Chapter IV: Wherein I Fall in Love with the Sea (2)

Book-keeping, Penmanship, Arithmetic, Shorthand, etc., thoroughly taught by =Mail= at student's =Home=. Low rates; perfect satisfaction. Cat. free. Trial lesson 10c.

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Hold their place in the front rank of the publications to which they belong.--_Boston Journal_, Feb. 19, 1896.

HARPER'S

PERIODICALS

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=PIGEONS!=--Send 25c. for "_Pigeon Queries_," a book of 200 questions and answers on Pigeons. "Possum Creek Poultry Club," humorous, =25c. Fanciers' Review, Chatham, N. Y.=

This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the
Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our
maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the
official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen.
Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the
Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership
blanks and information so far as possible.

The difficulty of getting out of New York city by proceeding directly north, and the fact that there are only two suitable roads, which makes bicycling out of New York in time monotonous, can be obviated by crossing the Hudson and proceeding by several good roads up its western bank. For the next few weeks, therefore, we shall give in this Department maps of the country along the Hudson as far as Newburg.

The map this week includes Hoboken, Jersey City, the marshes back of these cities, and the roads as far north as Englewood. There are several ways of starting from New York into this country. You can cross the Hoboken Ferry at either Barclay, Christopher, or Fourteenth Street to Hoboken, and go out of the city direct to the Hudson County Boulevard, which is the best road running north. By an examination of the map the rider will easily pick out the different ways to reach the boulevard. It is perhaps wiser to cross from Fourteenth Street, as the ferry lands in Hoboken further uptown; but it is possible to ride from any of the ferries northward, keeping generally to the left into West Hoboken; thence to the boulevard, by Scheutzen Park, leaving Union on the eastward, passing through New Durham and by Guttenburg to Fairview, and thence to Ridgefield. The Northern Railroad of New Jersey should always be to the westward, and the road itself runs along the side of the hill, which rises to the Palisades. The Hackensack marshes are across the river to the left going north. At Ridgefield the rider may either continue on through Leonia and Nordhoff, running direct into Englewood, or he may turn to the left across the Northern road, crossing a branch of the Hackensack afterwards, and running along its bank, finally crossing the West Shore road and the main river, keeping to the right at Little Ferry, and running direct into Hackensack. It is then possible to proceed northward from Hackensack through Fairmount and Cherry Hill, or to run eastward through Tea Neck to Nordhoff, thence turning to the left northward on the boulevard, and running into Englewood. From Hoboken the rider, if he is going westward towards Passaic, should cross the West Shore road at Tyler Park or at Scheutzen Park, running direct to Secaucus, and thence cross the marshes and the river into Rutherford and direct to Passaic.

It is also possible to cross the ferry at Fort Lee, but there is a long hill which it is foolish for any one to ride, rising for something over a mile. The rider may either follow the bank of the river and run along a good road through Linwood, turning to the left to run into Englewood, or he may proceed to Leonia, and there turn northward to Englewood. The black roads on the map are in almost every case good roads, and especially in and around Englewood, Tea Neck, Nordhoff, and to the north of these towns the roads are in capital condition. Of course time may be saved, if the wheelman lives uptown in New York, by crossing at Fort Lee, but he must remember that he has to rise between 250 and 300 feet above the river at once, and this necessitates a long walk. The Fort Lee Ferry leaves New York at 125th Street.

Thebe is still another way of crossing, which is from the 42d Street Ferry to Weehawken. On arriving at the Weehawken Ferry the rider should make at once by the shortest roads for the Hudson County Boulevard, as it is distinctly the best wheeling road in that vicinity.

* * * * *

THE UNEXPECTED.

At a country-school examination one day, a visitor noticing the great promptness and correctness with which the questions were answered by the scholars, suspected that the children were only given such questions as the teacher was sure of their knowing. So requesting the privilege of asking a few himself, the gentleman addressed a small child thus, "Where is Turkey, my dear?"

The little girl was greatly confused for a minute, then suddenly a bright look came into her little face, and she piped forth, "In the back yard with the poultry, sir!"

Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly
answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to
hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.

HINTS ON MAKING FIGURE STUDIES.

In photographic exhibits, as well as in exhibits of paintings, what are called character studies always attract the most attention, and usually receive higher marks than a simple portrait study.

