The Sunday Oregonian., July 06, 1902, PART FOUR, Page 29, Image 29

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THE SUNDAY OKEGOTtflAST, POBTLAND, 'JULY 6, 1902.
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I
N THE Counjr of Falrsex, In Connecti
cut, dwells -'"'family named Windham,
and ever since the time of Cotton
Mather they have had an heirloom which
has been handed down" from father to
pan and has been laughed at and derided
by each one in turn until the present
bearer of the name, Harvey L. "Windham,
became head of the house. In Cotton
Mather's, time one Windham was burned
at the stake for owning this plow because
It was said to be enchanted. And those
who saw Ell "Windham destroyed supposed
that the plow was burned aleo, but In
some way It escaped and came down the
fenerations to Harvey. ' He had heard
musty old traditions concerning the old
plow and one day he hunted It up In the
barn and found It to be an uncouth imple
ment. Indeed. " "
Now, Harvey "Windham was an odd
sort of a fish, as will be seen If you read
the advertisement that he Inserted In
the Rockton Leader.
To "Whom It May Concern: To the one
who knows how to run the "Windham
plow, which Is 260 years old, I will give In
addition to his board and lodging and a
dollar a day, 20 acres of my best land.
Apply, ready to begin "work, on May 20."
Those of the neighbors "who read it
said: "Just like Harvey halrbralned and
whimsical."
On the morning of the 20th, a thin
,"plndllng"-looklng youth of about 18,
amea Tuaor, came to tne nouse at aay
reak and asked to see Mr. Windham.
"I've come to do that plowing, sir,"
Id he, when Mr. Windham opened the
or.
Harvey looked at him curiously and
en shook his head.
You're not old enough and you're not
strong enough. I can give you work at
cleaning up the woodshed. But I wouldn't
think of letting you touch that plow."
The lad looked disappointed, but lie
6aw from Harvey's- manner that it would
be "useless to say anything further Just
then. However, without wasting any
time In repining, he went out to the
woodshed and began to tidy It up. and
while he was at work the second appli
cant came. It-was now 7 o'clock.
This man was a slouchy-looking fellow
by the name of Charles, and Harvey
felt that he w ould not be. able to do much.
But he was strong enough, certainly.
"I'm after that 20 acres. Where's the
plow," said he.
New. Harvey did not like Charles' way
of talking, and he said:
"Hold on, antll I hire. Maybe you
won't do."
"I oever saw a plow yet that I couldn't
handle, and if I don't do the -work you
want In two shakes of a lamb's tall, you
needn't pay me a. cent. But I'll get the
29 sores; see if I don't."
Harvey was of & mind to tell him that
he didn't want him; but he certainly
wise Strang enough, so he took him out
to the lot on which the plow was to bo
tried, and there it .stood with a strong
little horse hitched to It.
"Did you .ever handle a plow like that?"
asked Harvey.
"No, and nobody else since Noah died,"
said the znzn. "Still. I can do It."
"Well, do your best. I'll come back In
an foour. That will be time enough to tell
whether you are able or not."
Now, In the first place, Charles didn't
believe that the plow was enchanted,
and In the second place he was so food
Ish as to call it names. This one acted
like a bailey horse. As, soon as the man
put his hands .on the -handles It began to
back so -fast that the horse had hard
work to keep up with It. The man just
escaped being jammed against -a stone
fence.
But his Wood was up, and he grabbed
they handles once more and lashed the
horifeVith the reins, and' the plow started
off so fast that the horse had to gallop
to keen ahead of it. But It did not plpw
'up any earth; It merely scratched about
a quarter of an inch of the surface and J
chased the .poor horse around and around
the field until he dropped In his tracks,
and when Harvey came back to the lot
Charles was alternately kicking the horse
and tile plow.
"Here, I'll have no workman who Is
cruel to dumb beasts or who gets angry
at inanimate, things. Here's a dollar.
Now go. I was' sure that you couldn't
handle t,hat plow."
Quite crestfallen, Charles took the dol
lar and walked away slowly, and the
little horse rose to his feet as fresh as
when he had first -come out.
Harvey looked, up and saw another
man approaching. This one said1 his
name was Edwin, although Harvey had
not asked, him.
