Volume XVII. With 1276 Pages, and about 1200 Illustrations. 4to, Cloth,

Ornamental, $3.50.

It is doubtful if any other book issued at this holiday season contains so many stories for young readers as this volume.--_San Francisco Chronicle._

The book is one which is sure to delight all the children.--_Detroit Free Press._

A pronounced success as an educational means of great value.--_Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph._

A Virginia Cavalier

A Story of the Boyhood of George Washington. By MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

An absorbing tale.--_Philadelphia Bulletin._

Rick Dale

A Story of the Northwest Coast. By KIRK MUNROE. Illustrated by W. A. ROGERS. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

A "capital story."--_Book Buyer_, N. Y.

Naval Actions of the War of 1812

By JAMES BARNES. With 21 Full-page Illustrations by CARLTON T. CHAPMAN, printed in color, and 12 Reproductions of Medals. 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, Deckel Edges and Gilt Top, $4.50.

Brimful of adventure, hardihood, and patriotism.--_Philadelphia Ledger._

The Ship's Company

And Other Sea People. By J. D. JERROLD KELLEY, Lieutenant-Commander U.S.N. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $2.50.

A great storehouse of charm.--_Boston Transcript._

The Dwarfs' Tailor

And Other Fairy Tales. Collected by ZOE DANA UNDERHILL. With 12 Illustrations. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.75.

The twenty-two tales form a cosmopolitan array that cannot fail to delight young readers.--_Chicago Tribune._

For King or Country

A Story of the American Revolution. By JAMES BARNES. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

A manly, straightaway narrative, with the adventures of a reasonable, practicable kind.--_Life_, N. Y.

Tommy Toddles

By ALBERT LEE. Illustrated by PETER S. NEWELL. Square 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

Every child in the land should have this book.--_Interior_, Chicago.

Shakespeare the Boy

With Sketches of the Home and School Life, the Games and Sports, the Manners, Customs, and Folk-lore of the Time. By WILLIAM J. ROLFE, Litt.D., Editor of "Rolfe's English Classics," etc. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, $1.25.

At once fascinating and instructive, and will be found as readable by the elders as by the youth.--_Watchman_, Boston.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

My little poet one spring day Walked out along the country way; His heart was light and merry. He wisely said, "'Twere best I bring Along with me, prepared to sing, My rhyming dictionary."

My little poet's arm I took, And asked if he'd within his book A word to rhyme with _notions_; He shook his little curly head, And arched his brows, and laughed, and said: "Oh yes, indeed! There's _oceans_!"

J. R. CONNER.

* * * * *

He was a Southern local politician running for office, and believed in making a thorough canvass in person. One day he was addressing a crowd of negro voters who had turned out to greet him, when he caught sight of a gray-wooled old man on the outskirts of the crowd. The old uncle had a rusty sword with him, and the orator thought he saw his opportunity to catch the negro vote.

"There," he cried, pointing to the apparent veteran, "that gentleman over there illustrates the bravery of your race. Men of his merit I admire. Brave men of your race should be upheld; their dignity should be maintained. And were I in office, I would fight for you the same as that aged hero fought for us. Look at him. There he stands to-day with his trusty sword, the weapon that he drew in defence of his country. What better example could--"

Broad smiles that threatened to divide the faces of that colored crowd had been spreading during the latter part of the orator's harangue; but when the old darky broke in with, "'Deed, massa, youse am right 'bout dat sword bein' drawn, but Ise done drawed it in a raffle," it completely broke up the meeting.

* * * * *

ANOTHER QUESTION.

"I hate to bother you, Pop; but, really, I'd like to know--"

"Well, what?"

"How it happens that baby fish don't get drowned before they've learned to swim?"

* * * * *

WHAT SHE WANTED.

Sallie was helping herself rather copiously to the preserves, when her aunt said, "Oh, Sallie, not too much, dear. You don't want too much, do you?"

"Yeth, I does," said Sallie, "and more too. I want three much!"

* * * * *

PROVED.

"Bah!" cried Bobbie. "The idea of saying the world's round! I know better."

"Oh, you do, eh?" said his uncle. "And how do you know better?"

"It stands to reason," said Bobbie, "if it was round, the ocean wouldn't stay on it, but go sloshing down it into space."

* * * * *

MERELY AN IDEA.

"Pop," said Willie, "I don't see why, if when you've got toothache you go and have your tooth pulled, it wouldn't be a good thing when your head aches to go and get your hair pulled."

Up to this hour Pop has not been able to explain.

* * * * *

ANOTHER QUESTION.

"Pop," said Willie, "why is it called a gymnasium?"

"Why? Why, because that's its name--ah--"

"Yes, I know that," said Willie, "but why didn't they call it a Tomnasium or a Bobnasium, eh?"

* * * * *

AN OBSERVANT YOUTH.

"Now, Bobbie," said the teacher, "spell pipe."

"P-I-P-E," said Bobbie.

"That's right. And now tell me something about pipes. What do people do with them?"

"Well," said Bobbie, thoughtfully, "boys blow bubbles with 'em; plumbers put 'em in; Scotchmen blow music out of 'em; and men like Pa smoke 'em. It all depends on the kind of pipes you want me to tell you about."

* * * * *

A YOUTHFUL OBSERVER.

"Dear me, Robbie," said his mother, "do you want to be a baby all your life? Do behave yourself."

"I wouldn't mind, Mamma," said Robbie. "All the baby does is laugh and squawk and get waited on. Seems to me that's rather pleasant."

* * * * *

AN OPINION.

I don't know what my Daddy does, But I've a sort of whim That when I get to be a man I'd like to be like him!

For he's the finest chum I have. It doesn't matter what He does to me, I think he's best Of all the friends I've got!

Why, even when he takes his hand And spanks me, and I cry, I cannot truly help but see A look in Daddy's eye

Which shows me, though he doesn't spare My feelings with his hand, He loves me more than anything That lives on sea or land.

And so I say if sometimes I Have little boys like his, I hope that I'll be to them as To me my Daddy is!

JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, December 29, 1896, by Various