the bedroom window. Determined
to evict the little nuisance. I climbed on
top of a kitchen chair, which was inse
curely balanced on an unsteady wash
fctand, and looked into the little home.
The mother squirrel poked up her pretty
head inquiringly from beneath the soft
nesting material, and when I gazed Into
the soft big eyes of the little mother ani
mal, all the annoyance and anger In my
heart melted away. The chair tilted as
I attempted to descend, and I came down
with a crash, smashing a mirror, sprain
ing my wrist and barking both shins;
but I left Fanny Flying Squirrel in undis
turbed possession of her claim.
One season in company with a friend.
I fished the brooks on the way to "Wild
iLands. My friend said he would clean
the fish if I would be coolC The house
had been closed all Winter, and after
opening the doors and windows I 6Plit
some wood and built a fire and then ran
outside to breathe, for the smoke filled
the room. My friend said that the chim
ney was cold. He said as soon as It got
warm the smoke would go up. In the
meantime the smoke refused to go up, but
It filled the kitchen, and when that was
full, it streamed out of the windows and
doors. But never a whiff went out of the
chimney. My eyes and throat smarted,
my lungs were raw, tears bedewed my
cheeks. I was covered with ashes, my
race was blackened; in desperation I
climbed to the roof and, with a long pole,
felt for the obstruction in the chimney
there waa none there.
Afted building a dozen fires and extin
guishing them again, I called my friend,
and together we took down the stovepipe
and found that the space from the elbow
of the pipe for three feet was packed with
fino carded wool made from raveling
rnawed from the dining-room rug. In this
warm, smokeproof nest we found Fanny
Flying Squirrel, and as usfcial there was a
family of little ones with her. "We spared
the old mother and nursing babies, dump
ing them carefully Into a cracker box. It
was 9 o'clock that night when two hun
gry men at last sat down to a feast of
crackers and trout.
Not long after this adventure, the log
house at Wild Lands was filled with a
merry company of city people people with
all the city fear of solitude and a firm be
lief In the existence of terrible blood
sucking bats, long-toothed venomous ser
pents with a. miraculous power of charm
ing their intended pictims, implacable hoop
snakes and poisonous swifts.
As night approached the fear of these
things crept over the guests, and they re
tired to their cots trembling. Through
the chinks they could see the stars twin
kle and they knew that a hypnotically in
clined snake would choose Just such an
opening through which to reach Its vic
tims. Scarcely had the guests closed their eyes
for slumber when some live thing fell with
a sickening thud on the chest of the most
timid guest; it is fortunate her heart was
sound or it would have ceased to beat.
Hardly daring to breathe, much less to
scream for help, the frightened guest lay
PROM 3IAID TO MADAM A2tt MADAM TO MAID.
'---" .... m.m '.,:... ,v .,, j
BROWNIES
THEY WORK STRANGE DEEDS IN THE 'NIGHT
IN THE SLEEPING WOODS
1 Pia
QUAINT AND CURIOUS STORIES
ODD THINGS TOLD OF FOUR-FOOTED
ANIMALS, FISH AND MEN
N tho 22d day of September, in every
year, two huge stone lions at Buda
pest. Hururnrv. n nnvomH iwlfVi
crepe. The lions guard the ends of a great
bridge which crosses tho Danube River,
between Buda and Pest. Persons who
visit the Budapest bridge gaze with ad
miration at tho lions, for they are noble
examples of the sculptor's art. Tot there
is something about them that is wrong,
as may be learned from the following an
ecdote: At the time, the bridge was opened
there was a festival in which most of the
inhabitants took part. The sculptor was
proud of his lions. He had worked hard,
and had put his soul Into the stone. He
loved the superb figures, and ho was per
fectly willing that they should be ex
amined by the critics. Indeed, he caused
placards to be posted, and tho placards
declared: "Whoever finds a dofect in my
lions shall receive 5000 florins." The crowd
came and admired the animals, which,
with their paws outstretched and mouths
half opened, seenied to be holding the
Danube in their power. All at once a cob
bler advanced toward tlje sculptor, whom
everybody was praising, and said: "I see
something!" Those who stood around
thought he was mad, and hooted him.