"I'm afrald-you can't handle this plow,"
said Harvey. .
"Why not? -Ain't I strong enough?"
asked Edwin.
"You're strong enough, but It's en
chanted."
"Enchant your grandmother, said the
man in a very disrespectful tone.
Harvey, who didn't -happen to have a
grandmother, nevertheless told the man
to be silent.
"This is a free country, and Til talk
when I want to. If this is an enchanted
plow then I'm Tx. fairy."
Certainly the latter proposition was not
likely and the picture of Edwin as a fairy
so amused Harvey that he forgot to be
angry which is one of the best forms of
forgetfulness.
As before, Harvey d!flnot stay to "watch
the man, but went back to the house.
But the man was vexed that Harvey did
not stay, as he wanted to show his power
over the plow- Then, too, he did not like
Harvey's evident contempt for him, aSjd
he growled and grumbled as ho took up
the handles and started the plow. The
hore walked right along, pulling the
plow after him, but instead, of making a
good deep, straight furrow, the plow sim
ply unearthed one rock after another un
til there was a 'chain of rocks from one
end of the field to another. And the lot
had been noted lor Its -rich earth and
freedom from stones. The plow traveled
as last as, the horse could trot, and the
stones were thrown to one side, and
when Edwin reached the other side of the
field he chuckled to think of the harm he
had done. i
"I believe it is' enchanted, and rm glad
now that I did It. He'll be careful how
he speaks to me the next time."
And now Hirvey returned, and when
he saw the evil that Edwin had wrought
he was very angry.
"There was not a stone bigger than a
pebble in that lot until you came,'" said
ho. "If that is what an enchanted plow
in trie hands of a. malicious man can do,
I want you to stop work at once. Here's
a dollar, and now go and seek work else
where and try to be civil to folks. Cor If
you had "been well disposed you could
have earned the 20 acres. You can han
dle, the plow if you want to, but I don'w
call a crop of stones the result of good
handling."
The man took his dollar and went off
muttering, and Har,vey returned to the
his work while Mr. Windhim was talking
to him.
"By the way, had any breakfast?"
asked Harvey.
"No, sir, I r6se before breakfast this
morning."
"Well, why didn't you say so at first?
You come into the house and get break
fast, and then ydu'll be more likely to
succeed."
Tudor soon finished his breakfast and
then he and Harvey went out to the lot.
There lay the ugly rocks.
Th.it last plowman has- given my hired
man i good day's work, at getting rid
of these stones."
"Why doesn't your hired man try the
plow?" asked Tudor,
i"He' superstitious, said he wouldn't
touch It for all the acres In the worlds"
TiMrtf 1nmhil "T "haven't An nimro nf
superstition In mo. I believe that this
plow Is enchanted, Because you've told
me what it has done, but I'd Ju as soon
break a mirror or alt down with 12 at a
, A X . , fa
I'VE COME TO DO THAT PLOWING, Sin,
i : :
j I sQ hide a trail from the eyes of an
a ordinary wooasman nceus amy
good rain or a few days of sun
and wind. Very few Indians -'or trappers
can follow a trail If the weather has had
one week's time In which to obliterate It.
There are some menr-hoWever. whose five
c rTr-w" .'."".I-.. L Ground, considered from the standoolnt
senses are so carefully coacneu tnat mej r --i mav h(, muehlv dlvid! fntn
soft, hard, bare and overgrown. The first
the sort of marks he Is likely to flijd. It
is hardly worth while to watch for a
broken twig in a bare field, or the Jm
presslon of a heel on the face of a boul
der. Different surfaces will have different
ways of telling the story that "some one
has passed this way."
house, leaving the horse and plowin the
field. . ' ""
Ho glanced at the woodshed as hd
passed. "Hello, my lad! Well, y,ou are
a quick wdrker. Why, I thought I'd given
you a diys JobN And dldyou handle all
those logs alone?" v
"Yes, sir," said Tudor,-his eyes lighting
up. "You see, I expect to marry as soon
as I, can get a plecev of land on which to'
build a house. I'm 18, although T don't
look it. Miriam, she's the girl I'm going
to marry, read the notice to me and told
me it was a great chance for usr and I
made up my mind I'd work here until I
showed you I was worthy to try your
plow." v
"Well, I like your spirit, and I'd be
happy to Thave you win that 20 acres."