There are many picturesque characters which make fine studies for the amateur photographer, and our young amateurs are requested to bear them in mind when in search of subjects for our coming contest. There is the old veteran with his faded blue army coat, to which he clings as long as it preserves a remnant of respectability; the shoemaker or cobbler at work on his bench; a sailor who bears marks of his tussle with wind and wave; a ruddy farmer engaged in some one of his many duties; a woman weaving at a hand-loom or spinning on a flax or wool wheel; a sturdy blacksmith at his forge; an old colored uncle or aunty, relics of the sunny South--these and many other types or characters may be found by the amateur photographer, and their likenesses preserved in gelatine.

One common fault with nine out of ten of the amateur character studies is that the subject looks as if he were sitting for his picture. This is the one thing to be avoided, for the charm of this style of picture is the natural and easy position of the subject, who must look as if such a thing as a camera had never come within his observation.

Suppose one wished to make a picture of a cobbler on his bench. If you went to him with your camera and told him you wished to take his picture, while you were getting your camera ready he would probably begin to tuck away the bits of litter on his bench, straighten his tools, close the half-open drawers, put away his last, and then taking out his pocket-comb, smooth his hair so that not a lock should be out of place. This done, he would sit up and announce that he was ready. If you should take his picture thus, you would have a subject with every natural line crossed out, leaving simply a stiff uncomfortable victim sitting for his picture.

The proper way to do is to tell the cobbler that you wish to make a picture of him at his work, and that you would like to have him go on working the same as if you were not there, and that when you are all ready you will tell him. Arrange your camera, focus sharply, take out the slide, and set the shutter ready to open. Watch for a favorable attitude, ask the man to hold still for a moment, and expose the plate. Make three or four studies, for it is better to do this than to take but one and, in case it should not be good, be obliged to go again. Do not let the subject look toward the camera, but insist on his looking at the piece of work on which he is engaged. If he is tapping a shoe, take the picture when he has the hammer raised to drive a peg, if he is sewing a seam, take it when he is either putting in the threads or has them partly drawn out. A cobbler hammering a piece of leather on a lapstone is an easy position to catch, and another is where he is examining a ragged shoe to see if it is past mending.

Whatever vocation you may choose to picture, bear this in mind, that the subject must not be allowed to pose himself, and if, while you are getting your camera in readiness for the picture, you talk with him on some subject in which he is interested, you will stand a good chance of getting an easy, natural picture of him. If you are not successful the first time trying, remember the old couplet,

If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again.

GEORGE H. says that he has a pocket kodak which makes very good
pictures, but in nearly all the negatives there is a black cloud in
the one corner, and asks the reason; how to make the title of the
picture on the print in white letters; and if the "Quad" and "Vive"
cameras are reliable; and how to join the Camera Club. The black
cloud on the negative is due to the fact that there is undoubtedly
a tiny pin-hole either in the bellows or lens-holder which admits
light to the film and fogs it. Take the camera to the place where
it was purchased, and have the defect remedied. Letter the title on
the negative on the film side with India-ink, going over the
letters carefully in order that they may be uniform in density, and
when the print is made from the negative the letters will appear
white, as the ink is nonactinic, and shields the paper from the
light. The title must be reversed when printed on the negative.
Both the "Quad" and the "Vive" are made by reliable firms, and
either will give satisfactory returns for the money invested. Sir
George says that he discovered in a back number of the ROUND TABLE
the use of blue paper, and encloses prints made on the first paper
which he experimented with. Sir George must have followed the
directions closely, for the paper is very evenly coated, and the
blues clear and brilliant.

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=GUESSING STORIES.= By MARGARET JOHNSON. Small pictures take the place of words. =Very easy=, =entertaining=, and =educational=.

=A PINT OF PEAS.= Work for Little Fingers. The construction of various objects, using soaked peas and wood toothpicks. =Endless amusement.=

JINGLES. LITTLE STORIES. PICTURES.

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LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN

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CHILDREN from 7 to 11

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THREE SPLENDID SERIALS:

=JOHNNY, JACK, AND JOHN.= By MARGARET COMPTON.

=JO AND BETTY; or, Out in the World.= By SOPHIE SWETT.

