by Oliver Optic
"A pigeon which is trained to carry messages from one place to another,"Mother answered. "In the olden times, as there were no trains, orsteamboats, or postmen, or telegraph offices, people would very oftentake pigeons with them when they started off on a long journey. As soonas they reached their journey's end they would write a letter to thefamily so far away, tie it to a pigeon, and release him. Then the pigeonwould fly away home with the message."
"Once, in that olden time, there lived a beautiful princess whom herfather and mother, the king and queen, decided to send away on a visitto her grandmother. They gave her a milk-white pony to ride, and sentmany servants to take care of her. Now this princess had a pet pigeonwhich she loved very dearly, and which she insisted upon taking withher, though the queen was afraid it might prove troublesome on so longa journey. The princess knew it would be a comfort to her, however, soshe was allowed to tie it to her saddle before she bade her parentsgood-by, and started off.
"The princess had never been away from home before, and was very muchinterested in everything she saw. She and her companions had to travelthrough a great forest, and only the guides knew the way. One nighteveryone was lying fast asleep on the ground in the thick woods, exceptthe princess, who was wide awake in her tent. At last she wearied oflying there alone, so she rose, dressed herself, and went out into thewoods, carrying the pigeon in her arms.
"The moon was shining as bright as day, and the little girl went fora walk. She was thinking of the father and mother at home, and did notnotice very carefully the direction in which she was wandering. Aftera while she grew tired and turned back. Then she became frightenedbecause she could not see her tent, and could not remember which wayshe had come. She called for her servants, but could make no one hearher. She ran this way and that in the forest, but seemed only to gofurther and further away from the camp. At last, very tired, she laydown on the ground and cried herself to sleep.
"Next morning when the servants awoke they were very much alarmed todiscover that the princess had left her tent. They spent several daysseeking her in the forest, but not a trace of her could they find. Thenthey went back to inform the king and queen, who were sad indeed tohear such news. The king himself rode off to search in the forest, buteven he could not find the little maid.
"Meanwhile the princess had been wandering further and further away intothe great forest, with the pigeon tied to her arm. Fortunately, she hadbrought with her a small basket full of lunch, which had been left byher bed in case she should be hungry during the night. That was soongone, however, and then she had a hard time finding enough to eat. Buthere and there she discovered wild berries, she drank water from theclear, cold springs, and at night she found a comfortable, fragrant bedunder the pine trees, or in places where the grass was long and soft.Sometimes wild animals came out, and looked at the little girl, but theydid not harm her.
"At last, the third day, she came to a large palace in the woods. Oh!how happy she was. A prince met her at the door, invited her in, andgave her delicious food and beautiful clothes. When she was rested afterher long journey, she told the prince who she was, and the reason forher being alone in the forest, and begged him to send her home. Theprince was sorry for the little princess, but he was lonely in such alarge palace, so he asked her to live there with him. He was very kindto her, but the princess wanted only to go home to be with her fatherand mother.
"'Your palace is larger and more beautiful than my father's house,' shetold him, 'but I love my own home best, and I want to go back this veryday.'
"The prince was sorrowful when he heard what the little girl said; but,hoping she might learn to care for his palace after a while, he gave hera beautiful room filled with lovely things, and did everything he couldthink of to make her happy.
"The little princess did try to be happy, but it was not possible. Everyevening she watched the birds fly back to their nests and she wishedthat she, too, had wings and could fly away home. The pigeon was ashomesick as she. He would not eat, and pulled at the cord all the time,trying to free himself. Finally the little princess decided to let himfly away. 'Perhaps he can find his way home,' she thought; 'anyway Ishall let him try.'
"She wrote a letter to her father and mother, telling them where shewas, tied it under the pigeon's wing, and set him free. He flapped hiswings joyfully and flew out of the window high up in the air. Round andround he circled, until in his own way he learned that the west was tothe right of him, the east to the left, the north was back of him, andthe south straight ahead. Then he started off like an arrow shot from abow, for home was there in the south.
"The little princess was more homesick than ever, left all alone.
"Meantime the pigeon flew very swiftly, sometimes as fast as a train cango. No one can tell you how he knew the way, but he flew straight backthrough the woods, and after a while reached the pigeon house justoutside the palace gate. Some of the servants who saw him fly in withthe note, caught him and carried him to the king. The king and queenread the letter with great joy when they saw it had been written bytheir little daughter, and all the people in the palace were happy toknow that the princess was safe and well.
"The pigeon flew back to the pigeon house. 'Coo, coo, coo,' he said toall the other pigeons, 'home is the best place in the world.'
"The king ordered the fastest horses in the land, and he and the queenrode off at once to find their little daughter. One day she saw themcoming. She clapped her hands with joy and ran to meet them. The kingand queen were as happy as she, and after they had greeted her, and badethe prince good-by, they all three rode away home. The princess sat infront of her father on his horse, because he could not bear to have herout of his arms. After travelling back through the forest they reachedthe palace at last.
"'Home is the best place in the world,' said the happy little princess.
"'Home is the best place in the world,' cooed the happy little pigeon."
