No More Learning

If you'll go through the woods for about a
quarter of a mile, and then turn to the right, you
will find a bridge, which is formed from rocks
against which the waters trickled untiringly year
after year, until quite an opening was made, and
now the little stream flows on day after day, sing-
ing its low, sweet song. If you'll follow this
tiny si am you will see it growing broader and
broader, until at last it becomes a large and
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? 1 14 The Meeting on the Bridge.
beautiful river. But our storj is about the
bridge over the little stream, and what happened
ihere.
One morning the elephant dressed himself in
his very best, put on his tall white hat, took his
stick in his hand, and started through the woods
to visit his friend, the giraffe. He took his time,
for the day was warm, and he liked to listen to
the birds and watch the gentle rustle of the
leaves as the soft wind shook them.
He was surprised when he looked at the sun
and found that the morning was fast drawing to
a close. He walked on much faster than was
comfortable, and his temper was not the sweetest
when he came to the bridge and found the don-
key standing on it watching the waters flow over
the rocks.
"Move on, my friend,'^ said the elephant, "this
is no place for halting. '' But the donkey was
not pleased to be spoken to in this manner, and
he made no effort to move. On the bridge
stepped the elephant, but still the donkey did
not stir.
"Perhaps you did not hear me," said the ele-
phant. "I told you to move on. "
"Quite plainly I heard you," replied the don^
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? ii6 The Meeting on the Bridge.
key, *^mt it does not please me to stir from tliis
spot. "
Both the elephant and the donkey were grow-
ing angrier every minute. At last the elephant,
who, of course, was lots the larger, picked up the
donkey with his trunk, and dipped him up and
down in the cool stream until he cried for mercy.
If the sun was hot, the water was cool, and thia
sndden plunge was certainly not to the donkey's
liking, and his wild struggles afforded the ele-
phant much amusement. As he stepped back,
laughing at the donkey's frantic efforts, his foot
slipped, and over he went, splash, into the water.
The water vv^as not very deep, and they soon
scrambled to the shore, but both had learned a
lesson, and before parting they decided that the
better plan was to yield to one another. Had the
elephant spoken in a kindly manner, and had the
donkey been more accommodating, each might
have escaped a most unpleasant experience.
The elephant's bath had left him in no condi-
tion for calling, and his tall white hat he prized
80 much had gone floating down the stream, but
he did not grumble, for he knew the fault was
his own. He felt that he might have avoided
this very unpleasant ending to the happy time
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? The Runaway Pair. ny
lie had had in progpect, if he had onl> remem-
hered to be a little more polite. As he journeyed
through the woods once more he was a wise ele-
phant, if, as my be imagined, a sadder one.
The Runaway Pair.
1. ITTLE Rhody Gray was trembling like a leaf
> -- not because Jack Frost was teasing her ratship^^
no indeed. The grass was green, and the beauti-
ful little wild flowers held up their heads to aay
"good-night" before they closed their drowsy
eyes. The air was soft and balmy, whispering
secrets, low and sweet, as it stole quietly in and
out through the tree tops. But Rhody was
trembling, and it was fear that made her, for she
was sure some one would see her, crouching
down behind the lilac bush at the end of the
garden.
How bright the moon was growing. Rhody
thought she had never seen it so dazzlingly large
before. It seemed as though it were looking
right down upon her, showing every one where
the timid little rat was hiding. IsTow Rhody was
waiting for some one -- and this some one was
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? Ii8
The Runaway Pair.
Jacky Leap -- just the handsomest, largest frog
in the whole pond.
He and Rhody had planned to leave the old
place that night and go off and be married.
They were both young and wilful lovers, and
because Mother Gray had said no when Jack
asked for Ehody, they had made up their minds
to have their own way, come what would. Now
then, do you wonder that Rhody was frightened?
It was growing so late that she felt sure Jack
had forgotten her, and her little heart went
thump ty-bang! until she was certain some one
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? The Runaway Pair. 1 19
votild hear it. Poor foolish Khody, it only
sounded so loud to her ears. But at last she
caught sight of some gleaming white object al-
most flying towards her, and what should it be
but the white rabbit that had been bought at
Easter for the baby at the house. Jack had told
Bun of their plans, and he had promised to help
them -- and he certainly did. Jack was seated
on his back, such a big, broad, furry back, and
Rhody was soon mounted behind her lover.
How they flew along! Fences and trees seemed
to dash past them. Poor little frightened
Rhody held on with all her might, fearing every
minute that she might slip off and be left behind,
until at last they came to the hollow tree where
the wise old owl lived.
