CHAPTER VIII.

The Lion bowed in a dignified manner to the Gopher, and rapped on the table again to bring the Parrots to order, and then the Gopher said, very slowly and deliberately:

"When is a door not a door?"

The animals stared at one another, and whispered, and gazed up and down the table as if they thought they might possibly derive inspiration from the dishes. Tommy and the ex-Pirate said not a word. Presently the Gopher repeated:

"When is a door not a door?"

But no one could guess, and after a few moments more of anxious and strained silence the Gopher said:

"I suppose I shall have to tell you. A door is not a door when it is ajar."

The animals fairly roared and shrieked with laughter. They bellowed and howled and pounded on the table, and the Gopher became so much affected with appreciation of his own wit that he fell over backwards, and almost stunned a Newfoundland puppy who was trying to get his nose above the table to see what it was all about. Tommy had never realized before what the expression "to roar with laughter" really signified, and he concluded he never wanted to experience such a realization again. The noise was so great that he had to put his fingers to his ears. When the merriment had partially subsided, the little boy leaned over to the ex-Pirate and said:

"I have heard that joke before; haven't you?"

"Indeed I have," answered the ex-Pirate, "many a time."

"It's an awfully old one, isn't it?"

"I always suspected it was first gotten off in the Ark," said the ex-Pirate, shaking his head knowingly; "but I did not know the Gopher was responsible for it."

By this time the animals had recovered themselves, and some were shouting to the Gopher for more jokes. He got up and protested that he did not know any more; and then, suddenly pointing to the ex-Pirate, he exclaimed:

"He's a funny one. He can _recite_ things!"

Thereupon the animals all gazed at the ex-Pirate, and the Lion said, "Recite things."

The ex-Pirate never needed much urging to do this sort of thing, and so when Tommy whispered to him to read the seventeenth chapter of his autobiography which he knew his friend had in his pocket, and of which the little boy had only heard the first few lines, the ex-Pirate arose, and, bowing in his usual way to all his hearers, he pulled his manuscript from his coat and began to read:

The following day the sun rose up as usual from the East. The sea was calm, the sky was clear, the stormy winds had ceased; The _Black Avenger_ sped along before a gentle breeze, And the starboard watch loafed on the deck in true piratic ease. I took my breakfast down below, and when I came on deck I looked about, and far away I saw a little speck Upon the blue horizon, and I knew it was a sail. For, in matters of this nature, my eyesight could not fail. I called my swarthy Bo's'n, and I said to him, said I: "If we don't overtake that ship, I'll know the reason why; If we don't overtake her ere the sun shines overhead I'll cut the whiskers off the crew before I go to bed!" The Bo's'n nodded cheerfully and swore a fearful oath, (He called upon the Sun and Moon, and scandalized them both,) And then he hitched his trousers up and piped his whistle shrill, And made the loafing pirates heave the halyards with a will. The _Black Avenger_ sped along and ploughed the boiling sea, The rigging creaked, the sails stood out, the foam flew fast and free. The pirates gathered on the deck and buckled on their swords, Rolled up their sleeves, and combed their beards, and spoke piratic words. But suddenly the Bo's'n came a-rushing up to me, His face was pale, his nose was red, he spoke: "Good sir," said he, "Yon vessel is from Switzerland, and, verily, I fear We'll find she is not what she seems, as soon as we get near; She looks to me as though she might--might be a privateer" (But when he found she wasn't one, he shed a private tear.) Said I: "Load up the cannons, boys, with ten-pound cannon-balls; I care not what yon ship may be, into my hands she falls! We'll take her, and we'll take her guns, her captain, and her crew, Her cook, her cabin steward, and her precious cargo, too!" So the Gunner and the Gunner's Mate they lifted up the hatch, And they called upon the pirates who formed the starboard watch To help them lift the cannon-balls from out the magazine Where all the cannon-balls were kept, wrapped up in bombazine. But presently the Gunner's Mate came rushing to the rail, His hair was standing up on end, his face was very pale, He cried: "Oh, Captain, woe is me, no cannon-balls are left; Of shot and shell of every kind the magazine's bereft. There's not a piece of shrapnel, no canister or grape, There's not enough of buckshot to kill a good-sized ape!" The Bo's'n, who stood near at hand, gazed sadly at us both, And then he pulled his pistols out and swore a mighty oath: "How shall we take yon Switzer ship," he said, "without a shell?" "We've _got_ to fight," I answered him. "Won't cheese do just as well?" For, two days previously, you know, we met a brigantine From Amsterdam for Zululand, by name the _Bandoline_, And in her hold she carried a fine cargo, if you please, Consisting of a hundred thousand dozen Edam cheese. We took a hundred dozen and stowed them on the poop Between the after cannon and the Captain's chicken-coop. (The crew had used the cheeses and some bottles from the galley, The day before, to improvise a sort of bowling-alley.) Said I: "We'll take these Edam cheese and put them in the guns, And shoot them at the Switzer ship until she sinks or runs; For surely such proceeding will be worse than shot or shell, Just think of being _hit_ with cheese--say nothing of the smell!" The pirates laughed and vowed my scheme would give them lots of fun; And soon a big, red, round, Dutch cheese was rammed in every gun. It was not long before the _Black Avenger_ came abreast And hailed the ship from Switzerland with true piratic zest; But not a Switzer said a word, nor made they any sign, But all the sailors on the ship were ranged along in line, And leaned upon the starboard rail, with sunken pallid cheeks As though they had not tasted food for six or seven weeks. The swarthy Bo's'n hailed again, and as no answer came The Gunner's Mate averred it was high time to start the game. I spoke the word, and seven guns all loaded up with cheese Were fired at the Switzer ship as nicely as you please; And then a second volley went, and soon again a third. And when the smoke had cleared away we saw what had occurred. Each cheese had hit the Switzer ship and flattened on her decks, The Switzer men were wading in the cheese up to their necks. We waited then to see what sort of fighting they would make, And wondered how much cheese these Switzer sailor-men could take. But as we waited silence came all o'er the Switzer craft, And not a seaman seemed to move, or forward or abaft. I called the Bo's'n to the bridge, and "Take the gig," said I; "Go board yon ship, where all is still, and learn the reason why." The Bo's'n quick got in the gig with sixteen of the crew, He took along a cannon and an Edam cheese or two, And half an hour he was gone, then slowly rowed he back; He said to me: "Good Captain," he sobbed, "alas, alack! Upon that floating vessel there's no one left to fight; There's not a living creature, not a living thing in sight. No man remains to give reply to any kind of question: The Switzers ate up all the cheese, and died of indigestion."