"What do you see?" asked the sculptor,
laughing.. "These beasts have a mouth
and teeth, but no tongue." "It is true,"
repeated the crowd, "they have no
I '1C.
quiet. How heavy the serpent's coll
seemed to be. Gradually her eyes became
accustomed to the darkness, and then she
saw that the cause of her fright was only
pretty "Fanny Flying Squirrel squatting
on the coverlet washing her face with her
little hands.
Every Summer evening, after the sun
ball had sunk behind the hill across the
lake and hoot-owl and whip-poor-will have
begun to talk, a shadow-like object Is
seen to sail from the apex of the roof
down into the gloom; more phantoms fol
low, until at times there ar.c several In
tho air at once, and we know that it Is
Fanny Flying Squirrel and her living par
achute descendants departing for the night
and we may 6leep for a while In peace.
But when the "wolfs txush," that pale
gleam of light which precedes the dawn.
Is on the eastern horizon, the bright-eyed
little aeronauts return from their night's
frolic and thump! thump! their bodies
strike the shingles overhead and patter!
patter! go the little feet scampering over
the roof. Within five or ten minutes from
the first thump hearh" on the shingles the
last little imp has returned, and one may
hear them in all their gloomy, mysterious
corners rustling about as they settle them
selves for a long Summer's day nap.
Last Summer, Mary Jane, the maid,
took one one of those spasmodic fits of
cleaning peculiar to her sex, and seizing
a pair of canvas trousers she and her mis
tress began to give them a vigorous shak
ing. The blood-curling screams which fol
lowed brought every one within hearing
to the spot, and they saw mistress and
maid facing each other and doing a wild
fantastic dance, accompanied by a swing
ing of their arms and ear-piercing shrieks.
A dozen or so frightened little flying
squirrels were scrambling over the bodies
and heads of the dancers or sailing across
the intervening space from maid to madam
and madam to maid. There were four
pockets in the trousers and each pocket
contained a flying squirrel nest. That
night the maid put pepper an eighth of
an inch deep over all the runways fre
quented by the squirrels, but the only ef
fect was to make the little Imps keep us
awake with their high-keyed sneezing.
tongue!" "They've given it to the dogs,"
said a wag. The crowd laughed at the
sculptor and applauded the cobbler. The
sculptor was thunderstruck. His heart
sank within him. He lost his senses and
raved, and at last, leaping from the
bridge, he sank beneath the blue ripples
that danced in the sunbeams. Now, every
year, the people of Budapest drape tho
lions in black stuff. The birds make their
nests In the lions' mouths.
Randolph's Grayhonnd.
John Randolph, of Roanoke, was such a
queer character that people have talked
about him since his death, though ho has
been In the grave many years, and they
probably will continue to talk Df him for
many long years to come. This anecdote
Is about Mr. Randolph and his six gray
hounds. It was related by an old man
who still lives In Richmond, Va., and
who very clearly remembers what he saw
and heard on the occasion mentioned. One
day Mr. Randolph came riding Into Rich
mond. His carriage was large and showy,
and the small boys gaped in wonder as the
dashing equipage stirred clouds of dust.
Three horses dragged the carriage. The
leader, a spirited and prancing animal,
was ridden by Juba, a slave. Another
slave John sat on the box and held the
reins, while Mr. Randolph leaned back
ward and gazed about him Just as If he
had been a king or a conqueror. Trailing
behind the coach were the six grayhounds
who really appeared to be no less lordly
m.iu. meir master, une or tne grayhounds
suddenly left tne others and ran ahead of
the coach, which had halted for a few mo
ments tba,t Mr- Randolph might chat with
a friend in ib street. The- dog wandered
too far away from the coach, and the dog
catcher of the town threw a net over its
head. The hound whined and barked, and
in a few moments up came the Randolph
coach. Mr. Randolph was white with
rage. He rescued his hound, and, turning
his wrathful eyes toward the crowd that
.had gathered, lie exclaimed, with the very
essence of scorn in his shrill vplce: "Juba
oh. Juba! fetch some water and wash
the dog where the men had hold of him."