He blinked at them through his spectacles, but
asked no questions, and in less than no time
Rhody was Mrs. Leap. Bun was waiting for
them, and they mounted once more and started
for home. It was hard to tell Mother Gray what
they had done -- but she was a kind old rat, and
concluded that the only way was to make the
best of things, so she gave them her blessings,
and Jack and his little wife Rhody were as
happy a couple as lived in the Gree^.
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? Chanty's Lesson.
"Cock a doodle doo! " shrilly crowed Mr.
Ciianticleer as he strutted around in the barn-
yard. Chanty had just learned to crow, and he
was as proud as any rooster could be over his
own voice. He was not a very beautiful bird,
for his tail featliers had just commenced to grow,
and his legs were so long and thin you wanted
to laugh at him, if that had not been the rudest
thing you could possibly do. But still, one could
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? Chanty's Lesson. 121
not help thinking him a very foolish fellow as
he watched him strutting around, as though he
owned the barnyard. But grief, you know some-
times comes to people who think themselves so
far above their neighbors; so listen to the narrow
escape that Chanty had one summer evening.
Down in the woods, not far away from the
home of Chanty, lived a smart red fox; he was
young and called a very handsome fellow, and
old Mother Fox smiled with approval when she
aaw her son going off rigged in his finest suit, his
hat perched on one side, Vvdth a turkey feather
sticking in it, and his sharp pointed knife shin-
ing in his belt.
One night this young fox bade good-bye to
his mother, gathered up the bag that always
hung back of the door, and started off towards
the farm-yard. You can guess his purpose, per-
haps -- Chanty's shrill crow had reached his ears,
and he made up his mind in an instant that he
would like the rooster in a pot-pie much better
than strutting around the barnyard.
Fate had been kind to Chanty this time, and
when Master Fox reached the place, all he could
see of the rooster was his tail feathers sticking
through the stable door, and the farmer's man
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? 122 Fido, the Shepherd Dog.
had made the door fast with lock and key. The
fox grabbed the tail feathers, but Chanty was
safe, though woefully frightened, and, we hope,
wiser, content to go his way through life with-
out making himself so evident
Fido, the Shepherd Dog.
PiDO was a tiny black pup when he came to
live on the farm. He was born in a great big
place, called a kennel, where lots of other dogs
lived. One day, just after he had finished his
saucer of milk and had made up his mind to en-
joy a good long nap, a boy, who was always
poking around where he was not wanted, came,
and with no gentle hand grabbed him up and
carried him far away from the other dogs. Fido
shut his eyes and growled, as he thought, quite
savagely. Then he heard the boy say, "This is
a beauty, and I can promise you he will turn out
a fine dog. " Somebody took him away from the
boy then, and Fido liked the way he stroked his
head, so gentle, and called him "a. pretty little
fellow," and he liked the pleasant way in which
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? Fido, the Shepherd Dog. 123
this somebody laughed when he, Fido, began
licking his hand.
'Til take him," he heard the stranger say, and
W
then, without another word, Fido was tucked
away into the pocket of the man's great coat. It
seemed such a long while to Fido before he
heard the farmer say "Whoa" to his horses, and
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? 124 Fido, the Shepherd Dog.
then he heard a little childish voice say, '*T)id
you bring him, Father? " and Fido knew bhe
meant him, for the farmer reached into his
pocket, hauled him out, and replied, "Here he
is, little I^an; give him something to eat, for he
must be hungry after his long ride. "
"Oh, Father, what a darling he is," and she
hugged Fido so tight that he really had to squeal
to himself from being choked to death. Little
Nan could hardly allow Fido time to lap his
milk, she was so wild with delight over him, and
when he had finished she gathered him in her
chubby arms and rocked him jusi as she had
seen mother rock the baby, singing to him softly
one of baby's bye-low songs. Fido felt so happy
that it was not long before he was sound asleep
and snoring like a good fellow. AVhen mother
called JSTan to go to bed, she put Fido in the box
that father had built for him, and Fido was so
sleepy he could hardly wag his curly tail to show
his pleasure.
The next morning Fido wakened bright and
early, and gazed with wonder at the new w^orld
into which he had come. Nan brought him his
breakfast of bread and milk, and then off they
started for a jolly scamper. Such fun as these
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? Fido, the Shepherd Dog. 125
two had together. Wherever Nan went, Fido
followed, and Xan was such a kind, loving little
mistress that he loved her dearly.
Fido grew bigger and stronger every day, and
he certainly made good the boy's promise of his
becoming a fine dog. He found out by and by
that life was not all play, for the farmer carried
him off one day to teach him to mind the sheep.
It was not long before Fido knew all about it,
and the farmer told little Xan that he was the
best shepherd dog he had ever had.
