ONE OF GOD’S LITTLE HEROES.
The patter of feet was on the stair,
As the Editor turned in his sanctum chair,
And said—for weary the day had been—
“Don’t let another intruder in.”
But scarce had he uttered the words, before
A face peered in at the half-closed door,
And a child sobbed out—“Sir, mother said
I should come and tell you that Dan is dead.”
“And pray who is ‘Dan’?” The streaming eyes
Looked questioning up, with a strange surprise:
“Not know him?—Why, sir, all day he sold
The papers you print, through wet and cold.
“The newsboys say that they could not tell
The reason his stock went off so well:
I knew!—with a voice so weak and low,
Could any one bear to say him ‘No?’
“And the money he made, whatever it be,
He carried straight home to mother and me:
No matter about his rags, he said,
If only he kept us clothed and fed.
“And he did it, sir—trudging through rain and cold,
Nor stopped till the last of his sheets was sold;
But he’s dead—he’s dead! and we miss him so!
And mother—she thought you might like to know!”
In the paper, next morning, as “leader,” ran
A paragraph thus: “The newsboy Dan,
One of God’s little heroes, who
Did nobly the duty he had to do—
For mother and sister earning bread,
By patient endurance and toil—is dead.”
WHAT THE COWS WERE DOING.
Little Rosie, walking slowly
Past the verdant meadow, sees
Many cows, and some are standing,
Others lying ’neath the trees.
In the road stands little Rosie,
Caring not for dust or mud,
While her eyes are bent upon them
As they calmly chew their cud.
Great surprise her face expresses,
For awhile her lips are dumb;
Then she cries out, “Mamma! Mamma!
All the cows are chewing gum!”
MAMMA’S HELP.
“Yes, Bridget has gone to the city,
And papa is sick, as you see,
And mamma has no one to help her
But two-year old Lawrence and me.
“You’d like to know what I am good for,
’Cept to make work and tumble things down;
I guess there aren’t no little girlies
At your house at home, Dr. Brown.
“I’ve brushed all the crumbs from the table,
And dusted the sofa and chairs,
I’ve polished the hearthstone and fender,
And swept off the area stairs.
“I’ve wiped all the silver and china,
And just dropped one piece on the floor,
Yes, Doctor, it broke in the middle,
But I ’spect it was cracked before.
“And the steps that I saved precious mamma!
You’d be s’prised, Doctor Brown, if you knew.
She says if it wasn’t for Bessie
She couldn’t exist the day through!
“It’s ‘Bessie, bring papa some water!’
And ‘Bessie dear, run to the door!’
And ‘Bessie love, pick up the playthings
The baby has dropped on the floor!’
“Yes, Doctor, I’m ’siderably tired,
I’ve been on my feet all the day;
Good-bye! well, perhaps I will help you
When your old Bridget ‘goes off to stay!’”
HOW TWO BIRDIES KEPT HOUSE.
The morning was sunshiny, lovely, and clear,
And two little wrens were both hovering near,
Chirping and warbling with wonderful zest,
Looking for some place to build them a nest.
They searched the veranda, examined the trees,
But never a place could they find that would please;
Till Mabel, whose eyes were as blue as the sky,
And very observing, their trouble did spy.
Then, quick as the thought darted through her wee head,
“I’ll help you, dear birdies,” she lispingly said;
“You just wait a minute, I’ll give you my shoe;
’Twill make you a nice nest—as good as if new.”
With much toil and trouble she undid the knot,
Took off the small shoe, and picked out a spot
Behind a large pillar: there tucked it away;
And soon she forgot it in innocent play.
But the wrens chirped, “Why, here’s a nest ready-made,
In the very best place, too, and quite in the shade!”
They went to work quickly, without more ado,
To keep house like the woman “that lived in a shoe.”
When evening shades came, at the close of the day,
And dear little Mable was tired of play,
She thought of the birdies, and went off alone,
To see, if she could, what the birdies had done,
With heads under their wings the wrens were asleep;
Side by side, in the shoe, they were cuddled down deep,
Then, clapping her hands, Mable said, “Keep my shoe;
My new ones I’ll wear, and this one’s for you.”
WHY HE WOULDN’T DIE.
Listen, my boy, and you shall know
A thing that happened a long time ago,
When I was a boy not as large as you,
And the youngest of all the children, too.
I laugh even now as I think it o’er,
And the more I think I laugh the more.