Devotion of a Salmon.
A gentleman who waa fishing with, a
trout fly hooked a salmon. Tho salmon
was a fine specimen of its kind, as the
delighted angler could see: but, as luck
would have it, the salmon flew off tho
hook just at the moment when it was
about to be landed. A week later, the
fisherman was with a friend at the same
spot, and in the course of the forenoon
the same salmon was hooked. While the
men were playing with their game, an
other salmon swam like a streak of light
toward the captive. Then a strange thing
occurred. The small salmon tried to help
the large fish free Itself from the book.
At last the captive was hauled into shal
low water, when lo! In came tho other, as
If determined to die with its friend. One
of the men waded in and scooped up the
salmon which had thus strangely surren
dered. An elastic band was placed around
It, and it was taken to a pool in the, same
locality and released. It lingered near
the surface of the pool for a few mo
ments, and then swambff. satisfied appar
ently that It had forever lost Its compan
ion. A Sqalrrel Story.
Three red squirrels make their homo In
the hollow of an elm tree at Stockbridge,
Mass. A little girl, who lives near the
tree, goes out to it several times a day
and knocks on the trunk, and sbo makes
a whirring noise at the same moment.
Whether led to respond by the knocks
or the whirring, the three squirrels come
running down the trunk, and, taking
whatever food their little friend may of
fer, they skip back to the crotch of the
tree. At that point there is a sort of
landing, and on the landing the squirrels
sit while eating the food, which Is mainly
In the form of nuts. "Two of them are
very tame." said the little girl, recently,
"but one is quite wild yet."
Whipped. 40 Pupils In 37 Minutes.
Professor F. A. Llllle, of Waterbury.
Conn., is the champion spanker of the
world. Recently he chastised 43 pupils
In 37 minutes. A minstrel parade appeared
just before the time for tho school to
assemble for tho afternoon session. Every
one of the pupils, even to the "littlest
girl," struck and followed the band. Dur
ing the afternoon the children straggled
In and when tho last one had appeared
the professor called an executive session
in the basement, where he had put away
a nice piece of garden hose of convenient
length. In 37 minutes after the 43 children
had assembled In the cellar they were
marched back to their desks and every
one of them had had a taste of garden
hose.
Terrapin Catching.
Among the singular occupations of those
who llvo along the rivers and creeks of
the eastern shore of Maryland Is that of
the terrapin catcher. "It takes a peculiar
kind of skill," said a veteran terrapin
hunter at Oxford, in Talbot County, a few
weeks ago; "it requires long practice for
a man to catch terrapins. Some drag for
terrapins with rakes, but the real hunter
sees no art in that. My weapon is a pair
of tongs, or 'oysters paws,' as we call
them. I stand in the bow of my boat, and
my boy pushes the canoe along. I keep
my eyes scanning the bottom. When I
seo a blue speck In the mud I know that
it is a terrapin's nose put out to get air.
Touching the spot, a bubble comes up,
and I know what that means. So I thrust
my tongs In and seize Mr. Terrapin by the
head. Sometimes I catch as many as 200
in the course of an hour or so. But my
son Is not able to catch them. Why? Ob.
because 'he has not learned the art of
finding the blue speck the art of sight
ing them. It is a kind of woodcraft, and
in woodcraft experience Is the great
teacher."
"What He Knew About Cats.
Cats, unlike the other insects, don't
havo no stingers. The bumblebee has. I
once caught a bumblebee an' give It to
a cat. Cats don't like bees, especially
them that has splinters in their talze,
which this had. The thing stung all the
way down, and halfway back again; that
cat run about 17 miles, an' then dropped
down by the shaddy sido of a haystack
and quickly, without warnln', he hastily
died a sudden death all at once for want
o breath.
