Anonymous

“ I should so like something for a pet. Do, mama, buy me something—a Guinea pig, or a couple of pigeons, or a rabbit. Oh! I saw such a beautiful white rabbit yesterday.
“Ay, my dear,” said his mama, “I am afraid you would soon grow tired of your rabbit, as you did of your gun, and bow and arrow, and ship, and rocking-horse.”
[Pg 7]
“Oh! but a rabbit is quite different, mama; you can love a rabbit, you know, and coax it, and feed it, and make it happy. I should go out early in the morning, and pick some nice clover for it, and some thistle, and dandelion, and marsh mallows. ”

“ The women mostly spend their time in making and mending nets, and drying and salting the fish. Even the children may be always found employed about fish in some way or other. [Pg 24] The very young make playthings of the bones; those about ten or eleven assist their mothers in curing fish; and all, both old and young, feed, with a relish never lost, on the finny tribe. It is a pretty sight, on a fine sunny day, to see the seine, or net, drawn in on the white pebbly beach: it contains, perhaps, many hundreds of fishes, tinted with all the colors of the rainbow. ”

“ Gray-headed old men are here, aged women, and children, seemingly without number. Their parents are hard at work and very glad are they to put the “wee things” in safe keeping among the old folks, who yet can help a little. Look at those girls and boys at play—see how they pelt one another with the hay, and roll each other over upon the grass—these are happy days. ”

“ See those youngsters, scarcely able to totter, how they tumble on the sweet, fresh grass; while those who have strength to handle the rake mimic the labors of their parents, and draw tiny loads along the greensward. Meanwhile the hay is thrown [Pg 37] about, and with each returning day comes the same pleasant labor, till the creaking of a wagon, lumbering up the hollow-road from the old farm-house, half way down the hill, gives the signal, which tells that the haymaking season is about to close. ”

“ He has just pulled the prickly stems of the woolly thistle from the corn she is about to bind. Farmer Johnson often tells the men and women to mind their work; but he takes no notice of John and Susan, though many a kindly word passes between them, for he knows that more industrious and well-conducted young persons are no where to be found. ”

“ The various families to whom the net belongs crowd down to the shore for their share of the fish; for, as the net costs a great deal of money, the price is divided, perhaps, between half a dozen owners. During the winter season, should there have been any failure in the fishing, great hardships are sometimes felt by these poor people. [Pg 25] The stock of salt fish is done; potatoes are dear, and money to buy bread is but scarce. ”

“ I am afraid that as he knew that Frederic is coming we should like some fish to-day. The weather changed so suddenly in the night, that I feel quite anxious lest he should have been lost. Mrs. Martin’s fears were too well founded, for John Penman, his eldest son, and another lad, never saw their homes again: the boat had been lost during the heavy gale, and all on board had perished.
How dreadful! said Julia. I wish we [Pg 29] did not live where we were always hearing and seeing such disagreeable things. We must not, my dear Julia, said her mother, indulge in such selfish feelings ”

“ I must not give them too much green stuff, but some nice bran and oats; and then I could make a little trough for it to eat from, you know; and—and—”
“I am sure, my dear, it would be too much trouble to you; rabbits require a great deal of care and attention, and you so soon get tired of any thing you take up, that I fear it would soon suffer from neglect.”
[Pg 8]
“I am sure I should never neglect it, mama; and if you will give me a shilling, I can buy a beauty—a real white French rabbit, with red eyes, and a coat like swansdown. Do, mama, give me a shilling.” ”

“ Julia soon got tired of going with her mother to see people who persisted in having such bad smells in and about their houses, wondering, at the same time, that, with water so near, the village was not kept cleaner; to which an old woman would sometimes reply, that fish never smell ill to them. One stormy day in January, Mrs. Martin and Julia sat at the window watching the huge [Pg 28] waves that came tumbling in, with, as Julia said, “great white caps on their heads.” ”

“ Is there not some place where they can be happy? I hope my poor bunny may!” and here the little fellow sobbed again.
“Give me a kiss, my dear boy,” said his mama; come leave this spot: and so she gently led him away from the rabbit’s grave.
[Pg 20]
JULIA MARTIN.
In many of the little coves and bays on the coast of Cornwall, small villages may be found—the dwellings of fishermen, their wives, and families. Here, perhaps, they have lived [Pg 23] from the time they were born, without a thought or a wish, as far as the land is concerned, beyond the narrow place in which they dwell. ”

“ The children, too, are all helping. Before the season is over, they will collect at least three clear bushels of wheat; and if the weather prove showery, and the wagon is hurried to the barn, they will obtain a larger quantity.
Farmer Johnson is at the farthest end, watching his reapers. He looks pleased, and with reason, for the rustling corn stands thick, and the men work cheerfully. The Lord of the Field, (for such the chief reaper is called,) heads the long line of farming servants. When he clasps the opposite ears in his strong arms, they clasp theirs also ”

“ Edwin’s eyes were full of tears, and when he could see through them, and found out what had happened, he broke out into loud sobs and cries, till he roused the whole house. “Oh! my dear rabbit—oh! I have killed my rabbit—oh! what shall I do?” he uttered, in deepest grief.
“Ay,” said his mama, who was called [Pg 17] to the spot by his outcries, “I feared it would be thus:—who would think a house-bred rabbit could live in a damp pig-sty? The poor thing has been destroyed by neglect.”
“Oh, yes, dear mama, do not scold me; I know I have been very naughty. Oh, I do love my dear rabbit ”

“ YOUNG MAN’S OFFERING. By Professor Andrews. 12mo, muslin
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FLORA’S LEXICON. An Interpretation of Languages of Flowers. Colored illustrations. muslin
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TALES FROM SHAKSPEARE. By Charles Lamb. 12mo, muslin
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THE YOUNG MAIDEN. By A. B. Muzzey. With two engravings on steel by Schoff, designed by Billings. 16mo, cloth, gilt
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“ WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE; AND, THE YOUNG ARTIST. With six fine illustrations printed in oil colors
WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. By Frederick Gerstaecker. Illustrated with eight crayon drawings in oil colors. 12mo, gilt, cloth
YOUNG ISLANDERS; or, The School-boy Crusoes. A Tale of the Last Century. By Jeffreys Taylor. Cloth
Miscellaneous. ”