Chapter 6

Three months passed away, and Agnes Rivers was feeling quite at home in her uncle's house. She had lost much of her nervous shyness, but except with Mrs. Mittens she was very quiet and reserved. She was a little afraid of her uncle, as were the whole family; a little in awe of Eddie too, who was still somewhat stately and grand in his manner; and she always had an uncomfortable sort of feeling that Bertie was kind to her just because she was little and weak, and his cousin.

But on the whole she was happy and contented. She ran about the park and gardens all the morning, did no lessons whatever, and amused herself sketching all the pretty bits of scenery, huge trees on the lawn, or Mrs. Mittens' dog and cat, called Punch and Judy, who lived the most useless, indolent, amiable life imaginable in the housekeeper's room. She could hit off likenesses, too, in quite a startling way, and Eddie said he would give her some lessons in painting if she wished. Agnes was enthusiastic in her thanks for what was, after all, but a trifling service, and while the lessons lasted Bertie was rather glum, as he had to ramble about alone, and amuse himself as best he could. But Eddie very soon grew tired of a pupil who after three lessons far excelled the teacher, and as a change, proposed teaching her German. Agnes consented, as she would have done to any plan or project of Eddie's. But that course of instruction also came to an untimely end; perhaps Agnes was a little dull, certainly Eddie was impatient. And then Bertie had his turn: he taught his cousin how to play chess, to spin tops, play cricket (theoretically), regretting every minute that she was not big and strong like Lillie Mayson, the doctor's daughter--the doctor who kept the grammar-school, not the one who came to see them when they were ill.

Once or twice Mrs. Mittens suggested to the master that some one should come and teach Miss Agnes, saying that the child was left too much alone during the day, as the boys went to school every morning. But Mr. Rivers shook his head impatiently. "Leave the child alone; let her eat and sleep and run wild till she's stronger. She ought not to be dull in Riversdale."

Nor was she. How could any one with a deep instinctive love of Nature be dull, or lonely, or sad with a beautiful park to wander in? who with an observant eye could walk through the shady lanes or ramble in the woods without seeing objects of interest and admiration at every step?

"How good of God to not only give us flowers, but eyes to see their beauty and hearts to love them," the child said solemnly one day. "What would the world be if there were not any flowers?"

Bertie, who chanced to overhear her soliloquy, remarked that he thought they could get on better without flowers than trees, vegetables, or even animals; "because, we cannot eat flowers, can we?"

"But if you had read a little about the subject, Bertie," Agnes replied, "you would learn that we could have neither trees nor vegetables nor fruit if we had not flowers first. But it's those dear little wild things that seem to grow here just to make us happy that I love best. I prefer painting flowers to anything."

"I don't; great artists never trouble about flowers," Eddie said, joining them. "When I grow up, I'll paint splendid figures and grand scenes, like the 'Raising of Lazarus,' or the 'Descent from the Cross': those are the kind of pictures great men love to paint and the world to look at."

"But Uncle Clair says people can't paint like the old masters now, and that no one would buy their pictures if they did," Agnes replied.

"I wish some of you would paint up this mask for me like a North American Indian," Bertie interrupted, pulling a hideous pasteboard face from his pocket. "Will you, Eddie? If I attempt to put on the war-paint, I shall make a mess of it." But Eddie indignantly refused to lend his talent to such base uses, and Agnes declared she would paint the face with pleasure, only she had not the least idea what an Indian was like. That was an unforeseen difficulty, but Bertie suggested their looking in the library for a book with pictures, and copying one.

As they approached the house, they were all surprised to see Dr. Bird's carriage at the door. "Some one must be ill, surely--I hope it's not papa," Eddie cried, hurrying on in advance, Bertie and Agnes following. "He seemed quite well this morning. Oh! there's Lawyer Hurst's gig--what can he want? Johnson," to a servant standing at the door, "whatever is the matter? Is papa ill?"

"It's nothing, my dears--that is, nothing to be frightened about," Mrs. Mittens said, as the boys, both startled-looking, rushed into the dining-room. "Your papa had a turn this morning, and I thought it as well to send for Doctor Bird."

"But why is Mr. Hurst here?" Eddie asked.

"I don't know, dearie. I think he just called by accident, or about some ordinary business."

"Has papa asked for us--for me?"

"No, Master Edward. Now, don't look so scared; there's nothing the matter, only, as I said, he got a turn. I think it was something in the paper, for when I went in with his beef-tea, he had it in his hand, and looked quite sad and white. I hoped he was not feeling bad, and he said 'No, no, Mittens. Put that down and leave me'; then when I was at the door, he called out, 'Mittens, set the house in order. I'm going on a journey; see to it without delay!' That's every word, Master Edward; but knowing as the master has not been anywhere for so long, and seeing him look pale and troubled like, I just took the liberty of sending a line to Doctor Bird, asking him to look in quite in a friendly way. He came at once, and he's with the master now. I left the room as you came in, and the doctor said, 'Your master is no worse--rather better, I think.' So _now_, my dears, will you sit down to dinner?"

Bertie's answer was practical compliance; Eddie stood for a few minutes at the window, wondering if it were the death of another estranged relative that had affected his father; then he, too, took his place, and ate his dinner in silence. Presently the doctor's carriage drove away, and both boys felt less anxious; but to Agnes there was something terrible in the unusual hush of the house: it seemed as if the servants moved about more noiselessly than at other times, and spoke in hushed whispers. Eddie went to the library, and Bertie went out immediately after dinner, and, left to herself, Agnes curled herself up in an easy chair in the dining-room with a book, and after reading for an hour, she fell asleep. It was dusk when she was roused by the sudden ringing of bells and the hurrying of feet across the passage leading to Mr. Rivers' apartments. For a few minutes she sat quite still, pale, frightened, scarcely daring to breathe; then she opened the door and peeped out timidly, but no one took the least notice of her. Mrs. Mittens crossed the hall hurriedly, looking very pale and anxious; there were strange voices too, somewhere. One, Agnes thought, seemed loud and angry. Then she hurried back to the dining-room and shut the door, pressing both her hands on her heart to stop its beating. Something dreadful was happening, she felt sure, but in that household she was quite alone and forgotten; no one thought of her at all.

The quiet, glorious autumn night closed in; still Agnes sat silent and solitary, hoping the best, fearing the worst. It was quite eleven o'clock when the dining-room door was opened softly, and a fair troubled face peered in. It was Bertie. He alone had thought of her, even in his own great sorrow--and Bertie was impulsive and passionate, and felt things deeply. He remembered the poor lonely little girl, and asked Prudence Briggs if his cousin had gone to bed. The girl started guiltily; she had seen nothing of Miss Agnes all the evening; so Bertie began a hunt over the house for her, and found her at last in the dining-room alone.

"Oh, Agnes! what shall we do? Poor papa!" he cried, bursting into tears; and she clung to him, weeping too, but trying to comfort him, and then brokenly he told her all that had happened. At five o'clock Mr. Rivers became suddenly worse. The doctor had stayed with him, and only sent home his carriage, and when he saw the change he sent for the boys at once. Eddie was in the library, Bertie was out in the grounds. "But it was all the same," the lad added, brokenly; "he was quite unconscious when Eddie reached the room. I was there half an hour after, but he never spoke, and now it's all over! Oh, Agnes! what shall we do? I can't believe papa is dead!"

"Telegraph for Aunt Amy and Uncle Clair," she replied, with the promptness of a person used to act in an emergency; and then Bertie, who had never thought of that, rushed off to the library to suggest it to his brother, who seemed quite dazed by the sudden calamity, while Mrs. Mittens entered the dining-room also in search of Agnes.

"It's all over, dearie; the master meant to go on a journey; instead, an unexpected guest came to him. I'm all dazed and scared like, and can hardly realise it yet; and would you believe it? four gentlemen came from London this evening to see your uncle, and not one of them would believe he was 'gone' till they saw him lying there so still and restful, and one of them now acts just as if he was master of this house, so I suppose he must be Master Edward's guardian. But I do wish there was some one here to manage things!"

"Send for Aunt Amy," Agnes suggested again; and the housekeeper seized the idea gladly.

"That I will, dearie, and for Mr. Gregory too, first thing to-morrow morning. Surely, child, you have an old head on young shoulders! Now come and help me to comfort the poor darling boys. Ah! Miss Agnes, you are all orphans together now; and I how things are going to end is more than I know!"

(_To be continued._)

About Some Famous Railway Trains.

SOME FAMOUS RAILWAY TRAINS AND THEIR STORY.

_By_ HENRY FRITH.

I.--THE "FLYING DUTCHMAN."

"Where to, sir?" said the cab-driver, touching his hat.

"Great Western, please, Paddington," we replied, and in a moment the trap of the hansom was shut, and we were bowling along Piccadilly.

A civil porter received us at Paddington Station, and took our luggage for Swindon. We are going no farther to-day, because we want to see the "Flying Dutchman," not only "flying," but at rest. So first we secure a seat and then walk down the platform. We have some minutes to spare; the clock points to 11.38; we must start at 11.45 by the Great Western express, the "Dutchman," as it is familiarly called, after that mysterious sailor who came and went with such alarming celerity.

Here we are then, the summer holidays before us; and perhaps many of the readers of LITTLE FOLKS will be travelling by the "Flying (railway) Dutchman," by the time these lines are before them. Come with me and look at our big "iron horse," which will pull us to Swindon at the average speed of fifty-three miles an hour, which means at times the fine rate of sixty miles an hour.

Our "Dutchman's" engine on this occasion is named "Crimea," and a fine fellow he is. This engine has eight wheels; two immense "driving wheels" eight feet high, more than twenty-four feet round, so each time that wheel revolves we travel (say) twenty-five feet, and when we are in full swing we shall go about _thirty yards a second!_ The 11.45 down train from Paddington, and the corresponding up train from Exeter, are the two "Flying Dutchmen." There are two other trains which run equally fast, up and down in the afternoon. These are the "Zulu" trains, for they were started as expresses at the time the Prince Imperial was killed in Zululand.

The great engine waits at the end of the platform, and as we are good little people--like the fairies--we will jump up on the foot-plate of the "Crimea" locomotive, and no one will notice us. Give me your hand--there. Now you are standing on the foot-plate; the engine-tender, full of water and topped with coal, is behind you, the great high boiler with the furnace is in front. That long handle which comes from the middle of the boiler on a level with your little head is the regulator, which when pulled out lets the steam into the cylinders, and it then moves the pistons and rods, and they move the big eight-feet wheels. Perhaps, when we reach Swindon workshops, we shall go underneath an engine and see the machinery.

"What is that other handle?" you say. That is "the lever." It is at the side next the engine-driver, you see, and he can pull it back so as to save his steam, and not use too much; he "expands" it and makes a little keep the train going after it has once got into its pace. There are the steam and water "gauges," to tell the "driver" and fireman when the steam is at proper pressure, and when the water is high enough in the boiler. The steam gauge is like a clock, or an Aneroid barometer, right before the driver. Those other handles near it are the whistle-handles. One whistle is small, and very shrill, to warn people on the line, and to tell people the train is coming. The other is a deep-toned booming whistle which tells of danger perhaps, and when blown means "Stop the train, there is obstruction in front."

"Crimea" is now ready. The engine-driver pulls open the regulator, and we glide back and are attached to the train. We have air-breaks worked on the engine, vacuum-breaks which can pull us up quickly, and when all the connections are made the "Flying Dutchman" is ready; he is harnessed to his eight coaches full of people--the solemn and sorry; the glad and the cheerful; and boys and girls, going on all sorts of errands.

"Right!" says the station-superintendent.

The clock over the platform is exactly 11.45 a.m. The fireman, who is looking on, says "Right, Tom," the guard whistles, then the driver touches the small whistle-handle in front; a shrill scream rouses the many sleeping echoes in the roof, where they had got to be out of the way perhaps, and the engine-driver opens the regulator valve--"Crimea" fizzes a little in front of the cylinders. Off we go!

"Puff-puff," slowly at first, in a solemn and majestic manner. We cannot expect such big wheels to hurry themselves. Under the bridge, puffing a little more quickly, then we rattle through Westbourne Park and by Wormwood Scrubs. Puff-puffing much more quickly now, but not quite so loudly, as the driver has pulled the lever back and the steam goes up with less force through the chimney: working quietly. Away, away, on our iron steed through Ealing and Hanwell--across the viaduct over the River Brent, which runs to Brentford--past the pretty church and the dull lunatic asylum, and so on to Slough, which is passed in twenty-three minutes after quitting Paddington. Then we reach Taplow, and have just fifty-five miles to do within the hour. "Crimea" rushes across the Thames below Maidenhead, with a parting roar, but we shall meet the river again soon, and run alongside it, by picturesque Pangbourne, Goring, and Moulsford.

Are we stopping? No, we are only just slackening for Reading. But we cannot wait. The "Flying Dutchman" has only done about thirty-six of his seventy-seven miles; he has been forty-two minutes already, and has got forty-five minutes left to reach Swindon. A long shriek, and Reading is behind us; then the river flashes out between the trees.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Didcot with its Banbury cakes and tumble-down station is passed. Hurrah for the "Flying Dutchman," running easily and smoothly, sixty miles an hour, well within himself. He is not tired, he does not pant or whistle, he goes calmly, swiftly along.... Here is Swindon--what o'clock is it? Look! Twelve minutes past one! "Crimea" is punctual to the minute. Well done, "Dutchman!"

Good-bye, "Crimea," we are going to see your friends in the shops; we are going to hear some anecdotes of your powers, and your friends' speedy runs or adventures. We are going to be introduced to "Lightning," "Inkerman," and the "Morning Star," the first engine made for the railway by George Stephenson.

At the works we are courteously received and conducted to the various shops devoted to the manufacture of the engines and carriages--the wheels, whistles, rails, cranks, and cylinders, and everything else connected with the rolling-stock, which brings in money to the shareholders, and proves that if "a rolling stone gathers no moss," rolling-stock does in plenty. Here we find young gentlemen who are pupils and apprentices at work learning mechanical engineering, and how to make the future "Flying Dutchmen" and "Zulus."

We see the old "nine feet" Bristol and Exeter engines, and are told how one once went off the line with the "Dutchman" long ago; but it was a trifling accident. Our "Dutchman," though he flies, is pretty safe; and runs free from accident. We see an engine whose boiler burst the other day, but fortunately hurt no one much. This engine looks very much ashamed of itself in the shed, and has had to submit to a severe operation to put it right again, which, perhaps, will be a lesson to it in future.

Then we go under the engines and see the machinery, which works so easily; and then we sit down, and ask the driver whether any adventures have happened with the "Flying Dutchman."

"Nothing particular; but I can tell you a story about the railway which will amuse you. It happened several years ago--but I won't tell you where exactly, sir."

"Let us hear the tale," we said.

"It was in my father's time, before I was a driver, that it happened. An aunt of mine--a youngish woman then--was travelling by the G. W. R. ('Great Way Round' they used to call us), when a young man entered the carriage, where she was sitting alone, and asked where the train stopped first. This was (say) at Paddington. My aunt said 'Reading' was the first station, and the train immediately started.

"'Excuse me, ma'am,' said the gentleman; 'but will you oblige me by cutting my hair a little.'

"My aunt thought the man was mad, but being alarmed by his manner, consented.

"Then the young man changed his coat, his collar, his waistcoat, and tie. He put on a pair of spectacles, and when my aunt dared to look at him he was for all the world like a clergyman--an elderly gentleman in spectacles!

"'Now,' said he; 'you must promise to be quiet, and never contradict me. If you do you will rue it.' So my aunt--she was young then--promised, and before they reached Reading the train was stopped. A guard and a constable came up, and looked into every carriage.

"'Have you the tickets, dear?' said the man to my aunt.

"'All right, sir,' said the guard. 'We don't want to disturb you at all. We are looking for some one else.'

"The train went on, but the 'old' clergyman, as he seemed, left the train at Reading. He had committed forgery, but by disguising himself, escaped. 'Clever rogue,' was he not?"

By the time we had heard this tale we were at Swindon Station again waiting for the "Zulu," for we are bound for Bath and Bristol. Here it comes just as the other train came, very punctually. We take a farewell of our friend, and as we pass the shops on our way, we jot down in our note-book what we have seen, and some of our pleasant experiences of the "Flying Dutchman."

Mornings at the Zoo.

MORNINGS AT THE ZOO.

VI.--THE STORK FAMILY.

Whatever they may be in their native countries, the Storks at the Zoological Gardens, London, are lone and melancholy birds. They seem to take their pleasure sadly--as was once said of the English folk--but they look so much like very wise and profound philosophers that perhaps they view life gravely because they have themselves realised in their own experience how serious a matter it is. In the Gardens they appear to lead a hermit's existence. They are treated with severe neglect by the bulk of the visitors, though possibly they consider the respect of an occasional distinguished Royal Academician of greater value than the homage of an indifferent multitude.

