Various

“ For even the simplest dinner parties—unless, indeed, one is the only guest and the invitation is impromptu—evening dress is the correct wear, and if by chance one has an invitation to a box at the opera, it is again customary to wear evening dress. Sitting in the orchestra stalls in the opera one would wear street dress and bonnet.
For morning and business wear the tailor skirt and coat, worn with a quiet-colored bodice, would be accompanied by a plain walking hat, with no more trimming than a few cocks' plumes, low-heeled walking shoes, and heavy dark gloves. ”

“ No, ma'am, it's not too late. Sprites, you must hustle and bustle, and get up a first-class dinner for the Forresters. Do you hear?
Sprites all. We hear—we will.
Genius of Thanksgiving. Are we all present? No. [Impatiently taps on the floor.]
Enter Purveyor of Turkeys, strutting. He gobbles.
Purveyor of Turkeys. Good-evening, master, and you, Fairies.
Genius of Thanksgiving. Sirrah, Purveyor of Turkeys, you're late. Have you a fine fat turkey left? ”

“ Rex exclaimed. "They are in trouble, or they would never leave that lamp unlighted."
"The light-house may have been struck by lightning," Nick suggested; "you know it is made of iron."
"Yes, I've thought of that," Rex replied; "or lightning may have killed the men. There's no telling what it is, but it's sure to be serious. All we know is that there is no light, and our fathers are both out on the water depending on that light. It may cost both their lives, and hundreds of other lives, too. I feel as if we ought to do something, Nick." ”

“ With his first step on the narrow platform Rex stumbled, but saved himself from falling by catching the rail.
"Look out here!" he called; "there's something lying here that tripped me." And he turned and held the lantern down.
"It's a man!" Nick exclaimed. "Hello, here, mister!" And he stooped down and seized the man's arm and shook it. But there was no reply.
"We'll see to him later, Nick!" Rex cried; "the light's the first thing;" and stepping over the man they both sprang up the steep iron stairs. ”

“ Second Fairy. They say mortals do not believe in us.
First Fairy. Perhaps Ethel will when she sees the basket of good things which even now I hear the sprites leaving at the door. But let us hasten—the dawn will come.
[Exeunt Fairies. Ethel moves, sits up on the bed, looks around the room, rubs her eyes, and seems bewildered.]
Ethel. Are they all gone? How beautiful—fairies and sprites in my poor little room! (Smiles.) Only a dream, I suppose. But so real. What a funny old Genius of Thanksgiving it was! [Laughs aloud.]
Enter Elise with a note. ”

“ Certainly New York provides as much innocent and inexpensive amusement for the girl who earns her living as any other city in this country—if one knows where to look for it. Two girls can go alone together to the theatre at night in perfect safety—that is, if their manner is quiet and dignified, and not such as to attract attention. A very respectable and respectful class of neighbors is found up in the cheap, fifty-cent galleries of the better class of theatres, and one may see all the best actors for small sums and in perfect comfort. ”

“ The night abounds in dreams. I have had one. I must tell it, if I can.
Elise. But hear mine first, dear. I think it was about two o'clock when I heard feet in the passageway and a noise at the door. I was frightened, but did not alarm mother; for why should burglars visit our poor home? After a while the noise ceased, and I ventured to get out of bed and softly open the door. There stood—what do you think, Ethel?
Ethel. I know.
Elise. No, you don't, you goose.
Ethel. I do know.
Elise. Silly child. Listen, a large basket—
Ethel. With our Thanksgiving dinner in it—a turkey and cranberry jelly. ”

“ Avoid fierce frizzy untidy fringes, fluttering ribbons, cheap finery, high-heeled shoes; flee the short-haired, mannish, hands-in-pocket swagger, the dirty plush and draggled cheese-cloth attempt at æstheticism, and, above all, eschew the still more unforgivable offence of dingy fingernails, greasy skin, unbrushed skirt edges, and unblackened shoes. There is still another type of girl who needs a suggestion. ”

