Various

“ So we promised mamma not to take a bird again, and we will keep our word, for when we took them we did not think a mother bird would grieve as our mamma would if we were stolen. The mocking-birds sing any song, and if they hear any one play on the piano, they will whistle the same tune; and one used to call like the little chickens, and papa hunted everywhere, thinking some little chick had lost its mother, when what should he see but a mocking-bird on the gate, making the same noise a little chick does when its mother is out of sight! ”

“ They were glad enough to get home safe and sound; but even when the Ark was once more floating in Taponican Creek, near the bridge, Quill and Mort had to look hard at her and at each other, and then at the trout and their own strings of Pawg Lake fish, before they could quite make up their minds that they had not been dreaming a good deal that splendid Saturday. ”

“ This little bird of the drawing and of your hat is a kingfisher, and the kingfishers are found, as I explained, in almost all parts of the world. We have one species, not at all uncommon, throughout the United States, which is known in the books as the belted kingfisher. Our little African here, you see, is not larger than a sparrow, but his belted brother is almost as large as a common pigeon, and well do I recollect what a time a lot of us had, when I was a boy about twelve years old, in trying to get at the nest of a pair of them. ”

“ I too am sorry that George and Sterling took the poor birdies from the nest. I am sure they will never again rob a mother bird of her brood. Boys do wrong from want of thought many a time, when they mean to do right, if they would only stop and consider what they are doing. ”

“ Mamma thinks it is a pity that more poor people do not come here and farm. Sometimes she tells us of the poor in New York and other cities, and we wish they were here in our warm climate, where, if we are not very rich, we are not often so very poor. But we are not satisfied here, as the doctors tell mamma this climate is too warm for her, and as soon as she can she must go North to live. ”

“ A little girl, a subscriber of Harper's Young People, thinks all the little girls should say something, to Mr. Harper to tell him how pleased we are every week to receive our paper. I wish every little girl could have as nice a time as I do, fishing for trout. Away out here where we live is a creek that has fish in it. Brother and I go fishing every Saturday, and I enjoy the sport very much. Brother Ed cut down a tree which was one hundred and fifty feet tall, and in the top of it was a rat's nest. We thought it strange that a rat would go so high to build its nest. ”

“ They gathered their fish, and hurried into the boat, while he explained that the long absence of that shipwrecked young lady and her younger companions had stirred up a tremendous excitement along the shores of Pawg Lake, and that their rescue was no small affair.
"I have been kissed by any number of mothers and aunts, and have had to shake hands with quite a large body of men. You boys must come and take your share."
"Don't you do it, Quill," said Mort. "Let's go right home." ”

“ Of course this was all foolishness, but it was only one of [Pg 634] many tales which have been told about that very bird, and some of which I have no doubt are believed by ignorant people to this day."
"Is he a handsome bird, papa, like this one in my hat?"
"Oh no; on the contrary, he is of quite plain plumage. You must not fancy that our species or the European possess any such brightness of color. Now look at the picture again. You see both the male and the female. Notice, by-the-way, that they are sitting near the mouth of their burrow. ”

“ I want to ask you all, those of you who have never taken an interest in Young People's Cot, and those of you who, by your earnings, savings, and contributions, have already helped us, if you will not set to work in earnest, and let us see how soon we can have our Cot endowed. ”

“ Why not try a little rustic-work, setting up a good-natured rivalry with florists and landscape gardeners? It will require the boys and girls both—the boys to do the heavy work, and the girls to supply the grace and minor ornamentation. ”

“ Reddy had been busily engaged in painting a notice to be hung up over the calf; and as he fastened it to the barn just over the spot where the animal was to be kept, Bob read, with no small degree of pride in the thought that he was the fortunate possessor of such a prize:
Then the artist went back to his task of painting posters, while the others set to work, full of determination to build the necessary number of cages, if there was wood enough in Uncle Daniel's barn. ”

“ All the others were of the same opinion, but Toby urged them to wait until Abner could take part in it.
To this Bob had a very reasonable objection: in two weeks more school would begin, and then, of course, the circus would be out of the question. If their first exhibition should be a success, as it undoubtedly would be, they could give a second performance when Abner should get well enough to attend it; and that would be quite as pleasing to him as for all the talent to remain idle while waiting for his recovery.
Toby felt that his partners asked him to do only that which was fair. ”

“ Rustic-work is a term that by general consent is now applied to all structures of wood the forms and surfaces of which are left in their natural shape, or covered with material such as bark, cones, fungi, etc. ”

“ Mamma bought us a saddle, and the good old man who loans us the burro has a little dog-cart. Sometimes we use the saddle, and sometimes the cart, and away we go. It would remind you of Punchinello and his horse and black cat on his way to Paris. When the little donkey concludes to go fast, and when he wants to go slow, we are very much at his mercy, for he does as he pleases. We go out to the farm, and swim, and hunt eggs for papa, and gather wild flowers to bring mamma; and, dear Postmistress, we caught three little mocking-birds, and have them in a cage. ”

“ Instead of slats, straight rustic branches split in half and pointed at both ends can be used.
The branch-work consists of a circle of branches of drooping habit, the ends or stocks of which are both nailed and bound with wire or stout twine, so as to support the weight of vines when they reach it from the tub above and the trellis below. The twine-work for the vines consists of gray or green twine. There is a twine sold by florists by the name of "invisible twine," which is of a light green color, and is used for training vines ”

“ It is never safe for a boy to go in swimming alone, for unforeseen accidents may occur, such as cramps, or entanglement in weeds. Some other hidden danger may spring up, as unexpected force of current, or great depth of water, and then it is safer by far to have help within calling distance. ”

“ By the time this was done, Ben arrived with the first installment of curiosities. His crowing hen he had under his arm, and Mrs. Simpson's three-legged cat and four kittens he brought in a basket.
"Joe's got a cage 'most built for the hen, an' I'll fix one for the cat this afternoon," he said, as he seated himself on the basket, and held the hen in his lap.
"You can't fix it if you've got to hold her," said Toby, as he brought from the barn a bushel basket, which was converted into a coop by turning it bottom side up, and putting the hen underneath it. ”

“ When life is supposed to be extinct, proper exertions will often restore the circulation, and establish breathing. It is estimated that a minute and a half's submersion is sufficient to cause death by drowning, and hence the necessity of rescuing a person from the water as quickly as possible, and using restorative measures promptly, is very great. ”