"Why don't you try the plow, sir,"
asked Tudor, although .why he said "sir"
In speaking to. a man not much older
than himself, I don't know. "Sir" is for
very old men.
"I'm not a farmer. I'm a lawyer." slid
Harvey. "1 hate work in the field, and
this plow must be run by a man who
loves his work and who likes me, and
I'm not at all satisfied with myself."
Tudor thought Harvey-one ofthe queer
est men he Tjad ever se;n. Ho finished
"t
fiarthf
''A--
TUDOR
WAS
BOTHERED
i
4
g$L " 7' i
jmm
H-mr -
table or walk under a ladder as I would
put on my hat."
Tudor graf pcd. the bandies as he spoke
and, as before, Harvey went back Into
the house.
"Get up, pld fellow." said Tudor, pleas
antly "Now,, my little plow, do your
prettiest, for this kind man has. given mo
wor"c"
So "saying, he pressed the point of the
plow Into the soil and the Implement
dtyed Into the ground like a frog Into a
jfond and up curled the mellow earth at
Its' prow. Tudor was delighted and the
hcupe pulled as if plowing was a Uttle
better than a bag of oats. Tho plow ran
all right for ID feet and then it brought
to the surface a dull-colored stone about
as large as an ostrich egg. Tudor was
bothered. Harvey hid told him that the
lot had no stones in it except those that
Edwin had caused to come there, and
here he was bringing up some more. Could
It be possible that he had wished Wind
ham evil when he first refused to let him
plowT He went on, but every 10 feet he
unearthed another dull stone, and at last
whem he had plowed three furrows and
there were 30 ugly looking stones In the
freiihly-turned earth he stopped-tho horse
and, leaning upon the plow, ho burst into
tears.
"Hello! What's the matter, my boy?"
called a voice some distance off, and,
looking up, Tudor saw Harvey coming
toward him. t
"I. too, must have evil thoughts," said
Tudor. "See all the stones I have un
earthed." Harvey had now come up and he
stooped and picked up one of the
"stones." In a moment he gave arry of
surprise and grasped Tudor's hand. "My
boy, you aro 'the very one to run this
plow. What you call stones are really
nuggets of gold. You have made a rich
man of me."
Tudor could hardly believe his ears. But
It was true, every word. His kindly
thoughts and bis desire to be married to
Miriam soon had acted on the enchanted
plow, and he was rapidly making a gold
field for his employer that might cause
men to rush to Connecticut Just as they
rushed to California in ISiS.
But Harvey had all the money he
wanted. He was one of those rare per
sons who do not care for money.
"My boy." he said. "I wanted to see if
J this plow really had enchanted proper-
. tics. I see that it has. Go on and finish
the plowing of this field and I will give it
' to you with all It contains and you can
get married and come here to live."
Tudor was overjoyed. He put his lfand
to the plow, and thinking now only of
Miriam, he plowed furrow after furrow
and then put the plow back into the barn,
and In half an hour It had dropped to
pieces and utterly disappeared.
But If you pass through Falrsex-County
In your travels you can't help seeing a
bezutlful palace near Harvey Windham's,
and that palace belongs to Tudor. I won't
tell you his last name, as he Is still alive,
and, with his wife, Miriam, he bids fair
to; pass many happy years. His near
neighbor and good friend Is Harvey
Windham, and a pretty ornament Jn his
parlor is a little gold plow mounted on an
onyx slab.
offer mora resources than does the ab
normally trained nosesof the bloodhound.
To such woodsmen a trail once made will
stand for weeks or even months in any
sort of weather.
In giving an idea how togo- about, fol
lowing a trail- It will be necessary to
wade through a few unlikely conditions
In. order to explain what ordinarily hap
pens." Of course, there jare a thousand
and qne ways In which a man may
leave traces of himself, as, for Instance,
by dropping his handkerchief, or, if he
has been wounded, by his blood, or, if he
has been smoking, by his clga ashes.
