The Saint Nicholas gift for little boys and girls

Ex Libris
ELVAH KARSHI

CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION

LIBRARY OF THE

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT,

LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS,

1847.

BOSTON:

W. J. REYNOLDS & CO.
1847.

J. WRIGHT, PRINTER,

3 Water Street.

Ci -^ -f

CONTENTS.

T :*.0 aKuoii

INTRODUCTION. 7

. • ,,. ,„ -, ., .IT "-iT
THE LITTLE GARDENER. . . . '. . o

SLEEPING INNOCENCE. . . . . 20

MADAME PEACOCK AND HER LIVING PICTURES. . 21

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER. *."*", " .'^' . 27

A SONG ON THE WATER. . ,"*'*'. . 38

THE MONKEY AND WILD BOAR. . ' °T . 39

SONG OF SUMMER 43

THE RAT AND THE FROG. ri> . . .44

RIDDLE. ....... 47

6 CONTENTS,

THE SULTAN AND HIS FALCON. . . .49

THE RIDE 53

CHAIR CHATTING. »..».. 55

RIDDLE. 64

MARY'S CALICO GOWN 65

ROUND GAMES. 69

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL 78

RIDDLE. . . . . . , .89

THE WOLF AND THE KID 90

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. . . .92

SUMMER PLEASURES 94

ANSWERS TO RIDDLES 96

INTRODUCTION.

* ' OH children come look , for St. Nicholas sure

Has emptied his pack on the floor,
Here are dolls, ships and horses, tin soldiers and drums,

Fine playthings, a dozen or more.

" But pray do you see no square, gilt, little book?

Our old friend has not surely forgot,
Pray lift them all softly, and carefully look —

Did you ever behold such a lot ?

" Ah, here I have found it, St. Nicholas Gift

For Christmas and happy New Year,
The date EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN,

Sit down quickly and read it, my dear."

THE

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

1847.

THE LITTLE GARDENERS.

JAMES and Henry were very good boys. Their
father had a garden, and he gave them a part of
it which was to be their garden. He had it
nicely ploughed, and manured, and weeded, and
gave them a variety of things from his large
garden to put into it.

They had a nice border of green box all around
the outside of it, and upon each side of the path
which divided the garden of James from that of

10 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

Henry. There were rose bushes, and raspberry-
bushes, and currant bushes, placed in different
parts of each little garden, and in the middle of
each was a place, which Mr. Porter, for that
was the name of the father of the boys, said,
would be very good for some kind of fruit tree
to be set out.

As Mr. Porter had no young tree which he
thought of the proper size and kind to put into
the boys' garden, he gave them leave to go to
the garden of a person in the neighborhood who
sold young trees of a suitable size for transplant-
ing.

The boys were very much pleased with the
thought of taking a ride in a railroad car, and of
visiting this fine garden, and also of getting
trees from which they hoped to enjoy a great
deal of good fruit.

As they lived at some distance from the sta-
tion from which the train of cars started in

THE LITTLE GARDENERS. 11

which they were to go, they walked very fast>
for fear they should he left, but as they had
started in good season, they arrived five minutes
before the time in which the cars left trie station,
and were able to select good seats, and fortu*
nately each little boy could find himself by an
open window.

After they had got well fixed themselves, they
had time to watch the other people who came to
take their seats in the car. They saw one poor
sick lady who looked very weak ^nd feeble, and
when she was seated in the car and her friends
who had attended her kissed her and bade her
good bye, they looked very sorry, and as if they
were afraid they should never see her come
home again.

Then they saw a merry party of boys, who
were going home at the beginning of a school
vacation. They were quite noisy and happy,
and very busy in seeing their baggage well taken

12 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

care of, and when they were seated they fell to
talking over earnestly the events of the last few
days at school, giving their opinions as to the fair-
ness with which the prizes at the last examination
had been distributed, and then passing rapidly
to the pleasures which they expected to enjoy in
the vacation which was now beginning.

Just before it was time for the cars to move,
came running a woman accompanied by a little
boy, with a somewhat large bag made of the mat-
ting with which plants are sometimes covered in
the garden during the cold weather. The bag
seemed to be pretty heavily laden, and as they
entered the station house, one of the men en-
gaged in fitting off the train seized it up to place
it in the baggage car, while the woman and her
boy hastened after to endeavor to take their seat
in one of the cars.

But the train had already began to move, and
it was not safe for the woman and boy to try to

THE LITTLE GARDENERS. 13

get in, and to add to their trouble while they
were hastening after the bag, and a ray of hope
still remained, the bottom of the matting gave
way, and out dropped a sausage, and then anoth-
er and another. The woman and boy, in run-
ning, stooped to recover the savory articles,
when the hole becoming every moment larger,
at last out dropped a plump ham. The cars had
now got into such rapid motion, that the man
told them it was in vain to try to get in, and
that if they would wait an half hour there would
be another train. The woman said this would
be just as well, and perhaps by that time her
husband, who was a little behindhand, might
arrive, and she should be able in the meantime
to fix up her bag a little better and restore her
sausages and ham to it, with the hope that they
would not tumble out again.

James and Henry and all the passengers were
quite interested in this scene, and felt very sorry

14 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

that the woman and her boy were left, though
they could not help laughing for a moment when
they saw the things one after another dropping
out of the bag. When the conductor came
along, Mr. Porter asked him what would be-
come of the poor woman, and he told him that
she could come along by the next train, and also
that she expected her husband to be wkh her by
that time.

The cars now got into rapid motion, and the
boys enjoyed the pleasant whizzing over dams
and bridges, and soon rejoiced in finding them-
selves out in the green fields, and in sight of
trees, some of which were in blossom. After a
ride of about fifteen minutes, they reached the
station where James and Henry were to leave
the cars. They jumped out with their father,
leaving the school-boys to pursue their way to
their homes, and the poor sick lady to go on
much farther to the south, where she hoped the

THE LITTLE GARDENERS. 15

mild breezes would bring back to her health and
strength.

Mr. Porter and his boys stood on the platform
till the train of cars had passed by, then they
crossed over the track and ascended a flight of
steps which led to the gardens they had come
out to visit. The air smelt very sweet, for there
were some early sweet violets already in bloom.
They walked up and down the paths, and saw
some of the earlier flowers putting up their
heads.

At last they came to the master of the garden,
and Mr. Porter told him that he wanted two
nice pear trees, for his boys to place in their
garden. The gardener described to him the
different kinds he had, and at last they conclud-
ed to take a Seekle pear for James, and a Bart-
lett pear for Henry, and Mr. W. promised to
have them put up in such a way that they could

16 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

be safely carried to Mr. Porter's garden, and
placed in the spot prepared for them.