Yet in other lands than ours the Stork family is held in high honour. In many parts of the Continent they are encouraged to build their nests in chimneys, steeples, and trees near dwellings. Indeed, as an inducement to them to pitch their quarters on the houses, boxes are sometimes erected on the roofs, and happy is the household which thus secures the patronage of a stork. Some of the people among whom they sojourn during the warm summer days regard the presence of the bird as a kind of safeguard against fire. And as an illustration of their love for their young, a story is told of a stork which, rather than desert its helpless offspring during a conflagration in Delft, in Holland, remained heroically by their side and perished with them in the flames.

In Morocco and in Eastern countries also storks are looked upon as sacred birds. And with good reason, for they render very useful service both as scavengers and as slayers of snakes and other reptiles. In most of the towns a storks' hospital will be found. It consists of an enclosure to which are sent all birds that have been injured. They are kept in this infirmary--which is generally supported by voluntary contributions--until they have regained health and strength. To kill a stork is regarded as an offence. In Sweden also the stork is held as holy, there being a legend in that country to the effect that this bird flew around the cross of Christ, crying "Styrka!" "Styrka!" ("Strengthen!" "Strengthen!") But, as Dr. Brewer points out, this tradition clashes with fact, inasmuch as stork's have no voice. For the valuable offices which they perform in the removal of garbage they are, in some countries, protected by law. At one time the White Stork was a pretty common bird in England, where it helped the farmers by clearing the soil of noxious insects. It disappeared, however, partly because it was subjected to a good deal of persecution, but mainly because an improved method of agriculture took away its occupation.

In India the stork's cousin is called the Adjutant, and a very appropriate name it is. It is a familiar figure in most of the towns and villages where its scavenging is of the greatest use. But the adjutant is not endowed with so much wisdom as we should naturally expect such a serviceable bird to possess. The following notes about an adjutant's curious ways have been sent to the Editor of LITTLE FOLKS by a lady in Calcutta, and will be read with interest.

"When the rainy season comes in Calcutta, the adjutants are soon seen resting on one leg on the house-tops, kneeling in all kinds of funny places, or stalking very grandly through the wet grass. Sometimes in the dim lamp-light they look as they stand about on the edge of the flat roofs like stiff, badly-arranged ornaments, and sometimes ten or twelve settle on some tree, when it seems as if their heavy bodies must weigh it down.

"They do not often come in numbers into the gardens of houses or the outskirts of the town, but one was a very faithful visitor for a little while in the neighbourhood of a house which was not at all central. This house has a garden or compound, as Indians would say, which is connected by a gate with a large square containing a large tank. There are many of these tanks, in appearance like ponds or reservoirs at home, about Calcutta and the neighbourhood. The natives fetch water to drink from all, and in some they bathe and wash clothes. The tank now to be described is enclosed by a wall with gates to the main road and into the compounds of houses which come up to it. Round the tank is a broad gravel-walk, and on either side the walk grows long rank grass. Frogs abound in this grass, and crickets come out of holes in the ground, and make a terrible whistling at night. For some time no adjutants appeared in this tank square to feast on the rich supply of frogs; but at last one day an adjutant was seen walking down the grass. With self-important step and craning his long neck forward, he came slowly on, hurrying a little when some frightened frog foolishly made a hop out of his way. At last he reached a gate leading into one of the private compounds, and there he paused. What he saw inside no one can guess, as the grass is kept short; and except in one corner far, far away from the gate, there were not half the fine fat frogs that Mr. Adjutant might have found on his own side of the gate. Whatever he saw, certainly the bird longed to get through. He poked his head through the bars as far as he could on one side, took two steps to the other and tried that, back again to the first, and so on, till that foolish, foolish bird had walked twenty times to and fro. Then he went off in a huff, and stood on one leg near the tank till dark, when it is to be hoped he recovered his temper. About the same hour next day back came the adjutant to repeat his yesterday's performance, except that he walked slowly round the tank instead of standing on one leg when he found it a failure. Perhaps he was thinking the thing over. He did not think to much purpose, for day after day for more than a week back came the adjutant to walk like a soldier on duty up and down, up and down, poking his head through the bars each time. Sometimes he did it a score of times, sometimes only two or three. After ten days he disappeared. Where is he? Has he gone to find a blacksmith among the adjutants? or have his brother adjutants had him shut up till he has sense to know the best way for a bird with wings is, not to try to get through narrow bars, but to fly over the top?"

Unlike its white cousin, the Black Stork rather avoids the society of man, frequenting solitary places and building its nest on the very top of the very tallest trees. It is really, however, not an unamiable bird, as was proved by Colonel Montagu in the case of one which he managed to catch by means of a slight wound in the wing, and which lived with him for upwards of a year. It used to follow its feeder about, and displayed a most inoffensive disposition. With other birds it was on terms, of peace, and goodwill, never threatening them with its big, strong bill. An excellent angler, its skill in capture was seen to greatest advantage when it had to encounter an unusually slippery eel.

Canon Tristram observed black storks among the shallows of the Dead Sea, to which their prey was brought down by tributary streams. Surely no picture more suggestive of utter solitude could be imagined than this of the black storks, lovers of loneliness, fishing on the silent shores of the Dead Sea.

JAMES A. MANSON.

The Children's Own Garden.

THE CHILDREN'S OWN GARDEN IN JULY.

July being generally the hottest month of the year, plenty of water is an important thing in connection with Gardening, and as we have previously recommended, apply it right and left, to shrubs, grass, trees, flowers, and walks. It is most important for the leaves and stems of plants to be perfectly free from dust and dirt, as this is one of the very first steps to securing a strong, healthy, and vigorous growth. A writer once described the pleasure in dry weather of attaching a hose to a main and sending a stream of water over and on to the tops of the young trees and shrubs as well worth 100 pounds a year to any lover of Nature. A great drawback to town gardens, or gardens situated near crowded thoroughfares, is that the plants there grown are almost invariably smothered with dust: under such circumstances successful gardening becomes simply a matter of impossibility, as hardly any plants will thrive, or even live, under such conditions. A proper site is, therefore, a matter of primary importance.

* * * * *

There is, however, plenty of work, other than watering, to be done this month. Seed of a great number of plants should now be saved and carefully placed in dry cool places until the time arrives for sowing them. Cuttings of a multitude of perennials ought now to be secured and immediately planted: those of such important plants as chrysanthemums, pansies, snapdragons, stocks, and wallflowers, in particular; divisions of auriculas and polyanthuses may now be made. If a cold frame be available, utilise the same by keeping cuttings of the very hardy sorts in it until they have thoroughly rooted, and transfer them to the open border. Less hardy plants will need a protection of some sort through the winter, and few things are more suitable for such a purpose than a frost-proof frame, where air can be plentifully given every time the state of the weather admits.

* * * * *

Dahlias will be now coming into full glory, and as the first three or four flowers are usually worthless, cut them off before they fully expand. Hollyhocks may now be frequently supplied with liquid manure. Rose-trees will require looking after: give them plenty of rich food, and, when the "perpetual" flowering section has done blooming, cut back each shoot to about two or three buds from its base. Small pieces of grass will periodically need mowing, and this ought to be done with a proper mowing-machine, as a pair of shears invariably causes an irregular and jagged after-growth. All unsightly vegetation, such as dead leaves or flowers, dried up stems, &c., must be promptly removed; weeds ought not to be allowed to grow a second pair of leaves--much less to flower--before being exterminated. Trailing and climbing plants, especially roses, will need careful attention, and keeping within bounds: straggly or weakly shoots must be at once cut away.

* * * * *

The most important requirement just now in the kitchen-garden is water: during hot weather completely saturate the ground with it. July is not a very brisk month in the Children's Kitchen-garden; however, seeds of such useful salads as lettuce and radish may still be sown; and a few dwarf French beans can be put in if there is sufficient room. By sowing a small quantity of the early sorts of peas, it is just possible to obtain a fair crop, and particularly so if the autumn holds fine.

* * * * *

It may not be amiss to make a few remarks as regards gathering fruit, flowers, and vegetables, as this is a much more important matter than is usually thought. In gathering such salads as cress or mustard, and fruit of every sort, an absolute rule is to exercise the utmost care; and such "telltales" as broken branches, mutilated stems, and salads--cress, for example--entirely up-rooted, will at once proclaim a slovenly method of gardening. This, above all things, must be avoided. Skilful gardeners, whether amateur or professional, will sever a flower with so much care that its parent plant will scarcely be seen to shake whilst undergoing the operation. In gathering peas, most people tug and pull at these as if anxious to see how much strength the pods _can_ possibly bear. In this instance, as in others where the same carelessness is employed, the plants get severely disturbed, and a consequent short crop is put down to the score of bad seed. Neatness, order, and care are principles of great moment in Gardening.

A SUMMER HOUR.

A wide expanse of yellow sand, A breeze so fresh and free, Which, gently rippling, scarcely wakes The calm and tranquil sea.

Beneath the clear and shining wave Bright shells and sea-weeds lie, Reflecting all the golden light Of the sweet summer sky.

And many a crystal pool is there, Where hermits lurk below, And restless shrimps in coat of mail Flash swiftly to and fro.

A noon-day hush is over all, Unbroken by a sound; Till ... sudden peals of baby mirth Wake all the echoes round.

'Tis here the children love to come, On the bright sand to lie, Or in the gleaming water hold Their mimic revelry.

Oh, happy hearts! those gladsome day Upon the golden shore Will linger on in memory still, A joy for evermore.

D. B. MCKEAN.

LITTLE MARGARET'S KITCHEN, AND WHAT SHE DID IN IT.--VII.

_By PHILLIS BROWNE, Author of "A Year's Cookery," "What Girls can Do," &c._

"I should like my little pupils to learn to roast meat to-day," said Mrs. Herbert, as she entered the kitchen where the children were waiting for her.

"You will let it be beef, though, won't you?" said Margaret. "If we have to cook meat we might as well cook the best kind of meat there is."

"You consider beef the best kind of meat then, do you?" said Mrs. Herbert.

"Oh, yes! I should think every one does. Father says there is nothing like the roast beef of old England."

"English people generally like roast beef, I know," said Mrs. Herbert. "Indeed, they have been so accustomed to take pains with it, that now it is often said that English cooks roast well, if they do nothing else well."

"It seems to me that there is nothing to do in roasting meat," said Margaret. "The fire does all the work; we put the meat down to the fire, and in a little time we take it up, and it is done."

"But the right kind of fire for roasting is not always made up in any kitchen," said Mrs. Herbert. "The first thing which the cook who intends to roast has to see after is the fire; and she ought to make it ready quite an hour before she puts the meat down."

"Oh dear, what a trouble!" said Margaret.

"Please, ma'am, I know how to make up a fire for roasting," said Mary. "I have done it many a time for my aunt."

"Then tell us what you know about it," said Mrs. Herbert.

"The fire must be a good size, larger than the meat which is to be roasted before it. The cinders and dust must be cleared thoroughly away from the bottom of the range, the live hot coals must be pushed to the front, and the space at the back which is made empty must be filled up with knobbly pieces of coal packed closely together, though not so closely that the air cannot get through. The hearth must be swept up tidily, and the cinders, mixed with a little damped coal-dust, must be put at the back on the knobbly pieces of coal, and that is all."

"Very good indeed, Mary," said Mrs. Herbert, "you evidently know all about this part of the business."

"But I don't see the good," said Margaret. "Why do we not make up the fire when we are ready for it? It would last all the longer."

"Because we want to have the fire clear and bright, not dull and smoky. It must be kept bright all the time too, and it must not be allowed to get hollow in places. Can you tell us, Mary, what you are to do if the fire needs to be mended before the joint is finished?"

"The live coal must be drawn to the front, ma'am, gently, so as not to let any cinders go into the dripping-tin," said Mary. "But we ought not to let the fire need mending; we must watch it and keep putting cinders and pieces of coal on to keep it up."

"You see now, Margaret, how important it is to have the right kind of fire," said Mrs. Herbert. "Have you heard that red meat which is to be roasted should hang for a while before being cooked?"

"At any rate I have heard people say 'This meat is not tender; it has not been hung long enough.'"

"Just so. It is very important that red meats which are to be roasted should be left to hang till tender. When we have a cool airy larder, we can hang meat for ourselves, when there is no such larder the butcher will hang it for us. The time which the meat must hang depends upon the weather. In dry cold weather it may hang a long time--two or three weeks--but in hot weather it must be quickly cooked, or it will not keep. In frosty weather, too, it should be put in a warm kitchen for some hours before being roasted, or it will not be tender."

"What do you mean by red meats, ma'am?"

"I mean, Mary, meats red in colour when cut, such as beef, mutton, and game. What are called white meats, such as veal, lamb, and pork, will not keep, and they therefore have to be cooked when fresh. Can either of you tell me what is the first thing to be done when you are going to roast meat?"

The little girls thought for a minute, then Mary said, "When we were going to boil the leg of mutton we weighed it, that we might know how long we were to let it simmer."

"Quite right, Mary. So you must do with this piece of beef. Weigh it and then allow for roasting a quarter of an hour for every pound, and a quarter of an hour over. If the joint is thick and solid we allow twenty minutes to the pound. In fact, we should always have a little consultation with ourselves before we begin to roast, and say to ourselves, 'Is this meat solid and thick with little bone, or is it thin and small?'"

"How long must we give the sirloin of beef?"

"A quarter of an hour to the pound and a quarter of an hour over. Cook is now going to put down the dripping-tin and screen for us. I should like you to watch her and then try to remember what is necessary. Do you notice that she puts a large slice of dripping into the pan first thing?"

"What is that for?" said Margaret. "I thought the dripping dropped from the fat."

"So it will in a little time, but we want some hot fat to baste the meat with immediately. If we put a slice in the tin a few minutes before the meat is hung on the hook, the fat will melt and be ready for our purpose. Never wash the meat before roasting it. If you do, it will not brown properly, and the juices will be drawn out. Some cooks are very particular to wash meat, and they say that it is dirty not to do so, for we never know by whom meat has been handled. For my part I never feel uneasy about meat which has been bought of a good butcher. If I had any doubt on the subject I should wipe it well, but not wash it."

"The dripping is quite melted now, mother. Shall we hang the meat on the hook, and wind up the jack?" said Margaret.

"Yes, dear; wind the jack before you put the meat up. In hanging the meat recollect to put the thickest part downwards, because the heat of the fire will be greatest at the bottom. Be careful, too, to pass the hook through a secure place where there is little juice, for the flesh will give way with cooking, and if you do not provide for this your joint may fall into the pan. Do you recollect that when we were boiling meat we first plunged the meat into boiling water to harden the albumen on the outside so as to make a case to keep in the juices."

"We cannot do that now, though," said Mary.

"We can do something of the same sort. If we put the meat close to the fire and baste it with hot fat for a few minutes at the beginning we shall harden the outside. Then we may draw it back and roast it more slowly till done. Above all things, however, we must be careful to baste it well. Stand at one side of the fire, take the fat up carefully with the basting-spoon, and pour it over the lean part of the meat. The basting-spoon will not become too hot if you put it in a plate by the side, not in the tin. If you baste the meat well, it will not shrink or become dry and hard, it will be juicy and savoury, and it will be a good rich brown colour."

"How quickly the fat melts!" said Mary. "There is plenty of dripping in the pan now."

"We will pour a little of the dripping away shortly, for we want to have it a good colour," said Mrs. Herbert. "If we let it remain too long before the fire it will be burnt and discoloured."

Very patiently and for a long time the little girls basted the roasting joint, and at last they were rewarded by seeing it take a rich brown colour.

"In another quarter of an hour the beef will be roasted enough, ma'am," at length said Mary, looking at the clock.

"It smells as if it would taste all right, does it not?" said Margaret.

"Now we must prepare for the gravy. Cook has put the dish for the meat and the plates where they will get hot, for little girls cannot see after everything. In this small saucepan is a little stock made by stewing two or three bones and scraps (with no fat whatever), a sprig of parsley, a few rings of onion, which have been fried till brown, an inch of celery, and five or six peppercorns in water. I do not know whether you noticed that this stock has been stewing by the side of the fire ever since we came into the kitchen; I have skimmed it every now and then, and covered it closely again."

"I noticed it," said Margaret. "I thought it would turn out to be for something which we wanted."

"It is for gravy. You see it is a rich deep brown colour, gained from the browned onion. We must strain this gravy, put a little salt with it, let it boil, then unhook the joint, pour a couple of table-spoonfuls of this gravy into the dish, put the rest into a gravy tureen, and serve at once. There will be plenty of gravy altogether, if we use that which is in the tureen and the dish as well. Besides, our joint has been well basted, and is not dry, so gravy will run from the meat into the dish."

"Can't we make gravy from the dripping-tin?"

"We should have had to do so if there had been no stock," said Mrs. Herbert. "In that case we should pour out the fat from the tin very gently and carefully till we come to the brown sediment at the bottom. We should mix with the sediment a breakfast-cupful of boiling water, and scrape, with the spoon, any little brown dried specks of gravy there might be. When we had obtained as much gravy as possible we should strain it into a saucepan and keep it hot till the meat was quite ready."

