Perrysburg journal., December 23, 1893, Image 6

About Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
jm
uw,
fji
Wm
Y LITTLE child
comes to my
ltnco,
And turglng
pleads that
ho ma; climb
Into my lap to
hear mo toll
Tho Christmas
talc ho lores
so well
A talo my mother told to mo
Beginning "Once upon a thno."
It Is a tale of skies that rang
With angel rhapsodies subllrao:
Of that great host, scrcno and whito,
The shopherds 3aw ono wlntor night
And tho glorious stars that sang
An anthem onco upon a time.
This story of tho hallowed years
Tells of tho sacrlllco subllmo
Of Ono who prayed alonu and wept
Whilo His wearied followers slopt
And bow Ills blood und Mary's tears
Commlnglod onoo upon u timo.
And now my darling at my sldo
And echoes of the distant chlmo
1 Bring that swcot story back to me,
h Of Bethlehem and Calvary,
. And of tho gentle Christ that died.
For sinners onco upon a time.
Tho mighty deeds that mon havo told
In ponderous tomes of fluontrhyma
, Like misty shadows fade away:
But this swcot story bld3 for ayo;
- And ltko tho stars that sang or old,
' Wo sing of "Onco upon a time."
Eugcno Field, in Chicago Saturday Evening
Herald.
? HERE'S some
thing vory
m y s t e r I us
about it," said
excited Mrs.
Soever to her
passive h u s-
band. "For Augusta to give it out
that she was going so far to visit some
one she had never seen, and start off in
sspito of our remonstrances upon the
appointed day, and then suddenly to
reappear and admit she hadn't been
where she said she was going, but yet
to keep her whereabouts for those two
days a secret from us I tell you, it's
very queerl And such a cold as she
lis brought back with her! Well,
:i't will be a mercy if it doesn't end in
pneumonia and carry her off. But,
then, Augusta's head was always full
of the queerest crotchets," sho ended,
breathlessly, "and you never could tell
what sho was going to do next."
That Augusta Van Allien was eccen
tric, to a degree was tho unanimous
opinion of her nearest relatives. But to
many a poor soul Ghe seemed a vorita
olo angel of mercy if a small, middle
aged angel can e imagined, in widow's
cap nd spectacles! In reality, the lit
tle, woman had a passion for doing
"nice things" for others, and being
blessed with a libeval portion of this
world's goods sho was able to follow
her generous inclinations, and was
never ho happy as when planning to
give some one a pleasant surprise.
Her plan for this particular holiday
season had been to make a "Merry
Christmas" fo- -ho family of a poor
and distant cousin. Sho had never seen
this cousin, nor any of her family, but
6he had somehow managed to learn the
names and ages of her eight children
and sho had solidly packed a huge box
with comfortablo jackets and shawls,
and hoods of various sizes, and many
other nico and appropriato things, and
had bo crammed tho chinks with books
and dolls and paint boxes and tin toys
and trumpets, that tho porters who put
it on board the train vowed it must be
loaded down with lead.
When Mrs. Van- Allien's sister had
heard that she was going to travel two
Hundred miles in midwinter and take
Henrietta Marlow by surprise, instead
of spending hor Christmas comfortably
and soberly at homo with them, sho
had solemnly declared to her husband
that sho thought Augusta must bo
crazy, to which ho had made the saga
cious reply that for a crazy woman his
sister-in-law certainly seemed ablo to
manage Iter own affairs remarkably
well.
Early on tho morning of tho day
"before Christmas, Mrs. Van Allien, with
her unwieldy box of gifts, had started
on her journey in a gentlo snowstorm;
and all went well, though tho storm
steadily increased in violoncc, urtil
just before noon, when the engine ran
into an enormous drift and there stuck
if a st.
Soon all tho women and children on
"tho train had been gathered togother
in tho car where Mrs. Van Allien was
sitting, ond for awhile sho ntnuced her
self by studying them with kindly eyes.