There was another great demonstration of approval as soon as the ex-Pirate had concluded, but Tommy paid little attention to the noise this time, because he had become somewhat accustomed to it.

"You see," said the ex-Pirate, apologetically, "I could not very well read anything like that--all about cheese--in the presence of the Welsh Rabbit; could I?"

"Of course not," agreed Tommy; "but is it true that--"

"I say," interrupted the Gopher, leaning in front of Tommy and addressing himself to the ex-Pirate; "I know another joke now. I know what the Bo's'n said to the Gunner's Mate when he told him to shoot at the ship."

"Well, what did he tell him?" asked the ex-Pirate, incautiously.

"Cheese it!" shouted the Gopher, who was immediately seized with such a violent fit of laughter that he fell under the table, and almost buried himself under the pile of broken soup plates.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

Although the Cascadilla School has not practised rowing so long as St. Paul's, of which this Department spoke last week, it has made rapid strides ever since the sport was introduced there two years ago, and now boasts of a well-equipped navy. Owing to the school's location on Cayuga Lake, aquatics will become the distinctive form of athletics there in the future, although, as a member of the New York State Interscholastic League, football and baseball teams are also put into the field. But it is a good thing to have rowing developed in some of the preparatory institutions, and I shall not regret to see some of the vast amount of energy that now appears to be running riot in track athletics turned into this new channel. Every large school situated near a watercourse or a lake ought to add rowing to its list of sports, if it is possible to do so.

The principal difficulty in the way of such progress at present lies in the fact that so few schools have crews, that interscholastic contests are hard to arrange. The Cascadilla oarsmen are fortunate in having the Cornell crews to row against, and each year they get races with the Freshmen and 'Varsity eights. Thus far they have secured no victories over either of these rivals, but as the sport grows older with them they should make a better showing from year to year. The Cascadilla commodore is now negotiating with a school near Philadelphia that has taken steps toward the organization of a crew, and it is possible that next summer will witness the first of a series of interscholastic regattas between these progressive institutions.

The same lack of a scholastic rival hampers rowing at St. John's Academy, Delafield, Wisconsin, where the school eight have to seek as their opponents the crews of Madison University. Last spring they defeated the '97 crew by three lengths in an exciting race over the Nagawicka course in the excellent time of 8 min. 3 sec. This victory was all the more creditable from the fact that several of the Madison 'Varsity men had seats in the '97 boat. I have spoken of the rowing which is done in the several schools mentioned to show that it is possible for young men not yet in college to approximate the work performed by older athletes. The Department has devoted space to the description of the crews and their methods in the hope of encouraging other institutions to take up the sport during the coming winter and next spring. It is an excellent exercise, and a seat in the 'Varsity boat is looked upon as the greatest athletic honor a college man may attain, excepting, of course, a captaincy. It must be the same in every school where rowing is practised, and the school that has a crew in the spring is bound to have a better football team in the fall, for the training done in the winter and the rowing done later develop new material, and strengthen the older men.

The proposition to organize a National Interscholastic Athletic Association, modelled upon the Inter-collegiate Association, made in these columns in the early part of last spring, is looked upon favorably not only by the schools and associations in this part of the country, but also by the schools on the Pacific coast. In fact, the Westerners have shown a much greater spirit of enterprise and sportsmanship in the matter than have the managers of scholastic athletic interests in the East. It is probable, however, that the apparent stagnation in this quarter has been due to the summer vacation, and the consequent cessation of school sports, and the absence from town of those who could take hold of the scheme and put it through. Now that the fall term is about to open, this matter promises to be taken up with the energy required for such an undertaking, and all we need is the hearty co-operation of the many interscholastic associations from every State in the Union. On October 8th there will be a meeting of the New York I.S.A.A., and I am assured that at that meeting the first steps towards the formation of the National Interscholastic League will be taken.

Steps have already been taken in California toward joining the League as soon as it shall be started, and the San Francisco newspapers are already talking of it as though it were an accomplished fact. This is all due to those lively young sportsmen of the Oakland High-School, who are not only eager to enter a general association, but are anxious to send a team of athletes to the Berkeley Oval to threaten the supremacy of the Eastern schools in track and field sports. Here is what the San Francisco _Call_ of September 4th says on the subject:

The Oakland High-School decided to-day that it would join the National League of High-Schools, and send a team to New York next year to join in the national High-School contests. The team will consist of ten of the best athletes in the school, and the boys anticipate being capable of holding their own and capturing some of the trophies. They have received much encouragement from the recent tour of the Berkeley team. The Oakland High-School has for some time been a member of the league of which HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is the organ, and now that they have decided to branch out and seek national honors, athletics will receive a boom, as there is much rivalry as to who will ultimately be the ones chosen to uphold the honor of Oakland's High-School in the Empire State. A general meeting will be held in a few days, and a manager will be elected who will at once put into practice all the available material. After that the boys will commence to obtain pledges for financial aid, as it will require about $1600 to defray the expenses of the trip. The next national High-School contests will be held in the summer; but entries are now being made, and Oakland will not be dilatory in outlining the events for which she will seek to carry off the honors. "The sending East of our team will be one of the best things that ever the High-School undertook," said one of the O.H.-S. athletes to-day. "It will call attention to our school and to Oakland, and will let thousands of people know that we exist who are in doubt just now as to where Oakland is. We have been debating the proposition of sending a team East all this year, but after we saw what a lot of attention was shown to the Berkeley team we could see no reason why we should not try a similar tour among the crack Eastern High-Schools. We do not anticipate any trouble in raising the necessary funds, as we think the noise we shall make will prove a very valuable advertisement for this city."