"I am sure father will enjoy this roast beef," said Margaret.

"I hope and think he will," said Mrs. Herbert. "Beef roasted in this way before the fire is most excellent. It is, however, not nearly so common as it once was, for with the stoves and kitcheners now in use, it is easier to bake, or, as it is called, to roast meat in the oven. I therefore wanted you to understand the best way of roasting meat, and you shall next learn how to roast it in the oven."

(_To be continued._)

HOW PAULINA WON BACK PETER.

A FAIRY STORY.

"Bravo! bravo! bravo!"

It was a tiny voice that spoke, sweet and clear as a nightingale's; but it was not a nightingale. It was a large brown and scarlet butterfly, with a dash of purple in its wings.

The mannikins paused in their gambols, and one made a bow, whilst another skipped up the scarlet runner that had suddenly shot up out of the ground, and twined in and out in fantastic knots, and brought himself to a level with the butterfly.

"If you had but wings!" added the butterfly.

"Wings, ah yes! how we should like them! Then we'd fly so high, so high, Turning somersaults, and fluttering Like----a graceful butterfly."

"Now," continued the mannikin, "as you are an emperor, I really think that you might order some wings for us. What do you say?"

"A Red Emperor," observed the butterfly; "but after all there's not much in it. It is, you see, all in the name. And I haven't really any power whatever to give wings or anything else. For you must know that I am under orders myself."

The mannikin looked at the Red Emperor in surprise.

"And you an Emperor?" said he. "Hasn't this scarlet runner sprung up so that we might run up it to speak to you?"

"That may or may not be," began the Emperor. "But----"

II.

"But what?"

No, the Red Emperor was not speaking now. Somehow the butterfly and the mannikins had got into the book that Paulina was reading to Peter.

Peter was sitting up in bed; he had also a book in his hand, and he threw it down and sprang out of bed, crying out--

"But what a splendid butterfly!"

"Oh, your sprained ankle, Peter!" cried Paulina.

But Peter was at the window, in fact, half out of it; and his left ankle, which was bound up with bandages, suddenly appeared to be quite as free from pain as his right ankle, which had nothing whatever the matter with it, and he leaned over the window-sill, murmuring--

"Dancing, prancing. Flitting, glancing, Now retreating, now advancing, Wait, and I will come to you, Through the window, through, through, through."

"Oh, Peter! how can you?" said Paulina.

But Peter was gone, and when Paulina looked out of the window, she could see neither him, nor the mannikins, nor the scarlet runner.

Of course she could not, for they were not there. Where had they gone? oh where? oh where?

III.

"Never mind, Paulina; it is a warm summer day."

Was it the great butterfly who spoke? No one else was near, and he was sunning himself among the elder blossoms.

"Ho, ho, ho! away they go, High and low, swift and slow, Over and over, heels over head, Peter and all the mannikins red."

Paulina now listened breathlessly.

"That is to say, the mannikins have red jackets and caps, and they are rolling along so fast, with Peter in the midst of them, that you will find it quite impossible to overtake them."

"Are you speaking to me?" said Paulina.

"Of course I am. Can't you hear what I am saying? I am the Red Emperor."

"Then please, good Mr. Red Emperor, fly away, and tell Peter to come home again."

"I am an Emperor," replied the butterfly, "and I cannot be ordered by a little girl. You must get back Peter yourself."

"But I can't see Peter. Where is he?"

"He's out of sight, oh quite! oh quite! And up in cloudland such a height! He's in a state of much delight, But you must get him home ere night."

"But I can't get to cloudland."

"Of course not, you're much too heavy."

Paulina began to cry.

"If you make such a dreadful noise I shall fly away. Otherwise I shall stay, and tell you what to do in order to get Peter back."

"I will do anything in the world," said Paulina; "whatever you tell me to do I will at once do."

"There is but one thing to do--you must become an artist."

"That is impossible," sobbed Paulina. "What shall I do? What shall I do?"

"Take off that prim little cap. Tie up your hair with black ribbon, and put on a blouse. Then you will be an artist."

"But I've never learned to draw."

"Pooh!" said the Red Emperor.

IV.

Paulina did not know where she was or how she came there, but she found herself before a wall on which hung a scroll with a face roughly sketched upon it. Paulina had a stick with a bit of chalk at the end of it in her hand, and she did not know whether she had drawn the face or not.

"Perhaps I did," said she. "I think it is a likeness of the moon."

"Pooh!" answered a voice.

Paulina knew that it was not the Red Emperor, for he had flown away. She looked round, but there was no one to be seen. Still the voice went on speaking--

"It's the sun but just begun; When it's done there will be fun. Mannikins in red and blue, Will bring something good for you."

"Who are you? where are you?" asked Paulina. "And do you know anything of Peter? He went with the mannikins."

"Yes, up in the clouds with them. I saw him. The clouds were drifting hither and thither, and he could not keep steady upon them, so he tumbled down to the earth again."

"Oh dear! Oh dear! What a fall he must have had!"

Paulina heard a curious whistling, crackling laugh that seemed to go off in gusts: puff, puff! blow, blow, blow! phew, phew! And then it subsided into a gentle whistle.

"It's nothing to laugh at," said Paulina. "He'll catch cold, and he must be very much hurt."

"No he isn't; he has hurt some one else instead. I saw him standing over the boy that he had knocked down."

"He was always fighting," murmured Paulina.

"And he had on a full suit of blue clothes," said the voice, "and striped stockings and a white collar."

"Blue! That's his best suit. How did he get it?"

"I don't know everything," replied the Wind, for it was the Wind who was speaking to Paulina; "but

I boxed his ears, and ruffled his hair, And left him standing astonished there."

"Oh!" ejaculated Paulina. "How can I get him home again?"

The Wind whistled for a short time, and then answered--

"By getting a palette, and brushes, and paint, and canvas, and becoming an artist. What is the use of wearing a blouse and long stockings, and having your hair tied with black ribbon, if you are not going to be an artist?"

V.

The Wind had gone away, the scroll with the sun's face drawn upon it had vanished, and Paulina was not where she had been a few moments before. She did not know where she was, and everything seemed to be going the wrong way; but she saw the Red Emperor resting upon a rosebush, so she felt that she was not without a friend.

"I've been waiting for hours," said the Red Emperor testily, "and so has the easel, also the paints and palette; and the canvas is stretched and the sketch made. You have nothing to do but to mount up to your seat, and fill in with colours. Shade away, beginning at the left corner, and make haste."

Paulina looked at the canvas, upon which was the outline of a figure reclining upon a rock. She was going to say she could not shade it, when the Red Emperor said sternly--

"No nonsense! Mount to the seat and paint as fast as you can, for if the painting is not finished before the stars come out, Peter will never come home again."

Paulina scrambled up; she took the palette in one hand, the brush in the other, and began to put on the colour as fast as she could. She did not take any pains, but dabbed away, beginning in the left-hand corner. She scarcely looked at what she was doing; but somehow or other it answered, and the picture progressed rapidly. Paulina herself was surprised, but she knew that she must lose no time, for the stars were only waiting for the twilight.

"The evening star, oh! don't let it come," said a very tiny little voice, that sounded like Peter's, a long way off; and it went on saying--

"Oh, Paulina! I have been a Naughty boy, I know. Don't look up and don't look down, dear, On with the painting go."

"I should be dizzy if I looked down: I'm so very high up," answered Paulina; "but I should like to know where you are, Peter."

"Never mind where he is," said the Red Emperor, "so that he is somewhere; that is enough for you. He is not far off. You will descend as the picture draws near completion, and at the last stroke of your brush you will see him. Obey me, or Peter will vanish away, and you will never see him again."

Again Peter's voice was heard--

"Yes, I'm near you, but I've grown very small; the Wind shook me about till I was only half the size I ought to be, just for knocking down a boy who came in my way. Go on, Paulina; paint away, make no delay, or I shall have to go away."

And the Red Emperor also said, "Go on."

VI.

And Paulina went on with her work. Her palette was almost clean, so thoroughly had she used up all the colours upon it, and the painting only wanted a few more touches, which she added carefully. Then she drew a little backward to take a view of her picture. She closed her eyes for a moment, the better to consider the subject, and when she opened them, the picture, the easel, the palette, and brushes had disappeared, and she was standing in a garden where roses and lilies and red carnations were growing, and fountains were sending up cool white spray. The Red Emperor was there also.

And beside Paulina there stood Peter himself.

"I am my proper size again," said he. "It's been all a very wonderful journey, and I've seen wonderful sights."

Paulina kissed him, saying--

"Peter, let us happy be With one another; Henceforth be content with me, Little brother."

"Of course he must be content," said the Red Emperor severely.

"Of course he must," echoed the Wind, "if not, I shall whirl him away to the top of a mountain."

"Of course he must," said two mannikins who suddenly appeared in sight, rolling and pushing along what seemed to Paulina to be the half of a large orange.

Not that it was anything of the sort.

"It's a casket of gold From the caverns old, Where the dwarfs are working for ever. All that it doth hold, If you should be told, Oh! would you believe it? no, never!"

And one of the mannikins tumbled over it, and turned somersaults, and rolled it up to Paulina.

And then the Wind whispered very softly to her--

"Little maid, I told you true, Mannikins in red and blue Would bring something good for you If the painting well were done Ere the setting of the sun."

"Yes, yes," said Paulina; "it's all true; but the painting's gone, and it all seems like a dream; and I've got Peter back, and his ankle's well. But how did he get his blue suit?"

But that neither the Red Emperor nor the Wind told her; neither did Peter, for when she asked him the question he only said--

"I don't know!"

JULIA GODDARD.

The Natural Bridge, Virginia.

The two greatest natural curiosities--if one may use the phrase in this connection--in North America are the Falls of Niagara and the Natural Bridge in Virginia. A picture of the latter will be seen in our new heading. It is an arch cut, so to speak, out of the rock, and stands upwards of two hundred feet above the ground below. How it originated has been a kind of puzzle, some urging that the rock was hollowed by an earthquake, others that the bridge is the result of the action of water. Unfortunately for these conjectures no ruins are to be seen beneath. The bridge has formed the scene of several hair-breadth escapes.

The Colossus of Rhodes.

The city of Rhodes is situated on the island of that name, which lies some twelve miles from the coast of Asia Minor. It was founded four hundred years before the birth of Christ, and, among other things, was noted for its Colossus--pictured in our heading--which was reckoned to be one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Colossus was a gigantic statue in brass of Helios, or the Sun, and stood at the entrance of one of the ports. It was 105 feet high. According to one belief--which, however, is now abandoned--the Colossus bestrode the harbour, one foot resting upon a pier at one side, the other upon a pier at the other, while the figure itself was so lofty that ships in full sail could pass underneath the outstretched legs. Sixty years after it was built it was thrown down by an earthquake.

Chinese Palanquins.

A favourite mode of travelling in China and other countries of the East is by palanquin, which is a kind of wooden box, about twice as long as it is high, with shutters and other appliances to make it comfortable. The palanquin is carried by porters--just as in the drawing given above. The vehicle is furnished inside with a mattress--on which the traveller reclines--and cushions, and is also fitted with shelves and drawers. Travelling is continued day and night. There are different kinds of palanquins, some resembling the sedan chairs that used to be fashionable in England.

The Flamingo.

This queer bird--also shown in the heading above--is found in the tropical and temperate regions of the globe, and frequents marshes and shallow lakes. In deep water flamingoes swim, but they prefer to wade, for then they can bend down their necks and rake the bottom with their peculiar-shaped bill in search of food. Flocks of these birds, with their red plumage, when seen from a distance, have been likened by observers to troops of soldiers.

"God's Providence House."

The house represented in the new heading, and bearing the above quaint name, is situated in Chester, a city famed for its picturesque old buildings. It is built of timber and brick, and upon the beam supporting the second floor is carved "God's Providence is mine Inheritance, 1652." It is supposed that Chester was visited with plague in that year, and that this house was the only one which escaped the pestilence. Hence arose the pious inscription of the grateful tenant.

An Ancient Monster.

Once upon a time, so long ago that I cannot tell when, strange creatures lived on land and sea. They have all died out now, but their bones are sometimes found in a fossil state, and by means of them scientific men have been able to construct, or piece together, as it were, these old-world monsters. You will see the picture of one of them in the new Pocket-book heading. It is called by the long name "Ichthyosaurus"--a Greek term meaning "fish-reptile." This animal was a huge creature something like a crocodile, with four paddles and a tail, and its native element was water. It had a large head with big eyes, and its jaws were well filled with terrible teeth. It possessed features in common with fishes as well as with reptiles, and hence its compound name.

Arabs of the Soudan.

Little folk who read their newspapers know something of the dauntless courage of the Soudanese Arabs. The Soudan is a desert of vast extent, partly bordering upon the boundaries of Upper Egypt. It is inhabited by wandering Arabs and some other peoples. They are, most of them, quite fearless, and even when opposed to British forces have shown a courage worthy of their foes. Armed--like the one drawn in our heading--with spear and shield--for but a few of them owned rifles and fired them unskilfully--they rushed again and again right up to the serried ranks of the British soldiers. These Arabs have several vices, but no one has denied them the highest degree of bravery.

A Lesson in Charity.

It is related of the late Mr. Peter Cooper, an American benefactor, that he was one day watching the pupils in the portrait class connected with the Women's Art School of Cooper Institute. About thirty pupils were engaged in drawing likenesses of the same model from various points of view--some in profile, some full face, some nearer and others farther from the light, and so forth. After studying the scene for a while Mr. Cooper said, "Such a sight as this should be a lesson in charity, when we perceive how the same person may be so different, according to the way he is looked at by various people."

The Busy Bee.

Few little folk have any idea of the labour that bees have to expend in the gathering of honey. Here is a calculation, which will show how industrious the "busy" bee really is. Let us suppose the insects confine their attentions to clover-fields. Each head of clover contains about sixty separate flower-tubes, in each of which is a portion of sugar not exceeding the five-hundredth part of a grain. Therefore, before one grain of sugar can be got, the bee must insert its proboscis into 500 clover-tubes. Now there are 7,000 grains in a pound, so that it follows that 3,500,000 clover-tubes must be sucked in order to obtain but one pound of honey.

The Dwarf Trees of China.

In China, that land of curiosities, may be seen oaks, chestnuts, pines, and cedars growing in flowerpots, and fifty years old, but not twelve inches high! They take the young plant, cut off its tap-root, and place it in a basin of good soil kept well watered. Should it grow too rapidly, they dig down and shorten in several roots. Year by year the leaves grow smaller, and in course of time the trees become little dwarfs, and are made pets of like canaries and dogs.

What is the "Lake School"?

In reading about poets and poetry, you will sometimes find an allusion to the "Lake School." This was the term applied by a writer in the _Edinburgh Review_ to Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge, because they resided in the lake district of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and because--though their works differed in many respects from each other--they sought for inspiration in the simplicity of Nature rather than in the study of other poets, or of the prevailing fashion.

The Cuckoo's Fag.

Tom Brown, as readers will remember, was in deep trouble at Rugby about the fagging system in vogue during his "school-days." Many things have happened since then, and amongst others a marked improvement in fagging. The cruelty and insolence and selfishness of it have disappeared, and the system itself will one day die out. As regards boys, so far so good. Among some feathered folk, however, fagging flourishes in full vigour; and so long as there are cuckoos so long will there be fags. Many birds are imposed upon, one of the commonest victims being the hedge-sparrow. For days a sparrow has been watched while it fed a hungry complaining intruder. It used to fly on the cuckoo's back and then, standing on its head and leaning downwards, give it a caterpillar. The tit-bit having been greedily snatched and devoured, the cuckoo would peck fiercely at its tiny attendant--bidding it, as it were, fetch more food and not be long about it. Wordsworth tells us in a famous line that "the child is father of the man," and no apter illustration of this truth could be found than the cuckoo. Let us trace his early life history, and to begin with, peep into, say, a wagtail's nest. It contains a few eggs all seemingly alike. In due time they are hatched, and you at once notice that one of the baby birds is quite different from the rest. It is blind, naked, yellowish, and ugly, and ere long will prove itself a monster. How did it come to be born there? Well, you must know that it is a young cuckoo.

Now, its mother has several bad habits. For instance, she does not make a nest, but lays her egg on the ground, and then places it in a nest where there are others like the one she has laid. She is cunning, you see, as well as lazy and cruel; for she has, like a thief in the night, introduced into an innocent home a real tyrant. The young cuckoo soon reveals its true character. It begins by edging the wee wagtails to the side of the nest and then turning them out one by one. Of course the little things thus thrown over fall to the ground and die, but even if some kind person were to restore them to their home, they would be again bundled out in the same brutal fashion. Having got rid of the children of the rightful owners of the nest the ruthless sneak speedily cries for food; and the parents of the ejected birds actually tend this glutton with the greatest diligence. The young cuckoo is ever gaping for food, and for weeks the poor foster-parents are kept hard at work to supply its hunger. Why do they do so? Probably because they regard it as one of their own offspring, though they may have a sort of instinctive notion that there's something wrong; and so the weary round of fagging goes on until the cuckoo takes itself off to start life on its own account. So greedy, lazy, and thoroughly selfish, however, is this bird that after it has outgrown its nest, and is quite able to provide for itself, it will still look to its industrious comrades for its meals.