Wnile the gardener was taking up the trees,
Mr. Porter and his boys walked down towards
the station, and had the satisfaction to see, as
the train which followed their own stopped for a
few minutes, that the woman, her little boy and
the bag were safely stowed in the forward car,
and beside them sat a jolly looking man, who,
from his close resemblance to the lad, left no
doubt remaining that he was the father who had
lagged behind ; they all now seemed to be pur-
suing their journey, in the happiest frame of
mind possible.

As some time remained before the cars in
which our party were to return home would ar-
rive, they took a stroll into a neighboring wood,
and saw some of the earlier wild flowers pop-
ping up their heads from under the bed of dry
leaves which had kept them warm all winter.

THE LITTLE GAKDENEES. 17

They found to their great joy a few of the little
early anemonies with their purple shaded blos-
soms, and after having strayed ahout some time,
and heard the birds singing loudly and clearly
as they were selecting their summer residences
and getting together the materials for building,
they went back to the station, where they found
their trees all ready for them, neatly put up in
matting.

The gardener had hardly finished giving his
directions as to the best method of setting out
the trees, when a puffing and whizzing was
heard, and along came the great iron horse with
a long train of cars behind him. The boys and
their father jumped in and were soon at their
journey's end. A crowd of men in the station
house assailed them in the usual manner, with
" A hack, sir ?" " Have a carriage ?" " A nice
cab, sir," &c. At first the boys, who were very
well behaved, thought -they must say, "No, I

18 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

thank you, sir," to every one of these questions,
but seeing their father took no notice of them,
they grasped their trees firmly, and said noth-
ing, but pushed their way home through the
crowd as well as they could.

When they got home, as it was almost dark
and they were all tired, Mr. Porter put the trees
in a damp place, thinking it best to put off set-
ting them out until the morning.

The exercise of the afternoon had given the
boys a good appetite for the supper that was
awaiting them, and having related the adven-
tures of the ride, and studied their evening les-
sons, they went to bed resolving to get up early
and set out their trees in the garden.

They awoke in good season and proceeded to
their labors. The gardener had prepared a deep
hole for each of the trees, and they assisted each
other in planting them, one holding up the tree,

THE LITTLE GARDENERS. 19

the other putting the dirt carefully about the
roots with his little spade.

If our young readers would have a more ex-
act idea of the scene we have been describing,
let him turn to our frontispiece, where it will
appear as represented by a skillful artist. As
the ground had been so carefully prepared, the
trees so well selected, and so well set out, and
as the boys were very careful in attending to the
garden, there can be but little doubt that they
will succeed, and if any of the readers of the St.
Nicholas should happen to be passing their gar-
den some few years hence, they would do well
to call and see the LITTLE GARDENERS, and they
may perhaps be invited to taste their fruit.

20

SLEEPING INNOCENCE.

Sleep, innocent, sleep, my darling thou art,
Closed are thy blue eyes, thou joy of my heart,
On the green turf thou liest, thy mother is by,
She watches to scare off the quick teasing fly.

Now, oh thou loved one, the hours shine like gold,
Later, such moments thou shalt not behold,
Sad cares and heavy will crowd round thy bed,
Not in such quiet will rest thy dear head.

Angels from heaven all lovely and fair,

Now float round thee, while they glad visions

prepare,

In days that come after they too shall be near,
But their errand will then be, to dry the sad tear.

Quietly sleep, then, by day or by night,
Thy mother is near thee, still wakeful and bright,
Early or late, she her constant watch keeps,
For a mother's love, dear one, ne'er slumbers nor
sleeps.

21
MADAM PEACOCK

AND HER LIVING PICTURES,

The weather was fine,

For cold winter was o'er,
And the birds were more happy

Than ever before.

They had tea-drinkings, sociables,

Parties and Balls,
With concerts and suppers,

And stiff morning calls.

At last Madam Peacock

Invited them all,
To a new kind of show,

Neither tea, hop, or ball.

Theyjshould see Living Pictures,
Which she happened to know,

22 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

Among beaux and belles
Were a favorite show.

The birds were much pleased,
Every one wished to go,

And among all the answers,
There was hardly a No.

A fine spot was selected,
The best light and shade,

While a sizeable Palm leaf
A nice curtain made.

At last the day came,
For daylight they chose,

Because birds, with the sun,
Take an early repose.

The guests all in order,

Disposed themselves round,

Not a branch within sight,
Could empty be found.

MADAM PEACOCK AND HER LIVING PICTURES. 23

The Bell Bird* from Guiana

Gave the sign to begin,
The Palm leaf was moved,

Oh, the'sight seen within !

The Death of Cock Robin,

Displayed in fall view,
Poor Cock Robin, Rash Sparrow,

The arrow, too true.

A thrill of emotion

Passed through the whole crowd,
Some silently shuddered,

Some peeped out aloud.

The birds gazed in amazement,

How long I can't tell,
Till the curtain was closed

At the sound of the bell.

* The Campanero, a snow white bird found in Guiana, is said by
travelers to make a sound precisely like the ringing of a bell.

24 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

Again Campanero

Gave his note loud and shrill,
Again opened the Palm leaf,

The audience sat still.

The next living picture
Was Jenny Wren, sweet,

When her sad illness over,
She and Cock Robin meet.

How modest stood Jenny,
It was just at the time

When Robin first asks,

" Jenny, will you be mine?"

In exactly three minutes,
The time most approved,

The Bell Bird gave his chime,
The green curtain was moved.

The company twittered
And sang their applause,

MADAM PEACOCK AND HER LIVING PICTURES.

And their joy and approval
Was not without cause.

Again opened the curtain,

And now for the last,
It was Cock Robin's trial,

The sentence just passed.

There was seated Judge Eagle,

The jury all round,
There Constable Cock

Maintained boldly his ground.

There Sparrow relieved,
Made his bow to the court,

The birds well knew the scene,
They had read the Report.

The closing bell sounded,

The curtain shut close,
And from the spectators

What a twittering arose !
3

SAINT NICHOLAS CHFT.

" How charming, how true,

Mrs. Peacock, my dear,
How much we all thank you

For bringing us here."

The Cock crowed approval

As loud as he could,
While the small birds protested

It was all very good.

They all made bows and courtesies,

With air most polite,
And took leave of their hostess,

For near drew the night.

They needed no rubbers,

Cloak, tippet or hood,
But flew on light wings,

To their homes in the wood.

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER.

IT was one of those happy clays when the whole
family had gone out to the Cottage to see grand-
mama and grandpapa, and how glad every body
was ; what embracing, and laughing, and kiss-
ing, and how long it took to get it fairly settled
which was really little Mary, and whether it
was possible that Philip had grown so tall, and
when it was told why father and uncle James
had not come, and that they were coming the
next train, the party began to breathe a little
more freely.

What could be more pleasant than Mr. and
Mrs. Gray's shaded cottage, and what more
lovely than the calm, quiet happiness of their
old age ? They had passed through many days,

28 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

some sad, and many happy ones. Their chil-
dren had all but one daughter gone away to
form households of their own, but they lived at
such short distances from their parents, that they
could often return to the home of their youth,
and bring with them their children to gladden
the hearts of their aged parents.

