  The snow was on the ground—the lovely white snow, the peaceful snow, which covered the country landscape with billows of alabaster. In the distance the feathery woods made a purple fringe between the earth and sky, while in the foreground a crinkled rail fence ran irregularly along the side of the country road, and near it stood a splotch of red and black, the only marked color in the whole landscape. The red and black was crying bitterly, for the red and black represented a little girl with a scarlet hood, and crimson stockings, and a bundle of books. She was on her way to school, and in great grief. While she still stood by the fence, sobbing, a black object appeared over the brow of the hill, and slowly moved toward the foreground, until, pausing in front of the weeping child, it stood, as jolly, as genial, as comfortable an old gentleman as ever wore broadcloth. "Why, what is the matter, little one?" he asked, in a kindly voice. The child looked up into the pleasant face and answered: "They are always worrying me at home; they are always taking my things, and when I ask for them they get mad, and if I take any of their things, they come and take them away, and then if I don't like it, they tell mother; and oh! I declare it's too mean for anything. It wasn't her doll, anyway, for Cousin May left it behind, and she didn't give it to anybody, and she'd had it all day; and then she took my sun-shade, and broke the hook off, and because I asked her for it she got mad and wanted the doll, and it wasn't her doll, and then mother made me give it up, and I think it's real mean—that's just what I think it is." "Well, well, well, that was too bad. I think it was real mean myself," said the old gentleman. "But I tell you what you should do—you should keep two bears, as I do, and then you would be happy all the time." "Two bears?" ejaculated the little girl, opening her large round blue eyes. "Yes, two bears. We have two bears up at my house, and they make us so happy!" "Don't they bite?" "Oh no, they don't bite a mite." "But they growl, don't they?" "Oh, no, no; they don't growl either. But if you like to come home with me, I will show them to you." In an instant the little girl's hand was in that of the old gentleman, and they were trotting along the road side by side. There was something so kind and gentle and yet so jovial in his manner that it never entered her head to be afraid of him. After turning down one road and up another, and walking about a mile altogether, they at last came to a long low house, with large windows, which were filled with bright flowers, and draped with red curtains, and in every window hung a bird-cage with some strange or beautiful bird. A number of children came running out of the house, crying, "Oh, papa! papa! here's papa!" as they gathered round him, clinging to his arms. "Children," he said, "I have brought a little stranger to visit you. I do not know her name, but I am sure you will be kind to her, and show her the two bears, which I have promised she should see." They entered a large, comfortable sitting-room, hung round with pictures and bird-cages; in the centre was a long table covered with books, and on each side of the fire-place, in a big easy-chair, sat a great rough bear; one was brown, and the other was black. The old gentleman led the little girl up to the brown bear, and said, "Brown Bear, here is a little girl who is very miserable. I have told her that you and Black Bear have made us all so happy, and that perhaps you can help her to be happy too." Brown Bear gave a good-humored sort of sniff, and put his big paw gently on the head of the little stranger. "What is your name, child?" asked the gentleman: "you have not told me that yet." "Frances Louisa Caroline Bounce, but they call me Fanny. What a nice bear! Will he be angry if I feel his fur?" "No, indeed, not even though you rub it the wrong way." After she was introduced to both bears, she played with the children, Carry and Sarah, George and Philip, and then they all went into another room to dinner. On their way, however, Philip, who had a long switch, with which he had been amusing himself, persisted in tickling the back of his sister Sarah's ear with it, until she grew out of patience, and, turning round, told him, rather sharply, to stop; but Philip, who was only in fun, seemed somewhat nettled at being scolded, and was just on the point of repeating the offense, when Black Bear, who was walking behind, put his paw gently on his shoulder, while at the same moment Brown Bear took Sarah by the arm and led her into the dining-room. Philip threw away his switch, both burst into a merry laugh, and sat down to the table with smiling faces. During the dinner both bears kept walking round the table, looking so kind and gentle that they seemed to put every one in good-humor. When Carry upset a tumbler of water over Sarah's frock, Brown Bear immediately picked it up, while Carry begged pardon, and Sarah laughed. When George was going to tell some little tale out of school about Philip, Black Bear put his big paw in front of his mouth, and George stopped at once. THE CHILDREN AND THEIR BEARS. After dinner they all went out into the snow to have some coasting down a hill close to the house. Both the boys had sleds, but Philip's was a bright new one, while George's was old and rather clumsy. Philip had been saving up his money for some time to buy this treasure, and was very proud of it; therefore when George seized his new sled and ran off with it, he called after him with some anger to bring it back, and not to use it; but George had reached the top of the hill, and had just planted the sled, ready to start down hill, when Brown Bear came to the side of the angry Philip, and touched him with his paw. Phil's manner and voice changed at once, as he called out, "Well, brother George, you can use my sled, and I'll use yours." But Black Bear had reached the top of the hill nearly as soon as George, and with his great big paw patted him on the back, and grunted something in his ear. George took up the sled very quietly, and carried it back to his brother, saying, "I am sorry, Phil; here is your sled." After that all was fun, tumbles, and laughter, the two bears joining in it as actively and enjoying it just as much as the children. In fact, the bears seemed to make the whole party happy. At last it became time for Frances Louisa Caroline Bounce to go home. She felt sad at the thought of leaving the bears, and of going to her own home, where there were no bears at all. "Well," said the old gentleman, "how do you like our bears, Fanny?" "Oh, I think they are just too splendid for anything. I wish we had a bear, even if it was only a little one." "Well, you can easily have bears. All children can have them if they like. Perhaps you would be obliged to begin with young ones; but then they would be sure to grow up if you only took care of them." "Oh, dear, dear! is that really so?" cried Fanny, in an ecstasy. "Yes, my child, it is really so; every one can have two bears in his or her house, like mine. But do you know what we call those bears which make us all so happy? Bear and Forbear." "Bear and Forbear!" echoed Fanny. "Oh, I will try to get two of those bears in our house, and if they are ever so weak and sickly, I will feed them and nurse them till they grow big and strong like yours." Fanny trotted home with the old gentleman, and told her brothers and sisters everything about the two good-natured bears; and they all agreed that they would try to raise a pair like them. I am happy to add that Fanny and her family have a pair of very promising young bears, which already afford them a great deal of happiness, and bid fair in the future to be fine healthy animals. New York City.