=GOING WITH THE BIG BOYS.= By KATE UPSON CLARK.

=BOY HEROES OF THE WAR.= By Mrs. A. R. WATSON. Pathetic, humorous, thrilling. A dozen stories of young heroes of our Civil War--six of the South, six of the North.

=THE TALKING BIRDS.= By M. C. CROWLEY. A series of amusing and marvellous parrot stories--_true_ stories.

Notable Articles,

Short Stories, Poems,

Beautiful Pictures,

Children's Songs.

* * * * *

ALPHA PUBLISHING CO., Boston.

Quite Different.

The importance of correct pronunciation is nowhere more imperative than in a religious service. A soloist in a Philadelphia surpliced boy choir was heard on a recent Sunday morning in a certain well-known anthem. After the service another boy, a member of the choir, excitedly caught hold of the skirt of the choir-master's vestment, and asked, "Will you tell me, sir, what Jack Mahaffy [the boy soloist] meant by 'a consecrated cross-eyed bear'?"

"A what?" demanded the astonished leader.

The lad, badly frightened, repeated the question.

The soloist was called, and when he spoke the words, instead of singing them, the boy got the correct version, "a consecrated cross I'd bear."

* * * * *

Second Largest Church in America.

Will some reader of the ROUND TABLE please give me a description of
the Church of Notre Dame, Montreal, Canada? I will be very thankful
for information on this subject.

RUPERT FORBES.
MONTOWESE, CONN.

We quote the following from an article on "Montreal," in HARPER'S MAGAZINE for June, 1889:

"Here"--in Montreal--"among a Roman Catholic population, noted chiefly for their lack of wealth, is building a cathedral one-third the size of St. Peter's at Rome, and of the same shape, excepting that this one has a pointed roof to shed snow. Montreal has already the great Notre Dame de Lourdes, the largest in America, excepting the Cathedral of Mexico. It seats 10,000, and will hold 15,000 people. The official poster at the door asserts that the bell is the largest in the world. It is the eighth in size, weighing 24,780 pounds. In the interior, vast but harsh and gaudy, you may see an ornate spiral pulpit and a bronze statue of St. Peter, of which the toes are well polished.

"In Montreal you can continue to visit churches all day. They reveal a religious life of the Middle Ages kept up with marvellous force in this nineteenth century. One of the pleasantest scenes of this religious life may be witnessed in the city of the dead. In the cemetery on the mountain, along the streets of tombs, are erected little grottos, each having in colored tableau the stations of the cross. A priest leads slowly the flock from station to station, and explains to the kneeling people the dogmatic value of the sufferings portrayed. The trees, birds, plants, sunshine, and the murmuring winds, all combine to make the ceremony touching. The route ends on a knoll where three huge crosses and figures represent most realistically the final agony. When I visited the place, on a fine June day, a company of convent girls and nuns were holding a merry picnic at this spot. After their picnic they knelt for prayer and went away rejoicing. On many of the graves are evidences of tender regard to the departed--plaster figures of saints, photographs of the deceased, and little altars with candles and crucifixes, set up in glass-covered boxes that look like toy chapels."

Some Montreal reader may give us a short description of the exterior of Notre Dame.

* * * * *

Kinks.

No. 55.--A RIDDLE.

I'm not employed by Uncle Sam,
And yet I carry mail.
I'm swift as many a telegram;
I'm seldom known to fail.
Around and 'round, then straight I go;
The shortest route I always know.

* * * * *

No. 56.--HISTORICAL QUESTIONS.

1. What battle was fought October 13, 1812?

2. How did Du Plessis Mauduit help America?

3. Who was Sir Guy Carleton?

4. Who put this clause into his will: "I enjoin and require that no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatever, shall be admitted for any purpose whatever, or as visitor, within the premises appropriated for said ----." And of what did he speak?

* * * * *

No. 57.--RHYMING CHARADE.

My first moon, in her regal car,
In thronely pomp rides past;
She trips a silver serenade
Round my secluded last.

My last has borne the pelting blasts
Two hundred years twice told;
Its loop-holed battlements to-day
Rear grandly as of old.

Our first laid schemes we plumb and build
In sorrow, be it known;
Like fabled last high-poised in air
Are quickly levelled down.

My dual parts will rightly sketch,
If roughly scribbled down,
A city in an English shire
And in a Delaware town.