The Greatest Whirlpool in the World.

Off the coast of Norway, close to the Lofoden Islands, the current runs so strong north and south for six hours and then in the opposite direction for a similar period, that the water is thrown into tremendous whirls. This is the far-famed Maelstrom, or whirling-stream. The whirlpool is most active at high and low tide, and when the winds are contrary the disturbance of the sea is so great that few boats can live in it. In ordinary circumstances, however, ships can sail right across the Maelstrom without much danger, and the tales about the vessels and whales which have been engulfed in the stream are more or less pure fables.

The Dog and the Telephone.

An intelligent dog was recently discovered wandering about the streets of an American city, by a gentleman who knew it. He at once asked its master by means of the telephone whether he had lost his dog. The reply came "Yes; have you seen it?" To which the further instruction was sent, "Suppose you call him through the telephone." Accordingly the dog was lifted up and the ear-piece placed at its ear. "Jack! Jack!" shouted its owner, whereupon Jack, recognising the voice, began at once to yelp most vigorously, and licked the telephone in a friendly way, evidently thinking that its master was inside the machine.

A QUEEN OF THE BEACH.

(_See Coloured Frontispiece._)

We played together on the sands, We roamed the moors for heather, We climbed the cliffs with clasping hands In the wild and windy weather; And sweet were my little queen's commands As we merrily played together.

Her eyes were blue as the limpid sea When the morning sun is on it, Her locks were bright as the corn might be With the blaze of noon upon it, And her scarlet cap was a charm to me, But her laughing lips outshone it.

So fearless was the little maid, Not a danger could astound her, With her bucket and her busy spade, On the sea-bound shore I found her, Of the winds and the waves all unafraid While the sea-gulls floated round her.

And many a house of sand we reared, The walls with shells adorning, While boats our happy playground neared, And breakers gave us warning That though we neither paused nor feared, All would be gone next morning.

A. M.

The "Little Folks" Humane Society.

SPECIAL NOTICE.

The Editor desires to inform his Readers that the names of Officers and Members of The LITTLE FOLKS Humane Society will be printed in the Magazine as usual during the next six months, but that after the present Volume is completed, and when Fifty Thousand Names have appeared, the publication of the Lists will be discontinued. As, however, the operations of the Society will still be carried on, and some accounts of its progress will from time to time be given in LITTLE FOLKS, the Editor hopes to receive, as hitherto, the "promises" of all Children who are willing to join; and, on receipt of these, their names will be inscribed on the Register of the Society, and Certificates of Officership and Membership also forwarded to them if stamped addressed envelopes be enclosed. (The number of Officers and Members now on the Register is about 49,500). The Editor is aware that in certain instances intending Officers find that it takes many months to complete the list of fifty names, which it is necessary to collect in order to become an Officer, and he thinks it probable that the total of Fifty Thousand referred to above will be reached before some of his Readers have been able to obtain this number of "promises" from other children. To meet this difficulty, and in order that the efforts on behalf of the Society of such children may be rewarded just as they would have been had the publication of names in LITTLE FOLKS been longer continued, the small book and medal hitherto given to Officers will still be awarded; though in all cases it will be necessary, in sending up the fifty "promises," to enclose a Certificate from a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, stating that the list had been commenced previous to the appearance of this notice in LITTLE FOLKS. The book and medal will not in future be awarded to any readers other than those just referred to--that is, those whose lists of fifty names are in actual progress at the present time (July 1st, 1884).

_TWENTY-NINTH LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS._

_Officers' Names are printed in Small Capital Letters, and the Names of their Members are printed beneath. Where a short line, thus "----," is printed, the end of an Officer's List is indicated._