Onct when Jack an mo was playln'
flshln' In our well with a tom-cat tied
to a string. Jack got hurt. He had the
cat down in the well, waitln for a bite,
an', when his back was turned It crawled
up'the brick an' clawed the sap outcn him.
After that Jack didn't fule with cats.
I once knew a man who was wicked
enough to throw a stovelld at a big tom
cat at 'night, and the very next day he
heard that his grandmother had broken
her leg in Camden, and several other
places, which proves how wicked and sin
ful It is to disturb tho cats; and that's all
I know about cats.
THOSE ROOSEVELT BOYS.
The President's Youngsters Have a
Collection of Tame Rats.
Washington Correspondence of the Brpok-
lyn Eagle.
Tame rats are just now the rage among
the juvenile members of the White House
family. The "basement rooms of the exec
utive mansion are plentifully populated
with tho domestic and wild variety, to
which Steward PInkney is giving his at
tention. The Roosevelt boys are making
collections of tame and fancy breeds
of rodents, and a glance into the big play
room of the children, which is located just
under the state dining hall, would givo
one the Impression that It was the sales
room of a dealer in animal pets.
Rows of small boxes line one side of the
room In which are rats of all degrees and
pedigrees. Quentln is the proud pos
sessor of what might be called a blue rib
bon rodent. It is a funny-looking little
animal with a long and bushy tall which
is used with great facility. It serves as a
prop on which to support his body when
sitting on his hind legs, ' and when he
wants to get to the opposlts side of the
cage in a hurry, the long appendage is
doubled up and used as a vaulting pole.
Quentln's pet is called the Kangaroo
rat. The Japanese rat divides attention
with the Kangaroo rat as the star attrac
tion of the White House menagerie. Ho
is a fussy-looking little animal, all cov
ered over with long bushy hair which
can never be smoothed out. There are a
number of white rats In the collection.
For the time being the Interest In the
pet rodents Is so absorbing that Red
Cloud s being neglected. Red Cloud is
a fine specimen of the game cock, whose
.home is in the areaway just outside of
the rat room, and under the White House
conservatory. This Is quite a remark
able bird, and the Roosevelt boys have
taught him to spar like a professional
prizefighter. Red Cloud is full of fight,
and can keep Quentln or Teddy busy when
they engage in a set-to. One of the boys
will double up his fists, stoop over in a
crouching attitude, and keep his arms
moving forward and backward like the
regulation pugilist, looking all the time
for an opening and a chance to slap Red
Cloud. The latter In the meantime is
on the alert, his neck feathers standing
erect, and his whole body In warlike atti
tude. Suddenly Red Cloud dodges a pass
for his head and quick as a flash flies at
his opponent. It Is great sport for the
boy and the bird, and both appear to en
joy It immensely.
NIGNiVTHE DWARF
'rLZ-sa il liliiil 11 4 1 III
"A GREAT MANY NEWSPAPER
I
I WAS exhibited in London for six
months, and then made a tour of all
the cities, and itwas a full year be
fore wo crossed to France. The French
peoplo did not receive me as enthusiastic
ally as the English had done, but still
they were very kind. They seemed to pre
fer giants to dwarfs, and af tersix months
wo went to Germany. Here we did not
do well at alL There wero two or three
other dwarfs on exhibition, although all
were larger than I, and the people had
much to say about hard times. We mado
money all the time, but Mr. Teddo was
not satisfied. One night after v.e had
returned from the hall and were sitting
SCHOOL SHORT CUTS
RHYMES AND JINGLES
REMEMBER THINGS
THERE is no royal road to learning.
At least, every one seems to be
agreed that there Isn't, so that there
Is no use In saying that there 13. But
there axe some short cuts In the direction
of learning, which take you some dis
tance on the road, even If they do not
actually land you at your destination
One of these short cuts is the famous
old stanza in six lines.
Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
AH the rest have thirty-one.
Excepting February alone;
It has four and twenty-four.