These conditions often ar used In
stories, but when it comes- to actual
trail-following one Is quite likely to find
that the man to be traced has neglected
to- lose his handkerchief. Is not wounded
and never smokes. When we throw aside
all, or at Ieasj. most, of the romantic torn
dress or dropped-slipper episode of trail
following, we find that there is only one
sort of mark which, unless a man walks
through running water, he cannot do
otherwise than leave, and this is his foot
marks. t
Unless a man rides in a balloon he
cannot travel -over the ground without
some part of himself or his conveyance
touching It, and that part which touches
the ground is sure to leave a enark
more or less distinct and permanent. It
may be a foot track an Inch deep in
the ground, or It may be only tho faint
est scratch on some stone. It rests with
tho tracker whether or not tho mark shall
be correctly read and Interpreted.
The footmarks a man leaves are of
various 'kinds, according to the sort of
ground he walks over. The trail-follower
must always take the ground into
conslapratipn and have definitely in mind
and last make the best trailing. Any
amateur can follow a trail over soft
ground, but over hard ground the thing
becomes an art the practice of which
needs' much training and great concen
tration, v
Color Is a great factor in troU-following.
Stones, hard pieces of dried mud, b'ts of
bark, even dust, are of one color next to
the gfround, and quite another color next
to the sun. Bytnotlrig this It can be de
termined whether" stone mud, bark or dust
has been lately disturbed. An abundance
of large rocks makes trailing very difficult.
Unless the person followed wears pegged,
shoes, the nails of which scratch the sur
face of the, rock,, amateurs will not be
able to unravel a trail which leads over
the face of a boulder, but they can circle
and pick up the trail where It leaves tho
rock.
When a trail leads through districts
which are overgrown, crushed flowers,
grasses and broken twigs are, of course,
the signs for which to watch.
This is the A B C of trall-followlpg
footprints on soft ground, discoloration
on hard ground and broken plants on
covered ground. Any boy who keeps this
In mind is sure, with a little practice, to
become efficient, and is unlikely to be led
astray by old marks. If. for example, in
following a trail over hard ground one
. comes upon a heelmark half an inch deep.
It. is evident that the Impression was
made shortly after the last rain, and can
not be the mark of a recent trail.
A game which Is quite popular In certain
sections of the country gives splendid
practice In trail-following.
A crowd of boys start walking across
country, making a plain trail, but doing
It in unexpected ways, such as placing
stones on the limbs of trees or tying vio
lets to grass stems, or planting a fern or
some such plant which always grows in
the shade out in the blazing sun.
Half an hour later a second crowd of
boys start out to overtake the first lot.
This second relay may race, while those
whom they are following must walk.
Careful count Is taken of the time It
takes to come up with those whom they
are following. When one pnrty has cap
tured the other, they change places and
the pursuers become the pursued.
The boys who occupy the least time in.
overtaking their companions aro, of
course, accounted the winners.
FIXDIXG A TItAII..
-PRINCESS VIOLET AND THE X-RAYS
STORY OF SERIOUS ILLNESS AND A VERY JOYFUL CURE BY FATHER
CERES AND HIS BLACK BOX
O
BRAVEST TIME IN ALICIA'S LIFE
SHE WAS REALLY AFRAID BUT STILL SHE FACED THE DARK
A LITTLE GIRL'S EXPERIENCE
;A L.ICIA is only a very little girl, so j oddly as she .opened it, and twice she
A small and so young that she hasn't
lived many years In which to learn to be
brave. And, then, too, perhaps, It's eas
ier for some people to be brave .than for
others. Alioia, at all events, finds it very
l. difficult. It fairly makes her tremble to
i,''-. think of going into a darkened room.
Wt while as ior Doing aiunc ui msui u"i
Jk "she's very fast and sound asleep Alicia
r"i wouldn't have believed such a thing pos
'"j sible until about a week ago.
One day Alicia's papa had to go away
lor a few days, and Jennie, the maid, was
called home to stav with a sick sister.
So Alicia and aer mamma were left all
alone in the house, and a 10-room house
seems very large for just two people,
sometimes, especially when It's night, and
one of the fwo people is a very small,
timid girl. But Alicia went to bed at her
usual time, her mamma-close bgside her.