’Twas the chilly eve of an autumn day;
We were all in the kitchen, cheery and gay;
The fire burned bright on the old brick hearth,
And its cheerful light gave zest to our mirth.
My elder sister, addressing me,
“To-morrow’s Thanksgiving, you know,” said she;
“We must kill the chickens to-night, you see.
Now light the lantern and come with me;
I will wring their necks until they are dead,
And have them all dressed ere we go to bed.”
My sister, unused to sights of blood,
And, pale with excitement, trembling stood;
But summoning courage, she laid her plans,
And seized the old rooster with both her hands,
And, with triumph written all over her face,
Her victim bore to the open space.
Then she wrung and wrung with might and main,
And wrung and twisted and wrung again,
’Till, sure that the spark of life had fled,
She threw him down on the ground for dead.
But the rooster would not consent to die,
And be made up into chicken-pie,
So he sprang away with a cackle and bound,
Almost as soon as he touched the ground,
And hiding away from the candle’s light,
Escaped the slaughter of that dark night.
My sister, thus brought to sudden stand,
And looking at what she held in her hand,
Soon saw why the rooster was not dead—
She had wrung off his tail instead of his head!
THE SICK DOLLY.
It needs a cute little girl who can make appropriate gestures to recite
this piece.
My dolly is very sick!
I don’t know what to do;
Her little forehead it scowls quite horrid,
Her lips are turning blue.
She’s got a dreadful pain,
I know it from her face;
I’ll fetch a pellet and make her smell it,
From mamma’s medicine-case.
There, there, my child, lie still;
That’s sure to do you good.
Now don’t be ugly, I’ll wrap you snugly
All in your scarlet hood.
I know what made her sick!
She’s had too much to eat!
A piece of cheese, six blackberries
And a little bit of meat!
That’s too much for a doll,
(Hush, Baby dear, don’t cry!)
All those blackberries, besides stewed cherries,
And huckleberry pie.
I ought to be ashamed
(That’s just what mamma said)
To let my dolly commit such folly,
And get a pain in her head.
Some gruel would do her good;
What fun ’twill be to make it!
Just flour and water, and then, my daughter,
You’ll have to wake and take it!
I’d like to be a cook!
How nice the gruel does smell!
Oh, there it goes all over her nose!
Now dolly has got well.
DAYS OF THE WEEK.
For seven little boys and girls. Teacher or some large boy or girl should
speak.
The days of the week once talking together
About their housekeeping, their friends and the weather,
Agreed in their talk it would be a nice thing
For all to march, and dance, and sing;
So they all stood up in a very straight row,
And this is the way they decided to go:
(Let seven children stand up, and as day of week is
called, take places, each one equipped with
the things the speaker mentions.)
First came little Sunday, so sweet and good,
With a book in her hand, at the head she stood.
Monday skipped in with soap and a tub,
Scrubbing away with a rub-a-dub-dub;
With board and iron comes Tuesday bright,
Talking to Monday in great delight.
Then Wednesday—the dear little cook—came in,
Riding cock horse on his rolling-pin.
Thursday followed, with broom and brush,
Her hair in a towel, and she in a rush.
Friday appeared, gayly tripping along;
He scoured the knives and then he was gone.
Saturday last, with a great big tub,
Into which we all jump for a very good rub.
(The children march and sing to the tune of
“Good Morning, Merry Sunshine.”)
Children of the week are we,
Happy, busy, full of glee.
Often do we come this way,
And you meet us every day.
Hand in hand we trip along,
Singing, as we go, a song.
Each one may a duty bring,
Though it be a little thing.
(All bow, and, taking up the articles, retire from
the stage in order, Sunday, Monday etc.)
POPPING CORN.
And there they sat, a popping corn,
John Styles and Susan Cutter—
John Styles as fat as any ox
And Susan fat as butter.
And there they sat and shelled the corn,
And raked and stirred the fire,
And talked of different kinds of care
And hitched their chairs up nigher.
Then Susan she the popper shook,
Then John he shook the popper,
Till both their faces grew as red
As saucepans made of copper.
And then they shelled, and popped and ate,
All kinds of fun a-poking,
While he haw-hawed at her remarks,
And she laughed at his joking.
And still they popped, and still they ate—
John’s mouth was like a hopper—
And stirred the fire and sprinkled salt,
And shook and shook the popper.
The clock struck nine—the clock struck ten,
And still the corn kept popping;
It struck eleven, and then struck twelve,
And still no signs of stopping.