Johnnie Jones lay back in Mother's arms. "I think so too," he said,"I like Grandma's house and Auntie's house, but home is best of all."
* * * * *
Johnnie Jones and the Squirrel
"Come," said Mother, "leave your toys now, and bathe your face andhands, for it is time to go down town to buy your winter coat."
"Oh! Mother, I don't want to go down town," answered Johnnie Jones,"because I think Sammy Smith is coming over to play with my new enginethis afternoon."
"But what will you do when the weather grows cold and you have no warmcoat to wear? I shall be too busy to go with you to-morrow."
"It's so warm to-day, Mother, I don't think it will grow cold very soon,and anyway, I don't want to go down town."
Mother answered: "I know it will be cold soon, perhaps to-morrow, forthe wind is beginning to blow from the north. Come as soon as you can,I have much to do and can't wait for you very long."
Then Johnnie Jones behaved like a silly little boy, although he was fouryears old, quite old enough to know better. He fussed and fumed untilMother said: "I am sorry, but I can't wait any longer." She went on downtown and left Johnnie Jones.
Sammy Smith did not come over to play after all, because he had goneshopping with his mother. Johnnie Jones soon grew tired of playing aloneand wished he had not been so foolish.
That night the north wind blew and blew, so that, next morning, itwas very cold when Johnnie Jones awoke. Of course he could not go tokindergarten nor out to play, because he had no heavy coat to wear. Hebegged his mother to wrap him in a shawl, and take him down town in thecarriage, but she was too busy. So poor little Johnnie Jones had to stayin the house all day.
That evening when it was time for his story, Mother said: "I shall haveto tell you the story of the foolish squirrel, because you reminded meof him to-day."
This is the story.
Once upon a time, there lived in the woods a little squirrel whose namewas Silver. All summer long he played about with the other squirrels andhad a very good time indeed. Then
, by and by, the days began to growshorter and cooler. The trees began to drop their brightly coloredleaves and their nuts, and the soft green grass turned brown. The wiseold mother squirrels knew what these things meant, and they said to allthe young ones:
"Winter is coming, so hurry away, You have no longer time to play. Gather the nuts with all your might Before the ground with snow is white. When winter comes there's naught to eat Except the roots and nuts so sweet, Which you must gather in the fall. So frisk away and store them all."
The squirrels, large and small, went to work. They found holes in thetrees and old logs in which to hide their winter provisions, and theyscampered away to find their favorite food.
All except little Silver. He said to himself: "Humph! I don't believewinter is coming so very soon, and besides, I'd rather just play, andeat the nuts, than work as these other squirrels are doing."
So he played as he had all summer long, and he kept so warm friskingabout in the sunshine that he did not realize how short and cold thedays were growing.
At last winter really came. Oh! how cold it was then. Silver said:"Perhaps I had better begin gathering some nuts for winter." But veryfew nuts could he find, not nearly enough to store away. The othersquirrels, and the people who lived near the woods, had been workingwhile he was playing, and had gathered in the harvest.
Poor little Silver did not know what to do. Winter was here and he hadno provisions. He went to all the other squirrels and begged for some oftheir nuts. They only said: "You were playing while we were working, nowyou must work while we rest and eat."
Then Silver was sorry he had not obeyed the wise old squirrels and hetold himself that, next year, he would surely begin early to prepare forwinter. But there might not have been a "next year" for Silver, if alittle boy had not found him in the woods and taken him home to keep andfeed until the spring-time.
* * * * *
Johnnie Jones and the Peach Preserves
Everyone knows that people prepare for winter during the summer andfall. (Bees and squirrels and caterpillars do, too.) Almost everybodylays in the coal and kindling wood for the winter fires while theweather is still warm, and buys warm clothing before it is time towear it.
In the summer, farmers cut the long grass, and after it has been driedby the sun, store it in the barns for the cows and horses to eat in thewinter. In the summer and the autumn, people do not eat all the berries,and grapes, and pears and peaches; some they make into preserves andjelly for the winter.
Mrs. Jones could make delicious preserves. She enjoyed making it andJohnnie Jones liked to help her. He could really help a great dealbecause he was a careful little boy. Every member of the Jones familyliked peach preserves better than any other kind, therefore Motherusually made enough of it to fill many jars. This year, however, she hadbeen so busy that she did not start her preserving very early, and whenshe was ready to begin, she found it was too late to buy many goodpeaches. She bought a few, though, and preserved them with JohnnieJones's help.
When the preserves was made. Mother had enough to fill four glass jars."Not very much," she told Johnnie Jones, "but there is one jar forFather, one for you and one for me, and then one more for company." Sheleft the jars on the kitchen table while she went upstairs to change herdress.
Johnnie Jones ran out into the yard to play. He saw Sammy Smith,Elizabeth, and Ned across the street, and called them. "I want to showyou something," he said.
When they came, he led them to the kitchen and showed them thepreserves.
"I should like to have some of it," said Ned,--"may I?"
"We made it to use in the winter," Johnnie Jones explained, "when thereisn't any fresh fruit."
"I'd like some now on a piece of bread." Ned insisted.