AGE 41266 Herbert Buxton 14 41267 C. M. Balfour 10 41268 J. L. Balfour 7 41269 C. W. Balfour 18 41270 R. H. Pimm 13 41271 P. H. Marquand 9 41272 Chas. H. Mitchell 9 41273 Thomas Halsall 11 41274 J. M. Marquand 13 41275 Joseph Reeves 12 41276 A. B. Marquand 11 41277 W. Hodgkinson 13 41278 Arthur Handley 11 41279 F. T. Freeland 10 41280 T. L. Allkins 14 41281 H. Felthouse 12 41282 F. Nugent 13 41283 Edgar B. Hulland 15 41284 Kate Hodgkinson 16 41285 George C. Britton 7 41286 Winnie Grayston 6 41287 Eddie C. Britton 4 41288 Mary Gillman 13 41289 Mathor Gilman 9 41290 Fanny Darlington 20 41291 Elsie Sanders 13 41292 Mary A. Boonham 11 41293 Elizbth. A. Benson 11 41294 H. L. Franklin 12 41295 Eliz. A. Wright 9 41296 L. F. Wileman 12 41297 Mary S. Harris 8 41298 Harry Smith 11 41299 Wm. A. Franklin 10 41300 K. A. Minton 9 41301 A. Henderson 16 41302 Mary Henderson 15 41303 Cecil Henderson 11 41304 Ethel Norton 6 41305 Mabel Norton 5 41306 Matilda Norton 4 41307 Herbert Hare 12 41308 Clara Norton 13 41309 EDITH E. MORRISON, Wakefield 41310 Kate Milsom 11 41311 Harriet Hardman 11 41312 Fredk. C. Brown 8 41313 Mary A. Dean 13 41314 Sarah Hirst 20 41315 Louisa Brunton 12 41316 Eliza Blackburn 17 41317 Cissy Scholes 17 41318 Annie Goodridge 18 41319 Polly Scholes 9 41320 Flornc. A. Scholey 15 41321 Charles Scholey 11 41322 John Scholey 19 41323 Charltt. Cartridge 15 41324 Annie Allcock 11 41325 Bertha Tingle 15 41326 Dora Brown 12 41327 Annie Poppleton 16 41328 Lizzie Poppleton 14 41329 H. Poppleton 7 41330 William Garnett 17 41331 Annie Garnett 14 41332 Eliza Garnett 12 41333 Thos. H. Garnett 10 41334 Florence Garnett 7 41335 Lizzie Priestley 17 41336 Annie Jaques 17 41337 Mary H. Copley 10 41338 E. Worthington 14 41339 Kate Bancroft 12 41340 Maud Gosnay 11 41341 Bennie Harris 9 41342 Ada Richardson 12 41343 Ada Mellor 19 41344 Amy Sadler 14 41345 Kate Sadler 8 41346 Beatrice Sadler 12 41347 Alice Sadler 13 41348 Mary W. Hein 8 41349 Lucy M. Hein 10 41350 Ellen L. Hein 12 41351 Victor Hartley 9 41352 Eleanor Brown 20 41353 Mabel Walton 12 41354 Mary Bostock 11 41355 Margaret Salkeld 16 41356 E. M. Morrison 8 41357 R. P. Morrison 11 41358 Gertrude E. Prest 9 41359 Archbld. W. Prest 7 41360 JAS. W. RILEY, Derby 16 41361 Wm. Wibberley 11 41362 Joseph Wibberley 13 41363 William Smee 8 41364 William Yeomans 11 41365 Harry Wibberley 9 41366 Albert E. Riley 10 41367 Arthur Copestick 10 41368 John Lovel 9 41369 John Warde 14 41370 Henry Castledine 13 41371 William Hatton 9 41372 W. H. Haynes 12 41373 William Matthews 10 41374 William Smith 9 41375 Christopher Shaw 12 41376 Walter Green 11 41377 William Garratt 8 41378 Arthur Wibberley 11 41379 Charles M. Smee 12 41380 Arthur Smee 9 41381 A. Carmicheal 12 41382 Alfred Bunting 12 41383 Harry Bunting 16 41384 Frank Bunting 14 41385 H. Wibberley 16 41386 Clara Wibberley 14 41387 Lizzie Wibberley 18 41388 Walter Lester 13 41389 Arthur Pearson 12 41390 Mary Wadkinson 14 41391 Albert Lester 11 41392 Walter Pearson 10 41393 Nelly Carmicheal 7 41394 Annie Green 12 41395 Lotty Green 7 41396 Edith Wagstaff 8 41397 Henry Mellor 11 41398 Frank Oliver 10 41399 Charles Yeomans 11 41400 Maria Street 12 41401 Thomas Bennett 11 41402 Elizabeth Hunt 14 41403 Annie Brailsford 12 41404 Edwd. Armytage 10 41405 John Wagstaff 9 41406 William Tarrey 9 41407 Bernard Riley 12 41408 William Foster 11 41409 James Dunmow 9 41410 Joseph Moorcroft 11 ---- 41411 G. M. Buchanan 13 41412 Effie D. Ward 9 41413 Eleanor L. Ward 19 41414 Minnie Griffin 10 41415 MAGGIE GOMME, Peckham Rye 14 41416 Nellie Salmon 12 41417 Edwin Westall 15 41418 Alice Watts 12 41419 Mary Smith 11 41420 Mabel Cane 16 41421 Percy K. Lucke 9 41422 Lucy Gomme 18 41423 Annie Gomme 14 41424 Edith Perks 5 41425 Vivian W. Russell 9 41426 Fredk. G. Perks 7 41427 Frederick Cripps 13 41428 M. O. Bigg-Wither 14 41429 Louie Rogers 18 41430 Amy King 12 41431 M. F. Lankester 11 41432 Daniel Bott 12 41433 Edith Bott 14 41434 Arthur Hughes 11 41435 G. E. Hughes 4 41436 Keturah Hughes 7 41437 Mabel Hicks 14 41438 Emily M. Noad 15 41439 Annie Jewell 9 41440 John St. A. Jewell 8 41441 Richd. H. Vernon 12 41442 Alice Shrimpton 14 41443 Clara Shrimpton 16 41444 Ethel Davis 8 41445 Edgar S. Oakes 12 41446 Mary Cheetham 10 41447 Blanche Vernon 14 41448 Amy Ormston 19 41449 Kezia Saunders 17 41450 Clara Clements 17 41451 Rose F. Kempe 15 41452 Violet Jewell 6 41453 Alfred Harris 12 41454 Madeliene Oakes 10 41455 William Lane 8 41456 Nellie Lane 8 41457 Charlotte Westall 12 41458 Henry Johnson 10 41459 Robert R. Jewell 11 41460 Margt. M. Fane 13 41461 Elizabeth Westall 14 41462 Annie Cheetham 8 41463 Florrie Holford 10 41464 Arthur P. Kempe 12 41465 Queenie Keene 8 41466 John L. Perman 16 41467 Jessie Bott 10 41468 Annie Westall 18 41469 Frederick Clark 16 41470 Reginald Vernon 12 41471 Morris S. Kempe 17 41472 Ada B. Clements 7 41473 Jane Clements 19 41474 Emily Clements 18 41475 Fredk. B. Kempe 13 41476 V. H. C. Russell 7 41477 Mabel H. Tate 15 41478 Florence K. Oakes 14 41479 Florrie Rogers 17 41480 Herbert Elshib 14 41481 Mabel Vernon 16 41482 R. J. Paterson 13 41483 Nellie M. Beare 11 41484 H. W. Fortesquieu 7 41485 Beatrice Oakes 16 41486 K. Fortesquieu 9 41487 Castle Cane 14 ---- 41488 Edgar T. Tuck 7 41489 Lucy M. Burd 11 41490 Miriam A. Graves 14 41491 Edith M. Lamb 10 41492 K. P. Gourley 14 41493 Sarah A. Burr 18 41494 W. E. Barker 14 41495 H. M. Jones 16 41496 Mary G. Crane 12 41497 Leina C. Leake 15 41498 Peter Hope 16 41499 George Whillians 8 41500 A. P. Whillians 11 41501 John Michie 16 41502 William Tinlin 12 41503 Frances Turner 11 41504 George Hall 14 41505 Robert Tinlin 15 41506 Maggie Tinlin 13 41507 Maggie Laing 14 41508 Lucy E. Fife 16 41509 Eleanor May 17 41510 Harriette Oliver 14 41511 George Phillips 12 41512 Gertrd. Deighton 14 41513 Edith Barrett 18 41514 Louie Man 14 41515 Jessie Rogers 14 41516 Ellen Jeffery 12 41517 Edith E. Phillips 14 41518 Edith E. Sole 5 41519 Ruth Burch 10 41520 Annie Gambrell 10 41521 Rose J. Burch 6 41522 Alice Burch 8 41523 Liddia Burch 5 41524 Charltte. Attwood 8 41525 William Sole 11 41526 Alfred Sole 8 41527 Edward J. Sole 8 41528 Thomas Griggs 9 41529 Ellen Gambrill 10 41530 Arthur Taylor 9 41531 Kate Sole 3 41532 Harry Hooker 10 41533 Sarah J. Sole 6 41534 Elizabeth Hooker 4 41535 Ella R. Sole 9 41536 ARTHUR CAMPBELL, Wigan 10 41537 Margaret Newell 15 41538 Amy H. Gerrard 17 41539 Laura Hill 10 41540 Minnie Woods 16 41541 Flora M. Dewar 17 41542 M. Henderson 13 41543 Mary R. Dewar 15 41544 Jennie Dewar 11 41545 Mary Polding 14 41546 Annie Hurst 8 41547 Lizzie Holmes 10 41548 M. A. Holmes 14 41549 Annie Aspinall 13 41550 M. A. F. Gerrard 14 41551 Annie Holmes 12 41552 W. L. Brown 7 41553 F. J. Simm 8 41554 I. D. P. Smith 7 41555 Egbert Green 14 41556 Robert Morris 13 41557 Wm. H. Ashton 10 41558 O. H. Platt 11 41559 Jas. H. T. Evans 11 41560 W H. Litherland 13 41561 Brice Dean 14 41562 T. H. Winstanley 12 41563 John A. Dewar 9 41564 Richard J. Owen 9 41565 Herbert Hill 16 41566 Pryce A. Owen 6 41567 Sydney Hill 12 41568 Kenyon Pierson 11 41569 Alice Swift 14 41570 Emma Ward 10 41571 Jemima Povey 10 41572 Eva Skepper 11 41573 Ada Skepper 6 41574 Annie Barton 9 41575 Mary Bycroft 10 41576 Henrietta Wray 10 41577 John Porters 9 41578 Geo. Richardson 9 41579 Wm. Middleton 9 41580 Mary Humberson 9 41581 Charles Gunnis 8 41582 Edith Smith 10 41583 Fanny Hudson 8 41584 Eliza Castledine 16 41585 Edith Campbell 10 41586 Fred Campbell 8 ---- 41587 S. D. Collingwood 13 41588 ANNIE B. FARMER, Nottingham 14 41589 Percy Smith 7 41590 Emily Goodson 16 41591 Gerty Stevenson 8 41592 Sarah A. Goodson 14 41593 B. E. Baggaley 10 41594 Percy Creswell 7 41595 George Creswell 20 41596 Alick Pye 15 41597 Addison Pearson 16 41598 Louisa Wilson 17 41599 Maggie Creswell 16 41600 H. Hazzledine 7 41601 Gertrude Moore 12 41602 Percy Freeman 5 41603 Emily Brittle 9 41604 L. Waldegrave 16 41605 William Hunt 9 41606 Sydney Freeman 7 41607 William Tillson 16 41608 Hugh Smith 6 41609 Grace Packer 8 41610 Thos. A. Cooper 16 41611 John Sheavyn 13 41612 Essie Lawson 12 41613 A. Creswell 17 41614 Geo. H. B. Hay 15 41615 L. L. Bright 19 41616 William Pye 13 41617 Rosa W. Jones 20 41618 F. G. Bourne 10 41619 Isabella R. Brady 8 41620 Mary H. Brady 13 41621 Edith Creswell 12 41622 Alfred H. Brady 14 41623 John A. Pearson 18 41624 Stanley Bourne 7 41625 Alice Felkin 11 41626 Connie Smith 9 41627 Albert Dobson 17 41628 Lina M. Bourne 9 41629 Ada M. Lea 14 41630 Herbert Lea 6 41631 Edith M. Sellars 9 41632 Sarah L. Lea 14 41633 Mary Willby 17 41634 Bertha A. Goold 11 41635 Morton B. Paton 11 41636 Blanche Sellars 9 41637 Alfred P. Williams 9 41638 Lottie Lawson 11 41639 Amy Lawson 9 41640 Joseph Gregory 11 41641 GEORGINA M. CALLUM, Tadcaster 10 41642 Frances E. Callum 9 41643 Percy Thornton 12 41644 B. M. Hullay 12 41645 Annie M. Horn 17 41646 Edith R. Horn 11 41647 Nellie Carter 15 41648 William Howell 12 41649 Mary Howell 9 41650 S. A. Howell 3 41651 Annie Newlove 11 41652 Lucy Newlove 7 41653 I. Newlove 14 41654 Minnie Otterburn 9 41655 Gertrd. Otterburn 12 41656 Esther Wright 8 41657 Sabina Brook 8 41658 John Townsley 12 41659 Sarah J. Dodd 10 41660 Mary A. Morson 7 41661 Carrie Arch 8 41662 Emmeline Arch 9 41663 Nellie Halliday 7 41664 Unis Coates 7 41665 Alice Smith 8 41666 Emily Muff 7 41667 Harvie Hirst 13 41668 G. Hirst 15 41669 William Southey 15 41670 R. Haliday 5 41671 Emily Glover 13 41672 Florrie Bramham 8 41673 Fanny Nutter 7 41674 Elizabeth Lam 11 41675 Etty Atkinson 15 41676 Alice Colie 9 41677 M. A. Colie 7 41678 Mary A. Poulter 8 41679 M. A. Wilsh 11 41680 Louisa Clark 9 41681 Mary FitzPatrick 11 41682 M. J. Clark 10 41683 Albert Marrow 10 41684 T. Clarkson 12 41685 R. Brigges 11 41686 F. Stevenson 9 41687 Cundal Stevenson 12 41688 P. N. Hirst 9 41689 Lilian Harrison 10 41690 S. Harrison 7 41691 Herbert Cobb 14 41692 Louis Green 7 41693 Arthur Braine 8 41694 Edith H. Cobb 9 ---- 41695 Evaline H. Burkitt 7 41696 Ida L. Burkitt 11 41697 Laura C. Burkitt 8 41698 C. A. L. Burkitt 10 41699 Percy V. Haynes 12 41700 H. L. Osborne 11 41701 Claudine L. West 16 41702 Ellie Trimble 13 41703 Emily West 13 41704 William West 14 41705 Lucy Ardern 13 41706 Jessie Trimble 12 41707 George Upjohns 8 41708 Maryann Harris 8 41709 Frank Thornton 16 41710 ALBERT ABBOTT, Adlington (Lanc.) 12 41711 H. Hargreaves 12 41712 R. Halliwell 7 41713 E. V. Flitcroft 7 41714 Mary Loman 8 41715 M. Hargreaves 4 41716 M. A. Hargreaves 10 41717 James Thorne 13 41718 John H. Thorne 6 41719 Ada Thorne 5 41720 M. A. Atherton 8 41721 Harold Birch 6 41722 Betsy Aspinall 7 41723 Elizbth. Aspinall 11 41724 Maria Haign 9 41725 Mary Eddisford 10 41726 Walter Adamson 11 41727 Walter Jolly 11 41728 John Jolly 9 41729 Thos. Crawshaw 13 41730 Geo. Derbyshire 7 41731 Joseph H. Smith 10 41732 George Smith 9 41733 Jas. Nightingale 8 41734 W. Billington 12 41735 Chas. Billington 6 41736 Youth Crook 10 41737 Robert Brown 16 41738 Richard S. Bury 10 41739 Alice Marsh 8 41740 G. H. Nightingale 11 41741 William Pearson 10 42742 M. A. Makinson 12 41743 Mary Reynolds 12 41744 E. A. Kenyon 9 41745 John Kenyon 5 41746 Alice Sharples 10 41747 E. A. Harwood 11 41748 Joseph Taylor 13 41749 Violet Roberts 12 41750 James Yates 8 41751 Thomas Bridge 14 41752 E. A. Cowell 8 41753 M. E. Harrison 9 41754 W. Ormiston 11 41755 Emily Hardman 9 41756 Jane Forshaw 9 41757 Henry Parker 8 41758 Edward Ward 10 41759 Thomas Fielding 12 41760 Chas. Halliwell 10 41761 James Stewart 10 41762 Emma Stewart 7 41763 JAS. D. HAWORTH, Bolton 11 41764 William Dell 9 41765 Jas. Hodgkinson 11 41766 Annie Pearce 11 41767 Arthur Crompton 5 41768 Geo. Warburton 10 41769 Jane A. Lipkott 12 41770 Peter H. Lipkott 13 41771 M. A. Warburton 20 41772 H. Warburton 18 41773 M. H. Windsor 17 41774 E. Hodgkinson 16 41775 J. Entrohistle 11 41776 George Scholes 11 41777 John P. Brierly 9 41778 Frank S. Lomax 7 41779 James Lomax 6 41780 Emily Taylor 12 41781 William Taylor 10 41782 J. Greenhalgh 9 41783 R. Pendlebury 11 41784 J. Norris 10 41785 W. Wood 10 41786 T. Mather 6 41787 A. Pendlebury 7 41788 John Wood 11 41789 R. Pendlebury 9 41790 E. Bennett 16 41791 Arthur Walsh 13 41792 Arthur Gregory 12 41793 Harold Jackson 10 41794 Joseph Sutton 10 41795 Samuel Rostron 10 41796 George Blagg 12 41797 M. F. Graveson 11 41798 A. W. Mardsley 8 41799 James Pearson 10 41800 Fred Duxbury 11 41801 James Hurst 8 41802 John Kingley 14 41803 James Fairhurst 12 41804 Joseph Flitcraft 10 41805 Frederick Dell 5 41806 Bertie Scott 7 41807 F. Harper 8 41808 Albert Whittaker 12 41809 Bertha Murphy 13 41810 F. A. Murphy 12 41811 W. Whittaker 10 41812 Thos. H. Pilling 14 41813 A. H. Horrobin 10 ---- 41814 Edith Hammett 11 41815 R. C. N. Bodily 14 41816 T. R. E. Kendall 14 41817 H. A. Ayton 12 41818 F. M. Stokes 13 41819 Edith Welsh 14 41820 Herbt. C. Welsh 11 41821 Percy E. Welsh 9 41822 Cecil A. Welsh 7 41823 Lilian M. Welsh 5 41824 Pierre David 10 41825 Alice M. A. Grum 9 41826 Violet Dumergue 8 41827 E. M. Dumergue 12 41828 Edith Hinchliffe 11 41829 JAS. C. CLEMENTS, Arnold (Notts) 10 41830 A. W. Clements 7 41831 H. M. Clements 4 41832 Samuel Surgey 10 41833 Arthur Pearson 14 41834 Arthur Greaves 10 41835 William Gretton 11 41836 John H. Casterton 10 41837 Sarah E. Lee 6 41838 A. Hopkinson 11 41839 Hedley Spray 8 41840 William Moore 9 41841 Annie E. Smith 7 41842 James Lee 11 41843 Ernest Spray 14 41844 Arthur Spray 12 41845 Herbert Spray 10 41846 Mary E. Spray 6 41847 William Baguley 8 41848 Samuel Castleton 9 41849 William Castleton 7 41850 Walter Swift 10 41851 Albert Greaves 8 41852 Edwd. Parkinson 3 41853 Arthur Smith 5 41854 Florence Beckett 8 41855 Sarah A. Wayte 7 41856 George Beckett 13 41857 Mary E. Kirk 5 41858 Emma Woodcock 17 41859 Elizbth. Durrant 13 41860 George A. Wayte 10 41861 Annie Parkinson 16 41862 John Parkinson 5 41863 Ada Gretton 9 41864 Parker Peck 9 41865 Arthur Peck 10 41866 Arthur Ward 12 41867 Edith Ward 11 41868 Isaac Morris 10 41869 Gertrude Ward 10 41870 B. Skellington 10 41871 John Skellington 8 41872 Geo. Skellington 5 41873 Arthr. Skellington 12 41874 Stephen Pinder 9 41875 Arthur Baguley 9 41876 Walter Wood 11 41877 Ellen Parkinson 14 41878 Elizab. Parkinson 7 41879 W. H. Ward 14 41880 GERTRUDE E. BALES, Norwich 12 41881 Wm. M. Wright 10 41882 Rose E. Bishop 13 41883 Percy W. Mitchell 7 41884 Laura G. Nudd 8 41885 A. S. Newhouse 9 41886 Charles Bishop 7 41887 Donald Shields 5 41888 Eleanor Bush 8 41889 Herbert G. Smith 10 41890 Henry Thompson 9 41891 James Sherly 7 41892 Edith M. Nudd 10 41893 Horace Browne 8 41894 Frederick Daines 10 41895 Sydney Betts 16 41896 Maud H. Sluman 7 41897 Frank Hines 10 41898 Gertrude S. Betts 8 41899 Ernest T. Hook 8 41900 May E. Hawes 8 41901 Edith M. Ayers 6 41902 Harry J. Parker 7 41903 Ellen Barber 13 41904 Maria Farrow 11 41905 Harriett Mildred 13 41906 Lenard J. Mobbs 6 41907 Anna Kidd 8 41908 Edith M. Betts 15 41909 E. C. Winearls 18 41910 L. A. Winearls 16 41911 Blanche Betts 13 41912 O. C. Hayward 8 41913 M. E. Waller 10 41914 Edith J. Downes 8 41915 A. M. McGowan 11 41916 Ellen Cartwright 15 41917 Maggie Porter 14 41918 Nellie Lewis 13 41919 Jessie Porter 16 41920 Eva M. Ward 12 41921 Julia Hunt 15 41922 Rosa M. Ward 14 41923 A. W. Loveless 11 41924 Alice M. Loveless 12 41925 F. A. Loveless 6 41926 Ellen H. Loveless 9 41927 Clara P. Dunnett 9 41928 Arthur F. Dunnett 10 41929 Annie G. Sayer 10 41930 Susanna A. Beech 20 41931 May G. Roy 15 41932 Harry R. Pearson 16 41933 Alfred E. Roy 10 41934 Catherine A. Roy 15 41935 C. A. M. Gregory 9 41936 F. G. Gregory 7 41937 L. M. Osborne 8 41938 Nellie Dawson 7 41939 Gertrude Dawson 9 41940 Harry L. Curl 10 41941 Percy Curl 8 41942 Kate Beatley 10 41943 Charles Beatley 8 41944 Annie H. Bone 11 41945 Laura Bone 13 41946 Mary A. Bales 15 41947 Mary Noverre 6 41948 Katie E. Cork 12 41949 Amelior G. Ayers 9 41950 R. H. Tunbridge 14 41951 Hugh C. Jagger 11 41952 F. F. C. Jagger 