EJut by nnd by, when they began to
give a louder expression to their disap
pointment at the delay, sho came to tho
rescue, and with her cheery temper and
tho contents of her liberally-stockod
lunch basket, sho succeeded in quieting
tho complaints and raising the spirits
of most of tho despondent snowbound
mothers and their uneasy children.
At first they had all expected that
the engine would bo ablo to push its
way through tho drift and go on in tho
course of a few hours; but it soon be
camb apparent that there was no pos
sibility of getting through that night.
It even began to ho hinted that it
would bo impossible to proceed on tho
following day, unless tho storm abated.
.And thero were rumors, too, that tho
fuel was running low, and that thero
were no'provisions on board. J
At tills the murmurs of tho blockaded
travelers grow loud, again, for it was
pEk
MArsfcJUa
If
wMm-
not a pleasant prospect to bo obliged
to spend Christmas Evo and Christmas
day cold and hungry in a snow-drift
in a deserted part of tho country.
Tho afternoon wore slowly on. Thero
was no communication with the out
sido world, for tho storm had beaten
down tho tolegraph wires, and tho for
aging party which had started out
so 1110 hours beforo had not returned.
Mrs. Van Allien, all this time, wont
flitting from group to group, dropping
crumbs of comfort on every side, and
endeavoring to replace complaints
with nt least a semblance of content.
Hut tho weary children were fretting
because they "wouldn't bo anywhero
for Christmas, and wouldn't havo any
Christmas till Christmas was nil over."
Then a now and charming possibility
opened itself to Mrs. Van Allien's busy
brain; and presently sho was seen in
earnest consultation with tho conduc
tor and tho porter, and after that they
all thrco vanished into another car.
Tho proceedings after this were so
delightfully mysterious to all of tho
children, and they were so taken up
with wondering what was going on,
that they quite forgot to fret One end
of the car had been hastily curtained
off with shawls, but one child, peep
ing, was sure he had seen the branch of
n great groou tree.
All of tho mothers had now been
taken into Mrs. Van Allien's cunfl
dence, and several of the older girls
had been called upon to heliJ, behind
the shawls.
Tho excitement among the children
momentarily increased, nnd just as tho
darkness of Christmas Evo was enfold
ing tho wearied and supperless passen
gers in the dimly-lighted train, down
camo tho screening shawls, and a brilliantly-lighted
Christmas tree burst on
their bewildered gaze. Then such a
shout went up as filled tired little Mrs.
Van Allien with keen delight.
O Cousin Henrietta Marlow and your
eight children! You little dream how
the unexpected gifts so carefully pre
pared for you aro being scattered now!
Your coats and shawls will servo to
keep these little snow-bound children
warm through the long-coming night;
and your toys and bright picture books
will while away the otherwise tedious
hours of their long cold Christmas day.
There had been a general invitation
"mgm m.
" 'fist-
SIRS. VAN ALLIEN HAD FOUBD SOMETHING FOR EACH.
given to everyone upon the train, and
no ono, young or old, was forgotten.
Mrs. Van Allien had found something
in her seemingly inexhaustiblo treas
ure box that was appropriate for each.
Even the conductor was presented with
a handsomo pocketknifc; and the
brakeman who had bo gallantly
plunged through tho deepest drif t3 to
cut down the Christmas truo had a now
warm muffler wound about his neck, by
her own hands.
If they had been Mrs. Van Allien's
chosen guests in her own home, tho
evening could not havo passed more
merrily. And for the time no one gave
his or her personal discomfort or dis
appointment even a passing thought.
When the lights on tho troo had at
last burned out, and the sleepy chil
dren wore about to be tuekeninto their
improvised beds, Mrs. Van Allien sat
resting upon her now empty Christmas
chest, with heroyes fixed dreamily upon
the dismantled tree. Turning at lbst,
sho beckoned tho conductor to her eide.
