No More Learning

? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Ostrich.
Did yo" ever think anything about the way in
which we jbtain the beautiful feathers that help
to ornament our hats and bonnets '^ Away off,
in a country called Africa, lives a bi^'d known as
the ostrich. It is a large bird with long, slender
legs, and such a great long neck that it is as tall
as a very tall man. IsTature has given it these
long legs to help it go over ground very rapidly.
"When pursued, it travels across the sandy plains
where it lives with strides that carry it twenty-
five miles an hour. The ostrich has very keen
sight and sharp hearing, and its long neck aids
it in seeing great distances.
The nest where the mother bird lays the e^gs
is just a hollow made in the sand, with a shallow
border all around it. The old bird sits on the
eggs and keeps them warm at night, but the
rays of the hot tropical sun do the work in the
day-time. These eggs are very large, weighing
from two to three pounds.
The baby ostriches are very pretty birds. They
look like young partridges, only they are many,
many times larger and have littlo brist'ies all
over them mixed with down.
6i
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 66
The Ostricli.
When the ostrich is about a year and a half
old it falls a vistim to the hunter's pursuit.
There are a number of ways for catching them.
Sometimes the hunter clothes himself in the
>>kin of the bird, and imitates its motion so ex-
actly that it is almost impossible to tell the sham
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? King lyco's Resolve. 67
from the real bird. Then, when he is within
bow-shot of some Tinluckj bird, his arrow pierces
it, and it falls his prey. Sometimes the bird is
caught with a lasso, and in some places the
hunter mounts on horse-back and pursues it in
that way.
Way off in California ihere are a number of
ostrich farms, and when you get to be big, per-
haps you will be able to go there and see them.
But the very next time you go to the Zoological
Garden, you must get your mammas to take you
to see these wonderful birds. I am sure you will
wonder how such beautiful feathers can come
from such ugly looking birds.
King Leo's Resolve.
Mother Nattiee had carpeted the earth with
a covering soft and brown and rustling. Deep
in the reds and yellows she had dipped her paint
brush, and the trees gleamed in their grandeur
like a Ifaming forge. The squirrels had been
busy for weeks filling their store-houses with the
nuts that would serve for the winter's food, and
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 65 King Leo's Resolve*
the song cf the birds had long since ceased, iot
far away they'd flown, seeking a warmer homa
All the woods seemed hushed and forsaken.
Ws<<<<. . . ^4. -V T> _ . ? . ->l<>9i_
^
'King Leo nc*^*oed all this as he paced throngji
the forest with rt^tless strides this antumn daj.
Things had gone wrong with his majesty, and
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? King Leo's Resolve, 69
he wondered that the trees should glow in such
brilliancy when all else seemed dressed in som
bre colors. "Why must nature/' muttered he,
^Tiav-c this dash of brightness in her adorning
while my life is all gloom and all sadness? Long
have I reigned in the forest as Eing of Beasts-
Pve held sway over the largest of them all, the
tigers, wolves and bears have trembled at my
roar, and at my command all have yielded. 'Now
Vm deserted. Xo longer am I consulted in
affairs of wisdom. It's months since I have sai
on my throne of holly boughs. I'm forsaken
and alone. Is there no way in which I can win
them again? Must all my life be thus, sorrow
and g''oom? "
He sat down to think, and as he thought, his
heart grew lighter, and something ;ilmost like
a smile came over his face. ^'I'll try it," he said
to himself, as he rose from the rock on which he
had been sitting and went towards home.
And this was what King Leo had been think-
ing: Have I ever done anything to make them
care for me? They crowned me their king, but
all my reign I have governed through fear.
My roars were as mighty as the thunder; my
will was hard and cruel. Vot a trifling offence
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ^? '
Mm
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Willful Young Gobbler. 71
I have taken their lives, and now I am reaping
my reward. If it is not too late, I will begin
again. Love, not fear, shall be my motto this
time, and perhaps some day my life will be full
of happiness, instead of woe and misery.
And poor King Leo did begin again, and al-
though the struggle was hard and the time of
conquest long, he did prove himself victor at
last, and died at a very old age, loved and re-
spected by all the beasts of the forest, having
proved to them all that Love hath greater power
than Fear.
The Willful Young Gobbler.
Madame Ttiekey put on her shawl and bonnet
to go to hunt for the silliest young turkey about
the place, because that silly young turkey was
her son. He had been gone since early morning,
and what had kept him his mother could not
guess. Mother Turkey and her young offspring
lived on a great big farm, and had been a very
happy pair, but Mother Turkey was fi;rowing
anxious. The fields had become bare and yel-
low, the trees stood around them tall and leafless,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 74 The Bears and the Hive.