And it's hardly likely .she would Have
opened her eyes before morning, butfor
the fact that her mamma tailed her,
gently, while still the night was dark.
"Mamma's feeling very ill. darling,"
the loving voice told her, "and she is too
faint to go to the kitchen or the bath
room for a glass of water. Will you get
one for 'her'"
Now, to get to the bathroom from the
room In which Alicia and her mamma
had gone to bed it was necessary to go
down a Iqng, long hallway, and, of course,
Allda wasn't tall enough to light tho gas.
Hor heart was up in her throat, as the
saying is and it really felt like it And
her hands and feet wtre simply -cold with
terxor, as she felt her way along to the
bathroom, filled the glass with water and
Btaried back. The bathroom door creaked
spilled cold water on her bare feet. When
these things happened, it seemed to her
that she couldn't go a step further, but.
she did, forcing herself to bo brave and
to do her duty, and It "was some com
pensation to seehow glad mamma was to
cet the water.
"I feel ever so much better," she told
Alicia. "Get into bed with me, now,
dearie, and we'll cuddle down together
until you get warm."
For Alicia was shivering and trembling.
though more with nervousness than cold,
Into the warms cozy bed. Mamma lay
down close beside her. and they both
went to sleep.
But Just as Alicia was dreaming sweet
ly of several pleasant things, her mother
found it necessary to wake her again.
"I'm feeling worse than ever, dearie, ,r
she said, weakly, "and I think I'll be
compelled to send for the doctor. Do you
think you could slip on your clothes and
go next door and ring the bell, and ask
Mr. Hansell to telephone for a doctor?"
To go downstairs alone and in the dark?
Worse yet, to go outside, and down to
the street, and up to the next house? And
to stand there, in tho chilly darkness,
while somebody answered the bell! Still
r with mamma 111 and In such pain .
Ill go, mamma," Alicia answered,
bravely, and it really seemed no time at
all until she was ringing the door-bell of
the next house. Mr. Hansell knew her to
be timid, so be went back to her own
home with her, and kind Mrs. Hansell
came over directly and stayed until It
was daylight, and Alicia's mamma was
better. But most o the day they were
alone in the house together, Alicia and
her mamma, and every time Alicia had
to go downstairs sho felt her timidity re
turning. But. still, to mako matters
better, every time she went the going
seemed less terrible and "scary." "and by
the time it was growing dusk and Jennie
back again, Alicia felt quite brave. And
her mamma declared that she had been
the dearest and best f children and a
great comfort to her In every way.
"So I hear you were very brave and
took very good care of mamma," said
Alicia's papa, very proudly, when he
came to hear the story. "And are you
glad, dearie, that you tried being brave
and courageous? Now, little daughter,
you will never be quite so timid or fear-
when he saw his wife he told her un
blushingly that, he had Just secured a beau
tiful work of art: for the nominal sum of
3000 francs. At this good news she seemed
more disconcerted than, pleased, but said
nothing, ana the painting was hung up.
Next day the gentleman was obliged to
go to the south pt France, and when he
returned after a week's absence his wife
met him with a beaming countenance, and
suld: "I've done a good stroke of business
while you were away. You know that
pilnting you bought for 3000 francs? Well,
I sold it yeserday for 4500 a clear profit
of 1500 francs."
NCE upon a time, a little Princess
Violet was very ill; so ill, indeed,
that Dr. Violet, a purple, choleric
gentleman, gravely shook hl3 head and
declared he could do nothing more for her;
hers was a hopeless case, past medical"
,ald!
This set all the nelgbhor violets across
the way agog with excitement. Though
Princess Violet was of the royal family,
three In number, the purple vloleto, sub
jects, thought the Princess was to be
pitied she was so frail, delicate and pale.