Mama and aunt Agnes had walked down the
lane with aunt Jane, the only daughter remain-
ing at home, and Philip and Mary remained
with grandmama under the shade of the vine
which crept over the seat at the cottage door.

" Grandmother," said Philip, "as we rode out
over the neck to-day, I saw mother point out to^
aunt Agnes a place where she said the Fortifi-
cation gates once stood. Was Boston ever shut
in by gates ?"

" Yes, my dear," said grandmama, " when I
was not much larger than you are, the British
army took possession of the town of Boston, and

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER. 29

put gates across the neck of land which was
then the only road by which persons could leave
the town, and a guard was kept to prevent peo-
ple from coming in arid going out."

" I have read," said Mary, " in my Little His-
tory, about the American Revolution, and how
the British tried to frighten the Americans with
their ships and their armies, but they were not
frightened, and at last refused to mind them at
all, and published the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, which we always read at our school the
day before fourth of July. But did you live in
Boston then, and was it not very funny, grand-
mother, to have them shut up the town with a
gate every night to keep the people in, just as
aunt Jane shuts the door of her chicken yard,
when the hens have all gone to roost ?"

" It may seem funny now to look back upon
it, my dear, but we did not think it very funny
then. The troops were galloping up and down

30 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

the streets all the time, but it is a very different
thing to look out and see soldiers, when you
know they are your own townsmen only dressed
up for parade and to practice the use of their
arms, and to look out and see soldiers of another
nation, drawn up in warlike array, with guns
really loaded, which they do not scruple to fire
at people if they can find any excuse for it."

" It must have been very sad indeed. Were
there not frequent quarrels between the British
soldiers and the Americans ?"

" There were one or two, of which you have,
I dare say, read in your history. That called
the Boston Massacre was one, but for the most
part the people kept very quiet in their houses,
hoping that some relief would come, and pray-
ing to God that he would deliver them from
their oppressors."

" Almost every body that could left the town.
The farmers in the neighborhood, who had for-

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER. 31

merly brought in meat and vegetables to the
market, did not like to do it then, because they
did not want to sell their articles to the enemies
of their country, and so not only the British sol-
diers, but the Boston people themselves had very
little to eat. Some person wrote a poem about
the state of the town, addressed to the British
soldiers, two lines of which were,

And what have you got, by all your designing,
But a town without dinner to sit down and dine in ?

" And what did you do, grandmother, and
your father and mother for something to eat ?"

" Oh, we had some difficulties, but the town
was not as full of people then as it is now, and
we had a large pasture at the back of our house,
where my father kept two cows, so that we had
plenty of milk."

" A pasture in Boston, where could it be,
grandmother, it was the Common, was it not ?"

" No my dear, it was not the Common, though

32 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

that was used as a cow pasture, but the British
army were encamped there, and must have sad-
ly frightened the poor cows."

" But for meat for dinner, what could you
do ?" said Mary.

" Oh, we ate salted meats and salted fish, of
which we had stores in the cellar. We did as
well as we could, and did not think much of
what we ate, for about that time, beside the fears
we had from the soldiers, my dear sister Anabel,
your mother's aunt, who is now dead, was very
ill of a fever, and we feared she would never get
well."

" And did she die then ?" asked Philip.

" No, my dear, she recovered from that ill-
ness, and it was when she began to be a little
better, and to have a little appetite, that I heard
my father say one day, and he looked very sad,
4 Oh, if I only had a small piece of sweet fresh

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHEB. 33

meat for poor Anabel, this salted meat is not
good for a sick person.' "

" The next morning my father, who was an
early riser, got up before sunrise and went to
take a stroll in his pasture, and as he opened the
door his foot struck against sumething which lay
on the door step. He stooped to see what it
was, and to his joy discovered ^wrapped up in a
clean linen cloth, a nice fresh quarter of veal,
with the delicate sweet bread of which I believe
my little Mary ahvays wants a piece, when she
sees it on papa's table."

" That I do, grandmama, and how glad your
father must have been, and how did it come
there ?"

"We were all most thankful, and my poor
sister relished the little nice pieces of sweet
fresh meat so much, after having been so long
deprived of it, that she thought it was that
which made her well."

34 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

" And how did the meat come there ?" said
Philip.

" We did not discover for some time, but at
last we learned that a friend of my father, who
lived in the country near, and who knew that
sister Anabel was ill, and how much we must
want some of the comforts of life, found a man
who was going to try on some business of his
own to land at the north part of the town, in a
boat in the night. He gave the meat to him,
and directed him where to carry it, and the man
succeeded as I have told you."

" And did you stay in Boston all the time,
grandmother, till the British left it."

"No, my dear, my*sister still continued so
feeble that my father thought she would never
get well if she were so shut up, and so he con-
cluded to leave the town, and go in a ship to
Halifax, a British colony you know which did
not take part in the revolution, and stay there

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER. 35

till the troubles were over. So he bought a ship
with another gentleman, and they put all their
furniture on board, and my poor sick sister was
carried to the vessel, and we were all so anxious
about her that we thought but little of public
matters."

" Then you sailed away to Halifax, grand-
mama ?"

"Not quite, my love. The vessel proceeded
along, but the motion made poor Anabel so ill
that we thought she would die, and as for some
reason which I do not now remember, the ship
stopped at Marblehead, my father, who was a
timid man, and filled with fears for his daugh-
ter, gave up his plans -of going to Halifax, and
concluded to remain in Marblehead for the time.
So we all disembarked, and our voyage was soon
over, and my father was ever after thankful that
he did not leave his native land, as if he had
then gone he would probably never have re-
turned."

36 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

" Well, grandmother, and did your sister get
well ?"

" Yes, my love, the fresh air did her a great
deal of good, and after she got strong we moved
to another town, and lived quietly until the war
was over and Independence declared, and then
we returned to good old Boston."

" Did you find it looking as it did when you
went away ?"

" There were many changes, but I had grown
up from a little girl to a young lady, and had
forgotten a good deal. My father's store had
been burned down, but his house remained un-
injured."

" But see, my children, there comes your
mother and aunt, and your father and uncle are
with them, and I see Betty has got her tea table
laid, and her dishes of strawberries look very
inviting, and your grandpapa seems to be just
awaking from his nap. What a long talk your

A VISIT TO GRANDMOTHER.

37

question about the fortification gates has given
rise to."

" Ah, dear grandmama, what a nice thing it
is to be as old as you are, and to remember
about the British soldiers, and Bunker Hill, and
the Fortification Gates, and all."

" Ah, my child!"

38

A SONG ON THE WATER.

Oh, what a thing

3Tis for you and me,
On an evening in spring,

To sail on the sea !
The little fresh airs

Spread their silver wings,
And o'er the blue pavement

Dance love-makings.
To the tune of the waters,

And tremulous glee,
They strike up a dance

To people at sea.