8 41953 F. J. Markham 13 41954 Arthur Corfield 8 41955 Arthur Corbett 10 41956 E. B. Hutton 11 41957 EDITH M. ELLIS, Shooter's Hill 14 41958 C. Dempsey 11 41959 Fredk. C. Ellis 6 41960 Charlie Tutt 11 41961 Eily Bedford 5 41962 Emmie Barnes 10 41963 Lizzie Tutt 17 41964 George King 15 41965 Nellie King 15 41966 Georgina Dixon 11 41967 Isabella Purvis 11 41968 Mary Martin 9 41969 Edith Tucker 11 41970 Mary A. Fish 20 41971 Alice Hendley 12 41972 Kathln. G. Latter 13 41973 Kathleen Turtle 7 41974 Lilly Tutt 14 41975 James Tutt 9 41976 Clara E. Fisk 17 41977 Madoline Latter 12 41978 Martha Fisk 13 41979 Tulip Tutt 12 41980 Marion Turtle 9 41981 Thomas Fisk 6 41982 Herbert Martin 8 41983 Harriett Clark 13 41984 Rose Clark 10 41985 Ada Barrett 13 41986 Ada E. Ellis 13 41987 Ada Fisk 9 41988 Emily Fisk 7 41989 Frederick Fisk 14 41990 Jane Davies 14 41991 Isabella Purvis 11 41992 Janie Monument 9 41993 Edith Groves 14 41994 Annie Stace 15 41995 Louisa Monument 14 41996 Florrie Groves 17 41997 Jessie Purvis 7 41998 Alice Furlong 9 41999 Hilda M. Ellis 12 42000 E. Whittingham 9 42001 Maud Godfrey 12 42002 Mary Tricker 12 42003 Kathleen M. Ellis 12 42004 Henrietta Clark 8 42005 Freddy Imors 7 42006 Ada Jessop 9 ---- 42007 Amy Norgrove 14 42008 Harriet Selby 15 42009 Clara Lumley 14 42010 Emily Selby 15 42011 Margt. A. Keary 12 42012 Pauline Keary 18 42013 Ann R. Dawson 11 42014 Maud B. Deacon 13 42015 Edith I. Deacon 8 42016 Fredk. Deacon 10 42017 Edith K. Deacon 11 42018 Annie B. Colman 8 42019 Chas. Boardman 14 42020 Kate Boardman 12 42021 Florence Wood 14 42022 NELLIE BURDOCK, Wisbech 17 42023 Lottie Dann 10 42024 Florence Holland 15 42025 E. Farrow 11 42026 Alice Nichols 15 42027 F. A. Humphrey 15 42028 Ethel Ferguson 8 42029 Rose Dann 12 42030 Annie Burdock 19 42031 Alice Clarke 10 42032 A. Walpole 14 42033 May Stanley 15 42034 Alfred J. Dann 17 42035 S. Osborn 17 42036 Charlotte Kemp 16 42037 Carrie Peatling 11 42038 F. Stockdale 14 42039 Cissie Mantegani 10 42040 Emmie Atkins 13 42041 E. Winters 10 42042 Nellie Grant 12 42043 E. Budge 10 42044 Emma Cobb 11 42045 Walter F. Gamble 17 42046 J. Budge 9 42047 Agnes Holland 12 42048 M. Oldfield 17 42049 F. Shipley 11 42050 J. Slanford 10 42051 A. Way 10 42052 Hattie Cox 11 42053 L. Tumacliffe 13 42054 Grace Tansley 12 42055 Maud Oldfield 12 42056 H. Candler 19 42057 J. Donaldson 12 42058 Charles W. Dann 9 42059 E. Way 9 42060 Annie Smith 12 42061 Lizzie Bray 13 42062 H. Winters 14 42063 J. Shipley 14 42064 Bell Woods 15 42065 Katie Burdock 5 42066 Alice Johnson 18 42067 R. Shipley 9 42068 Clara Barker 13 42069 Cissie Cross 8 42070 J. Plumb 7 42071 Alice F. E. Rainey 11 42072 Evelyn Barker 13 ---- 42073 Agnes Primrose 14 42074 EDITH LAWSON, Kensington, L. 14 42075 Kate E. Ridgeon 11 42076 Ada M. Bond 14 42077 Eva M. Bond 15 42078 Edith Lavender 11 42079 I. A. Kinninmont 18 42080 Ethel M. Bond 12 42081 Bessie Lowson 13 42082 Maggie Lowson 11 42083 Kate E. Chiles 10 42084 Jeanie P. Dunlop 10 42085 F. L. Kinninmont 13 42086 George Beale 7 42087 Kate M. Hooker 18 42088 Edith Rayner 15 42089 Emily Clark 9 42090 George E. Clark 16 42091 Alice Scott 14 42092 Eva Scott 8 42093 Harriett L. Block 16 42094 Alice Watson 10 42095 Amy N. Smith 12 42096 Emily Weatherley 20 42097 M. A. Weatherley 17 42098 Margt. P. Watson 8 42099 Caroline Roper 20 42100 Marian Rayner 18 42101 Charlotte Bird 8 42102 J. Holmes 13 42103 Rose Brown 8 42104 Florry Waters 7 42105 H. Collingwood 7 42106 M. Hamlyn 11 42107 Laura Hamlyn 10 42108 Herbt. E. Adams 13 42109 Percy Adams 11 42110 Daisy Adams 15 42111 Milly H. Smith 15 42112 Janie Watson 14 42113 Lilian M. Orchard 13 42114 Bessie Webster 11 42115 Beatrice Webster 8 42116 Rachel Webster 15 42117 K. Bennett 13 42118 Edith Watson 7 42119 Maggie Scott 17 42120 Agnes H. Jeffrey 14 42121 Maggie Beattie 12 42122 Bella Cable 14 42123 Ethel I. Boldero 11 42124 M. M. Boldero 14 42125 M. P. Lawson 12 42126 Mena G. Lawson 11 42127 ALICE M. A. GREEN, Hounslow 7 42128 Maude A. Green 9 42129 M. A. Williams 18 42130 R. M. Green 5 42131 W. C. Green 4 42132 Rose Ayres 8 42133 H. Ayers 6 42134 Sarah Smith 15 42135 C. Smith 12 42136 Emily Smith 4 42137 Annie Ayers 9 42138 Mary H. Davis 11 42139 L. Smith 7 42140 Thomas Smith 8 42141 Anny Hulsy 8 42142 Harriett Harvy 11 42143 Mary Caunin 5 42144 Wm. J. Plunkett 7 42145 Annie Plunkett 9 42146 Elizbth. Plunkett 6 42147 Ellen Binnfy 5 42148 J. H. Jennings 6 42149 A. Jones 9 42150 B. Jones 6 42151 J. Jones 9 42152 A. Martin 9 42153 E. Martin 11 42154 W. Martin 14 42155 Emily Harvy 6 42156 William Harvy 9 42157 Florence Vickery 7 42158 Lizzie Azle 4 42159 Thomas May 13 42160 Stephen May 7 42161 Fanny May 16 42162 Eliza Azle 4 42163 Fredk. Azle 7 42164 Emily Benham 9 42165 Emily Ayres 8 42166 Mary A. Ansell 10 42167 Rose R. Lenton 11 42168 E. Paynter 7 42169 W. Ansell 6 42170 Hannah White 11 42171 Thomas White 7 42172 T. Fairchild 11 42173 W. Turner 8 42174 Rose H. Turner 6 42175 C. Turner 14 42176 M. Turner 11 42177 Annie Hutchings 8 42178 H. Hutchings 10 42179 E. Hutchings 6 42180 A. Hutchings 4 42181 A. E. McCready 9 42182 H. McCready 6 42183 Wm. McCready 4 ---- 42184 Bessie Dawe 14 42185 Alice L. Loney 8 42186 Ralph E. Loney 10 42187 Annie L. Carver 13 42188 Edith M. Jones 13 42189 EMMA MAYNARD, Shepherd's Bh. 15 42190 M. A. Maynard 17 42191 Edith Sanders 19 42192 Bertha Sanders 18 42193 Evelyn Goode 15 42194 Eliza Joslin 16 42195 Florence Bailey 8 42196 Alice Bailey 16 42197 Mary Bailey 13 42198 Mary Jackson 17 42199 Lillian R. Taviner 13 42200 Ada H. Leeming 14 42201 Wm. W. Stoney 13 42202 Geo. H. Stoney 15 42203 Emily Hird 14 42204 Isaac Hird 12 42205 Eliza Hird 10 42206 Mary Hird 11 42207 Mary Dormain 11 42208 James White 14 42209 Alice White 9 42210 R. H. Wright 16 42211 M. A. Farrington 14 42212 Ada Shepherd 15 42213 Lydia Canacott 20 42214 Edgar R. Dunman 9 42215 G. M. E. Clarke 9 42216 Ada James 15 42217 Clara James 14 42218 Marianne Singer 15 42219 Millicent Holden 12 42220 Alice M. Fruin 14 42221 M. Carpenter 13 42222 Annie E. Fruin 16 42223 Edith A. Fruin 10 42224 H. Fruin 12 42225 F. E. Fordham 16 42226 Kate Fordham 14 42227 Kate Fordham 10 42228 Alice M. Smith 16 42229 Jeanie Johnstone 13 42230 Nellie Beeson 14 42231 Lavinia Richards 15 42232 Florence Levey 14 42233 Agatha Cock 13 42234 K. Buckus 13 42235 Sarah A. Clifton 16 42236 Annie C. Fairy 6 42237 Earl Pettit 11 42238 Emily Pettit 16 42239 John W. Pettit 14 42240 Susan M. Pettit 9 42241 Emma Gaunt 13 42242 William Reeve 14 42243 Fanny E. Hopkins 14 42244 Lottie Taviner 7 42245 R. E. Anderson 13 42246 Caroline Hobden 7 42247 Edith Dawson 11 42248 Blanche Dawson 9 ---- 42249 Samuel Pinder 10 42250 P. E. Gee 14 42251 Ellen Stace 12 42252 Alice E. Hallett 15 42253 Edwd. Willshere 8 42254 T. A. Minoprio 12 42255 RACHEL R. KINLOCH, Rothesay 12 42256 Joseph A. Murray 18 42257 Elizabeth Murray 11 42258 Chas. R. Kinloch 16 42259 Robt. S McKim 13 42260 Jessie B. McKim 10 42261 Agnes B. Cook 11 42262 L. K. Thomson 13 42263 M. A. J. Stribling 17 42264 Maggie Smith 14 42265 Rebecca Smith 12 42266 Bessie Ronald 12 42267 Agnes Ronald 13 42268 Annie Kerr 15 42269 S. McKellar 15 42270 C. M. Kinnon 19 32271 Jessie R. Wright 9 42272 Margaret Warren 20 42273 Jane S. Brown 14 42274 Agnes S. Brown 12 42275 John Brown 9 42276 Janet S. Black 12 42277 Jane Black 9 42278 Maggie Ferrier 13 42279 Susie Bell 14 42280 H. Montgomerie 13 42281 Maggie J. Duncan 13 42282 Isabella McIntyre 12 42283 Annie Wilson 13 42284 Janet Wilson 11 42285 Annie Duncan 12 42286 Lizzie Clunas 7 42287 Kate Sharp 12 42288 B. S. S. Morrison 11 42289 Christina Waugh 12 42290 Bella Mitchell 12 42291 Agnes A. Black 11 42292 Alexander Black 10 42293 K. D. Macdougall 11 42294 I. D. Macdougall 8 42295 Maggie E. Philip 8 42296 Gracie Gray 10 42297 Elizab. J. Heron 14 42298 Helen Heron 13 42299 Elizabth. L. Smith 10 42300 Lily McMillan 13 42301 Mary McKinnon 12 42302 Maggie Hunter 12 42303 Flora Hunter 14 42304 Louisa Donald 13 42305 M. Paterson 10 42306 Jane Clark 11 ---- 42307 Frank H. Barber 14 42308 K. Bennett 13 42309 GEO. A. GRAVESON, Bolton 12 42310 Ada A. Fletcher 9 42311 Jane Fenton 7 42312 Nellie Evans 13 42313 Lizzie Hall 12 42314 Annie Rosbottom 12 42315 Arabella Taylor 10 42316 Arthur M. Evans 7 42317 Robert Evans 6 42318 S. J. Graveson 16 42319 F. M. Fletcher 4 42320 Elizabeth F. Mee 10 42321 Mary Mee 8 42322 Jessie Harper 11 42323 Mabel Tibsey 7 42324 Albert Orrell 7 42325 Nancy Schooles 7 42326 George Rostron 6 43327 Bertha Schools 9 42328 E. Birtinshaw 14 42329 Chas. Birtinshaw 9 42330 Beatrice Rostron 11 42331 Edith Rostron 15 42332 Harry Rostron 14 42333 B. Birtinshaw 7 42334 F. M. Greenhalgh 6 42335 A. F. Greenhalgh 7 42336 C. E. Greenhalgh 11 42337 Ellen Colinson 15 42338 Jane Colinson 17 42339 Prudence Corner 12 42340 Lily Corner 11 42341 Tily Orrell 12 42342 Fred Orrell 12 42343 Willie Orrell 13 42344 Fred Davis 13 42345 Lenard Hesketh 13 42346 Harry Moors 13 42347 William Tomison 13 42348 Edwin Almond 13 42349 Harry Haworth 12 42350 Fredk. Wilcock 12 42351 James Horrocks 13 42352 Samuel Rigby 13 42353 William Batter 13 42354 George Moors 13 42355 Samuel Lomax 13 42356 Harry Gastle 13 42357 James Shaw 13 42358 Fred Shaw 14 42359 John Amer 13 42360 John Morden 13 ---- 42361 K. L. Mackenzie 11 42362 W. F. Mackenzie 9 42363 H. D. Mackenzie 7 42364 E. V. Hensley 10 42365 Percy W. Smith 7 42366 James H. Smith 7 42367 B. E. Harris 9 42368 Beryl Montague 17 42369 Coral Montague 14 42370 Bessie J. Ellis 11 42371 Ethel Freund 12 42372 George J. Freund 9 42373 H. M. Vaughan 11 42374 Bryan W. Bulman 13 42375 C. E. Bulman 10 42376 E. M. Mackenzie 10 42377 G. P. Bulman 6 42378 Arthur G. Foxon 9 42379 Annie L. Foxon 14 42380 John H. Foxon 17 42381 Wm. E. Foxon 12 42382 James Watson 6 42383 E. M. C. Standen 10 42384 CYRIL H. TODD, Skipton 9 42385 Margt. Bradley 14 42386 Edith W. Fox 11 42387 H. W. Hargrove 12 42388 Sissy Haycroft 10 42389 Charles E. Hirst 20 42390 Ben W. Clayton 17 42391 Thomas Pickles 20 42302 Daniel Verity 19 42393 Jany Hirst 19 42394 Geo. Thornton 7 42395 T. Whiteoak 9 42396 Sarah Lobley 13 42397 Hannah Swire 17 42398 Agnes Whiteoak 7 42399 Caroline Butter 8 42400 Syrenna Oldfield 16 42401 Ellen M. Wynn 12 42402 M. A. Thornton 14 42403 C. E. Whiteoak 11 42404 Ethel E. Williams 9 42405 Geo. R. Williams 13 42406 V. E. Wynn 14 42407 Ethel G. Wynn 10 42408 Cyril E. Wynn 16 42409 Julia Williams 19 42410 Mabel B. Wynn 8 42411 Smith Brown 7 42412 Adina Garnett 8 42413 Sarah E. Bradley 7 42414 D. Coulthard 13 42415 Thos. Mawson 15 42416 Eliza Fountain 12 42417 Arthur Garnett 10 42418 A. A. Hargrave 15 42419 Sarah J. Geldard 8 42420 Mary E. Maud 14 42421 Reena A. Hirst 12 42422 Sykes Hirst 17 42423 Fanny Haycroft 14 42424 Mary H. Fox 14 42425 Alice Shaw 10 42426 George Simpson 8 42427 Eva Bradley 6 42428 Willie Craven 12 42429 Edith Windle 7 42430 Lucy Fox 9 42431 Oscar Craven 7 42432 John E. Bradley 8 42433 Ainee Hargrave 10 42434 James Whiteoak 11 42435 Geo. Mainprize 12 ---- 42436 Mabel H. Plant 10 42437 Lucy J. Clarke 12 42438 Laura M. Lloyd 12 42439 ERNEST BREARLEY, Bedford 14 42440 George Gowing 15 42441 Arthur Swinton 15 42442 Sidney Mence 14 42443 Bertie Mannell 13 42444 A. Leadbeater 14 42445 Percy Talbot 13 42446 Hettie Henville 14 42447 Fred Ellis 15 42448 Edwd. G. Neame 14 42449 Alfred J. Mant 11 42450 Herbert Droive 12 42451 C. F. Waterman 15 42452 James Platts 12 42453 William Droive 13 42454 Edith Platts 10 42455 Charles Purcell 13 42456 John Wilson 13 42457 Hilda Bentham 15 42458 Willie Whitlock 10 42459 John Cawley 16 42460 Henry Heap 12 42461 William Dotchin 15 42462 Godfrey Droive 8 42463 Wm. H. Hare 11 42464 Annie Kelley 13 42465 Fred Rainsford 17 42466 Fanny Sheldon 7 42467 George Sheffield 15 42468 R. Locke 15 42469 J. Crook 17 42470 Herbert Russell 17 42471 L. Short 15 42472 Violet Sheffield 14 42473 William Mitchell 13 42474 J. Lloyd 16 42475 Cecil Mitchell 10 42476 W. Brien 11 42477 Thomas Sheffield 13 42478 John Everard 15 42479 Hugh Watson 11 42480 Willie Homes 9 42481 Hedley Brasier 14 42482 Ralph Sheldon 10 42483 Osborne Parr 13 42484 R. Matthews 9 42485 A. S. Soung 16 42486 George C. Brand 16 42487 Emma Bell 12 42488 Graham Gosling 13 42489 ELIZ. HARKER, Chesterfield 18 42490 C. M. Parker 18 42491 John Hawken 12 42492 Wm. H. Parker 14 42493 M. Z. Tomlinson 13 42494 Helena Hayman 14 42495 Edith Platt 14 42496 Joseph M. Benson 6 42497 Arthur J. Benson 7 42498 Edith A. King 13 42499 Serena Burdon 13 42500 Alfred J. Harker 8 42501 Frank Sampson 12 42502 B. Sampson 11 42503 Annie Stray 13 42504 J. M. Sampson 6 42505 M. J. Caparn 16 42506 Harold Caparn 18 42507 E. R. Caparn 11 42508 A. S. Caparn 13 42509 Annie B. Whiles 14 42510 Mabel A. Whiles 5 42511 Florrie A. Whiles 13 42512 Kate M. Whiles 15 42513 A. O. Harrison 8 42514 Rowland Smith 11 42515 Ethel Bright 12 42516 Arthur A. Smith 14 42517 Dora Greaves 14 42518 M. Hollingworth 18 42519 Amy Deeley 10 42520 D. R. Handley 12 42521 E. B. Brown 11 42522 C. E. Stevenson 13 42523 Elizabeth Oliver 13 42524 Sarah Ward 17 42525 Mary Smith 17 42526 C. E. Drabble 18 42527 E. Hollingworth 15 42528 Edith Walker 11 42529 E. P. Huggins 16 42530 F. J. Wheatcroft 13 42531 Ernest A. King 9 42532 Lizzie Davenport 18 42533 G. M. Drabble 15 42534 Edgar C. Benson 11 42535 Annie E. Fox 16 42536 E. M. Knowles 19 42537 L. Woodward 16 42538 A. M. Webster 6 42539 Mary Harker 16 42540 HERBT. R. HEYHOE, Swaffham 12 42541 Grace E. Heyh 14 42542 H. Heyhoe 12 42543 Harry Ward 8 42544 Sarah J. Wilson 13 42545 H. E. Warnes 7 42546 Gertrude Warnes 10 42547 H. Thurgood 11 42548 Bathsheba Scarf 15 42549 E. Spencer 9 42550 Horace Smith 10 42551 Stanley Smith 8 42552 Sydney Smith 9 42553 Robert Smith 13 42554 Ernest Rolfe 10 42555 William Rolfe 13 42556 John Rose 10 42557 Amy Pheasant 16 42558 Ethel Pheasant 14 42559 Ernest Pheasant 11 42560 Ernest Powley 14 42561 Ada Payne 12 42562 Guy Matthews 9 42563 Lilian Nuthall 9 42564 Ernest Nuthall 13 42565 Fredk. Johnson 13 42566 Edgar C. Johnson 11 42567 Willie Johnson 7 42568 Frances Kew 14 42569 Charles Kew 12 42570 Posseen Hill 16 42571 Edmund Green 12 42572 Chas. Durrant 10 42573 John Cross 13 42574 Herbert Cross 11 42575 Walter Clark 16 42576 Ernest Copland 13 42577 Emily Cooke 14 42578 Ernest Carter 12 42579 Edgar Carter 12 42580 Emma Burton 18 42581 T. Bunting 8 42582 Olive Blomfield 16 42583 G. Blomfield 13 42584 Fredk. Alpe 11 42585 R. E. Alpe 13 42586 Ernest Alpe 9 42587 Horace Alpe 6 42588 Harry Alpe 12 42589 Alice M. Alpe 13 ---- 42590 Alice Grieve 10 42591 Janet Bell 10 42592 Cath. Redshaw 11 42593 Elizabeth Cook 9 42594 H. W. Turner 9 42595 Robert Ainslie 13 42596 Agnes Ainslie 17 42597 John Shiel 12 42598 Clara Peden 10 42599 John Elliot 9 42600 Janet Renwick 12 42601 Mary Renwick 10 42602 Agnes Elliot 11 42603 James Ridshaw 9 42604 Jane Wilson 12 42605 Jessie Hall 9 42606 A. M. MacLeod 19 42607 Elsie F. Boulton 12 42608 Henrietta L. May 14 42609 Marion Hill 13 42610 Ada Fish 14 42611 M. E. van Gelder 13 42612 Annie I. Boydell 10 42613 Isabel Hill 14 42614 Mary L. Jones 14 42615 A. E. B. Jones 13 42616 W. L. Darbyshire 7 42617 C. A. Darbyshire 13 42618 L. M. Darbyshire 12 42619 Henry C. Harris 6 42620 A. M. Twining 7 42621 EDITH SEALY, Weybridge 13 42622 Rachel E. Spyers 14 42623 Annie Wilson 13 42624 Tiny Garvice 8 42625 Edith Sherwood 19 42626 Wm. Gammon 12 42627 Nellie Atherstone 14 42628 Percy Rose 18 42629 Florie Armstrong 10 42630 G. Waters 13 42631 Alice Castle 14 42632 Montie Castle 9 42633 Maud Castle 11 42634 Bessie Era 16 42635 E. Thomas 16 42636 Henry Laity 4 42637 John Beckerleg 7 42638 E. A. Boase 16 42639 John Angove 10 42640 Abigail Jago 8 42641 H. Short 8 42642 Elizabeth Beare 9 42643 Bessie Botterill 17 42644 Adela Sealy 10 42645 Minnie Groves 20 42646 Janie Jeffery 13 42647 Amy Castle 17 42648 Susan Light 10 42649 Joseph Light 11 42650 George Smith 10 42651 W. H. Spyers 13 42652 Ellie Marks 9 42653 Maude Sealy 16

