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Read Ebook: Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad by Dale Daphne Editor
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Ebook has 2033 lines and 92051 words, and 41 pages
"And maybe we can go down to the boat-house, and have a row on the lake!"
But they never dreamed of the funny sight they really saw that afternoon. Papa set them all down at the gate, and drove on, promising to come back for them in an hour.
When he came back he tied his horse, and set out to find the little folks. But in a few moments they saw him, and came rushing across the yard, all talking at once:--
"O papa, come! come and see!"
"Oh, so funny!"
Little two-year-old Caddie was as much excited as the rest; she cried:--
"Take my hand, papa! Little piggies shall not bite you!"
"Little piggies," indeed! Little foxes they were; and nine of the cunning creatures. Only think!
The manager of the farm said that something had been killing his lambs, and he had been on the watch to find out the rascal.
One day, when he was out with his gun, he saw something moving near an old woodchuck hole; at least, there had been woodchucks there the year before.
He went nearer, expecting to see a woodchuck again; but there were these little foxes playing around. The woodchucks must have burrowed out, and an old fox taken possession of their hole for a den.
Mr. Nash lay down on the ground to count the funny little things, and watch them tumbling over each other. Then he tried to stop up the entrance to their den with his coat, so that he could catch them. But a tree root lay across the hole in such a way that there was a place left big enough for the little foxes to get in; and in they went.
Then Mr. Nash went and called a man to help him. They took spades and dug into the hole until they found them.
They carried them up to the farm-yard, and put them into a pen. They were of a tawny color; and when the children saw them they were about as large as cats, and as full of play as any kittens.
Mr. Nash said he did not want to kill them, because they were so cunning. But it was a good thing that he caught them. Just think how many chickens, and ducks, and geese, and lambs those nine foxes might have killed, if they had grown up in their den!
MRS. D. P. SANFORD.
WHAT AILED THE BELL.
It was the first day of school after a vacation. The children were playing in the yards. The teachers sat at their desks waiting for the bell to strike to call the children to the different rooms. The hands of the different clocks pointed to a quarter before nine.
The bell was a sort of gong, fastened to the outside of the building, and the master of the school could ring it by touching a knob in the wall near his desk. It was now time to call the children into school. The master pulled the bell and waited. Still the merry shouts could be heard in the school-yards. Very strange! The children were so engaged in play that they could not hear the bell, he thought. Then he pulled it more vigorously. Still the shouts and laughter continued.
The master raised his window, clapped his hands, and pointed to the bell.
The children rushed into line like little soldiers, and waited for the second signal. The teacher pulled and pulled, but there was no sound. Then he sent a boy to tell each line to file in, and he sent another boy for a carpenter to find out if the bell-cord was broken.
What do you think the carpenter found? A little sparrow had built its nest inside the bell, and prevented the hammer striking against the bell. The teacher told the children what the trouble was, and asked if the nest should be taken out. There was a loud chorus of "No, sir."
Every day the four hundred children would gather in the yard and look up at the nest. When the little birds were able to fly to the trees in the yard, and no longer needed a nest, one of the boys climbed on a ladder and cleared away the straw and hay so that the sound of the bell might call the children from play.
M. A. HALEY.
THE HOOK AND LADDER.
The frosts in the door-yard maple Had lighted a fine red blaze, And one of the golden twilights That come September days: The neighborhood lads had gathered To play their usual plays.
Frankie was good at planning, And seeing the glowing tree, "Let's have a fire department And play 'tis a house!" said he. "Oh, yes, a hook and ladder," Cried all; "what fun 'twill be!"
So they put the hose on the hydrant. Searched everywhere about Until they found a ladder, And then, with yell and shout Of "fire" and clang of "ding-dong," They rushed to put it out.
The hosemen pulled their jackets Hastily from their backs; One climbed the tree like a squirrel, With a ball-bat for an axe And he hewed at the beautiful branches With frantic hacks and whacks.
Some one turned on the water, And the boy in the foremost place Got the full force from the nozzle Square in his little face; And he cried for half a minute With the funniest grimace.
The stream flew this way, that way, And up to the tree's bright top, And back came the water splashing With reckless slosh and slop, And with it showers of red leaves And twigs began to drop.
This small boys' Hook and Ladder Was a very good company, And they squirted till the sidewalk Was like a mimic sea; But they didn't put out the fire In the old red maple-tree.
MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES.
LITTLE JOE'S RIDE.
"Good Billy! nice Billy!" said little Joe, as he patted the nose of the old black horse. "Say, Uncle John, can't I ride him to water?"
"I am afraid you cannot hang on to him," replied his uncle. "Did you ever ride a horse?"
"No, uncle; but I am sure I can," answered Joe. "Please let me try. I'll take hold of his mane with both hands, and hang on as hard as ever I can."
"Well, you may try it. There is the trough, against that fence, the other side of the barn. Look out that old Billy does not give you a ducking."
"Never fear for me," cried Joe, riding away in great glee.
He was a little city boy, and had come out to the farm to make his uncle a visit. He thought it great fun to take a ride on horseback.
It did not take him long to find the trough, for old Billy knew the way right well. Then, how it happened, Joe never could tell: Billy put his head down quite suddenly, and right over it slid the little boy with a great splash, head first into the water.
Of course he was not hurt. He caught hold of the fence and came out, dripping from head to foot.
Old Billy looked on rather surprised, but got his drink. He let Joe lead him back to the barn, and how Uncle John did laugh at him. Joe laughed too, as he went off to get on some dry clothes. Though he took a good many rides after that, he never forgot his first one on old Billy's back.
MRS. M. E. SANDFORD.
GYPSY AND HIS TRICKS.
When Harry was six years old his grandfather sent him a very nice present from the farm. You cannot guess what it was, so I will tell you.
A goat, with a harness and cart, for Harry to drive him. Harry named him Gypsy, because he was so black.
Gypsy and Harry had a great many good times together. He would draw Harry to school and then wait very patiently under the shade of a tree until school was out. All the school-children were very fond of him and would bring him sweet apples and cake.
The teacher was fond of Gypsy, too, and would often bring sugar to him; but she never let Gypsy have it until he had performed one of the tricks the boys had taught him. He must either stand on his head, bow, or dance. Gypsy could do all these.
One day Gypsy did something very funny. It was a very hot day, and Harry thought he would unharness him and let him roam around the school-yard.
What do you think Gypsy did? He walked into the school-house, straight up to the teacher, and stood on his head. He was begging for sugar.
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