No More Learning

Up they scrambled, and seated themselves
quite happily, and Rufus laughed merrily as his
mother told him of the many times she had
escaped the hunter's dogs, and he listened with
a very grave face as she talked to him of the
traps and snares the farmers set to catch the fox
who was foolish enoi^gh to go near them.
Mother Fox became so interested in her lesson
that she quite forgot the turkey in the basket,
but all of a sudden he gave one frantic lurch,
and over went Mother Fox's basket and its pre-
cious contents. Mother Fox was quick, but the
gobbler was quicker -- out of the basket he
popped under the fence, and away he hurried as
fast as his legs could carry him. After him came
the fox; nearer and nearer she came, so close
now that she grabbed his tail feathers, but they
yielded to her clutch, and the turkey hurried
on. On, on he went, until at last, with one
mighty effort, one tremenduoii3 flapping of
wings, he reached the wagon-house roof, tremb-
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? I04 The New Spring Suit.
ling and exhausted, but having left the fox be-
low.
This was a hard lesson for the gobbler, but it
was a good one, and never again did anv one
hear of that turkey roosting on a fence rail. He
did not wish to run any more chances of getting
lato the clutches of the wily old fox.
The New Spring Suit.
Speixg had come again. Spring, warm and
gentle -- not March with its howling winds pinch-
ing your noses and lingers and toes, and bidding
the big round tears to chase each other down
your poor little faces. The warm April showers
told that spring had come. As the rain pattered
down upon the earth, softening the hard crust of
winter, up popped the little faces of the snow-
drop and daffodils, crocuses opened their eyes to
the bright golden sun, and the tulips put on
their robes of crimson and yellow to tell of
spring's arrival.
While nature was putting on her new and
beautiful apparel, Mr. Kufus Cunning began U
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? io6 The New Spring Suit.
open his eyes and wonder if it was not about
time for liim to think of his spring costume.
ISTow one of Rufus' great failings was his love
for dress. It is a fact, though a very sorry one,
that nearly all his time and thoughts were spent
in planning what would be the most becoming
style of clothing.
Off he started one fine morning to fit himself
out with a rig most charming. First of all he
visited the tailor and bought of him a suit which
he considered quite a beauty. His linen was the
next purchase, and the collar he chose was so
high that one would pity him, did he not think
him so very foolish to suffer thus for show. But
people who are older and wiser than this gay
young fox do just such silly things.
His next stop was at the boot-maker's. Mr.
Shoemaker never in all his life found anybody
so hard to please^ but at last a pair was found to
suit him, and then a hat must be gotten. Hat
after hat was tried on, but by and by a hat, tall
and black and shiny, met Foxy's view, and his
eyes danced wilh pleasure as he gazed at himself
in the mirror. Now all was complete except the
gloves -- these were not hard to find, and then he
started for home. You should have seen this
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? The New Spring Suit. 107
vain young creature as lie walked along tlie street
-- everytliing complete, from the crown of his
head to the soles of hLs feet -- not even the walk-
ing-stick, nor the eje-glass had been forgotten.
If no one admired his fine appearance, Foxy was
happy in the entire satisfaction he felt in himself.
But alas, alas! he had just taken his friend,
Miss Bruin, out for a little stroll, when the worst
shower of the whole season came up. You
should have seen them run, when thft first large
drops came pattering down. There seemed to
be no shelter near at hand, and they were getting
pretty wet, when ! ^Iiss Bruin spied some old
friends gathered under an old umbrella, which
little rioy, the pet of the household, had left in
the woods the day before. So Foxy and she
made a dash for this refuge and reached it just
as the rain began to pour down in torrents. The;^'
were pretty well crowded, but they were yery
thankfiil to have even that much protection, and
they really enjoyed themselves chatting with
their friends. The shower lasted only a few
minutes, and when it was over they started foi
home, as it was too wet to go farther and Fox;^
was very much worried over his new rig, which
was nearly ruined.
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? Monkey Jack.
Uncle Mac had been away for years in South
America, mother told us children, and South
America became the extent of travel, the most
remote corner of the world, to our childish
minds. How we listened with the keenest in-
terest to the occasional letters which arrived, and
how we wondered what this far-away uncle was
like, for Rob and I were but babies when he
went away. One night, I can remember it just
lo8
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? Monkey Jack. 2G^
perfectly, although I was only a mite of a girl,
we were gathered around the open fire in the
library, for the September nights were chilly,
when the maid announced a gentleman in the
parlor. He gave no name, but said he knew he
would be welcome. Mother left us, but in al-
most no time we heard her calling, ^'Children,
children, come quickly, your Uncle Mac is
home! " Rob and I pranced down like little
ponies, ajrd were almost smothered in this big
uncle's arms. After the first welcome had been
given, ur>cle asked if he might bring in his
travelitt^^' companion, for he was sure he must
be tired of being alone so long. We children
wondered why the poor traveler had been left in
the hall, but all wonderment was dispelled when
a sleepy, sorrowful looking monkey appeared in
uncle's arms. Oh! how wild Rob was with de-
light. I was rather timid and kept at a distance.
Before Rob had finished admiring this funny
little chap, jSTan, the nurse, came to take him off
to bed. I am sorry to say that Rob was not a
bit good, but screamed dreadfully, until uncle
told him that if he would stop crying. Jack, as
he called the monkey, might sleep in his room.
Mother shook her finger reprovingly at Uncle
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? rI
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? Monkey Jack. 1 1 1
Mac, but I heard liim wliisper that he must be
humored his first night at home. I followed
Rob and Xan, and how I did laugh when I saw
Jack lie down on the quilt Xan put in the comer,
and nestle his head down on his hand. Such a
poor, sleepy monkey as he was!
But this state of serenity was not to last long.
Early in the morning, before daybreak, Xan was
wakened by a tremendous clatter, and jumped
up to find that Master Jack had stripped the
walls of pictures, and was preparing to divest
the bureau of any ornaments. Xan captured
him and tied him to the foot-board of the bed;
but just as her sleepy eyes had closed for a good,
long nap, a scream from Rob aroused her, and
she found that naughty monkey amusing him-
self by vigorously pulling Kob's hair. "Xo more
peace for me," thought Xan, so she dressed as
quickly as possible, and carried Jack down into
tlie garden.
How soon we grew attached to the little fel-
low, for he was so bright and full of cunning
tricks. It was very amusini2: to watch liim take
his funny little hands and with his thumb and
middle finger knock the ashes from Uncle Mac's
cigar. He was very fond of hard boiled eggs,
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? 112 Monkey Jack.
and if we gave one to him hot, lie would throw
it from hand to hand until it became cool, and
then with his clever little fingers he would re-
move the shell just as daintily as possible. An-
other favorite dish of his was red raspberries;
black he would not touch. One day the cook
gave him some red berries in a china saucer, and
deteiTained to keep her eyes upon him, as he
had no regard for crockery. Something de-
manded her attention, and she forgot the mon-
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? The Meeting on the Bridge. 115
key until a gentle tap on the step attracted her
attention, and there stood Jack, holding his plate
towards her for more.
We kept Jack for several years; but one time,
while we were away in the country, the poor
little fellow met with an accident that caused his
death. Rob grieved very much after his queer
play-fellow, and declared that he could never
again love an animal as he did that monkey. I
guess we all felt sad over his loss, for we liked
the cunning chap and missed his cute and funny
capers.
The Meeting on the Bridge.
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.