"Naturally, she Isn't half as strong as
we, for we belong to the deep purple
family, while she, her father and mother,
are delicate, white-flowered people," com
mented Cardinal Richelieu, strutting
proudly in his suit of velvet damask.
little Boy Blue, a tiny floweret, touched
his coat. He was page tq tho King and
Queen, and was important aside from
1 being smalL
"Tho King wants you dreadfully, Cardi
nal!" The Cardinal obeyed quickly, no doubt
hastened by the envious glances of the
purple court. When he reached the castle
apartments made by crossing the hallway
of a great conservatory, he could not but
notice tho lnxuriousness of all the fur
nishings. The softest green carpet
drowned his footsteps, the richest fra
grance exuded from the apartments all
furnished in brown tapestry and orna
ments. Richly dressed purple maids
awaited the Queen's behest, with bowed
heads. Bewildered, the Cardinal almost
failed in finding the Princess, who lay
very still on her bed of sheeny folds.
Nothing aroused her. 'The last thing she
said," mourned the Queen, "was that she
wanted to play outdoors, and meet Prince
Sunbeam! As to the first, it is too cold,
and as to the second, no one knows who
Prince Sunbeam Is, or what he looks like,
save that he Is said to dress In gold. We
promised her a string of pearls, and a
Prince of royalty among the King's rela
tives, but to no purpose. She fainted dead
away at our refusal, and nothing arouses.
her. Can't you help us. Cardinal?"
Here the Caxjllnal felt himself pulled
Into a green nookery, hidden by ferns, and
the King besought him plteously, leaving
the poor Queen weeping. What with the
maids weeping, the Queen crying, and his
own tears falling, there was a shower
cold and wintry enough to have killed the
Princess, only the Cardinal, quickly sus
pecting, drew all near to him in the nook
ery. and suggested that he ring up i atner
Ceres, always sage and helpful. There
was a fad nowadays to try new things,
and he was an old prophet to be tried
since the doctor had- failed. He had even
heard of X-rays, something new. On
Father Ceres' entrance, all held their
breath; surely he would help them. He
listened eagerly to their story, while he
bent over the fair Princess bed, running
meantime his long, bony fingers through
his meshy beatrd. Then he took a strange
looking instrument and focused X-rays on
her heart. He looked long and hard, and
then said:
"She ehould play outdoors to mako her
strong, and as to Prince Sunbeam, I will
send Persls, my daughter, for a few days.
She might come today, only It Is almost
too warm for her this April weather.
Bathe the Princess temples with this
liquid, wait seven days, and something
wonderful shall happen!" t
On the morn of the seventh day. Prin
cess Violet, very pale and wan Indeed, felt
a tweak at her nose, but she did not stir.
"Probably It was the maid trying to pull
the coverlet over her to keep her warm,"
she .thought, and she wearily opened her
eyes, and was so dazzled with a great
shining light focused upon her that glad
she was to close them again. But some
how she felt herself grow stronger, and
ere she was aware, a cheery little sprite
held her to the window, pinching her
cheeks and laughing roguishly, amidst the
protest of the King and Queen, who were
watching Ceres, the gray-haired propnet,
turn a light from a black-looking box
that made them tremble. So. Interested
wero they that they had forgotten to pull
the blinds to look at the beautiful new
day.
"took. Princess!" said Persls, "I came
all the way from fairy-world, at Father
Ceres' command. He eent me here to love
you and care for you. You are to go out
doors today. See, the sun sh'lnes warm
Just for you. For fear he'd shine too
warm for me, tan my skin, bring wrinkles
over my eyes, Father Ceres made the
beautiful trees you see to shelter me and
give you pleasure. Do you seo all those
golden, fluffy balls on the prongs and
twigs? They aro little fairies that came
with me. When "we are happy, glad and
merry, these little 'gold-bugs,' as we call
them, grow bright and beautiful. When
we pine and are sad, they wilt and die.
Then they never return to the fairy-world
again."
4-
SPIDERS OF THE WATER
and it really did seem very nice to getj ful again, and all because of the brave
effort of that one night and day."
"Yes, papa,", said Alicia, hesitatingly,
"I'm awful glad I was brave, 'cause of
mamma and myself, too and really it
wasn't so awfully hard when I got used
to it. But, at first, papa, I well, papa,"
snuggling up close to him and slipping
her hand into his at the recollection of
that first creepy trip" down the dark hall
way, "It was tho bravest time of my
life!" -
Ho-rr She Made a Profit.