A good many of the statements made by the _Call_ are inaccurate, but the main announcement, that the O.H.-S. will come East, is authentic. It behooves the Eastern sportsmen, therefore, to get ready to receive them. As I have said before, the ROUND TABLE will do everything in its power to further the organization of a National Association of the schools, and these columns are open to correspondents who care to make suggestions for the advancement of the scheme. Perhaps a better idea of what the Californians have actually done, and will do, can be obtained from this letter, which came to the ROUND TABLE from the Captain of the O.H.-S. athletic team:

"The newspaper reports are not at all accurate, but they will serve to show what we have been doing lately. While they do not convey the exact truth, they have aroused great enthusiasm among the Oakland people, and we have great hopes of taking an Eastern tour. We are only awaiting the formation of the Big League to go right to work, and we have a big job on hand. I suppose that the Field Day will be held about the latter part of June, and that the list of events will be made to coincide exactly with the Inter-collegiate programme. If we came East we could doubtless make arrangements for a series of dual games with three or four of the crack schools in the vicinity of New York in addition to the Big Field Day. Of course this could all be arranged later on; what we are worried about now is getting started. I wish you would prod the schools up and get them to take immediate action. We want to get to work right away, for to raise $3000 is quite a job. The U.C. boys are in favor of the trip, and will help us in every way. I wish you would inform us of any steps taken in this regard, and also put us in touch with the officers, so we could correspond with them. Would it be necessary to be the winning or champion team of our league to join in the Field Day, or could the O.H.-S. alone join the League and uphold the honor of California in the scholastic world in the East?"

It strikes me that the New York I.S.A.A. will lose an opportunity that may never offer again if it fails now to take the initiative in the formation and foundation of the National Interscholastic Athletic Association of America.

Lawrenceville opened last Thursday, and the football men went to work at once. Some of the old players got back a week earlier, and saw to it that the eight fields were put into shape and laid out, and now every afternoon one may see sixteen elevens hard at work rushing and kicking and otherwise developing new material. This system of requiring everybody to join in the game is an excellent one. The boys at Lawrenceville are arranged according to size, and are taught how to play, and thus it is plain that in the course of a year or two the Captain of the school team has plenty of good material to pick from. The first and second teams have the additional advantage of being coached by some of the instructors who were star football players in their college days, and the benefit of whose experience goes largely toward making the Lawrenceville eleven the successful one that it usually is.

Last year, for instance, Lawrenceville defeated the Hill School, 22-0, the Yale Freshmen, 16-0, and Andover, 20-6, besides disposing of every other school team they met. They tried to arrange a game with the Princeton 'Varsity, but were not successful, for the reason, they believe, that in 1893 they scored 4-8 on the orange and black champions. Of course this is probably not the reason, for Princeton should be only too glad to get such excellent practice even from a school team, and this year no doubt there will be a match, and another probably with the University of Pennsylvania.

A feature of the football record of this school, which it is pleasing to be able to call attention to, is that in the twelve years the game has been played there no dispute has ever arisen and no serious accident has occurred. Moreover, as far as I am able to ascertain, no boy ever went to the school because he could play football. All this tends to create a genuine and healthy interest in the sport, and not only the scholars themselves, but the graduates of the school take pride in such a record. This is shown by the fact that the Alumni have presented a $300 cup for class championship contests, each winning class getting its numeral engraved upon the trophy; and an alumnus has also offered a cup to be played for by the House teams, and to become the property of the House winning the greatest number of times within ten years. The boys live in Houses at Lawrenceville, as they do at Rugby and Harrow, and each House has its eleven.

Of last year's first school team five men return: Emerson, full-back; Dibble and Davis, half-backs; Cadwalader and Edwards, guards. This is a first-rate nucleus, and Dibble, the new Captain, is expected to bring forward a team equal, if not superior, to that of last year. There are few better half-backs in the schools than Dibble. He is a great sprinter, having covered the 100 in 10 seconds at the school games last June. Davis, the other half-back, and Emerson, the full-back, will surely improve this fall over their last year's style, while no better guards are necessary than Cadwalader and Edwards. They weigh 210 and 218 pounds respectively.

The candidates for end rush are Noble and Righter, and unless some new phenomenons develop, they will hold the positions. The tackles will have to be taken from the incoming classes, and the hardest position to fill will be quarter-back. Captain Dibble may well watch the play of the man in this position, if he expects the team to be engineered as well as De Saulles did it last year. De Saulles is a wonderful quarter-back, and will no doubt make the Yale 'Varsity in a year or so. A large number of new Fourth Form boys, or Seniors, have been entered this fall, and it will be strange if in a school of 350 enough available material cannot be trained to bring the eleven up to its usual standard of excellence.

The teams of the New England League are also in the field, and in a few days practice games between schools will begin. Boston Latin is scheduled to meet Charlestown High to-morrow, and English High meets Dorchester on the same day. There is unusual promise of good new material everywhere, and the championship matches ought to furnish good football. Only three members of the Cambridge Manual Training School's champion eleven are back this fall, and the candidates for positions are mostly small, light men. Captain Murphy, however, has signified his intention of trying to make up for the probable lightness of his team by perfecting it in team work.

The Boston Latin School was the first to get its men into training, and has a start of nearly a week over its rivals. Many of last year's players have returned to school, and most of them are heavy fellows. Lowe, one of the guards, is the biggest man of the aggregation, and weighs 210 pounds. Eaton at centre weighs 198 pounds, and his other guard, Nagle, tips the scales at 185. These three have played together for B.L.S. for the past three years, and are undoubtedly the strongest centre in the League. The tackle positions are open, and one of them will probably be filled by Rankin, who was a substitute last year. D. Lockin, who showed some of the best end work of any of the school players, is back in his old position.

Captain Maguire will keep his old place at full-back, and ought to manage to develop a strong eleven. He is familiar with the fine points of the game, and has been a member of the team for two years past. Last year he proved himself one of the cleverest ground-gainers in the League, and in the game with English High his punting aided materially toward the securing of victory. His tackling and interfering have improved, and will doubtless grow better as the season advances.

The showing made in the early work of the English High-School players has not been very encouraging thus far. Like the C.M.T.S. men, the candidates are small, but all of them are apparently hard workers. It is fortunate for Captain Callahan that there are not so very many positions to fill, but on the other hand the vacancies occur in places where strong and reliable players are required. If things are allowed to run along in the slipshod way that characterized E.H.-S.'s endeavors last year, however, the team will be a poorer one than has represented the school for some time. Only continuous and careful work can bring the team into championship form.