"Something has been worryiug me,"
she said, in hor rapid way. "Tho
foraging party has not returned, and I
cannot rid myself of tho dreadful idea
that thoso poor men may be lost and
wandering about, half frozen, In tho
snow."
"Moro likely they havo found com
fortable quarters in botr.o farmhouse
for the night, and early in tho morning
they will turn up, bringing sirpplics
for our breakfast," woa tho reassuring
answer.
"Perhaps so," sho assonted, doubt
fully. "But still, thero is tho other
chance, and I feci that something
ought to bo done. Maybo it'll only a
woman's foolish fancy, but won't you
do mo this favor? Get that obliging
brakeman to help carry out this tree,
I which has served its purposo here, and
somewhere .it a Bafo d stance from
tho train f it on fire. There's just
a chance it may prove a beacon light;
i and anywny, I'd fool so much hotter to
see it done."
I Not uny of tho men would havo do-
j nlcd thin littlo woman anything that
she- might ask, no matter how absurd
, tho request might appear to them. Su
- tho dismantled tree was carried out,
and, dragged far up on the top of tho
drift, und thero thoy touched It off and
left it, blazing wildly up towards tho
black and stormy sky.
It was lato in tho afternoon boforo
tho foraging party had reachod tho
littlo settlement, several miles away,
and after getting well warmed and
rested thoy had started out on their ro
turn, carrying plentiful supplies for
their fasting comrades on tho snow
bound train. Hut in tho early twi
light they had missed their way, nnd
after hours of almlcs3 wandering
through tho pathless snow, chilled and
overcome with drowsiness, thoy had
thrown themselves down to sloop, oven
though they know that to sleep then
might moan to perish. They nover
dreamed that they had almost reached
their goal, round which they had been
circling for so long.
Suddenly, through his half-closed
eyes, ono of their number saw a light
Hash out in tho distance, and, half
dreamiug, ho fancied It a star. At
that moment ho was a child again in
his father's house, and It was Christ
mas Eve. His mother bent over tho
bedside and tusked tho blanket closo
around hor boy, and 0! how warm it
seemed1 Her good-night kiss was
pressed upon his brow, and as sho left
the room sho drew tho curtain back so
ho could sco tho sky, whence ono
bright star shono down upon him
through tho silent night. "His star in
tho east," perhaps, and as ho remem
bered tho sweet old story tho star
grew brighter still and seemed to
beckon him, like a Heavenly guide.
Then tho dream faded away and con
sciousness came struggling back
through tho bewildering numbness
which nearly mustered him, but still
tho star gleamed on.
A star, a light, a beacon fire, a refuge
close at hand! With difficulty ho
aroused his sleeping comrades, and
they raised their shout for help.
The wind caught up tho sound and
carried it across tho great white sheet
of snow to ears that were strained with
listening. Then came shrill answering
cries of encouragement, and bravo men
.came plunging onward through the
drifts in haste to find and aid in bring
ing in the wearied and half-frozen lit
tle band.
Happy tears were glistening in Mrs.
Van Allien's eyes that night us sho lay
on hsr improvised bed of cushions un-
der tho greatrcoat of tho kind con
ductor, for sho knew that thero was
not a toul on board that train, but had
called i. blessing down upon her and
her wonfarftii Christmas tree.
With thfc first rays of tho Christmas
sun, for the storm had ceased in tho
night, and tho morning sky spread its
clear dome of blue nbovo the sparkling
whiteness of tlr snow, help came, with
snow-plows and gangs of willing men.
It was unlookea.for luck, and the
passengers eagerly congratulated ono
another, for thero vtere few among
them who would not oo able now to
reach their homes in the course of
Christmas day. But during the wake
ful, wee small hours of tho night, littlo
Mrs. Van Allien had buddenly changed
hot plans. It was of no use to go on to
Henrietta Marlow's now, sho thought,
for her Christmas box was empty. And
so sho had decided to bid hor follow
travelers farewell ot tho first stopping
placo from which she could take a train
that would carry her back to town.