"You said one jar of preserves was yours; give us each a taste," beggedSammy Smith.
"I don't think Mother meant that I might eat it whenever I wanted it,"Johnnie Jones answered. "But perhaps she wouldn't care if we should eachtake a taste," he added.
Now Johnnie Jones knew he was not allowed to eat between meals, but thepreserves did have an attractive appearance, and he thought that justone taste would not matter.
The top of the jar had not yet been sealed, so it came off very easily.Johnnie Jones gave a piece of bread, with a very little of thepreserves, to each child, and took some for himself.
"It is good!" Ned exclaimed. "Give us some more, Johnnie Jones, yourmother won't care."
Johnnie Jones was afraid Mother would care, but he liked the preservesvery much, and besides, he enjoyed giving it to the children, so he gavethem each a little more and again took some for himself. It was curiousthat the more they had the more they wanted, and after each one had beengiven "just a little more," several times, the large jar was nearlyempty.
"We may as well finish it," said Ned, So they did. Then the childrenwent home and left Johnnie Jones alone in the kitchen with the emptyjar.
Johnnie Jones was unable to eat his supper that evening. Mother askedhim what was the matter, and he told her. She was very sorry.
"Oh! little son," she said, "all your life I have been able to trustyou, and I did not think you would touch the preserves, when I left thejars on the table. Say you are sorry, dear, and that such a thing shallnever happen again. For wouldn't it be dreadful if I should be obligedto lock up everything I can't let you have?"
Johnnie Jones was very sorry indeed, but he answered: "You said that onejar was mine."
"So I did," Mother answered; "but I had no idea that you would want touse it all at one time, or between meals, or before the winter-time.Since you have had all your share to-day, you will, of course, expect nomore next winter, when Father and I have ours."
Just then, Johnnie Jones thought he would never wish for peach preservesagain, for he had eaten too much and felt uncomfortable; but probably hechanged his mind in the winter, and regretted that his share was allgone.
Sammy Smith, Elizabeth and Ned came to see Mrs. Jones next day, told herthey were sorry they had begged for the preserves, and asked her toexcuse them, which of course she did.
Mother was glad to find that it would be unnecessary to lock upforbidden things after all, for Johnnie Jones liked to have her trusthim, and showed her that she could.
* * * * *
How the Children Helped Tom and Sarah
Most of the houses on Park street, where the Jones family lived, werelarge and pretty, but there was one house that was very small and ugly.It had been unoccupied for a long time, when one day, Sarah and TomWatson, with their father and mother, moved in. The little brother andsister were such agreeable children, that they were soon known and lovedby all their small neighbors.
One morning, when Johnnie Jones was passing the ugly little house, hesaw Sarah and Tom standing at the gate with an unhappy expression ontheir faces, usually so bright. Johnnie Jones stopped and asked themwhat was the trouble.
"We don't know what to do," answered Tom. "A friend of Father's promisedto send him a load of coal to-day. It may come any minute and Fatheris too busy to put it into the coal-house. Mother can't attend to itbecause she must finish some sewing for a lady, so there is no one butSarah and me. We are afraid we can't put it all away before night, andif it isn't locked up in the coal-house this evening, something mayhappen to it while we are asleep, and then we shouldn't have any coalto keep us warm in the winter."
"Why don't you hire a man to put it away for you?" asked Johnnie Jones.
"We haven't money enough," Tom answered.
"I'd better go home and ask my mother what to do. She'll know," saidJohnnie Jones.
"Well," Mother said, when she had heard of the children's difficulty,"Sarah and Tom need friends to help them, so why don't you, in youroveralls, and Ned, Susie, and the other children in theirs, take yourwagons and wheelbarrows, and spend the afternoon helping with the coal?A dozen pairs of hands, even if they are small, can accomplish a greatdeal
of work."
Mother sent her hired man to see that the coal-house was ready for thecoal, while Johnnie Jones hurried off to collect the children.
The boys and girls dressed in their overalls hastened to the small brownhouse. There they found Sarah and Tom as busy as bees, and very happy towelcome the children gathered to help them. Such a merry time as theyhad! Some of the children played that they were strong horses, and drewthe wagons, which the others loaded at the gate and unloaded at thecoal-house door. Very soon the play drivers looked like real driversof coal-carts for they were covered with coal-soot from their heads totheir feet. All of the children, too, worked quite as hard as any realhorses, or any real men, and after a while, before dark, the load ofcoal was safe in the coal-house. Then the children ran home for amuch-needed bath.
Meantime Mrs. Watson had been sewing all the day long, and in theevening, when it was time to go home, she felt very tired. All day shehad worried about the coal, wondering how she could attend to it thatnight. She knew that her children would try to help, but she did notexpect very much from them because their hands were so small. As shewalked home she thought, and thought, trying to decide what was bestto do.
At last she came near the ugly little house, and then she was greatlysurprised, for Sarah and Tom, neat and clean, were swinging on the gate,the pavement was nicely swept, and there was no sign of any coal.
Such a merry time as the children had!]
"Didn't the coal come?" she asked the children.
"Yes," they answered joyfully, "and it is in the coal-house."