THE MONKEY AND WILD BOAR.

0

A FABLE.

A MONKEY had retired to the depths of a forest,
and lived upon the fruit of some fig trees which
he found there. He followed the example of
the ant, and preserved a part of the fruits, which
he had the precaution to dry for his winter use.
His life was spent tranquilly in his quiet retreat,
when he was disturbed by the arrival in his
neighborhood of a wild boar.

This animal having been pursued by the
hunters, had retired into this same forest, and
being pressed by hunger he sought for some-
thing to satisfy it. But he saw with sorrow all
the trees stripped of their fruits.

He finally arrived at the foot *f the tree on

40 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

which the Monkey was sitting. The Monkey
on perceiving him saw that he might prove a
troublesome visitor. He however concealed his
vexation, and offered him his services. " The
most important help you can give me," said the
boar, "is to furnish me with something to eat.
I am not particular in the choice of my food, I
shall be content with the most simple, only pray
be quick about it."

The monkey immediately shook the tree on
which he was seated. The boar ate the figs as
fast as they fell down, and the tree was stripped
in a moment. The boar begged his entertainer
to climb another tree. The fruit of the second
was devoured with the same avidity as the first
had been. But the appetite of the boar did not
seem to be satisfied, and he made a sign to the
monkey to go up the third tree.

"I have performed towards you," said the
monkey, " all that the laws of hospitality require

THE MONKEY AND WILD BOAR. 41

of me, but it seems to me that you have not
obeyed those of moderation. The fruits which
you have eaten in a moment, would have been
sufficient to nourish me for several months. If
I obey you, I should find myself reduced to star-
vation this winter."

" Kash fellow," replied the boar, " it is very
pretty in you to make me reproaches ; I order
you henceforth to leave this forest, or you will
feel the effects of my anger."

" It is unjust," replied the monkey, " to take
possession of the property of another. I know
that you have the superiority over me in strength,
but you ought not abuse your power by oppress-
ing the feeble; sooner or later injustice will re-
ceive the punishment it deserves."

At these words the boar, filled with rage,

attempted to climb the tree to revenge himself

on the monkey, but he had scarcely reached the

lower branches, than they broke under the enor-

4

42

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

mous weight with which they were loaded, and
down fell the angry boar. His death, which
followed his fall, delivered the monkey from his
fears.

43

SONG OF SUMMER.

Summer is coming in,

Loud sing-, cuckoo,
Groweth seed, and bloweth mead,

And springeth the wood now,

Sing cuckoo, cuckoo.

Ewe bleateth for her lamb,

Calf loweth for the cow,
Bullock starteth, buck departeth,

Merry sing cuckoo,

Cuckoo, cuckoo.
Well singeth the cuckoo,
Nor cease to sing, now

Sing cuckoo, now

Sing cuckoo.

44

THE RAT AND THE FROG.

A RAT lived on the borders of a marsh. A
Frog, who was a citizen of the same region,
sometimes came up from the bottom of the wa-
ter to draw a breath of fresh air. One day she
was indulging herself in croaking, and blinded
by her vanity she thought she was charming
the birds in the neighborhood with her notes,
while she was only afflicting them with the
sounds of her harsh voice.

The rat at this moment came out of his hole.
The accents of the frog, disagreeable as they
were, pleased him, and he showed by the move-
ments of his head and tail all the pleasure which
he felt. His praises nattered the frog, and she
soon entered into an acquaintance with him who
had praised her so much.

THE RAT AND THE FROG. 45

"My dear friend," said the rat to her one
day, " there are moments when I have a thou-
sand things to say to you, and I cannot find you,
for perhaps you are at that moment asleep at the
bottom of the water. In vain I call you, my
voice cannot reach you, and as I do not know
how to dive it is impossible for me to go and
seek you."

" If you will consent, I will employ a method
which friendship has suggested to me, I will fix
a long string, one end of which shall be tied to
one of your feet, and the other to one of mine.
Thus we shall be able to give notice to each
other, and nothing will prevent our agreeable
meetings."

The frog consented, and our two friends, with
the help of the string, made each other frequent
visits. Unfortunately for them, the rat was one
day espied by a Falcon who was flying in
the air. He descended, picked up the rat, and

46 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

carried him off*, and by means of the string the
frog was forced to follow. Thus perished the
unfortunate animal, in consequence of having
formed too intimate an acquaintance with one
whose habits and tastes were altogether different
from her own.

RIDDLE.

Though I am neither bush or tree,

Yet many leaves have I,
And pages many wait on me,

A plentiful supply.

I am black and white, and sometimes brown,

Of various shape and size,
Am grave or gay, am long or short,

Am foolish or am wise.

With goM and silk and leather fine,

I am often dtcked quite gay,
But sometimes I no cover have

By night or even day.

Though born in freedom, hard I'm pressed,
And sometimes tightly bound,

48

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

On high I cruelly am hung,

And pierced with many a wound.

Now if my name you have not guessed,
You wisdom sure must lack —

But for your comfort use your eyes,
My name is on my back.

49

THE SULTAN AND HIS FALCON.

A FABLE.

THERE was once a Sultan who lived far away
in a country of the East, who was very fond of
hunting. It was the fashion of his time to train
a bird called a falcon to hunt, and these birds
were made very skillful in finding out and pounc-
ing upon the game.

Now this Sultan had one falcon, whom he
esteemed more than all the rest he had, on ac-
count of his rare qualities. The eye of this
bird was as sharp as a lynx, and his flight was
as rapid as lightning. The Sultan himself took
care of this bird, and often held him upon his
hand.

It happened one day that he was hunting,
5 V

50 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

and threw the bird on a gazelle. The falcon
cut the air with its rapid flight. The gazelle,
who saw her enemy over her head, ran so fast
that she seemed scarcely to touch the ground
with her light foot. The Sultan spurred his
horse, and soon became separated from his at-
tendants ; meantime the gazelle, notwithstanding
the efforts of the falcon, was so fortunate as to
escape him.

It was a very hot day, the Sultan was thirsty v
and sought for a stream where he could relieve
the thirst with which he was tormented. He at
last espied one, and untied from his saddle bow
the golden cup which hung there.

As the water dropped slowly, it took a long
time to fill the cup, and he was at last lifting it
to his mouth, when the falcon, who was perched
upon his wrist, overturned the cup with his
wing. The Sultan after infinite trouble filled it
again, but the falcon, with a second stroke of his .

THE SULTAN AND FALCON. 51

wing disappointed him again. The monarch lost
his patience, and in the rage with which he was
transported he threw the falcon on the ground
with so much force, that the bird lay dead at the
horse's feet.

At the same moment one of the attendants of
the prince arrived on the spot. He saw the cup
overturned and the falcon without life. The
Sultan informed him of the crime of the bird
and the vengeance he had taken on him for it.
He ordered the attendant immediately to seek
for the source of the stream, where he would be
able to draw water more easily.