Thero wcro tender good-bys ex
changed when tho parting came, with
many grateful woras, and children's
kisses and warm embraces. Mrs. Van
Allien stood smiling and waving back
to them from tho littlo waysido station,
whilo tho train slowly rol.jd on and
carried thotn ono and all out of her
sight and life.
"What nico people thoy nil wcro,"
she said to herself, "and such good,
happy children, bless them. Woll, tho
moro I seo of tho world, tho hotter
opinion I havo of tho peoplo in It I
didn't got to Henrietta Murlow's after
all, but I declare I never had a lovelier
Cluistmas in all my life. But how sur
prised Caroline und John will bo to sco
mo back bo Boon," Bho mused, "and
whoa thoy know but they sha'u't
know a word about it, they'd onlycall
it 'another of Augusta's vagaries,' and
they'd havo too many Ulsagroeablo
things to say. I know they think I'm
very queer, but thoy aro ju4t as queer
thotnsolvcfl and dreadfully curious.
Now I'll just give them something to
wonder over and puzzlo themselvco
about this timo, and I won't tell them
ono Binglo word."
So Mrs. Van Allien Buddenly reap
peared and seemed in tho beat of spirits
in Bpl'.o of her hoavj cold. But sho
lttrrts to hor resolution, and though
her sistor nnd brother-in-law woro
amazed to sco her back so soon, and sho
was obliged to admit that sho had "not
spent Christmas with llonriotta Mar
low after all," sho told thotn nothing
more. In splto of all thoir endeavors
to find out, sho kopt tho reasons for
her chango of plan, its well as her
whereabouts on Christmas day, com
pletely shrouded in mystery. She
often chuckled in soorGl over Caroline's
baffled curiosity, and thoroughly en
joyed her petulant declaration that
"Augusta was certainty growing
queerer every day."
llonriotta Marlow recoiled tho sur
prlso of her life on Now Year's morn
ing, when n great box wtw sot down
boforo her door. It was fillel with sin
gularly appropriato and woicomo gifts
tho duplicates of thoso with which
Mrs. Van Allien had adorned her Im
promptu Christmas trco.
A delightfully chatty letter accom
panied it, which contained the follow
ing sentence: "It was at ono timo my
intention to havo taken you by surprlso
on Christmas day, my dear and un
known cousin, but Providence having
mysteriously disarranged my plans, I
havo now decided to defer my visit un
til tho spring." Judith Spencer, in N.
Y. Observer.
THE OLD RURAL CHRISTMAS.
Thing Wcro Dlfrornnt In tho Old loy
Vot Children Wore Vory Merry.
How many of tho youngpcople know
that somo forty years ago nine-tenths
of the children in America had to enjoy
Christmas with only such 'sums ns they
had saved up for months, often a penny
at a time? Yet so it was. Not ono
father in ten thought of giving a boy
"Christmas money;" the big family din
ner and such fun as cost nothing was
enough.
Indeed, save for candy and firecrack
ers, thero was little to spend money for.
"Uobinson Crusoo" and "Parley's
Tales" were almost tho only story
books, though tho people hnd somo old
standbys on their shelves, and the "Old
English Reader" was, like other poor,
always with them. Thero wcro ".Moral
Lessons." a few, and tracts enough; but
no gorgeously lettered volumes of child
ish song, no fairy stories shining in
covers of blue, green and gold.
The story that artists for tho earliest
juvenile books had to label their pic
tures "This is a horse," "This is. a
cow," etc, is no doubt an exaggera
tion, but the toys really needed it.
Many a little girl made a doll by dress
ing up a crook-necked squash. "Ilag
babies" were tho rule. A doll such as
any child of parents above tho grade of
paupers-may now havo for Christmas
would then have excited the amaze
ment of tho neighborhood, and a doll
that would open and shut its eyes
well, language is lucking to set forth
the furor such a wonderful creation
would have excited.