J. E. BENNETT.
NEW YORK.

* * * * *

No. 58.--WORD SQUARE.

1. To blight so as to destroy.
2. A machine for turning.
3. A collection of maps.
4. Anything long and straight.
5. Easily irritated or fretful.

A. E. T.
CHICAGO.

* * * * *

Answers to Kinks.

No. 50.--DIAGONAL ACROSTIC.

March--April, thus:

M O D E L
O A S I S
F A R C E
E P O C H
A S A P H

* * * * *

No. 51.--DOUBLE PROGRESSIVE MAGIC SQUARE.

128 x 1 x 32 = 4096
x
4 x 16 x 64 = 4096
x
8 x 256 x 2 = 4096

And the same with the perpendiculars and diagonals.

* * * * *

No. 52.--A SENTENCE HUNT.

St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, iv, 27.

* * * * *

No. 53.--PHONETIC CHARADE.

Ant--elope. Antelope.

* * * * *

No. 54.--A GEOGRAPHY LESSON.

1. Skaara. 2. Kars. 3. Don--the Spanish equivalent of Lord. 4. Bhore. 5. Kabul--Atlantic cable. 6. Save--because, if true to its name, it would rescue you. 7. Koping.

* * * * *

Young Newspaper-Makers.

Janey Crow, 13 Birch Crescent, Rochester, N. Y., publishes, with a friend to help, _The Acorn_, a monthly of twenty-eight pages. It is not printed from types, but written, and sent round for reading. These young editors and publishers desire to receive sample copies of other amateur papers, either written or printed ones. So also do Frank G. Davis, Vermillion, S. D., and Edward F. Daas, 1717 Cherry St., Milwaukee, Wis. The last-named desires also to form a corresponding Chapter, whose members may live in any part of the world, exchange specimens of shells, minerals, ferns, and bugs, and prepare round-robin descriptive letters.

* * * * *

Questions and Answers.

Polly Pemberton Morris.--You are quite right in your contention, and your friend is wrong. Queen Elizabeth did not live as well as does the average family of to-day whom we call poor. Comparatively she lived well--and walked on a cloak. But she suffered many discomforts which the gallantry of all the Raleighs of her reign but badly recompensed. Indeed, her household was so poor that few of the laboring-people of to-day would endure one like it. For instance, her table service was what we would call scarcely fit for animals. Huge joints of meat were brought to the table on the roasting-spits. There were no dishes such as we have. Earthenware with a china finish was unknown. The meat-carvers held the meat with one hand while they cut it with the other, and the guests helped themselves with their fingers. Cats and dogs were allowed around and under the table--and to them were thrown the bones. Fancy the condition of the floor--there was not always a floor--after the meal. There were no forks and no plates. Fingers served for the former and huge slices of bread for the latter.

Irving Kenyon asks: "Is there on exhibition in some city in each State the articles patented in that State? If so, in what city of Connecticut can I see them? Are authors privileged to use the plan of another author, which has appeared in a pamphlet some time previous, without permission? If permission is necessary, to whom do I apply?" There is no such exhibition. In the Patent Office at Washington may be seen a vast number of models, but they come from every State. Even these models are no longer required by law. Authors' privileges are not easily defined. Do you mean "plan" or "plot"? We should say that the least one could do who wished to use the plot of another would be to ask permission. If permission cannot be obtained from any cause, get another plan or plot or else forego writing.

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin
collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question
on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address
Editor Stamp Department.

Although all German and foreign catalogues list the varieties of the 1870 20c. blue of France in three types, still few are seen in collections, probably on account of the difficulty heretofore felt in explaining the differences.

The cuts I., II., and III. illustrate exactly the differences of the Greek ornaments at the lower light side of the frame (compare with Figure IV.).

Even in the very poorly printed specimens these varieties in the lines of the Greek ornaments are prominent, and in the very heavy impressions where the shadings of the main lines are invisible, the distinguishing points are still plain.

It will be simple for everybody to now distinguish these types with the aid of the illustrations. In addition the main points will be easy to memorize.

Type I. has, as we know, only points at the neck and eyes for shading purposes; the circle of pearls is very irregular.