And every leap year one day more.
The rhythm of that verse Is almost as
bad as that of "Humpty Dumpty," with
which, you will remember, Alice found
fault; if you don't remember, just look
at "Throught the Looking-Glass," chapter
fix.
(Now, if we had put that in a note
"See 'Through the Looking Glass vl. p.
147" it would have looked liko a real
school book, wouldn't It?)
The trouble is, people won't believe that
what is written in rhyme can really be
learning. Of course, ou have to learn
poems and verses to recite on Friday, but
then you don't learn them because they
teach you anything you learn them be
cause you havo tq. But there really are
some rhymes that teach you things. Here,
for example, is a grammar in rhyme and
a very complete grammar, too, so far as
it goes. Learn it thoroughly and you'll
find yourself pretty well up in what is
called elementary grammar:
I.
Three little words you often see, -Are
articles "a," "an" and "the.'
IL
A noun's the name of anything-.
As "school" or "garden," "hoop" or "swter."
III.
Adjectives toll the kind of noun.
As "great." "small," "pretty," "white" or
"brown."
IV.
Instead of nouns the pronouns stand
"His" head, "her" face, "my" arm, "your"
hand.
V.
Verbs tell of something to be done
To "read," "count," "laugh," "staff." "Jump"
or "run."
VI.
Row things are done, tho adverbs tell.
As "slowly," "quickly," "111 or "welL"
vir. '
Conjunctions Join the words together
As man "and" woman, wind "or" weather.
GAMES OF CHASE OR TAG.
fiagjMgaagM nnn iirriff-irMiirT-nr Mira-aw.
Cross Tasr.
THE ADVENTURES OF
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
MEN CALLED TO SEE ME."
in my room, he said to me, suddenly:
"NIgnl, we have now been two years
away from Japan, and I want to ask if
you are homesick?"
"Not at ail," I answered. "I should
like to see father, of course, but I havo
traveled about so much that I havo al
most forgotten my own country."
"I asked you the question," he said,
"because I should like to take you to
America. That i3 the land for a show
roan. You will make a great hit over
there and find many friends."
"If you think It best, we will go, and I
don't care how soon we start- I like to
be with people who speak English."
A month after that we took steamer
and sailed for New York. I hadread and
heard much about Americans and their
VIII.
The preposition stands beforo
The noun, as "in" or "through" the door
' IX.
The Interjection shows surprise
As "Oh! how pretty!" "Ah, how wiser
The whole are called nine parts of speech.
Which, reading, writing, speaking teach.
While we're talking about grammar,
here's another lesson in rhyme. They
say that the real Now Yorker cannot tell
the difference between "will" and "shall,"
that it takes a Bostonlan to steer safely
between those two verbs. The difference
Is pointed out In this rhythmical lesson:
In the first person simply, "shall" fortells;
In "will" a threat or else a promise dwells.
"Shall" In the second and third doth, threat;
"Will" simply then foretells the future feat.
Now let us cet away from grammar,
which Is almost as dismal a science as
political economy, and let us turn toward
fiction, and come as near to that as pos
sible in study period. That will bring us
to history.
Here we find two rhymes, the first of
which deals -with our Presidents. It's long
and it Isn't very, VERY beautiful.
("Through the Looking Glass," chapter
9, page 210), but it's historical, and one
mustn't expect everything in this world,
even in history.
Georgo Washington first to tho White House
came,
And next on the list is John Adams's name;
Tom Jefferson then fills the honored places;
The name of James Madison next we trace
The fifth in succession was James Monroe,
And John Qulncy Adams the next below;
And then Andrew Jackson was placed in the
chair;
Then next we find Martin Van Buren there.
Then "William H. Harrison's name we meet.
Whose death save John Tyler the coveted seat.
Then James K. Polk was the Nation's choice;
Next for Zachary Taylor she save her voice,
"Whose premature death brought in Millard
Fillmore;
And next Franklin'Plerce tho distinction bore.