Now the old wolf, who lived in the woods
back of the pasture lot, had found out w^hat a
good shepherd Fido was, for try as he might,
not once could he find him napping. One day
this w^olf thought he would be very cunning and
get the best of Fido, so he went carefully out to
the corn field one night, and robbed the scare-
crow of his clothes and rigged himself in them,
thinking that Fido would not know him.
The moon was shining brightly, and as the
wolf came across the field, Fido pricked up his
ears and looked at him suspiciously. He knew
that he did not belong in the field any way, and
so he kept pretty close watch over him. Closer
and closer came the wolf, and Fido waited
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?
126
Fido, the Shepherd Dog.
quietly for him, and then, with one long, know-
ing look, leaped upon him. It was too bad, but
Fido had grabbed the coat and not the wolf, so
that Mr, Wolf slipped out of his covering and
was off in the woods as fast as his legs could
carry him, and never again, as far as we know,
has he tried to play any tricks on Fido.
But for Fido, ! Nan's father might have lost
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? The Bicycle Race. 127
many of liis valuable sheep, and he could not be
grateful enough to the faithful dog for his good
service.
Nan was very proud of her Fido when her
father told of the way in which he looked after
the flock, and said she was quite sure nothing
would ever harm them as long as he was around.
Quite often Fido would go with Nan's father,
and help him drive his sheep to market, and he
was always so faithful and trusty that Nan's
father was never sorry that he stopped that day
and got the little fellow.
The Bicycle Race.
The glorious Fourth had proclaimed itself all
day long. Bang! Bang! Bang! went the cannons,
Bang! Bang! Bang! echoed the crackers, and
Bang! Bang! Bang! sounded the torpedoes small
and great Gunpowder made the air heavy and
oppressive, and the clouds gathering in the sky
made one very uncertain as to whether or not the
rain would put an <<end to all the fun. Large
posters in red and blue letters had notified the
people that the most beautiful fireworks they
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? 128 The Bicycle Race.
liad ever seen would be put off back of tlit O^f^re
house -- so do you wonder that the sly was
watched most anxiously?
Now the people of the to^vn were not alone in
wishing for a clear night. The young folks who
dwelt in the woods were watching the clouds
with just the keenest interest, even the tiniest
speck of blue sky was hailed with shouts of de-
light. Were they, too, going to celebrate this
day of Independence? Why, to be sure they
were. They were not going to send off rockets
and bombs. Roman candles and pin-wlieels were
not part of their fun. These forest folks had in-
vited all their friends to witness a bicycle race.
The bear, the wolf, the fox, the rabbit, the
porcupine and the catamount were to take part,
and as no bicycle race had ever been ridden in
these parts, the greatest interest vras taken in it
by all the animals in the country round.
For weeks they had been practicing. Early
and late you might see these four-footed fellows
mounted on their wheels, and pushing them
along just as fast as ever they could. It was not
all fun either, for tires v/ould slip off the rims,
nuts constantly became loose, and sometimes it
happened that a stone or a twig or something of
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? The Bicycle Race. 1*9
the sort sent the rider off his wheel, and then
bent handle-bars must be straightened, or worse
still, bruised heads must be tied up -- but all
these woes were part of the undertaking, so no
one dared complain, but must go to work and try-
again.
Well, all these trials were over now, and the
evening had come when fate should decide to
whom the honor belonged. What a crowd had
gathered to see them. The squirrels sat chatter-
ing together up in the trees; the crickets and
katj-dids tried to outdo each other in their lively
chirrup, and the nightingale raised her sweet
voice and poured forth the loveliest music.
One! UygI three! croaked the frog, and off
they started. The rabbit was first. "Three
cheers for Bun! '' shouted the crowd. "Bruin is
ahead! Three cheers for Bruin. " "It's the Fox
this time! " "Xo, he has lost his place. Bruin is
ahead again! " "Oh, what a shame, the wolf has
fallen off! No use trying again, poor wolf, the
others are far ahead. "
First it was one and then another, until at last^
just as the goal was reached, little Bun wath one
mighty effort came in first. How the crowd
cheered, and what a happy fellow Bun was. It
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? I30 The Jolly Chinee.
was hard for the others, but as some one must
win, all felt satisfied that it should be the little
rabbit Then the lion, who- was judge, awarded
the prize, which was the nicest bicycle ever
made, and little Bun went home very happy.
The Jolly Chinee.