It is an actual fact that the purchase
of such a doll by order from Cincinnati
at a cost of two dollars was made
matter of church discussion in one
town as lato as 1S4S. "The neigh bora"
finally decided it was all right, as the
man's littlo girl was an invalid and
inceded amusement. Sho certainly got
vt, if company was any amusement, for
every child for miles around was crazy
to seo that doll. As for paying ten
dollars for a doll, tho people would
havo asked the court to uama a
guardian for the man who did it, as
ono unfit to manago his own affairs.
Ten dollars would buy an aero of good
timbered land in half of the country.
Wood carving was an envied accom
plishment in those days. Tho "hired
hand" who had some skill with a
jackknife had a crowd of children after
him on all possible occasions; the
father who could carve a humau-look-ing
figuro out of walnut bark was a
hero to his family. N. Y. Mail and Ex
press. YOUR WIFE AT CHRISTMAS
She finds all business matters notr,
To her fluonco is str.inao:
A hundred-dollar bill or two
Sho calls a Uttls change.
Each day the dinner is on time.
No word she answers back:
Sho shows that sho can act subllmo
To get a scahiUla sacque.
Although her tasto you'd not deny,
You must admit it marj
Tho season's joy to havo her buy
You neckties and cigars.
Sho makes you drink of sorrow's c.'o
To gain tho kid's apnlauso;
For now tho likes to rig you up
To look like Santa Claus.
Though ready for tho yearly strike.
It bits you rathor funny; .
Sho wants to know first what you'd like.
Then uska you for tho monoy.
James J. O'Conncll, in Judge,
CHRISTMAS CRINKLES.
Rome I'crtlncnt Itotunrks on Seusonublo
luotUiiis.
It requires no outlay of money to
wish peoplo a merry Christmas.
Don't givo yourself to more than ono
girl as u Christmas present.
Don't spend in gifts tho money you
owo your wash-woman.
Presents aro not numerous in the
homes, where tho parents carefully
teach their four-year-olds that Santa
Claus is u mythical personage.
Price-murks on Christmas gifts aro
not to bo regarded as emblems of ver
acity. Tho woman who can circulate most
through tho stores tho first three
weeks of December can approximate
moro closely tho value of tho presents
her friends receive. William Henry
Sivlter, in Puck.
Their Christinas Gifts.
"I thought it better to got you some
thing Uboful," said Mr. Dossill to his
wife, "so I havo brought you a couple.
of good brooms for your Christmas
present."
"That was vory thoughtful of you,
my dear," replied Mrs. Dosslll. "I
share your ideas, nnd havo bougltt you
a'good strong coal scuttle for you to
carry up fuel from tho collar in."
Judge.
It is the girl who says she doesn't
bellevo in accepting presents from
young men who-ls most llkoly to be
popular this month, Washington Star.
NAP AND
Nap nnd 1 havo been comrades trust y,
When tho luck was low aud tho luck woa
high:
And I'vo found htm a frlond who never turned
rusty,
And who should know htm better than If
Como smooth or rough, como fair or foul
weather.
Cloud or sunshine, black or bright.
Old Nap nnd I wo stand togothor,
And shouldor to shoulder wo fight our
fight.
It'B a tough fight, too, Bir, you'd better be
lieve. Yes, it's rough on us both when times nre
hard;
But when fortuno looks up, why, wo rcccivo
With thanks and welcome, 'or self und
para.
Excuso my slang, sir; when ono's In tho thick
of it.
Out and about, morn, noon nnd night,
Why, it's hard, don't you know, to loso tbo
trick of It,
And fix up ono's langu.tgo Quito polite,
Ilungry' you bet' Yes, I know how It feels,
sir.
And so docs tho dog, hero: don't you, old
chapf
Ouess you'vo never gono days without ono
sqtmro meal, sir:
Well, wo'vo dono it often, mo nnd Nap.