“ Ethel. So tired! So tired! Shall I ever get rested? To-morrow is a holiday, but for me a sad one. I have no nice dinner for mamma and Elise. I hoped something would turn up. But nothing has. After all, things don't turn up. You have to wade right through things. It's foolish to expect, for instance, a nice dinner to drop from the clouds for us, mamma and Elise and me; yet unless one does we shall not stand much chance of anything except bread and tea. Here are my car fares, though. I will buy an orange for mamma, and two apples for Elise. They've got to be content with that. ”

“ Each and all of these need to be reminded that success in life consists as much in being a charming and agreeable-looking woman, sought after as an acquaintance and companion by refined and pleasant people, as in winning fame and money by one's own efforts. ”

“ Much is said about the loneliness of strangers in New York, but loneliness and ennui in such a city simply arise from laziness and lack of intelligence. A girl with only half a dozen acquaintances here can still find some expedition, some delightful musical, artistic, dramatic, or literary experience, to fill every moment that she can spare from her work.
Socially New York is a delightful place for a girl of small means who is yet agreeable, intelligent, and refined. ”

“ Indeed, if it can be afforded, it is the pleasantest of all, since no one appreciates the pleasant privacy and relaxation of home life more than the woman who must face the world and fight her own battle. ”

“ We were but having a little game of tag, master.
Genius of Thanksgiving. Another time, sprites. Now there's work to be done. Have you made your manners to the ladies? Oh, saucy children! Fairies, forgive them.
First Fairy. Since the sleeping child was not disturbed, 'twas of no consequence, sir. You were kind to come at our call, Genius of Thanksgiving. Here is a family that you have overlooked. There is no dinner provided for to-morrow. Is it too late? ”

“ There is an enterprise on foot to build a woman's apartment-house, where the rooms and flats will be rented only to women working for a living who can furnish adequate and respectable references; where the rent will be low, the accommodations pleasant and pretty, and a restaurant of moderate prices in the building; but as yet this admirable scheme remains unrealized in New York, though similar Ladies' Chambers are settled and profitable institutions in London. ”

“ Very properly they reason that a dignified, well-bred girl would be likely to dress with quiet, inconspicuous neatness, and if they find no such outward indication of refinement, they see no particular reason to continue the acquaintance on the possible chance of their being mistaken. Of course capable women can conquer this prejudice in time, but it certainly seems hardly worth while to deliberately place in one's path an obstacle to be overcome. ”

“ There are some so-called women's hotels in New York, but these are, without exception, to be avoided by a young girl with all her might. They are very cheap, but are dirty, squalid, and vulgar. They contain no provision for decent privacy, for adequate bathing, or for proper cleanliness; the food is unwholesome and uninviting, and the society no better than the accommodations, being composed in large part of broken-down failures of the sex, who are little likely to inspire a young girl with hopefulness or high ideals. ”

“ She is rich and lonely, and has a warm heart. Those were Elgin's conditions, and he found her.
Elise. Elgin?
Ethel. That's the dream again. Come, Elise, let us see if our dear mother is awake. I am nearly bursting with this good news. And I must tell you my dream. For, you see, the letter and the basket just agree with the dream. And after I have told my dream, and we have read the letter, and seen our Thanksgiving dinner, why, if you and mamma don't believe in fairies, you're funny people, that is all. (Kisses her hand to the air.) I believe in you two dear fairies, at all events. ”

“ There is no breath to stir the old shadows, no voice nor hearing, only a still, solemn past telling, as we tread the pavement in the great Tower of London, its many stories that belong to that historic prison. In this scene of blackest crimes nothing remembered is half so sorrowful as the murder of the two Princes who were sent to the Tower by their uncle, Richard III., King of England. ”