But old heads are often the wisest, and had
this silly young gobbler only listened to his
mother he might still be strutting around the
barnyard, or perhaps wandering through the
wheat field, picking up the full, ripe grains that
he loved so dearly. The farmer one day, as he
sauntered through the poultry-yard, spied this
well-fed gobbler, and decided that no finer bird
than he could be found, and before Mr. Turkey
had time to run, he was firm in the farmer^s
clutches, and before many minutes his life was
over. What a foolish bird he was, and how
much better it would have been had he only
listened to the words of warning from his good
old mother.
The Bears and the Hive.
Hug and Squeeze were two fat little cubs,
who lived with their grandmother. Their
mother had been captured in a trap vrhen they
were little, tiny bears, and Mother Bruin had
taken them to her home and cared for them ever
since. Such times as she had with them -- they
seemed to have been born under an unlucky
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Bears and tlie Hive.
75
star, and poor old Grandmother Bruin had her
hands lull. They had of course fallen yictims
to the measles, and next to the whooping-cough,
and they would eat so many sweets that the
toothache was almost a daily visitor. Grand-
mother Bruin used to shake her poor old head
until her stiffly starched cap with its large pur-
ple bow would slip away off over her ear. She
did want very much that they should be good
little bears, and she would talk to Hug and
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 74 The Bears and the Hive.
But old heads are often the wisest, and had
this silly young gobbler only listened to his
mother he might still be strutting around the
barnyard, or perhaps wandering through the
wheat field, picking up the full, ripe grains that
he loved so dearly. The farmer one day, as he
sauntered through the poultry-yard, spied this
well-fed gobbler, and decided that no finer bird
than he could be found, and before Mr. Turkey
had time to run, he was firm in the farmer's
clutches, and before many minutes his life was
over. What a foolish bird he was, and how
much better it would have been had he only
listened to the words of warning from his good
old mother.
The Bears and the Hive.
Hug and Squeeze were two fat little cubs,
who lived with their grandmother. Their
mother had been captured in a trap vrhen they
were little, tiny bears, and Mother Bruin had
taken them to her home and cared for them ever
since. Such times as she had with them -- they
seemed to have been born under an unlucky
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Bears and the Hive.
75
star, and poor old Grandmother Bruin had her
hands lull. They had of course fallen victims
to the measles, and next to the whooping-cough,
and they would eat so many sweets that the
toothache was almost a daily visitor. Grand-
mother Bruin used to shake her poor old head
until her stiffly starched cap with its large pur-
ple bow would slip away off over her ear. vShe
did want very much that they should be good
little bears, and she would talk to Hug and
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 76 The Bears and the Hive.
Squeeze so earnestly that thev would promiso to
be ever so much better, and they really meant it
when they promised, but when mischief came
into their heads, like a good many littlj bojB
and girls -- tLey forgot.
Tommy Jones was the gardener's son, and
Tommy wanted very much to become rich. He
had been given some money one day in the fall
for gathering chestnuts for his master's children.
Tom was proud to have money of his own, aud
tried and tried to think of some plan to make ife
more. One day, as he passed a shop window, he
saw little boxes with honey in them for sale;
this put an idea into Tommy's head. lie would
go home, build some hives, and when spring
came get a swarm of bees, and then he, too,
could have honey to sell. Tommy was a wise
little chap to settle on this plan, for the rosae
grew in great profusion, the lilies and honey-
Euckle made rich food for the bees, and the
buckwheat fields that gleamed so white and
beautiful had sweetness beyond measure for
these busy little food gatherers.
"Well, spring came, and Tommy c. med with
delight upon the neatly built hives that were to
be the homes of the honey makers and the source
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Bears and the Hive. 7^
of his wealth. Then summer came, and the
work went bravely on until die cones were
dripping with the store of golden honej.
I\ ow Hug and Squeeze had been growing all
this while, and the spirit foi- adventure kept
growing with them. One night Grandmother
Bruin had put them to bed and bade them be
good, obedient children. They lay very still un-
til their grandmother had gone, and then, as
qmetly as mice they crept out of bed and stole
cautiously away.
Through the wooils thej
scampered, wild vrith joy over their frccdonL
The road reached, they could not make up their
minds where to go, but the apples in the gar-
dener's yard had made such fine balls before tha-
they deciilcvl to try a game once nioio. 0. 7 they
trotted, reached the garden, but stopped with
wonder when they saw numbers of queer loot-
ing houses standing side by side. They Iiad
never seen hives before, and knew nothing a}yom,
the savage little creatures that lived inside.