In Paris a gentleman who Is very fond
of fine paintings bought the other day
for 15,000 francs a work entitled "The
Bride of Abj'dos,'' and was congratulating
himself on becoming its possessdr, 'when
he suddenly rememtiered that his wife dis
liked very much to see him spend his
money. In this manner.
"How can I avoid a scene?" he askedj
himself. "If I say that the painting cost
15.000 francs, there will be an awful time,
and so I'd better say 7000. No. 111 say
4000."
By the time he had reached home, and
JM" .
3y3jfij
4 CurrylBg air fcome.
.""T leaves of aquatic plants and catches
-L HE water spider runs about on the
the insects that live among them; but the
nest In which this spider lives Isa silk
bag filled with air, and It Is anchored be
neath; the -water. Its opening points di
rectly downward, so that no air can escape
when the spider enters it.
, After the nest has been made large
enough, the spider proceeds to fill it with
air In the most, remarkable way. She car
ries It in. Just as human people might
carry coal or wood or water Into their
houses. Going nearly to the surface, she
puts the end of her body out of the water
for an Instant, then Jerks It quickly under
with a bubble attached, and descends to
the nest, Intd which she then allows the
bubble to escape.
This 'Is repeated until the nest Is filled
with beautiful, shining, silvery bubbles of
air.
Tho spider has chosen this singular
abode to escape destruction by water fowl.
The leaves of most aquatic plants He flat I haps yours. If you do not run,
upon the water, and offer only few places
where the spider could hide from enemies.
The thought of a house of silk filled with
air, and anchored In crystalline, sparkling
liquid, would do for a fairyland story, but
here It is In real Ufa
There was a great feast in tho garden
of the castle, a bright day in Spring. A
polo was erected gay In colors. A great
company were upon the lawn, and the
King had commanded every one to swing
the fluttering ribbons at a given signal.
I4ttle brownies, fat and Impressive, el
bowed their way to the castle with vari
ous packages" suggesting goodies to eat
and nectara to drink. Little sprites car
ried bonnets, ribbons and handkerchiefs
to the reception-room, importantly, and
all was bustle.
The musicians, with Meadow Lark, Bob
olink and Grpssbeak. leaders, awaiting In
expectancy to sound the first note, for
what, they knew not, grew tervous.
The air was odorous with the Cardinal
and his courtly connections' presence.
Purple, red. maroon, lemon and blue, all
wtre there, a great number, swelled by
the attendance of their black livery black
charcoal creatures that Persls aeclared
she was afraid of.
Persls held lightly Princess Violet's fin
gers, who, still pale, had not quite recov
ered from her sickness. Npt even severe
tweaks from Persls tiny finger-tips, or
dewy drops from her medicine vial had
completely restored her. But here she
was with Persls awaiting Prince Sunbeam.
"Sound the trumpet, Thomas Bobolink!"
roars the King. "He comes!"
With tho first strain, of the music, the
gates to the palace swung wide open, and
a chariot drawn by two milk-white steeds
sprang into the yard. And with them was
Prince Sunbeam, a sunny fellow, merry
the mirth of which beamed from eyes the
color of the Summer sky, contagious to
all. What with his golden hair, and dress
of gold, from which radiated golden
sparks, the assembly were spellbound. But
wonders yet! Four yellow cats, two In
front of the chariot, and two bringing up
the rear, came with the train.
Consternation seized the crowd; the
brownies cried murder! The sprites flew
up the May-pole, tangling the ribbons; the
King and Queen grew whiter still; and
all the Cardinal's attendants bowed their
heads, as though a great wind had strick
en them.
Persls and Princess Violet alone stood
their ground.
Prince Sunbeam alighted, saluted Persls,
and pinned Princess Violet to the collar of
his velvet blouse, where she was sheltered,
blushing, 'neath the mesh of fluffy hair.
"You may go now, Persls," Prince Sun
beam says. "Father Ceres says you are
wanted and I'll care for the Princess."
"Run! Run! You naughty children!"
commanded Father Ceres, who had en
tered unawares. "Don't you see all the
kingdom is In exciteropnt and turmoil
because of those cats! Look at them, sit
ting at your feet, licking their chops. The
Sheriff of the castle a tremendous
brownie will cut off their heads, and per-
Run, 1
say!"