We Wo Wang was a "Jolly Chinee. '' From
the time lie opened his funny almond-shaped
eyes in the morning until sleep closed tkem for
him at night, he laughed and chatted, and sang
the merriest kind of songs. He liked the sun,
because it always seemed so bright and happy --
lie loved to be out in it. He liked all sorts of
flowers, the gayer the better for him; he liked
bis clothes the brightest; everything must be
brilliant and sparkling to please We Wo Wang,
the "Jolly Chinee. ''
We Wo Wang had two sisters, who bad funny
almond-shaped eyes just like his, and long,
straight, black hair, like his also. But they did
not wear a pigtail as We Wo Wang did; they
piled their hair on top of their heads, and dressed
it beautifully, they thought, with fancy pins and
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? The Jolly Chinee. 131
tiny fans. They wore queer little shoes, that
were so tight they pinched their toes dreadfully,
and made them sway from side to side as they
walked along. One day We Wo Wang said to
his sisters, "My dears, I am sure, if I tried J
might walk down
those balusters. I
think I might do
it gracefully, too;
know just how
would balance my-
self. ^' His sisters
were horrified at the
idea, and begged him not
to try, but We Wo Wang
was determined. He mount-
ed the rail, opened his fan,
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? 132 The Jolly Chinee.
fluttered it from side to side, and commenced
the descent.
The servants hearing of their master's doings,
hurried from all parts of the house to see the
sight. But alas! for poor We Wo Wang; his
foot slipped, and he came crashing down to the
floor. Away flew his hat, away flew his fan.
Servants rushed to pick him up, and his two
little sisters came hobbling down the stairs as
fast as ever they could, expecting to see We Wo
Wang battered to pieces. There were no bones
broken, and arnica and court plaster soon made
him pretty comfortable. But there was some-
thing hurt past healing, and that was We Wo
Wang's pride. It gTieved him to think his ser-
vants had seen his failure. It was bad enough
for his sisters to have been witnesses, but it was
dreadful to have these chattering servants laugh
and joke over his downfall. He made up his
mind to punish them for having so much curios-
ity, so he had one of them carry him into the
hall, prop him up with pillows, and then he
ordered them to walk down the ballusters, one
after the other, while he sat and w^atched their
defeat just as they had witnessed his. The
servants were greatly terrified whon they heard
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? The Jolly Chinee. 133
this command, but of course they all had to try,
because they dared, not disobey their master's
^ " ^ v^^>><(^M,
command. One after another they mounted the
stairs, and took their positions to descend, but
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? 134 A Chinese Adventure.
not in the way We Wo Wang intended. Off
they tumbled, one after another, bruising their
poor bodies and wishing they had kept out of the
way, and not been so curious. We Li Ho came
very near coming down in safety, but near the
bottom his foot slipped, and he too fell down.
As We Wo Wang sat and watched them, he
laughed hard enough to split his sides, for no
one was able to accomplish the feat
A Chinese Adventure.
We Wing Wo was a little yellow Chinaman.
He belonged to one of the best families, as any
one could tell from his red and yellow girdle.
That he never worked a day in his life might also
be told by the great length of his finger nails, of
which he was wonderfully proud. He was also
proud of his round, plump figure, for Chinamen,
you know, like to be fat. Like the rest of his
countrymen, he had almond-shaped eyes, and
wore his shiny black hair in a long, carefully
combed pig-tail.
We Wing Wo was very fond of good thinga
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? 136
A Chinese Adventure.
to eat, and lie thought no one could cook these
good things as well as his servant, Ho Che Lee.
How old We Wing Wo would smile with de-
light when the bird's-nest soup was set before
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? A Chinese Adventure. 137
him; and then, again, how merrily he would
chuckle- over a dish of shark's fins or deer's
sinews, and the never-forgotten pearly white
rice! "VYe Wing "VYo could make his chop sticks
fly when all these dainties graced his table. But
above all things, "We "Wing Wo loved a cup of
good, strong tea. It seemed to drive away all
cares and troubles. Ho Che Lee always kept
some ready in a funny brown tea-pot.
We Wing Wo had never been to sea, and he
was siezed with a wild dt<<ir(C) to try a trip on the
briny deep. One day he called his faithful Ho
Che Lee to him, and telling him his wish, bade
him pack a hamper with eatables, hunt up a
boat, and prepare to take the journey with him.
Poor Ho Che Lee shook with fear at such a
prospect, but he dared not question his master's
order, and so went away to do his bidding.
When all was ready, Ho Che Lee suggested that
it might be better to take with them somebody
who knew a thirg or two about a boat. We
Wing Wo agreed to this; a fellow was found,
and the three set sail.
All went well at first, but by and by poor We
Wing Wo wished ho was on shore, for he was
growing sicker every minute.
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? 138
A Chinese Adventure.