Mrs. Sale Barker

“ Have you quarrelled with Eusèbe?”
“Not exactly,” rejoined Maurice, “I generally give way to him; but now he wants me to give him Cressida in exchange for Jeanne.”
“Who is Jeanne?”
“It is a beautiful white goat, who has two pretty little kids; and Eusèbe beats her because he wants me to take her and give him Cressida; but Fritz told me never to part with the wooden horse. You see, papa, Jeanne is not made of wood; she lives and feels like me, and it’s terrible to see lately how he beats her. You can’t imagine how nice she is; and so grateful to any one who is kind to her. ”

“ The help promised to Willie by the hands makes him so happy that he runs and leaps with joy; but as evening draws on he feels very tired. He lies down under some trees, and eats some bread and cheese brought with him in his wallet. He is in a forest now, and thinks he hears the howling of wolves in the distance; still he is so tired that he must go to sleep. Presently he sees the giant hands spread themselves over him, forming a sort of tent. His heart is full of gratitude as he says his prayers, and falls asleep, feeling how safe he is beneath those giant hands. ”

“ Tiny’s wings drop off on to the ground, and at once shrivel up and disappear; she recovers, too, her natural size. Then she sees her mother’s cottage through the trees, and a candle just lighted is burning in the window.
As she walks towards it, she talks to herself as if she were somebody else. “Now, Miss Tiny,” she begins, and she touches her own breast with the point of her finger as she speaks,—“now, Miss Tiny, let us think a little. The good fairy told you you should learn a lesson and grow wise. ”

“ Something tells me that among my little readers there may be a few—perhaps the oldest or most clever—who wish to ask me certain questions. They may say to me:—
“Now what moral lesson do you draw from your story? That boy, Eusèbe, who is about the naughtiest and most disagreeable boy that ever lived, is left just as well off, and as happy as the dear good little Maurice. An author can make shadow or sunshine fall upon his paper as he pleases: then he should punish the bad, and make the good happy.” ”

“ Then taking Maurice on his knee, he went on: “You are a brave boy, and no doubt have deprived yourself of a good deal in collecting these hundred francs; but they are useless after all. When we met in the Luxembourg gardens, I thought it better for you that your charity to the poor woman should cost you some real sacrifice; but I was wrong to take your horse in pledge for the money. Now I am your debtor, and a debtor who cannot pay.”
“I understand,” said Maurice, as he burst into tears; “the thieves carried off Cressida last night. But it is not your fault.” ”

“ A boat, rowed by two queer little men, was fastened by a chain to the bottle; and, as they rowed, the bottle was towed along. Gold and silver fish were playing about in the water; tiny children with wings were sporting in the air. The bottle inside was fitted up like an elegant drawing-room; and—most wonderful of all!—a beautiful fairy reclined on a sofa in the midst of it.
Otto knew she was a fairy, because she was just like those he had seen at the play, dressed all in gold and silver tissue, and sparkling with jewels. ”

“ Then embracing Maurice, he exclaimed: “Why, how you have grown! I think the good God watches over children that have kind hearts. You have been growing up in happiness and health, as a flower blossoms in the spring-time.” Then turning to Mr. de Roisel, he added: “I received your letter, sir, and regret very much indeed that the day of your coming was postponed.”
“I fear we have come at a very inconvenient time.”
“Oh, it is not that; but you are one day too late.” ”

“ See how they cling to the bark of the tree with their claws, and how eager the two little ones seem for the prize their mother has just captured. The woodpecker is a bird of very singular habits. It lives upon the insects which exist in the bark of trees, and is remarkably adapted by nature for obtaining this kind of food. Its bill is long and sharp and powerful; and with its hooked claws it clings to the tree while it sways its body to and fro to give force to the strokes of its bill. ”

“ It will watch with patience for hours till a fish or a frog comes within its reach, when it stretches out its long neck suddenly, and snatches up its prey with its sharp bill. It mostly prefers to stand under the shadow of a tree, bush, or bank; and from its perfect stillness, and the sober colour of its plumage, it seems often to escape the observation even of the fish themselves. ”