John A.J. Cresco, Iowa.
Allie C. Nacoochee, Georgia.
John R.G. Nashville, Tennessee.
Randolph H. San Francisco, California.
Ida B.D. Argenta, Illinois.
Minnie S. Downieville, California.
Mary A.R. Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Lily V.F. Brooklyn, Long Island.
Winifred C. Bath, New Hampshire.
Helen C. This is the first report on embroidery, and, according to promise, the old embroidery pattern has been sent to the writer. Sullivan, Indiana.
Harald C.H. East Canaan, New Hampshire.
Lester O.B. Passaic, New Jersey.
Willie G. Foster Brook, Pennsylvania.
M. Ada T. Clanton, Alabama.
St. Clair T. Brookhaven, Mississippi.
Archie McM. Windsor Heights, Maryland.
James S. Moberly, Missouri.
Maggie B. Pearl A. Hare, of Lynchburg, Harris County, Texas, accidentally omitted the little word "for" in her letter published in Young People No. 56, which made her appear to offer birds' eggs and postage stamps for exchange, when she wished to obtain them in exchange for Texas snail shells. Our readers will please note the correction.
Ambrose Strang, Lincoln, Tennessee. The following exchanges are also offered by correspondents:
M.P. Rich,
Maude Buckner,
S. New,
Thomas K. Durham,
Campbell T. Hamilton,
Henry Scott,
Al. E. Barker,
Louis D. Orrison,
Daisy Rollins,
W.W. Elhose,
George Wells,
Harry Madison,
Frank Knox,
A Reader of "Young People,"
C.W., Jun.,
C.S. Petrasch,
Emma Bruff,
Hawley Webster,
Louis Gibbs, C.H.L.—The old scrip which you inclose is probably a genuine five-franc assignat, as the paper money was called which was first issued by the French government in 1790, and afterward by the Revolutionary authorities. It was based on the security of the public domain, consisting of the confiscated estates of the Church and wealthy exiles. The value of these assignats, which were issued to the amount of 45,578,000,000 francs, declined rapidly after the reign of terror. In the summer of 1793, one franc in silver was worth three francs in paper. Three years later, one franc in gold was worth three hundred francs in paper, although the government, in order to check this depreciation, had passed a law to regulate the price of commodities. The inscription on your assignat shows that it was issued in October or November, 1793, the second year of the French Republic. The lettering in the corners proclaims death to any one who should dare to counterfeit the assignat. The livre, which name appears on the scrip, was a French coin about the value of a franc, by which it was superseded in 1795. Eighty francs were equal in value to eighty-one livres. If you examine your assignat carefully you will see to the left the dim and faded stamp of the figure of Liberty, and if you have a strong magnifying-glass, you can amuse yourself by trying to make out the lettering around it. This little scrap of coarse paper, not quite a hundred years old, may incite you to read the story of the terrible time of which it is a relic. If you are not old enough to enjoy Carlyle's History of the French Revolution, you will find the scenes vividly portrayed in Charles Dickens's Tale of Two Cities, and Victor Hugo's novel entitled "'93." Henry H.T.—Your proposal to found a Natural History Society, composed of contributors to Harper's Young People, is hardly practical. The exchange of specimens, etc., would be dilatory and difficult, as our contributors are scattered over the whole continent. Local societies of the kind you mean might be formed to advantage, and the officers of different associations could correspond with each other, and exchange views and information. L.M.F. and L.L.P.—Your plan for a reading and debating club is excellent, and if well carried out must have good results. You will find suggestions that may be useful in some remarks appended to a letter from Violet S. in Harper's Young People No. 53, and also in a book called Stories of the Sea, noticed in No. 61. We would advise you not to waste your time over fourth-rate literature (to which the books you mention belong), but to select the best authors, whose works will not only entertain but instruct you. An excellent guide for you would be William Swinton's Masterpieces of English Literature, recently published by Harper & Brothers. Violet S.—Your account of the proceedings of your society is not full enough. Can you not favor us with a sprightly description of what is done and said at your meetings, instead of giving the "order of exercises" merely? John N.H.—Either hickory or sassafras wood is good material for bows. Helen G.—How to make the "Wiggles" was fully explained at the end of the Post-office Box in No. 51 of Young People. R.T.F.