The two scholastic representatives in the A.A.U. championships at Manhattan Field on the 14th managed to hold their ends up pretty well. Baltazzi took second to Sweeney in the high jump, with 5 feet 10-1/2 inches, defeating Cosgrove, and Syme got first in the low hurdles. He ran his trial heat in 26-3/5 seconds, but got the medal with 28-1/5 seconds. His victory was in some respects a repetition of his success at Syracuse in the Metropolitan championships. There he met Sheldon and Chase, the latter falling over the eighth hurdle. At Manhattan Field, Cosgrove led up to the ninth hurdle in the trials, and then took a cropper, leaving Syme to win the heat. In the finals, Syme and Cady had it neck and neck to this same ninth, when the scholastic runner struck the timber so heavily as to break it, but recovered in time to see Cady go somersaulting over the tenth. Before the Yale man could recover, Syme had breasted the tape.

THE GRADUATE.

A NEW USE FOR A DOLL.

A new use for a doll has been discovered by an ingenious London thief. A woman who was arrested for stealing from one of the large dry-goods shops was found to have been carrying what everybody supposed to be a baby; but what in reality turned out to be a huge doll with a wax face and hollow leathern body. It was the thief's custom to conceal the stolen articles as quickly as she got her fingers on them, gloves, laces, and so forth, in the cavernous and spacious interior of the "baby."

SOME STRANGE VISITING-CARDS

Calling in Corea must be a very difficult performance, if, as a London journal has recently stated, the ordinary visiting-cards there are a foot square. The same journal goes on to say that the savages of Dahomey announce their visits to each other by a wooden board or the branch of a tree artistically carved. This is sent on in advance, and the visitor, on taking leave, pockets his card, which probably serves him for many years. The natives of Sumatra also have a visiting-card, consisting of a piece of wood about a foot long and decorated with a bunch of straw and a knife.

SOME NOVEL RACES.

A London newspaper some years ago contained an account of a strange sort of contest which two noblemen once got up for their own amusement. It consisted of matching a flock of turkeys and a flock of geese for a race on the London and Norwich road, in the middle of the last century. The turkeys would insist upon flying up into the roadside trees to roost while the geese, keeping up a steady waddle till night, reached London from Norwich two days ahead. The same journal also mentions the feats of the Hon. Tom Coventry's sprinting pig. In 1803 this speedy animal was matched against a celebrated runner, and started a strong favorite on the day of the race which she won with ease. The pig had been trained to run the distance each day for its dinner. Another strange contest of this time took place between two sporting noblemen, who raced against each other on a windy day on Hampstead Heath, one running backwards in jack-boots, and the other holding up an open umbrella, and running forwards.

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Commit to Memory

the best things in Prose and Poetry, always including good Songs and Hymns. It is surprising how little good work of this kind seems to be done in the Schools, if one must judge from the small number of people who can repeat, without mistake or omission, as many as =Three= good songs or hymns.

Clear, Sharp, Definite,

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and Hymns, in great variety and very carefully selected, comprising Sixteen Hundred in the Eight Numbers thus far issued, together with much choice and profitable Reading Matter relating to Music and Musicians. In the complete and varied

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which is sent free on application to the Publishers, there are found dozens of the best things in the World, which are well worth committing to memory; and they who know most of such good things, and appreciate and enjoy them most, are really among the best educated people in any country. They have the best result of Education. For above Contents, with sample pages of Music, address

Harper & Brothers, New York.

This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.

The third stage of the trip from New York to Boston by the shore road demands our attention this week. It extends from New Haven to New London, a distance of forty-five miles or more, and though the rider can, if he desires, stop at Saybrook, thirty-three miles distant from New Haven, it is wiser to make the run to New London in one day, as the accommodations at New London are better, and the next stage, from New London to Shannuck, which comes on the next day, is much lighter.

Leaving New Haven and going eastward the rider should keep always to the right on going into the suburbs of the city, and continue to the south of Fair Haven through East Haven. One and a half or two miles out of East Haven the road crosses the railroad track, and then runs on another mile into Branford, which is eight miles from New Haven. From Branford the road is, in the main, easily followed, the general tendency being to keep in the vicinity of the railroad, and near the shore of Long Island Sound. It is well for the rider, where possible, outside of villages, to take the side path, as the road is not in the best of condition in certain places, and the side path is usually very good. From Branford to Stony Creek is a distance of about three miles. Thence to Leetes Island, two miles further, where the road is clear, there is little to be described. There are almost no hills of importance, and the side path usually offers a very good substitute for the road itself when the latter becomes sandy.

From Leetes Island to Guilford, about three miles further on, the road winds about a good deal, crossing the railroad track twice before entering Guilford in order to make a detour to the north and cross a creek. After leaving Guilford the road runs down close by the shore, and keeps its position in passing East River and Madison. Between Madison and Clinton, and between Clinton and Grove Beach, a distance altogether of between five and six miles, the road is fair in general and very poor in spots. The side path should be taken wherever available, but, everything considered, it is not one of the best bicycle roads that could be desired. From Grove Beach into Saybrook, a distance of six miles, the rider passes through Westbrook, and the road does not alter its condition, being in the main fair, but very sandy in spots.

If possible, the rider should start from New Haven early in the morning, and make Saybrook some time about noon, stopping there for lunch or dinner. This is a distance of thirty-three miles altogether. To be sure, it only leaves a run of thirteen or fourteen miles to New London, but the accommodations there are so much better than along the line that it is advisable to try and reach it, and at the same time it is always well to do more than half the journey in the morning. Leaving Saybrook the rider should proceed, still on the turnpike, to the Connecticut River bank at Lyme Ferry. Crossing by this he turns to the right and runs into Lyme over a capital road. Thence the road runs along over a reasonably good bit of country to the north of the railroad into South Lyme, five miles further on, with the exception of a spot a mile or more beyond Black Hall, where the road crosses a creek and is poor riding for a short space. From South Lyme to Niantic is about three miles, and after passing East Lyme, a short distance out of Niantic, the rider crosses a long bridge over an inlet of the Sound. From this point, keeping to the left just after crossing the bridge, he runs through Jordanville into New London, and may there put up at the Crocker House in the middle of the town.

There are several alternatives over the last part of the course. For example, after crossing the Lyme Ferry and passing through Lyme, instead of keeping to the right it is possible for the rider to turn to the left, and follow the secondary bicycle route marked on the map, which, on the whole, is neither as short nor as good riding as the other. The road passes through Graniteville and joins the turnpike-road near Jordanville. In the case of a strong head wind, especially if it is a little to the southward of east, it will save a great deal of time and labor for the rider to take this more inland route. On the southern route, after passing Niantic and East Lyme and crossing the long bridge, the rider may turn sharp to the right, follow the route marked on the map, crossing another inlet of the Sound, leaving Jordanville on the north, and thence run on to the mouth of the Thames River, where he can put up at the Pequot House, a summer hotel, which will be a welcome place after such a ride.