The man walked to a little distance and dis-
covered a fountain, in the middle of which he
saw stretched out a .monstrous serpent. He re-
turned to the Sultan, and related to him what he
had seen. " Alas," said the prince, heaving a
deep sigh ; "I have deprived of life him who

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

would have preserved mine. The water which
my falcon prevented me from drinking, flowed
from a spring which is made poisonous by this
venomous serpent."

53

THE RIDE.

Three times one is three,
Will you go to ride with me ?

Three times two are six,
I will come and help you fix.

Three times three are nine,
Wind up that ball of twine.

Three times four are twelve,
I'll go and dress myself.

Three times five are fifteen,
While you your shoes are shifting.

Three times six are eighteen,
Don't keep the chaise long waiting.

Three times seven are twenty-one,
A veil will shade you from the sun.

54 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

Three times eight are twenty-four,
The horse is now before the door.

Three times nine are twenty-seven,

Now fix your dress quite smooth and even.

Three times ten are thirty,
The roads are somewhat dirty.

Three times eleven are thirty-three,
What a nice drive for you and me.

Three times twelve are thirty-six,
We must avoid that heap of bricks.

CHAIR CHATTING.

" WHAT a pity, mama, that it rains this after-
noon," said little Julia to her mother, " we were
to have had such a nice walk, and then it would
have been so useful too."

*' Your visit to the factory, you mean," said
her mother, " it would have been very pleasant,
and you would, I dare say, have learned a great
many things you do not know about the manner
that the pods of cotton, such as your aunt
brought home from the south, are turned into
calico fit to make you a dress. But then this
rain is very useful, and will make every thing
grow nicely, and prevent the dust from flying
about, and what I suppose is more to your pur-
pose, it will not last forever, it will probably be

56 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

a fine day tomorrow, and then you can go and
see and learn all you would have done to-day."

" But then mama, and I believe this is the
greatest trouble after all, I do not know what I
shall do this afternoon. My brothers and sisters
you know will not come home till tomorrow, I
have read my last new book — I have fixed my
baby house all in order against sister Alice-
comes, and I do not like to disturb it."

" There is your work-box."

" But to work a holiday afternoon, does not
seem to be very good."

"• Well, let us look round the room and see if
there is not something here which can give us
amusement, and perhaps instruction."
•• " Oh, mama, these old things that I have seen
' a hundred times — the Piano, I cannot play upon
it — the Bookstand, it is filled with great heavy-
books I don't want to read ; the work-table — I
don't think I shall like the story that would tell

CHAIR CHATTING. 57

me ; the writing-table — that looks too much like
school ; the Sofa — that makes one sleepy."

" And yet, my dear, there was a great poet
once who wrote a very pleasing poem about a
Sofa."

" A poem about a Sofa, what could he say
about it ? I cannot think of any thing but —

( A sofa is the best thing,
If you feel like resting.' "

" That was pretty much what the poet said,
though not exactly in those words. But there
is your little arm-chair, what do you think of
that for amusement and instruction ?"

" Oh it is a very good little chair, but when
you have said that, there seems to be nothing
more to say or think about it."

" Do you think the little girls in the early
days of the world had such nice little chairs as
that ?"

53 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT,

" I never thought about it before, but I do not
believe they did. What do you think mama
they did sit on ?"

"I do not know, but the first houses were
probably rocky caves, and then I suppose the
little girls and boys sat round on the sharp cor-
ners of the rocks which stuck out of the sides of
the caves, or they may have rolled in now and
then a loose stone to serve as a chair or a stool."

" That must have been rather hard, mama."

" Yes, but I suppose they could bring in some
soft moss, or dry leaves, or rushes. But by and
by men began to cut down the trees, and pile
them up, and make houses something like what
we call log houses now, and then I suppose they
would get the ends of the logs and have them
for seats. I have seen blocks nicely sawed off
used in farmer's houses in the country, when I
was young, for seats, and the children used to
like them very well. Beside being very good to

CHAIR CHATTING. 59

put up close in the warm chimney corner of a
winter evening, it was not considered the worst
of sports to lay them down on their sides and
roll them up and down the ample kitchen floor."

" Oh it must have been good fun, mama."

"We thought so, but the elders thought it
rather noisy, and after one or two rolls there
was apt to come a message from the other side
of the house, which would put a stop to it."

" I do not know how it is, but the best fun is
apt to be the noisiest."

" People are apt to think so, my child. Well,
after these blocks had been in use a while, they
were found to be somewhat heavy, and folks
sawed off a little slice of the log, and stuck some
sticks in it by way of making legs. At first
they only put in three legs, and a three legged
stool was prized much. It is thought that the
famous King Alfred of England had nothing
better than a three legged stool for a throne."

60 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

" Oh, mama, how it must have looked for a
King to be sitting on such a thing as that."

" After a while, they changed the three legs
into four, and then they began to make cush-
ions, and the ladies soon applied their skill to
this branch of industry, in which they have been
very fond of employing it ever since. They
made cushions, and adorned them in various
ways.

" Then people brought over the cane from
India, and that was found very good to twist in-
to a sort of net-work, and make the bottom of
the seat. But still as people sat upon this, their
backs grew tired, and somebody invented the
plan of putting up two sticks at the back of the
chairs, and weaving the cane between them.

" These chairs with the cane seats and the
stiff high backs were used by your grandmoth-
er's grandmother, and that one up in the corner,
to which your cousin Mary has just worked

CHAIR CHATTING. 61

such a pretty canvass cover, was one of that
kind. The cane was broken away, but the
frame, which was of hard wood, was strong, and
as there is a fashion now for bringing back these
old relics, we had it stuffed and covered with
canvass work.

" Another kind of the same form, but made of
leather, was very much used. In later days,
chairs have been made of almost every form and
material. They are nicely stuffed, and made
very easy. A very common covering now for
chairs and sofas is horse hair."

" Horse hair, mama, I know this black cover-
ing is called so, but is it really the hair of hor-
ses ?"

" Yes, my dear, I believe so, and I am amazed
when I think what an immense number of
horses must be cropped to supply all the demand
for this article^ which is now so much used. I

62 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

suppose only the manes and tails are employed
for this purpose."

" Then the cover of my chair was probably
once running round, where mama ?"

" The wilds of South America, I believe it is
brought from."

" Yes, and the frame of it was probably stand-
ing in the shape of a great tree in Honduras,
for from there mahogany is brought."

" What a story it would tell, if it could talk
about the things of which it is made/'

" Will you be so kind as to ring the bell, Ju-
lia, I should like to have the lamp lighted ?"

" Why, it has grown dark, and the afternoon
has passed away, I did not think it would have
gone so quickly, and very pleasantly too. I
have not thought about the walk or the factory.
I am glad you happened to think about my
chair, it is funny we found so much to say about
it."