“ In the same manner the milk, flavoring, and sugar were obtained; only when the Imp signalled for the milk the invisible voice mooed so like a cow that Jimmieboy looked anxiously about him, half expecting to see a soft-eyed Jersey enter the room.
"Now," said the Imp, opening the eggs into a bowl, and pouring the milk and flavoring and sugar in with them, and mixing them all up together, "we'll pour this into that funnel over there, turn on the electricity, and get our custard in a jiffy. Just watch that small hole at the end of the funnel, and you'll see the custard come out." ”

“ I knew I could never get away from him, as his savage eyes were watching me, so when I saw what his game was, I made a leap for his back as his hoofs went crashing through the canoe. As I landed on him I caught his antlers with one hand, drawing my knife with the other. Well, boys, I actually laughed at my queer position, and I dare say that moose was more than surprised. ”

“ THE GIRL WHO COMES TO EARN A LIVING IN NEW YORK. BY ELIZABETH BISLAND.
To-day in many families of modest means the daughters, as well as the sons, begin, as the school days draw to a close, to consider seriously the question of a career and the best means of earning a living. Every wise girl interests herself not only in the possibilities for success held out by the various professions, but the best method of so ordering her working life that it may result not only in success, but in pleasure and happiness as well. ”

“ Nick exclaimed. "In that little sharpie, in this storm! Why, you'd never even find the light-house in the darkness."
"Oh yes, I will," Rex answered, confidently. "I'm enough of a sailor to handle a boat on a worse night than this. The wind has gone down a good deal, and the rain won't hurt anybody. Besides. Nick," he added, laying his hand tenderly on his friend's arm, "suppose you and I were out there in the schooner, and our fathers were here on shore, and the light failed like this, what would they do?"
"Right you are, old man!" and Nick seized Rex's hand and gave it a hearty squeeze. ”

“ Nick Jenner exclaimed. "I guess our fathers know how to take care of themselves in a squall. The Pelican is a sound little schooner, and they have two good sailors aboard."
"They'll be all right, of course; but I'd rather see them back before it begins to blow," Rex answered. His name was not Rex at all, but Harry King; but his schoolmates said that as Rex was Latin for King, that would be a good nickname for him.
It was on the piazza of a rambling old house on Indian Key, among the Florida reefs, that the boys sat watching the coming storm. ”

“ The Pratt eleven is a good one, and might very probably have won the game by fair and square football; but to send one of their players to Garden City as the guest of that school a number of times during the early fall, and to allow him to make note of the signals and the plays in use by his hosts, and then to play against St. Paul's, armed with this ill-gotten knowledge, is an act beneath contempt, and one for which any sportsman must turn away in disgust. The man who did this can offer no excuse for his sneaking and dishonorable conduct. ”

“ Let's try to shoot a wild gobbler, instead."
"But there are no wild gobblers around here, my boy," replied the father.
Herbert thought of the solitary turkey in their barn-yard, and it made him very sad to think that that poor bird should be beheaded for the Thanksgiving feast. And this was because the early summer rains had killed Absalom's little brothers and sisters, and left him to make his way on the farm as best he could. Herbert well remembered the morning when he brought Absalom, limp and almost dead, from the coop, and wrapt him in flannel, and put him under the kitchen stove to dry. ”

“ The Indian, without a further word, seated himself again on the log.
A few steps further up the bank the twins glanced at a rough trap near the roots of a huge sumach-bush, and seeing that luck here was also against them, they skirted the bend and quickly crossed the old bridge back to the house. They stole up to bed through the kitchen entrance. A light was burning in their uncle's office. The three gentlemen were in there, and Uncle Nathan was putting his name to a big paper, which the others witnessed with their signatures. It was his will. ”

“ In summer a few cents will make one very familiar with New York Harbor by means of its many ferry lines to all the various points, and for tiny sums one can go by the elevated trains and their continuations, in the form of steam trains and trolleys, upon fifty charming country excursions. There are a number of working-girls' clubs, where one can find companionship of one's own age, and can join classes for learning to make one's own dresses, trim one's bonnets, typewrite, embroider, dance, and endless other accomplishments. ”