NOTE.--Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City--First stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland--First Stage in No. 827. Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston--Second Stage in No. 829.

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

The New York _Herald_ states that the Duke of York is prepared to sell his very valuable collection of stamps to the highest bidder. Lord Rothschild has made the most liberal offer thus far, but he would prefer to buy the rarest specimens only.

C. E. ABBEY.--U. S. stamps are printed on plates of 200 or 400 stamps divided into _panes_ of 100 stamps each. A sheet of 100 stamps as sold by the Post-Office is one of these panes. Every plate bears a number, and this number is printed on the margin of each pane. For instance, the current 2c. red is printed from plates of 400 stamps which, after printing, is cut into four sheets. I illustrate plate No. 112.

I know of no stamp chapter in Newark.

H. B. THAW.--The 12 sen 1875, Japan, is worth 70c., the 15 sen, same issue, 60c.

L. M. C.--Dealers quote two varieties of the half-dime of 1838, one at 10c., the other at 30c.

A. WHITTEMORE.--No stamp was found in your envelope when opened.

D. C. S.--The stamps are Costa Rica revenues. There are several varieties of U. S. 1c. Proprietary worth from 1c. to 10c. each.

J. K. MORLAN.--The current 1s. Great Britain postage-stamp is catalogued at 2c. if used. As there are many thousand varieties of North, Central, and South American stamps, I cannot quote values, but advise you to buy a catalogue.

E. H. MAURER.--The $1 values of U. S. postage-stamps are largely used to pay postage on packages of bonds sent from the U. S. to Europe. The "pink" 1861 is extremely rare. It is a peculiar shade which cannot be described in words.

H. L. WATSON, Paris.--It is probably a fraud. The only Jones Express known in America bears Washington's portrait, and is printed on pink paper.

A. E. BARROW.--No coins enclosed. I cannot say what dealers will pay for stamps. That depends on scarcity, condition, and quantity. An unsevered pair of any scarce stamp is always worth more than two single stamps of the same kind. The Columbus and 1853 dollars can both be bought from dealers at a slight advance.

D. E. PORTEr.--The coin is a Connecticut cent dated 1787. Dealers catalogue it at 15c.

J. T. DELANO.--What dealers pay for coins we do not know. You can buy the 1832 half-dollar in good condition for 75c., the 1853 quarter for 35c., the 1864 two-cent copper for 10c.

F. S. BIDWELL, JUN.--No premium on the shilling.

E. B. TRIPP.--Dealers quote the 1857 and 1858 cents at 5c. each, 1822 half-dollar at 75c., silver three-cent pieces at 10c.

C. MARTIN.--Levant stamps are used for local purposes, and for prepayment of postage on letters to the home countries.

PHILATUS.

* * * * *

DON'T WORRY YOURSELF

and don't worry the baby; avoid both unpleasant conditions by giving the child pure, digestible food. Don't use solid preparations. _Infant Health_ is a valuable pamphlet for mothers. Send your address to the New York Condensed Milk Company, N.Y.--[_Adv._]

ADVERTISEMENTS.

You see them everywhere

Walter Baker & Co. Limited,

The Largest Manufacturers of

PURE, HIGH GRADE

COCOAS and CHOCOLATES

On this Continent, have received

HIGHEST AWARDS

from the great

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EXPOSITIONS

IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.

* * * * *

=Caution:= In view of the many imitations of the labels and wrappers on our goods, consumers should make sure that our place of manufacture, namely, =Dorchester, Mass.= is printed on each package.

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SOLD BY GROCERS EVERYWHERE.

* * * * *

WALTER BAKER & CO. LTD. DORCHESTER, MASS.

Any man seeing a

"Rugby" Watch

will wish himself a boy again.

=Never before= have such elegant watches been made for the boys.

=Boys, you are in it= this year, sure.

Send for ="Rugby" Catalogue=, and it will make you open your eyes.

The Waterbury Watch Co.,

Waterbury, Conn.

Postage Stamps, &c.

100 all dif. Venezuela, Bolivia, etc., only 10c.; 200 all dif. Hayti, Hawaii, etc., only 50c. Ag'ts w't'd at 50% com. List FREE! =C. A. Stegmann=, 5941 Cote Briliante, St. Louis, Mo.

=FREE 25 STAMPS.= Japan, Mexico, Roumania, etc., for 2c. stamp; 100 all dif., 10c.; 8 Samoa, 10c.

J. A. WILSON, 1108 Fairmount, Phila., Pa.

=CUBA= 29 varieties of genuine, unused stamps for 50 cents. Catalogue value, =$3.41=. =E. T. PARKER=, Bethlehem, Pa.

=25= var. foreign stamps and price-list free for 2c. stamp.

EXCELSIOR STAMP CO., Keyport, N. J.

=STAMPS.= 100 for 12c.; 40 U.S., 25c.; _no rubbish_, 50% com. KEYSTONE STAMP CO., Lebanon, Pa.

Harper's Catalogue,

Thoroughly revised, classified, and indexed, will be sent by mail to any address on receipt of ten cents.

Our Photographic Prize Competition.

The Camera Club Department of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is the only one of the kind published regularly in the interests and for the help of the young amateur. It contains matter also for those more advanced in the art of photography. Its aim is to raise the standard of amateur photography among young people, and to direct them how to make the best use of their cameras.

To stimulate all to do their best, the ROUND TABLE offers prizes for the best specimens of photographic work submitted by the members. Any amateur may become a member of the Camera Club by simply sending name and address to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, and stating that you wish to become a member. There are no fees or dues. Those wishing to become members are asked to state in their application whether they have or have not passed their eighteenth birthday. Those under eighteen are made members, and those over eighteen are made Patrons of the Round Table.

The following are our annual prize offers with conditions. Part of these are open to all amateurs without regard to age.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRIZE COMPETITION.

CLASS I.--MARINES.

First Prize $15 Second Prize 10

Entries in this class will close October 15, 1895.

CLASS II.--LANDSCAPES.

First Prize $15 Second Prize 10

Entries in this class will close November 15, 1895.

CLASS III.--FIGURE STUDIES.