Bnt when thorn's been plenty, I'vonoversparcd
li
(Though 1 ain't i going myself to praise)
And bite nnd sup wo've always shared it;
We've feasted nnd fasted through good und
bad days.
Life is hT! for a boy tn this Now York town,
sir,
Though working early and working late;
And It's easy enough to get dragged down,
sir,
If you don't watch out. nnd keep squnroand
straight.
For hunger und cold aro terrible foes, sir.
And knock at your ribs with merciless force.;
And when trouolcs set In like a flood, you know,
sir.
It needs a stout heart to stem its force.
There's many of us nre youngsters only,
With only .i youngsters strength at best:
And often the world looks mighty lonely.
And you long to bo shut of it all and rest.
Tha.t' in, winter though, mostly, when things
look dullest.
But when the spring chips round again.
And Hfo, so to speak, flows at its fullest, '
Why, you clean forget black winter's reign.
And then tho great city, street, squaro and
garden.
Looks finely under the clear blue sky,
And I'd say to Nap If tho same you'll par
don "Well, Nap. old matey, how's this for high?"
And 1 say again, and you'll p'r'nps admit, sir,
Though a boy, that J speak from experience.
There's no chum like a dog for downright grit,
sir,
And for squaro bebavlorand human sense,
IIo'II never go back on you, never turn crusty,
Uo'a the best kind of comrade on this wide
earth.
Through sun and shadow, faithful and trusty.
IIo'II stick to you honest for nil he's worth.
Golden Days.
THE WEAVER BIRD.
He's tho Snmrtcfit Architect of tho Feath
ered World.
Most children have seen the pretty
cuplike nests our littlo birds make in
the hedges, but I do not suppose you
would ever guess that tho ourious
things hangingtothoendof the branch
In the picture are nests also, yet such
they aro. moy are tho homes of tho
African weaver bird, aud are made of
grass fiber.
Tlie nest is placed in tho hollow at
the bottom of the bulblike part at
tached to the tree. Tho long tube go
ing down so near the water is not made
until the nest is finished. When tho
bird gets into its house it has to alight
on the outside and then creep down
the tube till it gets to the opening at
the bottom, then it creeps up inside,
and so reaches its nest. Perhaps you
wonder why this little bird puts such a
troublesome sort of entrance to its
house, and why it builds it hanging
NEST OF TIIK WEAVEK Binn.
over the water at tho end of such a
thin branch. You think it would bo
much wiser to make its nest ns our
birds do theirs. Hut God has taught
these little birds to build just in tho
way that is best for them, and to putt
it in tho safest placo, for In Africa
there ure many monkoys and snakes
which would take tho eggs or young
birds and eat them, but In these nests
thoy are bafo. And if a monkey ven
tured out on this slight branch its
weight would cause tho bough to bend,
and bo throw the monkey into the
water; hut If, In spite of these precau
tions, a snake, or monkey, or bird of
prey comes too near tho nests, all the
weaver birds ubout tho placo dash at it
and drive it away by thoir united
strength, Betting a good example to us
all to help each other to resist evil and
to guard against It ourselves. Sun-ihlno.
THE FLOWER-PICKERS,
Thoy Aro Vory Small nnd Llvo Ills" lfr In
tho Trees.
Few of tho peoplo who llvo In tho
great Island of Australia havo over
scon a flower-picker, although many
havo lived for years beneath tho lofty
trees upon which this little bird bullda
its protty nest. Tho fact ia tho Howor
plekcr lives so high up among tho top
most twigs of tho tallest trees, and Is
bo small, and so seldom descends oven
to tho lower branches, that, hi spite of
Its ricli searlot breast, it nover attracts
notice, nnd, indeed, cannot often bo
seen by tho naked eye at the dlstnnco
from the ground at which It usually
builds its nest. Sometimes a person
standing btmeath ono of the groat
trees growing upon the bank of a crook
or rlvor, where theso birds are to bo
found, will hear a pretty warbling
song, unlike any ho ever hoard else
whore; but unless ho knows tho habita
of tho bird, and is a skillful hunter, ho
can scarcely hopo to catch r glimpse of
tho singer snugly hidden away among
the thickly growing leaves far above
him.