—Amber is not, as you suppose, made from "the sap of a tree in South Africa," but is a fossil resin from several species of coniferous or cone-bearing trees of a very remote geological period. More than 800 species of insects have been found preserved in amber, and leaves of 160 species of plants. Fine pieces of amber are very highly prized, and are sometimes worth more than their weight in gold. The largest mass known is in Berlin, Prussia. It weighs eighteen pounds, and is valued at $30,000. Amber is extensively used for ornaments, the mouth-pieces of pipes, etc. You may be able to procure a piece of some manufacturer of meerschaum pipes. The ancients prized amber very highly, and it was an important article of commerce in early times. From the fact that it is found in large quantities in the remains of the lake-villages of Switzerland, we know that it must have been an article of exchange in prehistoric times. Floy.—If you have any pressed flowers, leaves, or other pretty objects which can be sent easily by mail, we have no doubt some of our readers would be glad to send you postage stamps in exchange for them. You can put your offer in the Post-office Box. Jesse H., Jun.—The English noun envelop, as well as the verb, is accented on the second syllable. The French form of the word, envelope, has an even accent on the three syllables. Our word is derived from the French. Jean C.P.—Please give the name of the county in which the town of Warren, where you live, is situated. There are several towns of that name in Ohio, and correspondents will not know where to address you unless the county is given also. Ford D. Lyon.—The controversy about the origin of the phrase, "Consistency, thou art a jewel," has not been satisfactorily settled. The saying has been floating about for a great many years, but no one has been able to find out who started it on its travels. Grace.—The Ü in OlmÜtz is sounded like the French u, very difficult to catch without the aid of a teacher. You can come very near it by pronouncing the vowel o and changing to e without altering the position of the lips. C.G.G.—The time required for the transmission of a signal through the Atlantic cable varies according to the condition of the batteries. A dispatch has been sent from New York to London and the answer received within an hour. James McK.—No charge is made in the matter about which you ask. Sallie K., Cincinnati, Ohio.—The name of the street in which you live is so obscurely written that we can not make it out. Write it very plainly, and we will print your request. Daisy R.—Send enough to make a pretty wreath. Jennie S.M.—A very good recipe for butterscotch was given in a letter from Kittie G. in the Post-office Box of Young People No. 37. Henry C.D.—Glass for windows was made during the Middle Ages in all European countries. In England glass-painting for windows was practiced in 1338. Some splendid windows of York Cathedral were painted at that period by John Thornton, of Coventry. In the fifteenth century English window-glass was more expensive than any other kind of glass. The Egyptians made glass at a very early period of their national existence. Paintings representing glass-blowers making a very large vase show that nearly 4000 years ago the Egyptians were far advanced in this art. Favors are acknowledged from Garrett Waggener, Bertha Herron, C.C. Shelley, Jun., Stella Pratt, George W. Taymun, Flora C.B., Mabel White, Alice Brown, J.W. Menefee, Orrie H. Clark, Shelton H. Hibbs, H.H.J., S.H.R., W.H. Scherzer, Carrie and Belle N., Albert Woolley, B.D. Ellis, C.G. Myers, B. Tompkins, E. Fay Stevens, H. McIlvain, Frank A. Harmony, Annie S. and Bennie C. Duffie, F.H. Kellogg, Everett Jones, Lewis B. Frazier, Lyman Perley, Sidney J. Carson, Katie Dale, Louis MareÉ, Tamar Love, Thomas Buford, Fredy Leser. Correct answers to puzzles are received from C.H.McB., Hugh Pilcairn, Thomas Cook, George Dudley Kyte, "Lone Star," Harry and Isobel Jacob. PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.No. 1.WORD SQUARES—(To Owlet).1. First, a piece of ordnance formerly used for blowing up barricades and other defensive works. Second, a female name. Third, to feel a sharp, pricking sensation. Fourth, a state in Africa. Fifth, part of a printing-press. Sixth, having a melancholy appearance. Zelotes. 2. First, to disturb. Second, to weaken. Third, a Turkish coin. Fourth, absent without leave. Fifth, to show clearly. Sixth, leased. Bolus. No. 2.DIAMOND.A letter. A small vessel. A hut. A celebration. A guide. A snare. A letter. Wennie. No. 3.DOUBLE ACROSTIC.An ensign. A boy's name. A wonder. Finished. Answer.—Two things to gain which men often make great sacrifices and devote all their energies. Lone Star. No. 4.ENIGMA.First in sieve, not in pail. No. 5.ACROSTIC.Place seven divisions of the United States in such order that, their initials read downward spell the name of another. Bolus. |
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