And John he ate, and Sue she thought—
The corn did pop and patter—
Till John cried out, “The corn’s afire!
Why, Susan, what’s the matter?”
Said she, “John Styles, it’s one o’clock;
You’ll die of indigestion;
I’m sick of all this popping corn—
Why don’t you pop the question?”
HOW THE FARMER WORKS.
For Several Boys.
This is the way the happy farmer(1)
Plows his piece of ground,
That from the little seeds he sows
A large crop may abound.
This is the way he sows the seed,(2)
Dropping with careful hand,
In all the furrows well prepared
Upon the fertile land.
This is the way he cuts the grain(3)
When bending with its weight;
And thus he bundles it in sheaves,(4)
Working long and late.
And then the grain he threshes thus,(5)
And stores away to keep;
And thus he stands contentedly(6)
And views the plenteous heap.
1. Arms extended forward as though holding a plow. 2. A motion as of
taking seed out of a bag or basket, and scattering with the right hand.
3. Motion as of cutting with a scythe. 4. Arms curved and extended forward.
5. Hands as though grasping a flail. Strike with some force. 6. Erect position
arms folded, or hands on the hips.
THE BIRDS’ PICNIC.
The birds gave a picnic, the morning was fine,
They all came in couples, to chat and to dine;
Miss Robin, Miss Wren and the two Misses Jay,
Were dressed in a manner decidedly gay.
And Bluebird, who looks like a handful of sky,
Dropped in with her spouse as the morning wore by;
The yellow-birds, too, wee bundles of sun,
With brave chickadees, came along to the fun.
Miss Phœbe was there, in her prim suit of brown;
In fact, all the birds in the fair leafy town.
The neighbors, of course, were politely invited;
Not even the ants and the crickets were slighted.
The grasshoppers came, some in gray, some in green,
And covered with dust, hardly fit to be seen:
Miss Miller flew in, with her gown white as milk;
And Lady Bug flourished a new crimson silk.
The bees turned out lively, the young and the old,
And proud as could be, in their spencers of gold.
But Miss Caterpillar, how funny of her,
She hurried along in her mantle of fur.
There were big bugs in plenty, and gnats great and small—
A very hard matter to mention them all.
And what did they do? Why, they sported and sang,
Till all the green wood with their melody rang.
Whoe’er gave a picnic so grand and so gay?
They hadn’t a shower, I’m happy to say.
And when the sun fell, like a cherry-ripe red,
The fire-flies lighted them all home to bed.
A VERY SMART DOG.
For a boy eight or ten years old.
I have a pretty little dog, he’s just about so high,(1)
And sometimes you would think he knew as much as you(2) or I;(3)
When e’er a letter I would write, he jumps around in glee,(4)
For then he knows that he can take it to the mail for me,(5)
I hold a stick out in my hands,(6) o’er it he jumps in joy—
He shoulders(7) arms as soberly as any soldier boy—
He jumps on table, box(8) or chair, which e’er I tell him to.
I think he is the smartest dog—now, really do not you?
My little dog will sit up straight(9) and open wide his eyes,
And hold his pretty paws just so,(10) and look so very wise.
If e’er to him I crossly speak(11) I very soon regret,
And just as soon my little dog my anger will forget.
He says bow-wow-wow-wow-wow-wow,
No word but this alone,
And yet he is the smartest dog that ever I have known.
At place marked 1 hold right hand out, palm downwards, as if measuring
height. At place marked 2, point to audience. At 3, the reciter points
to himself. At 4, downward motion of hand. At 5, point to right. At 6,
hold out both hands, as if holding stick. At 7, double up right arm, with
hand in front of shoulder. At 8, point to left. At 9, hold head up very
straight. At 10, cross hands on breast. At 11, hold out right hand, with
finger pointed, as if in command.
OPPORTUNITY.
ADDRESSED TO THE BOYS OF AMERICA.
A judgeship is vacant, the ermine awaits
The shoulder of youth, brave, honest and true,
Some one will be standing by fame’s open gates,
I wonder, my boys, will it be one of you?
The president’s chair of a great railroad maze,
Is empty to-day, for death claimed his due,
The directors are choosing a man for his place,
I wonder, my boys—Will it be one of you?
A pulpit is waiting for some one to fill,
Of eloquent men there are only a few,
The man who can fill it must have power to thrill;
The best will be chosen—Will it be one of you?