TRUE STORIES ABOUT PETS, ANECDOTES, &c.

QUEER DOINGS OF A HEN.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,--I am writing to tell you of a hen who had a good memory. She had some ducks' eggs put under her, which she sat on and hatched; she was very proud of her brood, and accordingly she took them out into the yard. In the yard was a pond, which the young ducks immediately ran to, and in they went. She was in a great fright, and flew from the shore to an island there was in the middle of the pond incessantly, and ran round and round, and called them, but in vain. After a time they came out of the pond, and she brought them up quite safely.

Again she was set on duck's eggs, and again they went into the pond and put her in a terrible fright. These she reared as before. After this she was set upon hen's eggs, and she hatched them all. Then she took the chickens into the yard, expecting them to go into the pond as the ducklings had; but they would not go near. So she called to them, and flew backwards and forwards from the island; and when they would not go in she actually took each one and tipped it over into the water! Thus she drowned all her brood--a very queer thing for a hen to do.

FLORENCE J. MEDDLYCOT. (Aged 12-3/4.)

_Hill Vicarage, Falfield, R. S. O., Gloucestershire._

A STRANGE NURSLING.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,--A friend of mine many years ago was walking with her brothers and sisters, when she found a young rabbit which had been slightly hurt. She picked it up and resolved to take it home and keep it. But now the question arose, How was she to feed it? Suddenly a bright idea seized her. The cat at home had lately had kittens, and some of them being drowned, she (the girl) determined to put the rabbit with the survivors. She did so, and to her delight the cat brought it up as one of her own.

SIDNEY H. DUXBURY. (Aged 13-3/4.)

_Locksley, Southborne-on-Sea, near Christchurch, Hants._

WHO HID THE BRUSHES?

DEAR MR. EDITOR,--My mother had a horse which she used to drive called "Jacky," who disliked being groomed. The stable-men kept their brushes in a little cupboard near his stall; but sometimes when they came to groom him they could not find them. So one day they watched him, and saw him slip his halter and go to the cupboard and knock with his nose until he got it open. Then he took out the brushes and hid them under his straw!

ADELAIDE BENTINCK. (Aged 11.)

_Froyle House, Alton, Hants._

A CURIOUS FRIENDSHIP.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,--Last year, when we were staying at Amiens, I was very much struck by a great friendship between a duck and a heron, both of which were in the hotel garden. The heron looked very ill and weak, and used to remain in the same spot for a long time, standing first on one leg and then the other, the duck lying a little distance off. When the heron wished to walk about it gave a feeble croak, and the duck would immediately join it, and the two commenced walking round the garden. When the heron was tired, it gave another croak, and the two companions stopped their walk. The only time that the duck left the heron entirely was for its meals, as the two birds were fed at different times. The heron had a great aversion to rain, and at the least drop would shiver, and shake its feathers. So, when it began to rain, the duck hurried its companion on until they reached the little shed where they slept. Sometimes the heron would begin walking without giving its croak for the duck to accompany it. This annoyed the duck dreadfully, and it used to waddle after the heron, quacking very angrily. If the heron appeared more unwell than usual, the duck redoubled its attention. It was most curious and interesting to watch them.

MURIEL NASH. (Aged 14-1/4.)

_Tudor House, Belvedere Road, Upper Norwood, S. E._

NOTE.--Each Story, Anecdote, &c., when sent to the Editor, must be certified by a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, as being both _True and Original_.

OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN CORNER.

ANSWER TO "PICTURE STORY WANTING WORDS" (Vol. XIX., _p. 320_).

SECOND PRIZE ANSWER.

Little Freddie Mayton's father lived in America, but Freddie did not live with him, for he was very delicate, and his father's home was among the rice plantations, and it was not at all healthy; so Freddie went away and lived with his mother, about seven miles from his father.

Not being very strong he was allowed to run about as he liked, and he got fond of the negro servants who worked about his home, but one especially, whom he called "Uncle Sam."

Uncle Sam was a powerful-looking old man, but he was now getting past work, and he could not get his liberty, so he was obliged to work on.

He was as fond of Freddie as Freddie was of him, and he was always ready to do anything for the little boy, from carrying him on his back (for Freddie was only six years old) to picking oranges for him to eat as he sat on the grass beneath the cool shade of a tree. Freddie's seventh birthday had come round, and his father had sent him a kind little letter saying that if he wanted almost anything he could get him he should have it.

Freddie was delighted, and began to think what he should ask for. He had everything a reasonable boy could wish for. At last he thought of something. It was this he would ask for--Uncle Sam's freedom.

He sat down at once and wrote a note to his father saying the thing he most wished for was Uncle Sam's freedom, and he should be very pleased if his father would grant it to him. Then he sealed it up, and running out told a servant to ride with it to his father.

He did not tell Uncle Sam anything about it, for fear his father would not grant his request.

When his birthday came, he had a present from his mother and some little things from nearly all the servants of the household (for they all liked him), but there was no letter.

After breakfast, he wandered out into the garden, and walked towards some high ground to see whether he could see anything of a messenger. Yes! there sure enough was a horseman riding towards the house, and by the time Freddie had got to the door the man had reached it. He handed Freddie a letter, which he eagerly tore open.

When he had read it, he ran quickly to Uncle Sam's hut, for his father had said that though it was rather a surprising request he would grant it, for Uncle Sam had served him for more than forty years.

When Freddie reached the hut Uncle Sam was sitting on a stone outside the cottage door, smoking his pipe. Freddie leaned against his knee and read him the letter, and when Uncle Sam heard it he thanked his little benefactor so much that Freddie declared he had never enjoyed a birthday present so much.

EDITH E. LUCY. (Aged 12.)

_Thornleigh, 50, Woodstock Road, Oxford._

Certified by ALICE LUCY (Mother).

LIST OF HONOUR.

_First Prize (Divided):--Half-Guinea Book, with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour, to_ C. MAUDE BATTERSBY (15), Cromlyn, Rathowen, Co. West Meath, Ireland; _and Half-Guinea Book with Officer's Medal to_ MARY JOHNSON (15-3/4), Boldmere Road, Chester Road, near Birmingham. _Second Prize (Seven-Shilling-and-Sixpenny Book), with Officer's Medal_:--EDITH E. LUCY (12), Thornleigh, 50, Woodstock Road, Oxford. _Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal_:--KATE S. WILLIAMS (15), 96, Oakfield Road, Penge; GERTRUDE E. BUTLER (12-1/2), 34, Lorne Street, Fairfield, Liverpool; LOUIE W. SMITH (15), 11, Woodstock Terrace, Glasgow; MARGARET SIMPSON (12), Elmhurst, near Garstang, N. Lancashire; MARY WELSH (14), 1, Barton Terrace, Dawlish; Winifred L. Coventry (11-3/4), Severn Stoke Rectory, near Worcester; KATE CHANDLER (14), 1, The Terrace, Champion Hill; WILLIAM R. BURNETT (15), Scotby Vicarage, Carlisle.

ANSWERS TO OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PUZZLES (_Vol. XIX., page 377_).

METAGRAMS.

1. Pin. Tin. Gin. Fin. Bin. Sin.

2. Red. Bed. Wed. Fed. Led.

MENTAL HISTORICAL SCENE.

Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, King of Argos, in Greece.

WHEEL PUZZLE.--LINCOLN.

1. L ion. 2. I ron. 3. N oon. 4. C hin. 5. O wen. 6. L ean. 7. N oun.

MISSING LETTER PUZZLE.

"Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 'Life is but an empty dream!' For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem."

LONGFELLOW, _A Psalm of Life_.

GEOGRAPHICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

1. C ogna C. 2. O mag H. 3. T ripol I. 4. S unda L. 5. W illemstad T. 6. O us E. 7. L eiceste R. 8. D evo N.

HIDDEN PROVERB.

"The least said, the soonest mended."

DIAMOND PUZZLE.--LIVERPOOL.

1. L. 2. T I n. 3. Da V id. 4. App E ars. 5. LIVERPOOL. 6. Tem P lar. 7. Sc O ne. 8. D O g. 9. L.

DOUBLETS.

1. Book, boot, blot, plot, plat. 2. Fire, fare, care, cart, cast. 3. Tub, tun, tan, pan. 4. Fare, fame, lame, lamp. 5. Bad, bid, bin, fin. 6. Soap, soar, sour, four, foul, foal.

A BIRD VIGNETTE.

Head of a Rook.

Our Music Page.

_Three Little Squirrels._

_Humorously_. quarter note = 100. _Words and Music by_ CHARLES BASSETT.

1. Oh! three little squirrels lived in a big wood--Three naughty young fellows, who called themselves good, And thought it not wrong to play all day long, Instead of hunting for food. Their father and mother worked hard ev'ry day, Providing for winter--while they were at play--With care add-ing more each day to the store Of acorns and nuts hid away.

2. One day they were merry as merry could be, No time then for work had these idle young three; So, wanting a meal, they thought they would steal The nuts stored up in the tree. When laden and weary at setting of sun, Their father came home and saw what they had done, He scolded them roundly, and whipp'd them all soundly, And soon put an end to their fun.

3. The winter came quickly, and made them feel sad, For sometimes there scarce was a meal to be had; Then vowed they no more to steal from the store, But hard to work would be glad. So let me this piece of advice give to you, "Don't steal from the cupboard or that you'll soon rue; Waste not, for 'tis wrong, and want brings ere long: You can't _eat_ and _have_ your cake too!"

OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PUZZLES.

RIDDLE-ME-REE.

My first is in vase, but not in glass. My second is in iron, but not in brass. My third is in goodness, but not in sin. My fourth is in coal, but not in tin. My fifth is in sleet, but not in snow. My sixth is in hit, but not in blow. My whole is a flower that most people know.

GERTIE HEAVER. (Aged 13.)

_164, Dereham Road, Norwich._

SINGLE ACROSTIC.

The initials form the name of a man or boy.

1. A girl's name. 2. A lair. 3. That which fishes live in. 4. Part of the body. 5. A contest. 6. A water bird.

M. E. DANSEY. (Aged 9-3/4.)

_Ampney Park, Cirencester._

TRANSPOSED LETTER PUZZLE.

Place these letters aright, and you will see three proverbs come to view.

1. Aadegghiillllnoorssttttt.

2. Aaadeefhiillllprvw.

3. Aaadddeeehhhimmnnooosssstt.

MILSON R. RHODES. (Aged 12-3/4.)

_Crefeld Villa, Withington, near Manchester._

HIDDEN PROVERB.

I have lost every one of my shells. That cloud prophesies a storm. He has just received your note. George, let us go for a walk. James has given me a silver pencil. I have torn the lining of my coat.

EDWIN POTTER. (Aged 10-1/2)

_Price Street, York._

ARITHMOREM.

57 + EGNOSNT = an explorer.

150 + 50 + PAEA = a mathematician.

1051 + ONT = a poet.

1101 + AREA = a continent.

1100 + NAUNHUS = a composer.

550 + NOON = a city.

ALICE MOSSMAN. (Aged 13.)

_Daisy Hilly Bradford, Yorks._

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

The second letter of each word, and the last letter but one of each word, read downwards form the names of two fishes.

1. Asserts.

2. An exclamation.

3. A vehicle.

4. Oxen.

5. Something that points.

6. To stick.

7. To handle.

8. One of the parts of speech.

BESSIE NICHOLSON. (Aged 10-1/4.)

_202, Evering Road, U. Clapton._

MISSING LETTER PUZZLE.

A verse by Coleridge.

I x e x r x h x e x n x i x n x m x r x n x r!

x f x a x t x y x k x n x y x a x d!

x n x t x o x a x t x o x g x n x l x n x a x d x r x w x,

a x i x t x e x i x b x d x e x s x n x.

CHRISTABEL G. MARSHALL. (Aged 12-1/4).

_10, Worcester Terrace, Clifton._

SQUARE WORD.

1. A girl's name.

2. An open space.

3. The back part.

4. Spun wool.

LILY WALPOLE. (Aged 13-1/2.)

_James Road, Stornoway, N.B._

PRIZE PUZZLE COMPETITION.

During the next six months we propose to make a variation in our Prize Competitions which will, we think, prove an additional attraction to our readers both at home and abroad. In the place of Two Quarterly Competitions there will be Three Competitions, each extending over two months, as below:--

I. THE SUMMER COMPETITION, consisting of Puzzles appearing in the present (July) and the August Numbers.

II. THE HOME AND FOREIGN COMPETITION, specially introduced for the purpose of giving readers residing abroad an opportunity of competing on favourable terms. Particulars of this will appear in the September Number.

III. THE WINTER COMPETITION, consisting of Puzzles appearing in the November and December Parts.

PRIZES.

I. In the SUMMER COMPETITION there will be a First Prize of a Guinea Volume; a Second Prize of a Half-Guinea Volume; a Third Prize of a Five-Shilling Volume, awarded in EACH DIVISION, viz., the SENIOR DIVISION for girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 (_inclusive_), and the JUNIOR DIVISION for those _under_ 14 years of age. There will also be awards of Bronze Medals, of the LITTLE FOLKS Legion of Honour to the three next highest of the Competitors following the Prize-winners in _each_ Division.

II. In the HOME AND FOREIGN COMPETITION Special and Additional Prizes will be offered, of which full particulars will be given in the September Number.

III. A List of Prizes in the WINTER COMPETITION will appear in the November and December Numbers.

REGULATIONS.

Solutions of the Puzzles published in this number must reach the Editor not later than July 8th (July 12th for Competitors residing abroad), addressed as under:--

_The Editor of "Little Folks," La Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, London, E. C._

_Answers to Puzzles. Junior [or Senior] Division._

Solutions to Puzzles must be accompanied by certificates from a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, stating that they _are the sole and unaided work_ of the competitor. No assistance must be given by any other person.

Competitors can be credited only under their own name.

The decision of the Editor of LITTLE FOLKS on all matters must be considered final.

The names and addresses of Prize and Medal winners will be duly published in LITTLE FOLKS.

GAME PUZZLE FOR JULY.

Our Game Puzzle for this month will be in the form of a little story. Four children were one bright summer afternoon standing together in an old-fashioned garden. There was Millicent, aged fourteen, upon whom sat a weight of care, for it was her task to look after and amuse the other three, viz., her two brothers Harry and Arthur, aged ten and eight respectively, and little Beatrice, aged five. The children seemed altogether out of sorts, they were cross, petulant, teasing, and would settle to nothing. At last Milly thought of the toys indoors, and said, "Now we will go and have a good game in the nursery."

"No," said Bee, stoutly, "me don't want to do and play wiz dolly to-day. I 'ike ze darden best."

In this fashion answered the others.

Then, said Milly, an idea dawning on her, "shall we try a new game out of doors?"

"A new game out of doors--just the thing," the boys chimed in.

"Let us all stand," said Milly, "together by this bower, and in turn think of some flower. I will begin, and so show you the way. I think of a polyanthus, and I say, 'Who will first touch a poly?' Then I count three, and if any of you can guess the word during that time we shall all start together for the nearest polyanthus, and when we reach it call 'polyanthus.' Who reaches the flower first scores a mark. Do you understand?"

Yes, they all thought that would do, and so they tried it quite successfully. Such shouts of "Fuchsia," "Dahlia," "Geranium," "Snapdragon," &c. &c.; but when it came to Beatrice's turn they thought she wasn't old enough to think of a flower on her own account, and so suggested all kinds of words.

"No, me tell one myself," she said, and then grandly pronounced "Wo."

"What's that?" they all exclaimed, and whilst Bee counted three they all puzzled to find it out.

Then little Bee ran a few yards and stopped at the nearest Rose-bush. "Why, that's a _Rose_," said Harry.

"Tourse it is, silly boy, didn't I say 'Wo?' and isn't it a 'Wosy Posy?'"

And so they all played on, and their little faces brightened into smiles, and fretfulness was forgotten in a good game as it always is; and by tea-time they were all thoroughly tired, and ready to go indoors when mamma called them.

There's the game, now for the Puzzle. You will find below a quantity of syllables in squares. Those syllables, if sorted out correctly, will make a certain number of wild and garden flowers, briefly described below, and all you have to do is to pick them out and place them in their proper order.

SENIOR DIVISION.

+------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ | tau | e | ach | clem | a | ber | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ | mim | be | y | im | a | ris | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ |eschs | ant | cen | u | ge | tis | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ | i | val | ir | an | rhi | pol | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ | zi | ra | cholt | ri | thus | num | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+ | nes | tum | an | a | lus | ry | +------+-----+-------+------+------+-----+

The following flowers can be made from the above syllables:--1. A small pink wild flower, bitter to taste, found in dry pastures--June to September. 2. Many flowers on one stem. 3. Its name is derived from a Latin word meaning mimic or ape. 4. A small but important order, including the poppy and many poisonous plants. 5. With open mouth behold this favourite flower. 6. Erect flowering-stems, found in damp hedgerows, moist woods, edges of streams--June to August. 7. Its name is derived from a word meaning sensitive to cold. 8. A beautiful purple or white flower, seen on the walls of many homes. 9. "A plant ever young." 10. Touch the stamens with the point of a pin, and they all spring forward and touch the pistil.