Type II. The shading at the neck consists of fine lines, and under the eyes are long drawn points. A fine white line runs around the entire top of the head.

In Type III. the white line at the top of the head is almost invisible; under the eye are points similar to Type II., but in larger numbers. At the neck there are only lines. The points between the inscriptions, both at top and bottom, are hardly to be seen and often disappear altogether.

A Type IV. is also listed in few catalogues, but its existence has been clearly established. The peculiar break in the Greek ornaments, as is the case in the other types, is not found, but in other respects it resembles Type III., except in the inscription.

It is probable that after the plate of the third type was worn out the inscription was repaired, and for the third time enlarged, which is sufficient evidence to accept as a fourth type. As to the grade of rarity of these different types the following is probably correct (the lowest number being the commonest).

Used. Unused.
Type I. Seventh. Fifth.
Type II. Fourth. Second.
Type III. Third. First.
Type IV. Eighth. Sixth.

Early impressions of these four plates are very desirable.

A. E. DRAKE, 198 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn wishes to exchange stamps.
The last Peru issue are very common. Any dealer can supply at a
fair price.

F. RICH.--The 90c. 1851 issue, unperforated, is probably a proof.
The 24c. same issue is well authenticated.

J. B. BRYAN.--To restore colors of stamps which have oxidized, or
changed color, owing to chemical or atmospheric changes, to their
original color, apply peroxide of hydrogen to the stamp with a
small camel's-hair brush. After repeating several times soak the
stamp in water and dry between blotters.

A. A. HALL.--In purchasing hinges, be careful to secure those
having a gum known to be harmless. Some hinges have a gum that will
eventually injure the stamp to which they are affixed, changing the
color or causing the paper to turn yellow. For fifteen cents a
thousand you can get the best hinges from any responsible dealer.
You will probably not use over a million during your career as a
collector, and the amount you save in purchasing an inferior grade
is insignificant, while the proper preservation of your stamps will
be materially aided in using those you know are reliable.

E. L. SMITH, 64 Sparks Street, Cambridge, Mass., wishes to exchange
stamps.

C. RAWSON.--The 3c. Proprietary is worth 10c. perforated, several
dollars if unperforated, with wide margins.

F. D. W. LANELAND.--Your Chile stamp is probably a Revenue stamp.
You do not give all the lettering, and I am therefore unable to say
positively.

PHILATUS.

A Record of a Good Deed.

You ask me to tell the Table about the fair which we had this
autumn, which netted $25 for the Good Will School Fund. We sold
home-made candy, fancy-work which we made through the summer, cake,
and ice-cream. All who took part in the fair were members of
Harper's Round Table Order. They were Helen Layton, Katie Atwood,
Mary Roof, Mable Roof, Edna Roof, Mollie Morford, Eleanor Hayward,
Emma Hayward, Louis Layton, Waldemar Hayward, Clarence Hayward, and
Thomas Woodruff. Mrs. John Roof, who assisted us, is a Patron of
Harper's Round Table. We hoped to, and doubtless would, have made
more had the evening not been a very stormy one. Last year we sent
thirty-one dollars. We hoped at least to send fifty this year.

HELEN J. LAYTON.
NEWTON, N. J.

We thank you most heartily. The money has been placed in the Fund.

The frequent use of a good soap like the Ivory will purify the complexion as no cosmetic can.

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE CO., CIN'TI.

Highest

Award

WORLD'S

FAIR.

SKATES

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BARNEY & BERRY, Springfield, Mass.

BE AN ARTIST

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Curtis Sketching Camera

Every one can draw and sketch with it. A simple device, consisting of a mirror and photographic lens, so arranged that you can draw with pencil and paper exactly what is before you. An educator to the youthful mind. Sent on receipt of =$1.00=. Circulars free.

CURTIS & SCHUMANN, 96 Blue Island Ave., Chicago.

EARN A BICYCLE!

We wish to introduce our Teas, Spices, and Baking Powder. Sell 75 lbs. to earn a BICYCLE; 50 lbs. for a WALTHAM GOLD WATCH AND CHAIN; 25 lbs. for a SOLID SILVER WATCH AND CHAIN; 10 lbs. for a beautiful GOLD RING; 50 lbs. for a DECORATED DINNER SET. Express prepaid if cash is sent with order. Send your full address on postal for Catalogue and Order Blank to Dept. I

W. G. BAKER, Springfield, Mass.

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JOSEPH GILLOTT'S

STEEL PENS

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And other styles to suit all hands.