The Prince clapped his hands, and all
ran up the very trees given for Persls'
shelter.
Asraln the Prince clapped his hands.
when the yellow cats sans "E-u-r-r!
P-u-r-r!" And strange, the little "gold
bugs" on the tree sang the same tune.
The Prince added his bass, and Persls her
mellow soprano. It was so astonishing,
wlerdly stralnful. that all the people came
forth from their hiding places, scared, yet
venturesome.
The Prince felt this a time to speak.
"Most noble people: These are cats, ex
cellent creatures, friendly and useful.
They guard my chariot from 111. When
they are young, we call them pussies;
when old, cats. Do not be afraid; I will
take them away with me. In returning, I
have been told to bring
Something new and something old.
Yet something old and good as gold.
"The country from which I came 13
barren, devoid of trees; this tree is some
thing new. The green buds suggest the
color of the klrtles my people wear; that
Is something old. The yellow blossoms are
as good as gold, for they will gladden tho
hearts of my people by their beauty. Only
let each of us take sprajs with us. and
our bags full of golden bloesoms, and we
will take our leave."
The King stepped up. "Will you distrib
ute the blossoms to the earth children
shut in with Jckness and sorrow, all
Winter long?"
The Prince assented.
"In that case I will send the brownle3
with you, to help distribute the bloesoms,
and each year at tho close of Winter and
beginning of Spring. I shall ask Father
Ceres for these trees."
"And this being your wish, I christen
the tree Pussy Willow, In honor of my
pusslcfl, who shall obey your royal will,"
returned the Prince.
Here the Prince clapped his hands tnree
times, but all tho people bowed their
heads" to the ground, and would say noth
ing. "What Is the matter, Father Ceres?"
commands the Prince.
None w,ould answer, and the prophet,
old Ceres, took the- dark box and focused
its rays on the King's heart, and read
what he wanted to know.
"You are taking the Princess wlthvou,
the darling of their heart, never to return,
they think."
NTust as If the cats heard, they stepped
boldly out In march time, bearing aloft
on their backs all the brownies that could
find room, each with a tiny sack of pussy
blossoms. Brownies to the extent of a
great army followed, and before the as
tonished gaze of the courtly crowd, the
milk-white steed bore the Prince, Persia
and Princess Violet.
, "Drive fast!" roared the Prince, and,
facing the assemblage, he enveloped them
In such a raj of brightness that they
once again bowed them to the earth and
so lost sight of them the Prince, Persls
and Princess Violet.
When the Princess returned, she never
tired of relating of the sunshine they
brought weary earth children; ot the gold
dust shaken by their plates; of velvet
pouches placed in their hands, rubbing
health and color to their cheeks; of tho
retreat of King William Winter with deep
disgust at the golden blossoms studding
the earth; of musical whistles vocalized by
Spring's children.
This she loved best to relate to Father
Ceres, to whom she declared she did not
now need the X-rays to tell what the mat
ter with her was, for she was as merry
as a sunbeam.
Father Ceres was ever afterwards In de
mand with his" black, box with the X-ray3
and the Princess with her sunbeams.
LUCY TERRY HIGGINS.
Do Animals Help One Another?
Yes, a thousand times yes. Instances
of foster-motherhood In the animal world
are to be counted by the hundred. From
the days of old Aesop, when the mouse
helped tho Hon, and, indeed, long before
his time, one animal would assist another.
Thomas Edwards, the working Scotch
naturalist, once wounded a seagull and
saw two others lift the stricken bird by
its wings and fly with It out of range.
The kindness of rats to their old and
blind and feeble Is -almost proverbial.
Fanny Kemble mentions a lady -who ob
served a cow actually pumping water
from a well for another cow. The creat
ure raised the handle between her horns
and pumped whilst the other drank.
m
Why Repine?
"Why, why repine, my pensive, friend.
At pleasures slipt away? ,
Some the stern Fates -will never lend.
And all refuse to stay.
I see the rainbow In the sky.
The dew upon the grass, w .
I sec them, and I ask not why ,'
They glimmer or they pass.
With folded arms I linger not
To call them back; 'twere taint
In thfe, or Jn some other spot,
I know they'll shine again.
- -W. S. Lander,.