First Prize $25 Second Prize 10

Entries in this class will close December 15, 1895.

RULES OF COMPETITION.

1. This competition is open to all Knights and Ladies who have not passed their eighteenth birthday.

2. All photographs offered must be the work of the competitor from the exposure of the plate to the mounting of the finished print.

3. No photographs must be sent which have taken prizes or have been submitted for prizes in other competitions.

4. No picture less than 4 x 5 or larger than 8 x 10 must be sent.

5. Any printing process may be used with the exception of blue prints.

6. All pictures must be mounted, but not framed, and the carriage prepaid.

7. Each picture must be marked with the name and address of the sender, the class to which it belongs, and the statement whether or not the artist has passed his or her eighteenth birthday. No other writing is necessary. Any picture not thus marked will be ruled out.

8. As the competition closes at different dates, all entries for each class must be forwarded not later than the date named under each class. The packet must be marked on the outside "Harper's Round Table Photographic Competition," in addition to the name and address of this journal.

OPEN TO ALL AMATEURS.

The following prizes are open to all amateurs, without regard to age:

CLASS A.--LANDSCAPES.

First Prize $15 Second Prize 10

Entries in this class will close November 1, 1895.

CLASS B.--FIGURE STUDY.

First Prize $25 Second Prize 10

Entries in this class will close December 15, 1895.

RULES OF COMPETITION.

1. This competition is open to all amateur photographers, without regard to age limit.

The other rules governing this competition are the same as those in the Competition open for those who have not passed their eighteenth birthday. Special attention is called to Rules 3 and 7.

JUDGING.

Each picture submitted in either competition will be judged: 1. Originality; 2. Artistic merits of composition; 3 Illustrative value; 4. Technical excellence of finish. The one having the highest percentage receiving the highest award in each class, etc. Pictures which fail to take a prize, the percentage of which is over seventy, will receive honorable mention.

Please pay special attention to the different dates at which the classes close. This plan has been adopted to simplify the work of handling the pictures. Photographs which do not take prizes or are not retained for publication will be returned to the senders at the close of the competition if postage is enclosed.

Watch this column for hints in regard to finishing pictures. Class No. I, "Marines," closes first. Amateurs living in waterports take notice.

Help for those Lovers of Figures.

Answers to the Turk and Christian and Valet problems published last week: 1. Turk and Christian Puzzle.--In the Latin sentence and French verse given, attention must be given to the vowels _a_, _e_, _i_, _o_, _u_ contained in the syllables, letting _a_ equal one, _e_ two, _i_ three, _o_ four, and _u_ five. Begin by arranging four Christians together, because the vowel in the first syllable is _o_; then five Turks, because the vowel in the second syllable is _u_, and so on to the end. By proceeding in this manner, it will be found, taking every ninth person circularly, beginning at the first of the row, that the lot will fall entirely on the Turks.

2. Valet Puzzle.--Two valets cross first, and one of them, rowing back, carries over the third valet. One of the three valets then returns with the boat, and, remaining, allows the two masters whose valets have crossed to go over in the boat. One of the masters then carries back his valet, and leaving him on the bank, rows over the third master. In the last place, the valet who crossed enters the boat, and, returning twice, carries over the other two valets.

A Famous Chess Problem.

This is a famous problem, and several notable chess-players of the old school have amused themselves with it:

_To make the knight move into all the squares of the chess-board in succession, without passing twice over the same._

Of the four solutions to the problem, Demoivre's is the easiest to follow. I will furnish Montmort's, Mairan's, or M. W----'s solution to any member so desiring, provided a stamp is sent for reply. Following is Demoivre's solution:

--------------------------------------- | 34 | 49 | 32 | 11 | 36 | 39 | 24 | 1 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 21 | 10 | 35 | 50 | 23 | 12 | 37 | 40 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 48 | 33 | 62 | 57 | 38 | 25 | 2 | 13 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 9 | 20 | 51 | 5 | 63 | 60 | 41 | 26 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 32 | 47 | 58 | 61 | 56 | 53 | 14 | 3 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 19 | 8 | 55 | 52 | 59 | 64 | 27 | 42 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 46 | 31 | 6 | 17 | 44 | 29 | 4 | 15 | |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| | 7 | 18 | 45 | 30 | 5 | 16 | 43 | 28 | ---------------------------------------

VINCENT V. M. BEEDE, R. T. F. 17 WEBSTER PLACE, EAST ORANGE, N. J.

Wants a Round Table Reunion.

Those of us who were in Boston during the week of the Templars' Conclave will never forget the parade. Twenty-five thousand men, with the motto, "Fraternity," "Fidelity," "Charity," marched from eleven o'clock in the morning to six in the evening. The flying banners, emblematic signs, playing bands, and general feeling of good-fellowship all combined to make one wish that the Round Table could have some similar convention. We have the same friendly feeling towards each other; we have emblems; we have Chapters; and we have a hundred thousand members.

What could we not do in a three days' convention? We could hold our all-round athletic championship tournament for the gold medal; we could have an exhibition of the Table's handicraft work; we could organize and have a "Grand Master," as the Templars have; and think how it would "boom" the membership and promote good-fellowship. I, for one, am in favor of holding a convention this year in New York, and several of my correspondents hold the same ideas. If some one with a "planning head" will "take hold" and develop my ideas I will be glad to hear from them.

M.D.O. 19 ORANGE STREET, WORCESTER, MASS.

We print this morsel because it is full of praiseworthy enthusiasm. We fear that our Order could not accomplish what an old fraternity is able to. But what say all of you?

Answers to Kinks.

No. 102.

1. O 2. O N 3. O W N 4. O M E N 5. O N I O N 6. O B T A I N 7. O P I N I O N 8. O B T U S I O N 9. O B J E C T I O N 10. O C C U P A T I O N 11. O S T E N T A T I O N 12. O B L I T E R A T I O N

* * * * *

No. 103.

Pulcheria--1. Peach. 2. Munch. 3. Calid. 4. Teach. 5. Porch. 6. Sleep. 7. Force. 8. Mitre. 9. Aster.

* * * * *

No. 104.

B A L =A= N C E T I =M= I D S =E= T =R= T =I= N P A =C= E R C R E =A= T E D

* * * * *

No. 105.--THE SUPPER TABLE.