Tho nest of tho flower-nickor is vory
beautiful; It Is made of tho cotton-Iiko
linings of the seed-pods of Australian
shrubs and Is perfectly white, so that,
as It swings in tho breeze, it looks like
a snowball hanging on some wild vino
or climbing plnnt.
There is another kind of a flowor
picker that lives in tho island of Hor
nco. The little birds belonging to this
species, unlike their timid Australian
cousins, make their homes in low
brushwood, and arc so fearless that
they will allow themselves to be al
most touched before they take flight.
Tho Malay peoplo, who live in the part
of Horneo where these birds arte found,
call them "sparks," because the male
bird, when darting about among tho
bushes, really looks as bright ns a flash
of fire. The nest of the ilower-pieker
of Horneo Is about tho shape and size
of u gooso-egg. It is built of line green
THE AUSTRALIAN FI.OWIUt-PICKKIlS AND
TIlniK NKST.
moss and a sort of brown silky muss of
thruadn or fibers from a plant, and
lined with a few small feathers. Ono
of these nests was found in a tree that
was cut down. All tho nestling!; but
one were killed by tho fall.
Mr. Motley, who tells uaall we know
of tho bird, took tho one littlo bird
that was left alive, and succeeded by
great care in bringing it up, feeding it
first on rice and bananns. As soon as
It was strong enough it was placed in
a small cage. Although very restless,
never being for a momont still, it was
quite tame and fearless, nnd would sit
upon the finger without trying to fly
away; and although its whole body,
feathers and all, might have been shut
up in n walnut, it would peek at a
finger held out to it with great fierce
ness. It is strange that two birds so much
alike as the Hower-plckors of Australia
and those of Horneo should differ so in
disposition and habits. St. Nicholas,
l'rnetlral Johns of a Crow.
The crow has always loved mischief,
but his pranks havo not always been
malicious, as were too many of the
jokes of a bird that bore tho name of
Richie which, as a pot name for birds,
was surely not an improvement upon
time-honored Dickoy. This crow used
to be fed on biscuit and water from his
mistress' window, and it was not an
uncommon thing for him to seize the
tumbler In Ills bill and dash it to tho
ground. Sometimes ho would enter
a room on the bly, and nmuso himself
by taking the corks out of bottles and
pouring their contents over the car
pet, or by scattering pins, papers, let
ters, ornaments and tho like on tho
floor. Ono day lie flow away with a
poncil and perched on a tree close by.
To punish him his mistress refused to
know him, and pushed him awuy from
the window tho next timo ho came for
food. In a short timo he returned,
bearing the stolen pencil unharmed,
except that tho rubber end piece had
vanished. Gravely laying it down on
tho window bill, he bowed and coood
in his best style ns if to say: "Como
now, let us ho friends again!"
Wonderful Child In China.
Tho marvelous child mentioned' in
the Chinese classics who, at four years
old, was able to recite tho three hun
dred verses of the T'ung poetry, as
well as the Ancient Hook of Odes! has
been eclipsed by an infant prodigy of
tho Biimo age, who presented hlmsolf
at tho recent Licentiate examinations
in Hong Kong as a candidate for
literary honors. Tho P'anyu Chohsion
personally examined tills tiny candi
date, and fouhd that tho child could
write a concise essay on the subject
that hud been given him, although, of
course. In an infuntilo scrawl. It Is
observed by a local commentator that
It now remains only for tho literary
chancellor to "pass" tho prodigy ere
ho can bo styled as "having entered
tho portuls of tho Dragon's gates"
i))xit 1b, obtained tho degree "Slu-U'aL"
or lie ntiatu.
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