The great men about us will pass to their rest,
The places be filled by the boys who pursue
The search for the highest, the noblest—the best,
I wonder who’ll fill them; I hope ’twill be you.
THE LITTLE LEAVES’ JOURNEY.
A motion exercise for six little girls.
Some little leaves one autumn day
From maple(1) branches high,
Looked down(2) upon the lovely world
And upward(3) at the sky;
Then each one sighed, “Had I(4) but wings,
(5)Away, away I’d fly.”
At last the wind(6) aweary grew
Of hearing them complain,
He(7) shook the sturdy maple boughs
With all his might and main;
He shook(8) the little leaflets all,
And down(9) they fell like rain.
They huddled(10) close in little heaps
To keep all snug and warm,
When Nature(11) came, a tender nurse,
With bed(12) clothes on her arm;
She tucked(13) them ’neath soft snowy folds
And hid(14) them from the storm.
1. Motion upward with right hand. 2. Look downward. 3. Look upward. 4.
Wave hands back and forth. 5. Extend right arm. 6. Close eyes, faces
expressive of weariness. 7. Double the hands up, moving them quickly
backwards and forwards. 8. Same as 7. 9. Move hands downward. 10. Put
palms of hands together. 11. Look toward right. 12. Extend right arm,
looking at same. 13. Downward motion with right hand. 14. Motion toward
the north.
THE BROOM DRILL.
Marches and drills by the little folks are always very attractive
and entertaining. The preparation for these benefits young people by
requiring them to move the body quickly and gracefully, assuming an erect
attitude, then other positions at the word of command. Such exercises
also aid in forming a habit of strict attention.
The Broom Drill is one of the most entertaining, and can readily be
learned. It should be practiced until it can be performed promptly and
without any mistakes. Twelve or sixteen girls—in fact, any even number,
according to the size of the stage—may take part in it.
All should be dressed alike, in blouse waist of Turkey red chintz,
sleeves and collar trimmed with white braid; skirt made of white cheese
cloth, trimmed above the hem with band of red chintz, four or five inches
wide; a red cap completes the costume.
During the marching there should be music, and the notes of the piano
should be struck sharply. Any good march will answer for the music. The
following exercises conform very nearly to the “Manual of Arms” used
in the army. The cuts will be found very serviceable in showing the
different positions.
Standing in rank near the front
side of the stage, the teacher gives
the command to “present arms,”
“carry arms,” “trail arms,” etc. Each command
consists of two words: the first is to
indicate what the pupil is to do, and on the
second word the movement is made, all acting
in concert.
The following exercises are suitable for
this drill, and always prove very entertaining
to the audience.
Carry—Arms!—The broom is held in the
right hand, handle upward, with the hand
clasping the handle where it joins the brush.
The left hand hangs at the side. (Fig. 1.)
Present—Arms!—Place the broom with the
right hand in front of the centre of the body,
clasping the handle with the left hand above
the right. Hold the broom perfectly perpendicular.
(Fig. 2.)
Order—Arms!—Let go the handle with
the left hand, and carry the broom to the side
with the right hand; then drop the broom to
the floor. (Fig. 3.)
In place—Rest!—Grasp the handle with
both hands, the left above the right, and place
both hands in front of the lower part of the
breast. (Fig. 4.)
Trail—Arms!—Grasp the handle with the
right hand and incline it forward, the broom
behind, resting on the floor. (Fig. 5.)
Attention—Charge!—Half face to the
right, carrying the heel six inches to the rear
and three inches to the right of the left, turning
the toes of both feet slightly inward; at
the same time drop the stick into the left
hand, elbow against the body, point of stick
at the height of the chin; right hand grasping
the stick just above the brush and supporting
it firmly against the right hip. (Fig. 6.)
Port—Arms!—Raise and throw the broom
diagonally across the body; grasp it smartly
with both hands, the right, palm down at the
base of the stick; the left, palm up, thumb
clasping stick; handle sloping to the left and
crossing opposite the middle of left shoulder;
right forearm horizontal; forearms and handle
near the body. (Fig. 7.)
Secure—Arms!—Advance the broom
slightly with the right hand, turn the handle
to the front with the left hand. At the same
time change the position of the right hand,
placing it further up the handle, drop the
handle to the front, placing the broom where
joined with the handle, under the right arm.
(Fig. 8.)