1. Coffee. 2. Buckwheat cakes. 3. Molasses. 4. Oysters. 5. Tongue. 6. Partridge. 7. Crackers. 8. Butter. 9. Terrapin. 10 Radish. 11. Port. 12. Champagne, 13. Madeira. 14. Spirits. 15. Potato. 16. Turkey. 17. Ham. 18. Jam. 19. Toast. 20. Fowl. 21. Sole. 22. Herring. 23. Steak. 24. Croquette. 25. Quail. 26. Fig.

Questions and Answers.

It is not known, dear Sir Knight Latham, who was the wearer of the Iron Mask. There are many theories, but no positive knowledge. F.W.L. Bunting, Abbott Street, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, is a Knight who is fond of letter-writing, and a stamp collector in for trading. He wants to hear from you. Charles E. Abbey, Chester, N. J., asks if James Dixon, a former prize-winner in one or two of our contests, will write him. He wants to trade minerals and stones with anybody.

Edith Cline, Lewisberry, Pa., waits to receive a ribbon with your name, address and date. She will send hers. Edith F. Morris is now secretary of the Durham Stamp Exchange. Her address is 213 Third Avenue, New York. J. Crispia Bebb is informed that there has been no change in the Table's colors. We regret you can find no other Knights in Seattle. Ask for some blank Patents and give them to friends. Maybe when they read on the last page of the Patent the advantages of the Table they will consent to let you fill out a Patent for them.

Fred G. Patterson, Markleton, Pa., had a live rattlesnake which he was willing to sell to the highest bidder, the proceeds to go to the School Fund. His best bid at writing was $5. Wonder what he got, and how the snake is doing in captivity by this time? Sir John H. Campbell sends us the yells and colors of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn.:

"Vanderbilt! 'Rah, 'Rah, 'Rah! Whiz, Boom! Zip, Boom! 'Rah, 'Rah, 'Rah!" The colors are old-gold and black.

The Helping Hand.

I want to make a suggestion how the members in this city can raise some money for the Fund. It is to give a "trolley party." I suppose you know what a trolley party is. A party of young people charter a car for the evening, and ride all over the city and into the suburbs. The trolley party is a craze in this city at present. It is very common to see strings of illuminated cars coming down the streets in twos, generally accompanied by a band of music. It was not long ago I saw a large trolley party of sixty-five cars one after each other; This party was for the benefit of the German Hospital, and was a great success.

Don't you think a trolley party could be gotten up in this city if all the members were in real sympathy with the Order's work? I think we could easily give a trolley party, say, some week in October. Mr. Patton has consented to help me, and we want at least three more members in this city aged about sixteen years. The cost of a party varies according to the distance and the electrical decorations.

There are several fine routes. Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Angora, Darby, and Willow Grove. The two last ones are preferable on account of the length of the lines. The cost is about $16 per car, decorated. We need at least three things for a success financially--united action on the part of the members, publicity, and a good night.

CHARLES C. CANFIELD. FAIRMOUNT STATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

This is an admirable suggestion. Let us hear from all Quaker City members who will go.

Origin of Three Common Things.

Some of our most common symbols have interesting derivations. Take, for instance, the dollar sign ($), which every one knows and loves--to a more or less extent. Several explanations have been given of its origin. The most probable is that it is a modification of the figure 8, denoting the famous "piece of eight" of pirate lore, a Spanish silver piece of the value of our dollar. Another theory is that it represents the scroll and pillars depicted on certain Spanish coins. Still another makes us question whether it is not a monogram of the letters "U.S." It has even been stated that this mark at one time appeared on the flag of Saragossa, a city famous for its two months' siege by the French in 1808.

The symbol Rx, standing for _recipe_--take--was originally the symbol for Jupiter, a sign placed at the head of a medical formula to propitiate Jove, that the compound might act favorably. The character & is a corruption of the Latin word _et_, the letters being written as one.

Hunting Deer in California.

I wish you could see the picturesque spot where we are spending the summer. We are in a deep canon, surrounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains, all of them over 2000 feet high. Llagas Creek, which abounds in cataracts, runs through the ravine. But the attractive feature of the place is that deer abounds on the hill-sides. The season opened on the 15th of July. At three o'clock on that morning thirteen hunters, dressed in leggings and corduroys, mounted their horses and started out, followed by a large pack of hounds, for the deer haunts.

The leader of the party in an hour's time had reached a convenient spot and divided his men into sets of two or three, stationing them in certain spots where the deer, scented by the dogs, would be likely to pass. Within three hours' time we heard the crack of rifles, and then the blowing of the horns brought us the joyful news that the hunters had been successful. By eight o'clock the party returned to the house, one of them leading on the back of a horse a fine buck weighing 100 pounds, exclusive of head and antlers. To-day we have been feasting from some choice bits, and feel that though we did not do the shooting ourselves, we were decidedly "in it."

GERALDINE SCUPHAM. LLAGAS, CAL.

Have you noticed when discussing household affairs with other ladies that each one has found some special use for Ivory Soap, usually the cleansing of some article that it was supposed could not be safely cleaned at home.

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

Oh, Boys and Girls,

AND ALL WHO ARE YOUNG AT HEART

IF NOT IN YEARS,

_HERE IS FUN FOR YOU!_

=WATERLOO= is novel and =exciting=! It costs $1.25 ($1.50, express prepaid from publishers). It is one of the famous

Parker Games

Our Illustrated Catalogue, including "=Innocents Abroad=," "=Chivalry=," "=Authors=," "=Napoleon=," "=Yankee Doodle=," and 100 others, for two-cent stamp. "=Brownies=" and "=Wonderland=," by mail, 35 cents each. Look for the imprint.

PARKER BROTHERS, Salem, Mass., U.S.A.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT of the award on

=GILLOTT'S PENS= at the CHICAGO EXPOSITION.

=AWARD:= "For excellence of steel used in their manufacture, it being fine grained and elastic; superior workmanship, especially shown by the careful grinding which leaves the pens free from defects. The tempering is excellent and the action of the finished pens perfect."

(Signed) FRANZ VOGT, _Individual Judge_.

Approved: { H. I. KIMBALL, _Pres't Departmental Committee_. { JOHN BOYD THACHER, _Chairman Exec. Com. on Awards_.

HARPER S PERIODICALS.