''We will take one home," said Hug, "it will
he fine to play with. "
Ball was forgotten, and Hug shouldered the
hive, while little Squeeze scampered along at hii
side. But they had not gone far when Hug fell
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 78
The Bears and the Hive.
a sharp pinch on his ear, then one on his arm,
and then he began to feel as though he was being
stabbed all over. The bees were not long in find-
ing out Squeeze, and run as they might, the cubs
could not escape their tormentors.
"Thej are in the box," said Squeeze, "throw
it away, do. "
Hug threw away the box, but the bees still
held fast. The more the bears tried to get rid
of them the closer they clung, and the deeper
they drove their stings. What a dreadful time
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Bears and the Hive. 79
thej had getting rid of them, and what pitiful
sights thej were when thej reached home.
Their faces were so swollen that it was hard
to tell who thej were. Their ears were as largt
as two, and their poor paws were smarting as if
from a burm Thej were almost afraid to go
home, for they knew thej were to blame for all
their suffering, but they felt so very badlv that
thej decided thej must go to grandmother for
help. For little bears are like Httle children;
when thej get hurt, thej alwajs want to get
home right awaj. So off thej trotted as fast as
possible, and grandmother was verj kind to them
in their trouble; she did not punish them, for she
thought thej had been well rewarded for their
disobedience and meddlesome wajs, but as she
tucket them in bed once more, after spreading
mud on their swollen hands and faces, she leaned
over them and said: ^^ill jou trj to let this be
a lesson, and listen more carefullj hereafter tc
jour old grandmother's advice? " I think th^
little bears learned a lesson which lasted them all
their lives, for thej lived a great many years in
their old home, and never again meddled with
what did not belong to them.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Fox's Story.
Iell you a story, little chap? Well, wliat do
you suppose an old fellow like grandfather can
tell to please you and Bushy? It's something
that happened when I was young, you want?
Well, let me think. So many things happened
then, for grandfather was a gay young fox. I
guess I'll tell you first about the great fox hunt
from the castle. The castle stood high upon a
hill, and one fine day the lords and ladies met
there, and mounted upon their beautiful horses,
started through the forest, the hounds dashing
back of them, in front of them, and all around
them, for the hounds go along to scent the fox,
you know. I was young then, and the sight was
new to me, and very dazzling, and although I
had heard of the danger, I liked the excitement
and noise. It was a beautiful sight, for the men
wore bright scarlet jackets, which the dark
dresses of the ladies made look still brighter. My
curiosity came near putting an end to me that
day, for I watched and waited almost too long,
and only the greatest cunning on my part made
the hounds lose the scent, and then the fun was
spoiled.
80
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Fox*s Story. Si
Tell you some more? I'll give you some ad-
vice this time. Beware of traps, Many a Laud-
some, brave young f oy has beer, too curious, and
has poked his paw into some queer looking ob
ject which he has discovered, only to have his
little paw caught, and has so lost his freedom
forever.
There is something else you must remember,
and it is to have lots of patience. One time, when
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 82 The Fox's Story.
your father and uncle were little chaps, I took
them out to get our Thanksgiving dinner. I had
seen some fat, young turkeys roosting in a peai
tree, and I wanted one of them very badly. The
moon rose early that night, and when we rea. . *hed
the tree, there sat five as pretty birds as I ever
saw, but I had not been sharp in measuring my
distance, and they were far beyond our reach.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Fox's Story. 83
So there we stood, and waited and waited, not
knowing what to do. ^Xet's go home,'' said your
father. ''Xot without our dinner," said I. "But
we can't reach them,'' he replied. "P^js," I
said, "we can wait," and we did wait. "We hid
back of the barn until morning dawned, and
when the turkeys flew down to hunt for some
breakfast, one of them was doubtless very much
surprised to find himself stowed away in a bag
preparatory to taking a ride on my shoulder. It
was patience that won the turkey, boys, for had
we grown tired and gone away, we certainly
would have lost our fine dinner.