CHAIR CHATTING. 63

" Now the lamp is lighted, you may bring me
that green-covered book from the stand, and I
will find a place where you can read me some-
thing about the horses in South America, and
how they are caught, and perhaps we shall learn
something about the way the hair is procured,
and fixed and woven into this nice smooth cov-
ering.

" There is another kind of coarser hair which
is used with moss and other articles for stuffing
the seats and sides of chairs.

" After we have done reading that, we will
find Mr. Cowper's Poem about the Sofa, and
there you can read what I have told you and a
great deal more, much better than I have been
able to say it."

" Oh, mother, we have jot enough to do for
the whole evening."

64

RIDDLE.

Although I have a large round face,
No mouth nor eyes have I.

My posture is erect and firm,
Yet when I stand I lie.

I have two hands which constant move,

But with a different speed,
They teach to others, though alas,

They neither speak nor read.

Though peaceful in my nature, I

Am often found to strike
My friends or foes, 'tis all the same,

My blows are hard alike.

But mind my warnings, for they tell

A tale of joy or pain,
And that which I for once have struck,

Never comes back again.

65

MARY'S CALICO GOWN.

A HISTORY TOLD IN THE MANNER OF THE "HOUSE
THAT JACK BUILT."

LITTLE Mary went down in town, by the side of
her mother to buy a new gown. What a fine
shop was kept by good Mr. Brown, where Ma-
ry's kind mother bought her a new calico gown.
A nice railroad station just out of town, where
the fine railroad car from Lowell brought down,
the bales of calico nicely boxed round, which
went to the store of kind Mr. Brown, where
Mary's mother bought her calico gown. A fine
tall factory painted brown, up in Lowell, that
famous town, whence the railroad cars brought
down to the railroad station just out of town, the
bales of calico nicely boxed round, which, went
6

66 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

to the store of kind Mr. Brown, where Mary's
mother bought her her calico gown. The plea-
sant young woman with hair so brown, who
worked in the tall factory looking down, up in
Lowell, that famous town, whence came the
railroad cars whizzing down, to the railroad sta-
tion just out of town, bringing the bales of calico
all boxed around, which went to the store of
kind Mr. Brown, where Mary's mother bought
her her new caliro gown. The mighty power
looms going up and down, tended by the young
woman with hair so brown, in the tall factory
looking down, up in Lowell that famous town,
whence came the railroad cars whizzing down
to the railroad station, just out of town, with the
bales of calico nicely boxed round, which went
to the store of kind Mr. Brown, where Mary's
mother bought her her calico gown.

The merry spindles turning round, which
un the cotton the weaver found so good to

MARY'S CALICO GOWN. 67

stamp with a purple ground, which was wove
in the power looms going up and down, tended
by the young woman with hair so brown, in the
tall factory looking down, up in Lowell, that
famous town, whence came the railroad cars
whizzing down, to the railroad station just out
of town, with the bales of calico nicely boxed
round, which went to the store of good Mr.
Brown, where Mary's mother bought her her
calico gown.

The large stout ship with sails so brown,
which brought from Georgia the cotton down,
which went up to the factory painted brown,
built in Lowell, that wonderful town, which the
spinning jenny with whizzing sound, spun into
cotton smooth and round, which was woven in
the power looms which go up and down, and
are tended by the young woman with hair so
brown, stamped by the huge brass roller which
turned around, and brought in the railroad cars

68

SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

whizzing down, to the railroad station just out
of town, in bales of calico nicely boxed round,
which went to the store of kind Mr. Brown,
where Mary's mother bought her her CALICO
GOWN.

69

ROUND GAMES.

ALL little children are fond of the round games,
where they join hands and dance round, repeat-
ing all at once some well known lines of poetry,
and performing an action suited to the words.
The little girls of the present day with us play
the same games of that kind, and repeat the
same verses as their mothers and grandmothers
have done ever since Eve's grandchildren met
together to celebrate each other's birth days.
Who does not know,

Uncle John is very sick,

What shall -we send him 1
Two good wishes, two good kisses,

And a spice of ginger.
Who shall we send it hy?

By the Governor's daughter,
What shall "we send it in?

In a golden saucer.

70 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

These words having been sung, while the
company have danced round in a circle, one
standing in the middle, this person selects one
from the round, and leads him or her into the
centre, when the circle again closes, and they
all dance round the two singing,
Master Bobby, (naming the gentleman,) so they say,
Goes a courting night and day,
Sword and pistol by his side,
Miss E. G. (name a lady,) shall be his bride.

Then the gentleman selects the lady named, and
they join the circle, turning their faces outward,
and this goes on till all the party have chosen
in turn. The gentleman chosen whispers to the
director of the round the name of the person he
selects ; this — and " Had I as many Wives,"
" Barberry Bush," and others of the kind, are too
well known to our young readers to need a more
particular description.

But it may please them to know that the little

ROUND GAMES. 71

French girls and boys play games exactly of
this kind, many of them having almost the same
words with those with which we are so familiar.
The following account, taken from a French
book of games, may amuse American children,
though it is doubtful whether these new games
ever become such great favorites as the old ones.
In every round game where any action is to
be performed, or a forfeit ordered, the company
should first choose a young lady or gentleman
for a director. It is his or her duty to make all
the dancers pass over to the left when they have
taken their turns, and the director does not pass
over himself until no one remains to go from the
right to the left, and this finishes the game.
The folio wi ig game is described in the book we
have mentioned, and called

THE FAGGOTS.

The circle is formed, and they all sing, danc-
ing around j

7£ SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

To the woods no more we go,
The faggots are cut and lie below.

Here the director takes a lady from his left
hand, and leads her into the middle, they all
sing and dance once round,

" This fair lady will bring them home."
The gentleman who stood next the lady chosen
advances to the middle and says :

" Hark ! I hear the merry drum."
The lady replies :

" It is my mother calls me home."
They all join hands and sing :

" And does your mother know you are out,
Then join hands and turn about."

The two in the middle then join hands and turn
about as directed, and then take their places at
the opposite side of the director, from where
they were taken*

ROUND GAMES. 73

Another of these games is called

THE BRIDAL.

The circle being formed, the company dance
round, singing,

" Who shall be the bride to-day?"
The director selects a young lady, and they sing

" Pretty Miss, shall it be you?"
The lady goes into the middle of the circle, and
the company dance round her, singing,

" Dance with us so merrily,

I love him, I love him, I love him who first loves me."

They then sing, dancing round,

" Who shall we give to the bride to-day ?
The director selects a gentleman.

" Master fine shall it be you !"
He is led into the middle, and they sing,
' Dance with us so merrily,

I love her, I love her, I love her who truly loves me."
7

74 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

They then dance round singing,

" Bride and Bridegroom now join hands."
They join hands.

" Merrily, dance merrily,

" For I loye him, I love him, I love him and her who
loves me."

Another of these Rondos is called

THE NEW DANCE.