“ She told her story with such earnestness and simplicity that no one could doubt its truth; and the governess made one more effort to excite the compassion of her pupil. But Adrienne was quite insensible to the suffering of others, and ran off, bowling her hoop.
“Still,” said Maurice, looking after her, “I know one way of finding the money, if I could but make up my mind to do it: I could sell my horse to Adrienne.”
“What do you say, Master Maurice?” exclaimed Jacques. “It is impossible. Sell Cressida, that you refused so bravely to part with to your uncle! Think of your promise to Fritz.” ”

“ Falling down at our Saviour’s feet, he cried: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
With mingled feelings of humility, gratitude, and awe, he entreated Jesus to depart from one who was so guilty and undeserving. But he did not know the love of Christ towards him, or the gracious design of this miracle. His fears were soon calmed. “Fear not,” said Jesus to His trembling disciple: “from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” From that time Simon Peter, and his companions, Andrew, James, and John, were to be employed in preaching the gospel. ”

“ I should like to make his acquaintance very much; and then in exchange I’ll give you this goat, that you think so pretty.”
“No, I cannot give you Cressida.”
“Can’t give me Cressida! why not?”
“I can never part with Cressida.”
“You mean,” rejoined Eusèbe, “that you don’t think Jeanne is worth so much as the horse. Then the fact is that you don’t think her so pretty after all; and you’ve been telling lies in calling her pretty all this time.”
“Telling lies?”
“Yes, you have. She’s ugly in reality; she is; I think she’s frightful now. Oh, you ugly beast, I’ll kill you! ”

“ The uncle always showed a great interest in Cressida, admired its mechanism, and was fond of watching the little horse and its rider as they went along together. One day, when he had been looking at them for some time with a very thoughtful air, he said suddenly:—
“I wish I had a horse like Cressida.”
“Why not buy one then?” replied Maurice.
“Ah, you know very well that is impossible. There is no such horse to be had anywhere.”
“That’s true,” rejoined Maurice; “but why do you want a wooden horse—you who are so big, and can ride a real horse, if you wish?” ”

“ Next Tiny alights on a terrace in a garden, where she sees a pretty white cat. Tiny calls, “Puss, puss!” when immediately out pops from among some cabbages a pert young hare. “Did you call?” he inquires. “You!” says the cat contemptuously, “are you Puss?” “Yes, indeed, I am called Puss by a great many people.” “Why, where is your tail, if you are a cat?” “Tail! pooh! what does a tail matter? Look at my fine long ears!”
“Just like the others,” thinks Tiny, as she flies away; “always quarrelling; and always praising themselves.” ”

“ Maurice saw that his papa was right.
I need hardly say that Eusèbe always got tired of his toys very soon, and every time Maurice went to stay with him there was a new collection to be seen. On the occasion of this visit, Maurice found that Eusèbe’s favourite plaything for the moment was a goat. Not a goat of wood or pasteboard, such as you children have all possessed perhaps, but a real live one; as much alive as those you may see any day harnessed in goat-chaises in the Champs-Elysées at Paris ”

“ I remembered how it made straight towards me, as if asking me for protection from its enemy, which only a tame squirrel would do; and I proposed, when breakfast was over, that we should go out and help in the search.
Little Jack Tompkins stood under the beech trees, looking with tear-stained face up into the branches. Suddenly I saw his face brighten, and he called out: “I see un, ma’am; I see un! If so be no one warn’t by, I be sure he’d come to I.”
I need not say we retreated to a distance; then Jack called up the tree in a loud whisper: “Billee, Billee!” ”

“ Presently she sees a stork and a kangaroo, who appear to be at high words. “What an enormous tail you’ve got!” says the stork to the kangaroo; “and are those little bits of things your forelegs? Why, you are perfectly ridiculous.” The kangaroo replies: “Silly bird! my form is perfect, and my beautiful tail is a wonder in itself, for it helps me to take my immense leaps. Go away to your swamp, and hide your own long sticks of legs, do.”
“That’s pretty well on both sides,” thinks Tiny; “each considers himself the most beautiful animal in the world.” ”