The fifteenth was James Buchanan, they say.
Who for Abraham Lincoln prepared the way.
Whoso martyrdom gavo Andrew Johnson a
chance.
The eighteenth name was Ulysses S. Grant's.
Then as nineteenth to take the placo
Rutherford B. Hayes won In the race.
James A. Garfield next took his scat.
And very soon after his death did meet.
Chester A. Arthur filled out his term.
Then made way for Grover Cleveland, we
learn:
And Benjamin Harrison then we erect.
Who so ably filled his grandslre's seat.
There are threo more Presidents to be
added
In England they have a poem that gives
the names of the Kings and Queen3 which
Swiss children make believe that the
pursuer in the game of chase or "tag" is
Invested with an imaginary evil spirit
whoso power is subject to certain
charms. For Instance, If they touch
cold iron, a gato latch, a horseshoe or
an iron nail, the power of the demon Is
broken. Sometimes they make gold or
silver their charm. Thoy play "cross
chase," in which the runner who darts
across the patch between the pursued
and the pursuer becomes the object of
tho catcher, and the former one goes
free. Again If the runner squats he is
free, or, he may squat threo times and
after that the charm Is lost. The chaser
often disguises himself and unless tho
captive can guess who ho Is the captive
I3 banished from tho game. They also
play "turn-cap" the chaser wearing his
cap with the lining outside.
Another Swiss game Is called Pot of
Gold. One of the swiftest, runners takes
a stick and pretends to dig for a pot of
gold. He works away for a few min
utes, then cries out "I've found it" and
runs away with it at the top of his
speed. He has the advantage of a few
paces at the start, for while he Is dig
ging tho other players are grouped be
hind him at least ono rod distant. The
player who catches him gets the pot of
gold and becomes in turn subject to rob
bers. This keeps every player on the
chase continually.
A LITTLE MAN AS
country, and -when we landed in the big
city. I said to Anak:
"Ah, this is gcod! I like this noise and
bustle, and I like to see the people fljing
about. I am suro that I shall not be sorry
I came."
A great many newspaper men called at
tho hotel to see me and write me up. and
the Mayor and some of the Aldermen
had dinner with me, and when I gave my
first exhibition the streets were blocked
with people, who could not get into the
hall. There was 'more excitement than
In London, and 30 many people loitered
around the hotel in hopes to get a glimpse
of mo that the police had to drive them
aawy.
I was on exhibition In New York for
four months beforo going over to Boston,
and my friends were numbered by tno
thousand. One of them was only a worts
man, but ho did something for me that
added very much to the interest of the
exhibition. One day, when I had told
him about my battle with the grasshop
pers, he looked very thoughtful, and two
days later he came back with an insect
made of cardboard. It was made and
painted to look like a real grasshopper
and It wound up with a spring, and when
he Bet It down on the floor It jumped
about In the most natural manner.
"My idea Is this." he explained. "You
will take the grasshopper on the stage
with you and show the people how you
fought." r
Mr. Yeddo and Anak were delighted
with the plan, and it was announced in
the papers that Nigni would do his great
battle over again in public. When I had
finished my song, I stepped back and
drew my sword and called out:
"If I have an enemy here, let him stand
forth and do battle."
Mr. Yeddo then let the toy grasshopper
loose on me, and as the thing jumped
here and there about the stage. I ran in
and cut his head off, and the crowd
cheered for five minutes. We had to havo
two gras3hoppors every day, but as they
only cost a cent each, there was no fear
of our going to the poorhouse.
I was, as you may believe, a great pet
among the women. I was now 11 years
old, 14 Inches high and weighed 12 pounds,
and I thought mySclf pretty goodlooking
and pretty smart. Nearly all tho married
women, and many of the girls, asked mo
for a kiss, and I never refused them- In
deed, sometimes I gave them two when
they asked for only one. One day an old
maid seized me In her arms and called
me a little darling and kissed mo about
10 times before I could get away. She
was 40 years old and very plain looking,
and I did not take to her at all. She did
to me, though, and she wrote mo letters
and sent me flowers and came to the hall
so often that Mr. Yeddo had to talk very
plainly to her. The peoplo laughed at
her. anct she went away with tears In her
eyes, and that evening sho tried to drown
herself for love of me.