The director of this Rondo is called 4he Cap-
tain, and he must give his orders in a loud tone.
The whole company only repeat the chorus, and
every one imitates the motions of the captain.
They dance round all singing the chorus,

" Have you seen the fine new dance,
All the fashion now in France?"

They stop, and the captain sings and makes the
motion.

" Pay attention — mind the word —
Stretch out one hand, then the other."

ROUND GAMES. 75

They all sing,

" And thus begins the fine new dance,
All the fashion now in France."

The captain sings and makes the motions.
" Pay attention — mind the word —

Stretch out one foot, then the other."
All together.

lt And so goes on the fine new dance

All the fashion now in France."
Captain.

" Pay attention — mind the word,
Stretch out one hand, then the other,
Put out one foot — then the other."

Each gentleman takes the lady on his right, and
dances round, singing,

" And so goes on the fine new dance,
All the fashion now in France."

Captain.

" Pay attention — mind the word,
First with one foot, then with two,
One foot, two feet, so we do."

76 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

Each person turns, first the person on his right
hand, then the one on his left, all at once, all
singing,

" And so we finish this fine dance,
All the fashion now in France."

Some little alterations have been made in
these games in translating them from the French.
These alterations were necessary, to adapt them
to the customs of this country.

Among the French Rondos is one very much
like that so well known here, which begins —
"Thus my father sows his seed." We give
but one more of these, which is called

THE DOCTOR.

The director of this game is called a doctor.
He takes the arm of the person placed next to
him on the right, looks at him with pity, feels
his pulse, and gives his directions. The doctor
and his patient stand in the middle, while the

ROUND GAMES. 77

circle dance round, the doctor saying the follow-
ing, and all repeating after him,

" Let me cure you, let me cure you,

You look ill, you look ill,
Loula, Loula,

You look very ill indeed."

The doctor here selects a gentleman, if his pa-
tient is a lady, or a lady if he.be a gentleman,
he sings, and all repeat after him,

" Join hands and turn this lady here,

That will cure you, that will cure you,
That will cure you sure, my dear."

Every body in the circle is submitted to this
treatment, until every one being cured, the doc-
tor gives up his dignity and office to the last
person who has enjoyed the benefit of his ad-
vice.

78

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL.

THERE was once a little boy who had been tak-
ing a walk, and he came to a shady place under
a tree where he laid himself down to rest, and
not far from him on a damp pathway he saw a
large snail lying.

He had often seen the empty shell of the
snail, but he never before had seen one with the
living animal in it, and he touched this shell
with a little stick he held in his hand, that he
might make madam snail move off with her
house on her back.

But when the snails are a little frightened,
they probably think the best thing they can do
is to keep quiet and still in their little snug

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL. 79

houses, so the more the boy touched him with
his stick the more quiet lay the snail, at last the
boy began to repeat all the rhymes, of which
there are a great many, addressed to the snail,
which he could call to mind. He began with
the rhymes in Mother Goose, which go thus :

Snail, snail, come out of your hole,

Or else I will beat you black as a coal,

Snail, snail, put out your horns,

Here comes a thief will pull down your walls.

But the snail did not move for that, and then the
boy said another rhyme, which a little German
boy had taught him :

Snail, snail, come out of your door,

Show me your horns, one, two, three, four,

If you do not show them soon,

I will put you under the heavy mill stone.

The mill wheel will grind you all to flour,

So snail, snail, come out of your door.

80 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

But still the snail did not stir, then he said :
Out of your house, little snail crawl,
Show your fingers, five in all,
If you do not mind what I say,
In a hole I will hide you far away,
I will tell the raven to peck you,
I will bid the musquito prick you.
On you in your little bed they shall fall,
Out of your house little snail crawl:
Then another.

Snail come out

And look about.

Here comes two,

With meat for you.

Here comes one,

With a heavy gun

To shoot you dead.

So snail, snail, put out your head.
And then the following :

Little Nun in the snail's house,
Hiding there as sly as a mouse,

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL. 81

Here comes the Friar before the sun,

To say good morning to the little fair Nun.

While he was repeating this rhyme in rather
a sleepy manner, he perceived what he had nev-
er seen before in the garden, a smooth clear
lake, which came very near the place where he
was lying. He started up to look more closely
at it, and the smooth soft grass on which he had
been resting was changed to a bold rock jutting
out into the water.

While he looked with astonishment at these
wonders, he saw a boat of a singular form ap-
proaching the shore. It floated bravely upon
the waves, but resembled in form the snail shell
which he had been so long watching, though it
far exceeded it in size. He immediately began
to sing out in a loud tone one of the snail ditties
which he had been repeating, but he had hardly
finished the first line,

Out of your house little snail crawl,

82 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

when, to his great amazement, from the mouth
of this strange boat issued an old man, with a
long beard and a heavy oar in his hand.

"What do you want of me?" said the old
man, in a tone that made the little boy forget all
his snail ditties.

" Indeed, sir," said the little boy, " I did not
mean to disturb such an old gentleman as you
are, in his afternoon nap, I had never seen one
of the inhabitants of the little twisted palaces
which I meet with in my father's garden, and I
just thought — "

"Don't tell me," said the old man, "what
you just thought, but just step into my boat,
and I will teach you to disturb people with your
songs about mill stones, and musquitoes, and
nuns and friars."

As he stretched out his hand to seize the boy's
shoulder, and showed that he could make pretty
•good use of his heavy oar, Jasper, for that was
the boy's name, made no resistance, but quietly

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL. 83

stepped into the strange looking craft, and seated
himself on a little jutting edge of the inside tim-
ber. The old man followed and seated at the
mouth of the boat, guided it with his oar in the
manner which boatmen call sculling.

They made rapid progress through the water,
and the boat was soon stopped at a little island.
The old man descended to the shore, and or-
dered Jasper to do the same. Having first fast-
ened his boat to a twisted post which was placed
on the bank, he proceeded up a pathway which
led to the principal town of the island.

Here every thing had a most singular appear-
ance. The houses, great and small, were all
built in the manner of snail shells. They were
of various sizes, and of different materials. —
Some were dazzling bright, as of gold or pre-
cious stones — others of a dark cold clay color,
^ut what was most remarkable, as Jasper
watched this strange village, he now and then

84 SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

saw a house moving from place to place, and as
he watched these moving houses, he could per-
ceive the head and shoulders of a man or wo-
man peeping out of every one.

The old man led Jasper to a very damp, shady
corner of the village, where there was a house
of an enormous size, and near it one much
smaller.

"As you will probably be with us for some time,
(I hope not very long, whispered Jasper to him-
self,) I shall beg you to make use of this house
here behind us,'1 said the old man, " it belonged
to a nephew of mine who met with an accident
the other day, and has no further use for it. A
mischievous fellow threw him, house and all,
under the mill stone, which pressed him so
closely as to cause his death. There is a small
crack in the house, but that is no matter. Be-
fore you retire to your new dwelling however,
let me offer you some refreshment."