The farmer is no friend of ours, you know,
and the farmer who lived at Hillside was very
hard on us. He and his boys were always setting
traps to capture some venturesome fellow. One
day during harvest time, when the fields were
bright with golden grain, I started off in search
of something to eat. I crept along cautiously
until J espied a duck so round and fat that it
made my mouth water to look at her. I tried to
plan some way to capture her. This seemed al-
most impossible, for the farmer was close by,
and right by his side I could see the shining
barrel of his trusty old gun, and I knew, if ho
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 84 The Fox's Story.
caught Bight of me, he would certaiwuv \s}]l me,
But the temptation was so great that I ss-entureA
doser and closer, grabbed the duck, stii-ffed her
into the bag; and scampered away across the
fielJs as fast as I could run. It is not wise lo be
go daring; caution is always better, and it "^ma
only luck that saved me that time.
pV, ^ y ^^^
'^mb^^'^'
^^
^mM
? <^^
^ ^^
. ^,. >^"^<:"^
1 want you to be brave, boys, but I v/ant yo^
to be careful as well. Don't creep too far iron?
behind the tree when you are lying in wait for
Msl:y young rabbits. They are as sharp and
watchful as any fox I ever knew, and I have
kno^vn a great many. And now I think yo'i have
bad stories enough for one day, and I want my
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Fox Hunt. 85
afternoon nap. I picked up a delicious fat goose
this morning, and if you are good bojs you can
have it all before you creep into your piney beda
and fall asleep to dream sweet dreams of the
jolly times that are in store for all happy young
foxes. And hero Vv-e see them fast asleep in their
beds the bones of the goose scattered all around.
The Fox Hunt
Little Toby Teottek came home from school
on Friday night, threw his books on the very top
shelf of the cupboard, and exclaimed, "You can
rest there, my friend, for two whole daya. I
have seen all I want of you for this week, and
haven't I pegged at you these five dc^ja harder
than I ever did in all my life ? "
To be sure, Toby had a good reason for hii<
hard work, which, of course, you would like to
know. "While Toby was finishing his bowl of
porridge and milk at breakfast Monday morning,
his big brother Bill came into the room. "Toby,"
said he, "if you'll come home on Friday night,
and tell me you are head of your class, FIl take
yon for a fox hunt on Saturday. "
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? 86
The Fox Hunt.
To say Tobj was pleased
does not begin to express his
feelings; lie was wild with
delight "I'll do it, Billy,"
said he, ^^jou see if I don't.
I'll work day and night be-
fore I will miss that fox
hunt" Bill chuckled to him-
self to see little Toby so wrapt
up in his studies. "I like the
youngster's determination at any rate," thought
he. Toby's hard work gained the day, and he
could hardly wait until Bill came home to tell
him he had kept his part of the contract Bill
was ready to do his part also, so they started
from home the next morning, followed by old
Bowser, the dog. Bill carried the gun. Toby
would have liked to carry one also, but Bill
thought he was better off without it. The woods
where the fox lived was some little distance from
the boys' home, and Toby ran along by Billy's
side chattering as merrily as a magpie. A neigh-
bor's dog, seeing old Bowser, joined the party,
but he soon grew tired and left them. If Bowser
had grown old he had not forgotten his early
training as a hunter, and he went straight to
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Fox Hunt. 87
work to discover the Tvhereabouta of Mr. Fox.
He had a lively chase, here and there, in and
around, but at last he seemed to be satisfied, and
Billj, who had watched him, followed carefully.
It was just outside the woods that Bowser came
upon the fox. The fox saw the dog at about the
same time the dog saw him. "With one great
leap Mr. Fox bounded over the fence, Bowser
after him. On they flew, leaving Bill and poor
little Toby far behind them.
Bowser did his best, and just as he thought the
fox was his, the sly old fellow gave one swift
turn, darted into a deep hole in the ground, and
left poor old Bowser looking the picture of sor-
rowful defeat. The fox was lost, but Toby still
thought he had never known such sport in his
life, and he coaxed his brother to take him again
the next week. Bill said that just as long as
Toby would stand at the head of his class he
would take him every Saturday.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Ride in the Balloon.
Fourth of July dawned bright and smiling
upon tlie little village of Browmew. Everj-
wliere the flags were flying in honor of the glad
day and long streamers of red, white and blue
bunting floated gaily to the breeze. Tho young
people, roxised from their slumbers by the bang-
88
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/ucw. ark:/13960/t0jt0118r Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? The Ride in the Balloon. 89
big of the cannon, hurried into the streets to
celebrate this glorious day. The youths had
donned their Lest suits, and all the happy young
girls had bedecked themselves in the most charm-
ing style. Miss Kitty Stripe, the belle of the
village, won the admiration of all, for wli^ro
could one find a sweetsr creature than she? Iler
soft, pretty ears were tied with the loveliest pink
ribbon, and the waving plume in her hat exactly
matched the ribbon in color. Quite proud Toxj
Terry felt as he walked by her side that fine
morning.
Fireworks blazed all day. It is true that
Spitzy Yf hite burnt all the hair oi7 his pretty
little face, and little llattie Gray had her ear
shot oif by a pistol, but they did not mind such
little accidents, and all agreed that the fireworks
were quite a success.