Various

“ What we shall do if an Indian springs from behind the bushes, or a crocodile comes out of the sedge, I don't know. Here is the narrowest part of the river. I will lay my stick across it; and, if we make believe very much, it will do for a bridge."
"But I can't walk along your stick," said Amy. "Never mind that," said Alan: "a bridge is a bridge, whether we walk along it or not." So Alan laid his stick across the narrow part, and then jumped over the brook, followed by Owen and Amy. No Indian sprang from the bush, no crocodile came out of the sedge ”

“ It is due to Alan to say that the misfortune of his wounded leg by no means cooled his courage. "What is the use," said he, "of complaining? Those who go to seek their fortunes must learn to bear pain." [29]
One of Alan's plans was to find a treasure; and, as they had neither spade nor pickaxe with them to dig for gold, he thought the best way would be for them to find a bag of money. Amy said, if they found a bag of money, she should like to take Dolly some. This being generously agreed to by Alan and Owen, they proceeded with their plan. ”

“ The cat sat lost in thought, opening and shutting her eyes. "Little stepmother," said the cat, "my stomach, too, is empty. Go thou for some meat, or else look out that no harm comes to thy dear birds in the yard. Dost thou not hear?"
The little stepmother laughed, and said, "Be not so impatient! I must first make a dish of apple-sauce for the seven and seventy guests who are coming to my wedding-feast. [31] When they are all assembled, then shall the morning wind play for the dance. You, beloved birds, shall be my bridesmaids, and the cat shall be the bride's father." ”

“ Clarence was afraid of the great elephant when his papa first took him near it, and hung back when they came within reach of its trunk.
"Why are you afraid of the elephant, Clarence?" asked his papa. "I'm afraid he will trunk me," said Clarence.
But he soon got over his fear, and was so busy feeding the elephant, that his papa had to coax him away.
On their way home, Clarence's papa told the little boy some stories about elephants. Here is one of them:—
A famous elephant, called Jack, was once travelling with his keeper from Margate to Canterbury in England, when they came to a toll-bar. ”

“ HETTIE'S CHICKEN.
What can be prettier than a brood of chickens with a good motherly hen, like the one in this picture! See how the little chicks nestle and play about their mother! and see what a watchful eye she has over them! But some chickens do not have such kind mothers, as you shall hear. ”

“ Poor John ate his bread with water instead of milk: but somehow he was not unhappy, for he felt that he had done a kindness to little Sam Jones; and the satisfaction of having rendered a service to another always brings happiness. ”

“ One of them is rather apt to be greedy; and both get so much to eat that they are very plump and fat.
Here are the doves looking at the turkeys. They do not know what to make of such birds.
W. O. C.
[24]
THE LITTLE FORTUNE-SEEKERS.
Young as Alan was, he had heard from his uncle Paul many a story about people seeking their fortune: so, one fine summer day, he set off with his brother Owen and his sister Amy a-fortune-seeking. Alan carried a stick; and Amy had a little basket on her arm.
Alan led the way, telling Owen and Amy to keep close to him, and to fear nothing. ”

“ The doves are free to go where they please; but they always come home at night. They are quite tame. Sometimes they fly up to Edwin's window, and light on the sill. They tap on the pane to let him know they are hungry. ”

“ I have a little daughter who never returns from a walk in the woods without bringing a bunch of gay flowers. I have taught her to make of them many little works of art, which you may also like to learn, dear reader. ”

“ He wanted to make them pay more than was right. So he kept the gate shut. On this the keeper went through the little foot-gate to the other side of the bar, calling out, "Come on, Jack!" and at once the elephant applied his trunk to the rails of the gate, lifted it from its hinges, and dashed it to the ground. He then went on his way, while the toll-bar man stood petrified to see what a mistake he had made in demanding an unjust toll from an elephant.
"Now, Clarence," said his papa, "I suppose you would say that the elephant 'trunked' the toll-gate, and so he did ”

“ And, sure enough, hardly had Bravo thought this, when from behind some rushes ran out an old hen, followed by four, five, six chickens; and the old hen, with her feathers all ruffled, went right at Bravo, while the chicks stood behind sharpening their bills, and getting ready to join in the battle with their mother.
[17] Although the most courageous of dogs, it could not be expected that Bravo would be so foolhardy as to make a [18] stand against such odds. He paused a moment, with his mouth open, as the terrible old hen came at him ”