Per Year:

HARPER'S MAGAZINE _Postage Free_, $4.00 HARPER'S WEEKLY " 4.00 HARPER'S BAZAR " 4.00 HARPER'S ROUND TABLE " 2.00

* * * * *

_Booksellers and Postmasters usually receive subscriptions. Subscriptions sent direct to the publishers should be accompanied by Post-office Money Order or Draft._

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, New York, N.Y.

WONDER CABINET =FREE=. Missing Link Puzzle, Devil's Bottle, Pocket Camera, Latest Wire Puzzle, Spook Photos, Book of Sleight of Hand, Total Value 60c. Sent free with immense catalogue of 1000 Bargains for 10c. for postage.

INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 Cortlandt Street N. Y.

_PUBLISHED TO-DAY:_

Snow-shoes and Sledges

A Sequel to "The Fur-Seal's Tooth." By KIRK MUNROE. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental.

Mr. Munroe long ago established himself as one of our ablest juvenile writers, and this latest work from his pen is perhaps the best that he has published. The story continues the adventures of two boys--Phil Ryder, a New-Englander, and Serge Belcofsky, an Alaskan--from St. Michaels, in the northern part of Alaska, through a 2000-mile trip with dog sleds and snow-shoes up the Yukon River and across the mountains to Sitka.

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_

THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH.--RAFTMATES.--CANOEMATES.--CAMPMATES.--DORYMATES. Each one volume. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, $1.25.

WAKULLA.--THE FLAMINGO FEATHER.--DERRICK STERLING.--CHRYSTAL, JACK & CO., and DELTA BIXBY: Two Stories.--Each one volume. Illustrated. Square 16mo, Cloth, $1.00.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

GREEDY THOMAS.

BY KATHARINE PYLE.

"No, Thomas, no," his good nurse said. "Indeed, you should not take At tea-time such a very large And plummy piece of cake."

In vain it was for nurse to speak, Young Thomas paid no heed; The slice of cake, both plum and crumb, He ate with eager greed.

But, ah! that night, when all the house Was wrapped in slumber deep, Then Thomas had a dreadful dream, For he was fast asleep.

He dreamed he was a plummy cake Of most enormous size. The icing was his nose and mouth, And currants were his eyes.

He dreamed the door swung softly back, The dream-man entered in; And spectacles were on his nose, And bristles on his chin.

He held a great knife in his hand, And tiptoed to the bed. "Oh, pray don't cut! I'm not a cake, I'm Tommy," Thomas said.

In vain to speak, for Thomas knew He looked too brown and nice; He saw the dream-man lift his knife As if to cut a slice,

And then--young Thomas shrieked and woke, And sat up straight in bed. "Oh, dear! I'll never eat rich cake Again at night," he said.

STORIES BY GRANDMA.

SOME TERRIBLE ADVENTURES WITH WOLVES.

"Grandma," said Ralph, "what do you suppose Uncle Henry said?"

"Well," answered grandma, "it wouldn't surprise me if he said it was a cold day, or--"

"No; I mean what do you suppose he told me; what kind of a story?"

"Oh, dear! your uncle Henry is _such_ a hand to tell stories that I could hardly guess. About animals, I suppose, though, and nothing smaller than elephants, I'll warrant."

"No; wolves. They chased him once. Got away by climbing a tree and pulling the tree up after him."

"Dear me! what an extraordinary occurrence!" exclaimed grandma.

"But do you _believe_ it, grandma?" asked Ralph.

"Oh no; certainly not. I never believe any of your uncle Henry's animal stories."

"Well," said Ralph, slowly. "I've been a little afraid of some of them myself. He _couldn't_ pull up a tree he was in, _could_ he, grandma?"

"I don't believe he could, unless he pulled pretty hard. I remember _my_ uncle Henry used to tell a wolf story when I was a little girl. He said that one day, when he lived in Vermont, two wolves came after him, and he ran as fast as he could. By-and-by he began to get tired. Just then he came to a big rock, half as big as a house, and leaped upon it. The wolves were close behind, and so furious that they were almost or quite blind. One rushed around the rock one way, and the other the other way. They met on the farther side, and each thought he had caught Uncle Henry, and they began to fight like cats and dogs. Pretty soon they stopped to rest, and saw their mistake, and Uncle Henry said he never saw two wolves look so disgusted."

"Do you believe _that_ story?" asked Ralph.

"Well," answered grandma, "it does seem to have its hard points. I think he may have stretched it a little."

"Tell me a true wolf story, grandma," pleaded Ralph.

"I'm afraid I don't know any more wolf stories--except the one about Little Red Riding-hood. Once on a time--"

"Oh, I've heard that, grandma. Tell me another about your uncle Henry."

"Well, another time, when Uncle Henry was living in Vermont a long time ago, two wolves came and sat down on his door-step. His house was a little log cabin with only one door. It was a very cold winter, with deep snow, so there wasn't much for wolves to eat. These two wolves were pretty hungry, and they thought that they would wait on the door-step till Uncle Henry came out, and just eat him for dinner, and perhaps stir around and get the stage-driver for supper, and depend on luck for breakfast the next morning.

"Uncle Henry happened to look out of the window and saw the two wolves sitting on the door-step; so he just staid in and said nothing. He staid in and kept on saying nothing for two whole days, and still those wolves sat there and waited for dinner to serve itself. They were friendly for a long time, and sat facing each other, discussing the weather and other things, I suppose; but after a while, when they began to get pretty hungry, they had a little tiff, and turned their backs on each other. Then Uncle Henry took a clothes-pin, reached through the crack under the door, and slipped it on their tails where they crossed just as cool as if he had been pinning a wet stocking on a clothes-line. It held their tails together like a vise. 'Stop pinching my tail,' said one wolf. 'You--'"

"Now, grandma!" broke in Ralph, reprovingly.

"I'm telling this story just as Uncle Henry told it to me when I was a little girl. I don't suppose he meant that the wolf really _said_ that out loud, but _thought_ it, and _looked_ it. 'Let go my tail,' said one wolf; and he scowled over his shoulder at the other. 'Quit pinching _my_ tail,' said the other; and _he_ looked over _his_ shoulder and scowled. Then they sprang at each other, and began to fight as hard as they knew how. Uncle Henry said he never heard such a noise in his life. But after a while it became all still, and he went out; but he couldn't find anything except a little wolf fur floating about in the air, and the clothes-pin; so he concluded that they had either fought each other completely out of existence, or got tired out and gone off."

H. C.