THAT HELP ONE TO
dents, and, like It. needs to be brought
is shorter than this poem of the Prcsl
down to dte:
First, William the Norman, then "William his
son;
Henry, Stephen and Henry, then Richard and
John;
Next Honry tho Third, Edwards one, two and
three
Again after Richard, three Henries wc cce.
Two Edwards, third Richard, 4t rightly I gus;
Two Henrjs, sixth Edward, Queens Mary ana
Bess;
Then Jamlo tho Scot, and Charles whom they
slow;
Again followed Cromwell, another Charles, to.
Then James, called the Second, ascended the
throne.
Then "William and Mary together came on:
Till Anne, Georges four and fourth "W llltam all
past,
God sent us Victoria, the youngest and last.
The most Important lesson in rhymo
perhaps is that which teaches a person
to play whist. It begins:
If you the modern game of whist would know.
From these few precepts let your practice flow.
But as the modern game of whist has
changed so much since that poetical les
son wa3 written. It would not be worth
while to print it; besides, whist isn't a
lesson; it's a game, and we were playlnir
lessons, not games."
RIVAL OF VTSG POXG.
It Is Called Badminton and Has Been
Taken Up in England.
Badminton is coming Into vogue again
in a way that promises to lay ping pong
on the shelf as a society game. English
social lights, which took so devotedly to
ping pong, have begun to serve notice that
Badminton Is In better taste, and a social
organ says of the game: "Badminton can
be played out of doors, on a lawn or on a
carriage drive, and indoors in a large
room. Tno, three, four, six or eight may
play at once. The best game, however, ia
six, when there are two women up at
each side of the net while a man keeps
hack behind them. The game, as might
be expected, derived It3 name from the
fact that it was first Introduced In Eng
land by a member of a house party at
Badminton in the time of the late Duke o
Beaufort."
Sober tennis-players who had scorned
ping pong as something immeasurably lesa
than tennis, may inclino toward Badmin
ton, though it, too, may be reduced to
indoor quarters. For, with the exception
of the balls used, Badminton is tennis, its
plays and scores being observed accord
ing to the same rules, and only tho lack;
of the rebounding quality in the bails dif
fering from tennis.
The ball used Is the shuttlecock that
goes with the game of battledore. It 13 a
ball of cork, weighted with lead, or It may
bo hard rubber, and in either case it la
winged with feathers, which causes tho
ball to revolve, at the same time flying
swiftly, guided by the feather wlners. As!
tho ball will not rebound when striking!
the earth or floor, it must be "volleyed,"!
and each failure to return the ball Is
counted against the player who mleees.
Only In the fact that these hard balls!
are winged, do not rebound; and hae tol
bo "volleyed." does the game differ froml
tennis. In this volleying, however, is the
tension and strained Interest fcr hot!
player and spectator, and as a rival for
ping pong It looks as If society neede
only to pass the word to effect the change.
The Hchlts o the Rohin.
"Let us hide behind that clump of b'ackJ
berry bushes and watcn the parent birds
as they come to feed their young. Thert
comes the father robin now; you can dlsJ
tlnguish him from the mother by his
darker plumage. You will notice that it
coming with the food he alights on a par
ticular twig, hops along a particular
branch and alights on a pnrticular side of
the nest. If you watched him for a wee!
you would probably see him approach the
nest In precisely the same way each tlmeJ
.Now here comes the mother a LghterJ
colored bird, with gray on the back of hea
head. You sec that she reaches the nesJ
by quite a different route and alights upor
the other side of it, and she will dc
this over and over and over again. Like
men and women, birds acquire llablts
which they rigidly adhere to, unless some
thing happens to prevent them Ernest
Harold Baynes In the June Woman's
Home Companion.