Reverse—Arms!—Lift the broom vertically
with the right hand, clasp the stick with the
left hand; then, with the right hand grasp
the handle near the brush. Reverse the
broom, the handle dropping to the front, the
broom passing between the breast and right
forearm. Press the handle under the arm with
the left hand until the right elbow can hold it
in place against the body; pass left hand behind
the back and clasp the stick. (Fig. 9.)
Inspection—Arms!—This is executed from
the “carry arms” position. Lift the broom
quickly with the right hand, bringing it in
front of the centre of the body; then grasp
the handle with the left hand, placed near
the chin, and hold it. (Fig. 10.)
MOVEMENTS OF ATTACK AND
DEFENSE.
These can be executed only with open
ranks, the pupils being placed seven or eight
feet apart. To so place them, the teacher
will give the order—
Right (or Left) open Ranks—March!—The
pupils face to the right or left, according to
the order given, except the one at the extreme
end of the line. The others march,
the last of the file halting at every four or
five steps from the one in the rear, until all
are the same distance apart. They then face
front. To close the rank, turn to the right
or left and march toward the pupil standing
at the end until halted by the one ahead.
Then face front.
Attention—Guard!—At the command
guard, half face to the right, carry back and
place the right foot about twice its length to
the rear and nearly the same distance to the
right, the feet at little less than a right angle,
the right toe pointing squarely to the right,
both knees bent slightly, weight of the body
held equally on both legs; at the same time
throw the end of the stick to the front, at
the height of the chin, grasping it lightly
with both hands, the right just above the
brush, the left a few inches higher; the right
hand in line with the left hip and both arms
held free from the body and without constraint.
(Fig. 11.)
Being at the Guard—Advance!—Move the
left foot quickly forward, twice its length;
follow with the right foot the same distance.
Retire!—Move the right foot quickly to
the rear, twice its length; follow with the
left foot the same distance.
Front—Pass!—Advance the right foot
quickly, fifteen inches in front of the left,
keeping right toe squarely to the right; advance
the left foot to its relative position in
front.
Rear—Pass!—Carry the left foot quickly
fifteen inches to the rear of the right; place
the right foot in its relative position in rear,
keeping the right toe squarely to the right.
Right—Volt!—Face to the right, turning
on the ball of the left foot, at the same time
carry the right foot quickly to its position in
rear.
Left—Volt!—Face to the left, turning on
the ball of the left foot, at the same time
carry the right foot quickly to its position in
rear.
Right rear and left rear volts are similarly
executed, facing about on the ball of the left
foot.
Quarte—Parry!—Hold the broom in front
of the left shoulder with the right hand,
handle upward, the fingers of the left hand
on the handle, the left elbow touching the
right wrist. (Fig. 12.)
Seconde—Parry!—Move the point of the
broom-handle quickly to the left, describing
a semi-circle from left to right, the left elbow
in front of the body, the flat of the broom
under the right forearm, the right elbow two
or three inches higher than the right shoulder.
(Fig. 13.)
Prime—Parry.—Carry the broom to the
left, covering the left shoulder, the handle
downward, the left forearm behind the handle,
the right arm in front of and above the
eyes. (Fig. 14.)
THRUSTS.
To Thrust in Tierce.—Straighten the
right leg, extend both arms, keeping point
of handle at height of the breast, broom at
right side of head. (Fig. 15.)
Thrust in Quarte.—The same as tierce,
but with the broom on the left side of the
head.
LUNGES.
The lunges are the same as the thrusts,
except that the left foot is extended farther
in front. (Fig. 16.)
Broom to Front—One!—Raise handle
nearly straight up and down, drop it into
the hollow of the right shoulder.—Two!—Strike
quickly by pushing the broom forward,
the handle always resting on the right
shoulder. (Fig. 17.)
Right Short—Thrust!—One!—Hold the
broom with the right hand to the rear,
left hand by the right breast, the point of the
handle opposite the centre of the body.—Two!—Thrust
forward. (Fig. 18.)
High Prime—Parry!—Raise the broom
with both hands in front of and higher than
the head. Hold the handle firmly with
the right hand, the broom being to the
right; turn the knuckles of the left hand
to the front, and let other end of broom
handle rest on the thumb and forefinger.
(Fig. 19.)
To Guard when Kneeling.—Bring the
toe of the left foot square in front, plant the
right foot to the rear, kneel on the right
knee, bending the left, hold the broom at an
angle of 45 degrees, pointing directly to the
front, the right hand pressed firmly against
the side, the left hand holding the point of
handle upward. (Fig. 20.)