JUNIOR DIVISION.

+-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ | cel | o | cor | pim | e | beg | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ | a | sue | an | di | nem | el | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ | di | cam | op | dine | an | y | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ | ag | sis | per | pan | o | cory | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ | jas | ne | ri | thus | u | mo | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+ |nel | nia | tra | la | ny | mine | +-----+-----+-----+------+------+------+

The following flowers can be made from the above syllables:--1. A pretty yellow flower, found in damp fields, meadows, and brooks. 2. A white or yellow flower found on houses. 3. A pretty little yellow flower, on high flowering-stems, sweet in scent. 4. A "divine" flower. 5. Bell-shaped--blue, purple, or white. 6. Purple, red, and yellow, sometimes white. The fruit is a pod containing many seeds. 7. Sometimes eaten as salads, the leaves and stems being flavoured with oxalic acid. 8. Named from the resemblance of its seed to a small beetle. 9. A beautiful little crimson flower, covering the fields in summer. 10. A beautiful white spring flower, found in copses and hedgerows. 11. A beautiful pale blue flower, found especially on sand or chalk.

The flowers must be named in the order given in the two lists.

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 17.

SENIOR DIVISION.

1. Christopher Sly. 2. Carolina Skeggs, Wilhemina. 3. Shallow, 4. Rene 5. Prester John. 6. Nahum Tate. 7. St. Loy. 8. Petronel Flash.

CLASS I.--Consisting of those who have gained eight marks:--F. G. Callcott.

CLASS II.--Consisting of those who have gained seven marks or less:--M. Bradbury, N. Besley, C. Burne, H. Blunt, A. Bradbury, G. Clayton, J. Cooper, M. Cooper, H. Coombes, Ellen Corke, A. Chappell, G. Dundas, E. B. Forman. C. Gilbert, E. Griffiths, H. Gill, A. Garnham, M. Heddle, C. Hart, D. von Hacht, E. Hobson, H. Leake, B. Law, E. Lloyd, A. M. Lynch, H. Leah, J. Lewenz, C. Morin, M. More, C. Mather, E. Maynard, E. McCaul, E. Prate, M. Addison-Scott, K. Stanton, A. Solomon, M. Somerville. M. Trollope, Una Tracy, B. Tomlinson, Harold Watson, W. Wilson, E. Woolf, E. Wedgewood, K. Williams, A. Wilson.

JUNIOR DIVISION.

1. Sir Torre. 2. Pip. 3. Humphrey Clinker. 4. Zem. 5. Bore. 6. Caesar. 7. Troilus. 8. Duergar.

CLASS I.--Eight marks:--D. Blunt, M. McCalman Turpie.

CLASS II.--Consisting of those who have gained seven marks or less:--A. Allsebrook, R. G. Bell, E. E. Borchard, L. Besley, C. Burne, E. Blackbourne, E. Burdett, F. Boreham, E. Brake, F. Burne, L. Biddle, F. Cooper, M. Cooper, A. Coombs, C. Crawford, E. Coombes, M. Callcott, E. Carrington, F. Clayton, H. Chappell, J. Chapman, S. Coventry, V. Coombes, C. D'Almeida, R. Dutton, E. Elston, E. Evans, C. Fullford, M. Foreman, M. Frisby, L. Forrest, A. Gilbert, L. Gill, G. Griffith, E. Gruning, A. Howard, F. Howard, P. Hale, E. Hanlon, K. Hawkins, W. Hobson, W. Johnson, A. Kino, A. King, A. McKelly, A. Leah, K. Lynch, J. Laneum, W. Lewenz, E. Morgan, H. Mayer, J. Moore, M. Meredith, G. Morris, C. Moody, N. Maxwell, F. Medlycott, E. Nicholson, G. Neame, E. Neame, F. Newman, E. Quilter, S. Rolfe, M. Crompton-Roberts, E. Stanton, K. Simson, L. Stibbs, E. Stanley, G. Stallybrass, H. M. Smith, M. Wood-Smith, F. Todd, M. Wiper, K. Wedgwood, F. Woolf, L. Walpole, W. Wigram, J. Williamson.

_Note._--The following Competitors were credited in our Register with Solutions to Puzzle No. 16, but by an oversight their names were omitted from the list published in the May Number:--SENIORS. W. Besley, H. Cornfield, G. H. Dundas, E. M. G. Gill, C. G. Hill, H. Leah, C. J. Mather, C. G. Rees, H. R. Stanton, M. C. Welland, B. Wright, E. L. Wilkinson, E. H. Wilkinson. JUNIORS. E. Elston, L. L. Gill, W. Goligher, M. A. Howard, F. S. Howard, M. Jenkins, A. Leah, F. J. Medleycott, E. L. Metcalf, H. J. Nix, E. A. Neame, G. Price, C. Roberts, E. Stanton, M. W. Smith, M. C. Tonge, M. Turpie (K. Lynch should have been in Class I. instead of Class II.)

The "Little Folks" Special Prize Competitions for 1884.

The following is a Complete List of the SEVEN SPECIAL COMPETITIONS for the present year in which--with the view of giving younger readers the same opportunities of success as older ones--there are Senior Divisions for those of the age of _Fourteen_ and _under Seventeen_, and Junior Divisions for those _under Fourteen_:--

No. I.--PLAIN NEEDLEWORK, as shown in Night-dresses and Cotton and Print Frocks for Children and Infants in Hospitals.

[N. B.--In this Competition machine sewing is not allowed, and no article is to be washed.]

No. II.--ILLUMINATED TEXTS, suitable for hanging in the wards of Children's Hospitals and kindred Institutions.

[N. B.--The Texts are to be limited to from three to nine words. The _designs_ are not to be _necessarily_ original, but _printed outlines_ will not be allowable.]

No. III.--SINGLE DOLLS IN COSTUME.--Historical, Military, Naval, representing Nationalities, &c.

[N. B.--The clothes should be made to take off and put on.]

No. IV.--SCRAP-ALBUMS.

[In this Competition the Albums may include not only ordinary Scraps and Coloured and Plain Pictures, but also Pressed Flowers, Ferns, Seaweed, Christmas, New Year, Easter, and Birthday Cards, &c. &c. The Albums themselves may either be bought or made by the Competitors.]

No. V.--SINGLE DOLLS (including BABY DOLLS), in Ordinary Clothes.

[N. B.--The clothes should be made to take off and put on.]

No. VI.--TOYS, MADE OF ANY MATERIAL, AND WOOL PLAYTHINGS as shown in Wool Balls, Knitted and Crocheted Reins, &c. &c.

In _each_ of these Six Competitions (I. to VI.) Two Prizes in Books of the respective values of TWO GUINEAS and ONE GUINEA will be awarded in the Senior Division, and Two Prizes of the respective values of ONE GUINEA and HALF A GUINEA will also be awarded in the Junior Division; making in all Four Prizes in _each_ Competition of the value of FOUR AND A HALF GUINEAS.

No. VII.--THE "LITTLE FOLKS" SPECIAL ILLUSTRATED STORY COMPETITION FOR 1884.

[In this Competition (No. VII.) Prizes in Books and Medals of _exactly the same value and number_ are offered _in each Division_ to those who shall send in the BEST ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATED STORIES, account being also taken of the neatness of the writing and the arrangement of the Pictures. The following is the list (_in each Division_):--A FIRST PRIZE OF ONE GUINEA AND A HALF in Books for the BEST STORY; a SECOND PRIZE OF ONE GUINEA in Books for the SECOND BEST STORY; a THIRD PRIZE OF HALF A GUINEA in Books for the THIRD BEST STORY; and TWELVE PRIZES OF HALF-CROWN BOOKS to the NEXT TWELVE BEST of the Competitors following the winner of the Third Prize; thus making in all, in the Two Divisions, THIRTY PRIZES. Further particulars and the Regulations were given in the January, 1884, Number of LITTLE FOLKS.]

All Prize-winners in the SEVEN COMPETITIONS will receive Bronze Medals constituting them Officers of the LITTLE FOLKS Legion of Honour; and in addition to the Prizes and Medals offered, some of the most deserving Competitors will be included in a Special List of Honour, and will be awarded Members' Medals of the Legion. All readers of LITTLE FOLKS (if within the stipulated ages), whether Girls or Boys, may compete in _any or all_ of the above Competitions, and the Regulations (which were given in full in the January Number) are, briefly, as follow:--

All work of every kind (including, of course, the Stories) to be certified by a Parent, Magistrate, Minister of Religion, Teacher, or other person in a responsible position, as the sender's _own unaided_ work. In the case of the Stories (for Competition VII.) a Certificate must be given that they are _original_; and the printed conditions must be strictly observed. The age of _every_ Competitor must also be attested.--All work to be carefully marked with the Competitor's name, age, and full address, and to be sent, accompanied by the Certificate, carefully packed and _carriage paid_, addressed to "The Editor of LITTLE FOLKS, La Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, London, E.C."--All the Competitions will _finally close_ on SATURDAY, THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1884.

The whole of the work of every kind in the SEVEN COMPETITIONS will be distributed among the little inmates of the principal CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS and KINDRED INSTITUTIONS throughout the United Kingdom.

The foregoing are in addition to the regular "Picture Page" and Puzzle Competitions, &c. (see pages 61 and 64).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

[_The Editor requests that all inquiries and replies intended for insertion in LITTLE FOLKS should have the words "Questions and Answers" written on the left-hand top corners of the envelopes containing them. Only those which the Editor considers suitable and of general interest to his readers will be printed._]

PRIZE COMPETITIONS, &c.

A FOREIGN COMPETITOR.--[An announcement of a Prize Puzzle Competition, in addition to a "Picture Page Wanting Words" Competition, in both of which Extra Prizes will be given, and much longer time than usual allowed for sending in Answers, will appear in the September number of LITTLE FOLKS. These two Competitions have been arranged, in response to repeated requests, in order that Competitors residing on the Continent, and in the United States, Canada, &c., (in addition to those living in Great Britain), may take part in them in much greater numbers than they are generally able to do.--ED.]

LITERATURE.

A CROCODILE writes in answer to MARY HODGE, that the line--

"When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war,"

was written by Nathaniel Lee, and is to be found in his tragedy of _Alexander the Great_, act iv., scene 2. Answers also received from KITT, THISTLE, CHLOE, A YOUNG FIDDLER, and POP-A-TOP.

FLURUMPUS FLUMP asks in what poem

"A boy's will is the wind's will"

is to be found, and what is the first verse.

COOKERY.

ARIEL writes, in reply to PRINCESS IDA, that the way to make jumbles is to rasp on some good sugar the rinds of two lemons; dry, reduce it to powder, and sift it with as much more as will make up a pound in weight; mix with it one pound of flour, four well-beaten eggs, and six ounces of warm butter; drop the mixture on buttered tins, and bake the jumbles in a very slow oven from twenty to thirty minutes. They should be pale, but perfectly crisp. Answer also received from NORA F.

MAID OF ATHENS wishes to have a recipe for oat-cakes.

PEPPER AND BLOSSOM would like to know how to make cocoa-nut ice.

GENERAL.

WHITE ANEMONE writes, in answer to BLUEBELL, who wishes to know when and by whom organs were invented: "Jubal is mentioned in Gen. iv. 21, as 'the father of all such as handle the harp and organ;' but neither the century of its invention nor the name of the inventor can be given. Hero and Vitruvius speak of a water-organ, invented or made by Ctesibius, of Alexandria, about 180 or 200 B.C., so that it may be inferred that other kinds of organs were then in existence. Aldhelm, an Anglo-Saxon writer, mentions that organs were used in England at the end of the seventh and the beginning of the eighth century. The Byzantine emperor, Constantine VI., sent an organ to Pepin, the father of Charlemagne, about the year 757. In 812, Charlemagne had another one built in the same way. This is related by Eginhard, who was Charlemagne's secretary. In 880, Pope John VIII. had an organ from Germany, and an expert player was sent with it. It is supposed that this organ was the first ever used in Rome. Of the quality of these early organs little is known."--Answers also received from F. CROPPER, GAMBA, CHERUB, and CLAUDIA.

THE DUKE OF OMNIUM writes, in answer to SISTER SNOUT, that a window-box may be very prettily arranged with nasturtiums (climbing ones) at each corner, and _Lobelia speciosa_. Mignonette would make a border, or violets and sweet alyssum placed alternately. Red geraniums should be placed behind the smaller plants, and thus a very pretty box may be made with good, hardy plants.--Answers also received from IOLANTHE, CHERUB, H. B. BODINGTON, DEAR DUMPS, and CUPID.

THE BLACK PRINCE wishes to have directions for making a cardboard model. [An article on this subject appeared in LITTLE FOLKS, Vol. XVII., page 205.--ED.]

M. H. S. would be glad to know if maidenhair ferns need much water, and how often they ought to be watered.

THE DUKE OF OMNIUM writes, in answer to QUEEN MAB, that if her myrtle suffers from scale, the following is an excellent cure for it:--"Make some size or jelly glue water of moderate thickness. Dip the head of the plant in such water, or syringe it well all over. After this, the plant should be placed in a shady place for about two days, and then, after rubbing the dry head of the plant through your fingers so as to cause the insects and glue to fall off, syringe heavily with clear water at 120 degrees."

ELAINE.--[The meaning of "A E I" was given in LITTLE FOLKS, Vol. XVIII., page 63.--ED.]

NATURAL HISTORY.

A GENTLEMAN OF COLOUR would be glad to know if Indian meal is good for rabbits. [It can be used in turn with other dry food, but is too fattening to suit any animals kept in confinement for a permanency, unless they are to be fattened up.]

SNOUT and M. S. R. wish to know what is the best food for goldfinches, and whether hemp-seed is injurious to them.--[A very little hemp-seed occasionally is good, and much is very bad, for nearly all birds. The best food is a mixture of canary, millet, oat-grits, and rape or maw-seed, putting about a dozen grains of hemp-seed on the top every day. The bird soon learns the plan, and leaves off scattering the other seed to get at the hemp, as he will otherwise do.]

QUEEN MAB wants to know how to tame her goldfinch. It is a last year's bird, and she has not had it long. It is fed on canary-seed and a little hemp.--[For food, see above, a little more variety being well. As to taming, it will soon get tame if you spend time often by it and _keep still_, and always feed it yourself. Some children are too impatient--to be _quiet_ near birds and animals is the main thing.]

Picture Story Wanting Words.

A GUINEA BOOK and an Officer's Medal of the LITTLE FOLKS Legion of Honour will be given for the best Story having special reference to the Picture below. A smaller Book and an Officer's Medal will be given, in addition, for the best Story (on the same subject) _relatively to the age of the Competitor_; so that no Competitor is too young to try for this second Prize. The Story must not exceed 500 words in length, and must be certified as the unaided work of the Competitor by a Minister, Teacher, Parent, or some other responsible person. All the Competitors must be under the age of Sixteen years. Stories from Competitors residing in Great Britain and Ireland must reach the Editor on or before the 10th of July next; in the case of Stories sent from the English Colonies or from Foreign Countries an extension of time to the 15th of July will be allowed. In addition to the Two Prizes and Officers' Medals, some of the most deserving Competitors will be included in a special List of Honour, and will be awarded Members' Medals of the LITTLE FOLKS Legion of Honour. The Editor particularly requests that each envelope which contains a Story having reference to this Picture should have the words "Picture Story Wanting Words" plainly written on the left-hand top corner of it. Competitors are referred to a notice respecting the Silver Medal, which was printed on page 115 of the last Volume.

+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Page 1: "would give so much to see" has been changed to | | "would give so much to see." | | | | Page 7: Quotation marks before: I don't think our father'd | | have been removed | | | | Page 18: "his subjects loved and honoured Solohim" has been | | changed to "his subjects loved and honoured Solomon" | | | | Page 31: closing quotation mark has been removed--leaving | | the door open. | | | | Page 32: closing quotation mark has been removed--admire me | | for my strength. | | | | Page 55: "The number of Officers" has been changed to | | "(The number of Officers" | | | | Page 57: The name Florence J. Meddlycot is spelled F. J. | | Medleycott on p. 62. | | | | Page 58: "he should have it" has been changed to "he should | | have it." | | | | Page 61: opening quotation mark changed from single quote to | | double quote--shall we try a new game out of doors? | | | | Page 62: the name M Turpie has been changed to M. Turpie | | | | Page 62: "January, 1884, Number of LITTLE FOLKS." has been | | changed to "January, 1884, Number of LITTLE FOLKS.]" | | | | Page 63: "Canada, &c.), in addition to those" has been | | changed to "Canada, &c., (in addition to those" | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+