“ Alas! there is nothing for us but to die.”
“To die! Oh, don’t say that—it’s dreadful,” rejoined Maurice.
“Yes, it is dreadful,” continued the girl. “And my poor father—Ah, what grief for him too!”
“But how does it happen that you cannot go out to join him?”
“We have not the means; we are without money.”
“Money? I’ve got some money.” And Maurice hastened to offer the contents of his little purse—about five or six francs.
The little girl did not take them, but turned to her mother, who was pressing to her heart her other two children, handsome boys of three and four years old. ”

“ It was the month of October, and Maurice had returned to his own country home, where Cressida was installed once more in its old stable. But the poor pony had lost its former activity; it could not go faster than a walk, and even that with difficulty.
One morning Maurice was in the garden, when he saw Fritz approaching him, walking as fast as his old legs would carry him, and having an open letter in his hand. My little friend ran to meet him, when the old man embraced the child with tears in his eyes, and called him his benefactor. ”

“ That’s how it is, you see.”
“You are very wrong to behave in that way,” said Maurice: “but after all, your promises are not made quite seriously.”
“And what are yours, pray?”
“Mine are serious promises, and I keep them.”
“Now, that’s just because you’ve heard that men keep their promises,” replied Eusèbe, “and you want to be like a man. But the truth is, men are like me, I can tell you: they make promises to get what they want, and then they break them again to get what they want. ”

“ My little friend’s attention from the first has been about equally divided between the fable he is repeating and a beautiful wooden horse, which stands fastened by the bridle to a tree in the garden: but before the fable is finished, it is evident that his thoughts are altogether taken up by the horse. It is a pity; because, not attending to the punishment of the oak, he will lose the moral of the fable. But let us not be more severe on him than his mamma, who does not seem much distressed about the matter. Besides, who can keep the thoughts from wandering sometimes, particularly during study? ”

“ The wings will only last till sunset, but you will have time to find out that there is vanity in others as well as yourself, and to judge how silly it is.”
After saying this, the fairy with her attendant dwarf disappear. But Tiny feels a strange pricking at her shoulders, and presently finds herself raised up from the ground by a pair of wings, which have grown out suddenly. She was always small for her age; and that is the reason she is called Tiny; but now she discovers that she has become no bigger than a little bird. ”

“ Are not children expected to keep their promises?”
“Oh, I don’t mean to say exactly that,” replied the uncle. “Your own conscience must teach you how that ought to be. But I think it strange that you should prefer that old Fritz to me.”
Now you must not suppose, my little readers, that Maurice resisted his uncle’s persuasion with the calm steadfastness of a grown-up man, whose mind is quite clear as to his duty, and who is quite decided to keep to it. No: poor little Maurice found his heart drawing him one way and his conscience another. ”

“ I wonder if Miss Tiny is as disagreeable and absurd as they are? If she is, she won’t be so any more. From this day, she will always try to see whatever there is that’s good and nice and pretty in everybody else, and make the most of it. ”

“ My little readers have, none of them perhaps, ever seen this bird: it is not very common in England, though found in most parts of the globe. This one we see in the picture is feeding its young with an insect, or beetle; but the Shrike is a very voracious and cruel bird. It not only eats insects, reptiles, little mice and such things, but attacks the young unfledged nestlings of smaller birds than itself, and devours them. This is why it is called by the ugly name of Butcher Bird. Fancy the horrid thing devouring the tender, weak, and helpless young of its own species! ”

“ Let me tell you that what is a virtue in grown-up people, is not always so in a child. It is through their affections that we govern children, and you would teach him to combat his tenderest feelings. Besides, you set a bad example: you were practising a deception in pretending that you wanted the horse.”
“What! uncle,” cried my little friend, who began to recover, “was it only make-believe when you asked me for Cressida? You only wanted to see if I should keep my promise? ”

“ One day in southern Africa he has cautiously approached a herd of antelopes, and is just within the distance for a shot, when he observes a sudden commotion among them, some bounding one way, some another, as if in terror. Looking round to discover the cause, he finds himself face to face with an enormous lion. The lion pauses to consider whether he will have an antelope for dinner or Mr. Lovesport. Our intrepid hunter takes advantage of the pause to shoot him through the heart. ”