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL. 85

He then placed before the astonished boy some
roots and vegetables. Jasper did not much like
the appearance of them, but he was too well
bred not to eat what was set before him, and as
he had a pretty good appetite, he got along very
well, though the food was a little too moist for
his taste. The old gentleman was too busy
about his own meal to pay much attention to
Jasper.

When they had done eating, Jasper pointed
with an inquiring eye to a whole troop of little
houses which were hurrying off in the same di-
rection. He felt too much afraid of the old man
to ask where they were going, though he want-
ed sadly to know.

The old man saw his asking look, and said,
" These little fellows you perceive walking
along so briskly, are going to school, for differ-
ent as our ways are from yours, we do not leave
our young folks without proper teaching, and

AINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

now I think of it, you must join them, for as I
have taken you under my care, I shall see you
properly brought up. So get into the house
which lies there ready for you, and march off
with the rest, my little man."

Jasper, who did not like this proceeding much,
ventured to tell the old man that he was not used
to carrying his house on his back, and that if he
pleased he should rather run off to school on his
legs, and leave the house, which he had not yet
learned all the twists and turns of, till he came
home.

But the old gentleman did not like to have
any one contradict him, and being rather quick
in his movements, he seized up Jasper with his
long bony arms and began to crowd him into
his house, as he called it, though Jasper felt all
the time it was nothing but an ugly snail shell.

He kicked and struggled and tried to cry out
for help, but he could not make any noise, and

THE BOY AND THE SNAIL. 87

just as his head was entering the mouth of the
shell, and receiving a hard knock from the top
of it, for the old man was not very gentle in his
movements, he awoke, (all this time he had
been fast asleep under the pear tree,) and was
much pleased to find nothing worse had hap-
pened to him, than that he had received a pretty
hard blow from a large fine Saint Michael pear,
which the wind had blown down upon him, and
the blow from which had been changed as he
slept, into the pain he felt from being crowded
into the snail house.

He was very glad to find that matters were no
worse with him. He looked round for the snail
whose motions had attracted his attention before
he fell asleep. She had walked off, house and
all, and was nowhere to be seen. Jasper con-
cluded to run home, pear in hand, and while the
family were at supper he told the story of his
dream. It seemed so remarkable, that one of

8O SAINT NICHOLAS GIFT.

the company present retired directly after sup-
per, and wrote down the particulars, and sent it
with a sketch of the old man and his shell-like
boat, to St. Nicholas, desiring him, if he thought
best, to insert it in his next Annual. The good
old friend of children, who was just making his
preparations, received it joyfully, and sent it im- .
mediately to his printers.

89

RIDDLE.

in.

In various spots I have my birth,
In rivers, ponds, ocean, the earth,
But often I am lifted high,
And upwards borne towards the sky.
And up above there, friends I find,
Formed just like me, like me inclised,
We meet, and soon together run,
And down to earth again we come.
Our presence gladdens many a heart,
Fullness and freshness we impart,
The farmer sees us come with pleasure,
The housewife's joy is without measure.
But though our presence makes them gay,
Too long they would not have us stay,
Too long a visit gives them pain,
And they begin with might and main
To ask the sun, up in the sky,
To draw us soon again on high.
8

90

THE WOLF AND THE KID.

A GOAT on going from home one afternoon, gave
the following counsel to her kid, a gay, playful
little creature, whose discretion the mother had
some reason to doubt. " My dear," she said,
" I know that our enemies, the wolves, are con-
stantly scouring the plains in search of prey,
and it would therefore be dangerous for you to
be seen. Take my advice, however, and no
harm can possibly happen to you : should a
stranger knock at the door during my absence,
do not on any account admit him ; and if any
one claiming acquaintance should call, peep
cautiously from the casement, to see if it be a
relation."

THE WOLF AND THE KID. 91

"I will do as you bid, mother," said the
youthful goat ; " and, with your sanction, will
permit no visitors whatever to have access till
your return."

The mother goat approved, and departed, re-
assured as to the good conduct of her daughter.
A gaunt, grim-looking wolf, who had watched
the matron from home, now approached, and,
imitating her voice, called upon the kid to unbar
the door. " I have forgotten my shawl," he ex-
claimed, "and the winds on the downs are
piercing cold." The kid had her foot to the
latch to unfasten it ; but a moment's reflection
saved her from ruin. She went to the window
to reconnoitre, and saw that the precautions of
her mother had neither been vain nor over-tedi-
ous. On the return of the goat, the disappoint-
ed wolf slunk off to the hills, and the kid
confessed that her safety had been entirely ow-
ing to the good advice of a kind and considerate
parent.

92

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

A CAREFUL shepherd adopted such precautions
to secure his flock from danger, that for some
time the wolves were completely baffled in all
their attempts upon his fold. At last he began,
morning after morning, to miss a lamb, portions
of the skin and bones of which, left on the spot,
too plainly indicated that it had fallen a prey to
the enemy. He was not a little alarmed at this
mysterious spoliation ; but he was too shrewd
to let fear overpower his sense of duty. He
kept a strict watch over his charge at night, and
by this means soon discovered the destroyer.
A cunning old wolf had contrived to obtain pos-
session of a sheep-skin, whicri by dint of a little

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. 93

stretching and padding he had fitted to his own
carcase, and, thus disguised, had crept into the
fold. The shepherd made such good use of his
time, that before daylight the robber was caught,
and hung by a noose from the roof of a neigh-
boring cottage. " Hey day !" exclaimed the
farmer, to whom the sheep belonged, when he
made his morning round and saw the suspended
criminal ; " How is this, master Watchwell ;
you must surely be mad to hang my sheep ?"
The shepherd with a smile replied, " You might
say so, indeed, if I could be guilty of such folly :
but just draw from those innocent brows their
woolly covering. The knave deceived even
me, by his specious appearance ; but having de-
tected him in the act of devouring a lamb, I was
to be duped no longer, and notwithstanding his
sheep's clothing, took the liberty to punish him
as a wolf."

94

SUMMER PLEASURES.

Oh how fine, this summer day,
On the grass we run and play.
Grandpa, grandma, both are here,
Brothers too, and sisters dear.
Papa and Ma are baby watching,
While he the butterfly is catching.
Tom lies on the new mown hay,
Heap it quick upon him pray.
I wonder where the baskets are,
Filled with mother's dainty fare.
When we have somewhat longer played,
We will choose a pleasant shade.
There our table we will spread,
The old oak waving over head.

SUMMER PLEASURES.

Tere'our feast we will partake,
Dainties rare, pie, fruits and cake.
Nothing shall we think of leaving,
This Pic nic is sure worth having.
A finer day was never seen,
The air is soft, the sky serene.
The sun all radiant clear and bright,
Here we stay and play till night.

96

ANSWERS TO THE RIDDLES.

No. 1. PAGE 47.— A BOOK.
" 2. " 64.— A CLOCK.
" 3. " 89.— RAIN.