THE MOST PERFECT OF PENS.

POPULAR FOOTBALL BOOKS

* * * * *

A PRIMER OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By W. H. LEWIS. Illustrated from Instantaneous Photographs and with Diagrams. 16mo, Paper, 75 cents.

There is probably no other man in America who has had as much
football experience or who knows more about the game than Mr.
Lewis.... Of value not only to beginners, but to any one who wishes
to learn more about football.... We heartily recommend it as the
best practical guide to football we have yet discovered.--_Harvard
Crimson_, Cambridge.

Written by a man who has a most thorough knowledge of the game, and
is in language any novice may understand.--_U. of M. Daily_,
University of Michigan.

Will be read with enthusiasm by countless thousands of boys who
have found previous works on the subject too advanced and too
technical for beginners.--_Evangelist_, N. Y.

Beginners will be very grateful for the gift, for no better book
than this of Mr. Lewis's could be placed in their hands.--_Saturday
Evening Gazette_, Boston.

_NEW EDITION OF_

CAMP'S AMERICAN FOOTBALL

By WALTER CAMP. New and Enlarged Edition. 16mo, Cloth, $1.25.

The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a
corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by
experienced teams, have prompted the publication of an enlarged
edition of this book. Should any of the suggestions herein
contained conduce to the further popularity of the game, the object
of the writer will be attained.--_Author's Preface._

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR:_

=FOOTBALL FACTS AND FIGURES.= Post 8vo, Paper, 75 cents.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

* * * * *

REST YOUR PEN.

Here is a hint for boys and girls who write. A correspondent of an English newspaper asked, the other day, if it improved a steel pen to give it a period of rest. The answer was:

Yes. Rest for a steel pen is not only good, but at times absolutely necessary, as it is for all steel tools if they are to continue in first-class order. A member of a well-known firm of steel-pen makers advised that if a pen gets scratchy and does not write well, it is not necessarily finished and fit for throwing away, but is probably only tired and in need of a rest. "Give it," said he, "a rest for a day or two, then hold it in a gas-light for fifteen seconds, not longer, and you will find it almost as good as new." Keeping steel pens in water when not in use, or converting a potato into a pen-wiper, is said to prevent corrosion and to preserve them for a long period.

Apropos of the steel pen, it is interesting to note that the earliest notice of steel pens is one by Wordsworth. In 1806 he and his family were occupying the house at Colerton during the absence of Sir George and Lady Beaumont, and in the month of December the poet wrote to the latter what he calls "the longest letter I ever wrote in my life," and with reason, as it fills eighteen pages. He begins: "My dear Lady Beaumont,--There's penmanship for you! I shall not be able to keep it up to the end in this style, notwithstanding I have the very great advantage of writing with one of your best steel pens, with which Miss Hutchinson has just kindly furnished me."

The next mention noted is one by Dr. Kitchiner, in 1824. When speaking of a friend above sixty, he says, "This strain of the eye and occasion for spectacles of a high magnifying power is particularly found in mending pens (this was when the goose-quill was the most generally accepted tool in the trade of authorship), so that he has a sufficient number of pens to prevent the necessity of mending any of them until he has finished writing." To this there is appended a note: "To those who find the mending of pens rather a difficult job, I recommend the occasional use of the steel pen, especially when they wish to write very small and neatly."

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AN INDESTRUCTIBLE PRESENT.

Joe is a boy who, through the beneficence of his grandparents, is singularly blessed with uncles and aunts, and Christmas and birthdays he realizes it most. They give him so many toys that his father and mother, on such occasions, usually make their presents consist in carrying out some cherished plan of Joe's.

"Actually," his father remarked, on his most recent birthday, "Joe has more presents now than he can break in a year."

"Oh no, papa!" said Joe, with an injured air, "there's one present I won't break."

"Well, Joe," replied his father, "I'm glad there's one. Which is it--the cast-iron train of cars Uncle Bill gave you?"

"Oh no!" cried Joe; "I can break that easily enough. I mean I won't break your promise to send me to dancing-school."

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End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, November 17, 1896, by Various