by Anonymous
work, andyet it never seemed weary. Even if his mother had a headache, Charlierattled on; if his father wanted to read or write quietly he had to goapart from Charlie, for there was no peace in the presence of thechatterbox. Of course he was a dunce, for how could he chatter and learnas well? And you may be sure he made plenty of mischief, for tonguesthat are always on the move do not keep to the exact truth sometimeswhen repeating what the ears have heard.
One day Grandfather said, "I really must teach that little tongue alesson. If you can be silent for half an hour, Charlie, I will give youhalf-a-dollar." "Half-a-dollar! I'll earn it, grandfather." Charliewatched the clock and thought of tops and balls and kites and sweets andapples, and all the wonderful things half-a-dollar would buy; he had tokeep silence till the clock had struck twelve, and just as the handapproached the hour he grew so excited with his success that he criedout, "There, I've done it! Please give me the money, grandfather." ButCharlie never got that half-dollar, and I do not think such a chatterbox_deserved_ it. You have two ears and one tongue, children; listenquietly, pay attention, but do not always make your voice to be heard,else other people may grow just a little tired of the sound.
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SILVIO AND FRANCESCO.
On the side of one of the vine-clad hills of Italy dwelt a poor man witha large family. Though he was a hard-working man, he could only earnenough to poorly support his children, and to give them an education wasbeyond his power. He was an intelligent man, and though he had grown upwithout even learning to read, he wanted his children to have theadvantages of schools and books, and he decided to seek for them a homein America. He saved all the money he could from his meagre earnings topay the expense of the voyage. It was a hard struggle, and there weremany days of stern self-denial and stringent economy ere the requiredamount could be obtained. When one has an earnest purpose, and bends hisenergies to accomplish it, he is quite sure of success. It was thus withthis Italian family. Both father and mother were united in carrying outone fixed purpose,--to give their four children the advantages of a landof free schools,--and though their struggles were hard, yet they wereworking for their loved ones, and love lightens heavy burdens. Therealways comes pleasure from what is done for the benefit of others.
When all was ready they embarked from Genoa one evening, as the sunsetsent a radiant glow over mountain and valley.
Silvio and Francesco were the youngest of the four children. The twoeldest boys, like their parents, were sad at leaving their youthfulcompanions, and sat in the stern of the ship and watched the recedinghills till the rosy light faded, and darkness shut out from view theirnative land forever.
Silvio was nine years old, and Francesco two years younger. They did notrealize the journey which was before them, nor did they regret atleaving. They were charmed with the novelty of the scenes around them.They watched the sailors in their duties about the ship, and listened tothe captain's stern orders. The harbor was gay with the lights of themany crafts, large and small, which were gliding about over the placidsurface of the gulf. So quiet were the waters that one would never dreamthat they could ever be ruffled, or cause the voyager discomfort. Astheir ship glided out of the placid Gulf of Genoa into the MediterraneanSea all on board were anticipating a quick and prosperous voyage, and asafe landing on the bright shores of America.
Alas, how uncertain is the future! A terrific storm arose when within afew days' sail of the American coast. The masts and rudder were carriedaway by the wind, and the hulk then drifted at the mercy of the waves.The captain and several of the crew were washed overboard in the firstencounter with the gale, and the lifeboat, which many of the passengerstook when it was believed the ship was sinking, was swamped, and all init lost. A few others remained on the hulk, and stayed on deck in hopesto signal some passing vessel which had outridden the storm. One by onethese were swept overboard, or died from exposure. Silvio and Francescowere so small that they were not allowed on deck. When the stormcommenced they were sleeping in the forecastle, in the berth of a kindold sailor who had given them the use of it. His dog was their sleepingcompanion by night and playfellow by day. These three were secured belowduring the storm, and were forgotten during the excitement and distresson board. The parents of the boys were swept overboard on the firstnight of the storm, and their brothers were lost in the lifeboat, andtheir old sailor friend died from exposure and over-exertion on thesecond day of the storm. Thus they were bereft of both kindred andfriend, and, though they were unconscious of their situation, they weredrifting upon the ocean on a wave-tossed bark, with no living companionbut the sailor's dog.
Three days thus they drifted on the merciless ocean, wondering why theywere left alone in the forecastle; and when they called for help all thereply was the dashing of the waves against the shattered ship.
Fortunately, a large steamer which had withstood the storm saw theshattered hulk drifting upon the waves, and sent men on board to rescueany who might be found alive. All had been swept away, and desolationreigned on deck. To their surprise, on opening the forecastle they foundthe two boys and the sailor's dog.
These helpless and homeless ones they took to the ship. Sad indeed werethey when they began to realize that their parents and brothers werelost. They had no kindred or friends, and knew not a word of thelanguage of the Americans who were upon the steamer. They shed many sadtears when the feelings of their loneliness settled upon them, and theywished themselves in their own country, where a language was spokenwhich they could understand.
There is always sunshine behind the clouds, and their shadows weredispelled by a kind gentleman upon the steamer, who said he would carefor them and give them a home.
He commenced to teach them to speak English while on the voyage, andamused them with various sports and games. Silvio, being the eldest,learned quicker than his little brother, but as soon as he had learnedhe taught Francesco.
When the steamer landed the kind gentleman sent them to board for awhile with a family from their own country who could speak both Englishand Italian, where they soon learned to talk in both languages.
Silvio was a good object-teacher, and gave his little brother lessons.
He would introduce some game or sport as a means of communicatinginstruction. It was pleasing to see them together. They would sit by thefire in the Italian's cottage, with the old sailor's dog, which thegentleman who had befriended the children said should not be taken fromthem, and Silvio would teach his brother.
They learned to play "cratch cradle," and when they did this the namesof every thing used were learned. When one is learning a new language itis word by word; so in this game they learned to count, and to name thewords, such as hand, finger, string, cross, and others that suggestedthemselves in the course of the game. Some children call this game"cat's cradle," but it should be "cratch cradle." A cratch is across-legged crib from which cattle are fed. It is also the shape of acradle, or child's sleeping-crib, and, as the strings take this shapeupon the fingers, the game has received that name.
These boys learned very rapidly, and the gentleman who had befriendedthem soon took them from the Italian's cottage, and sent them to thebest schools in America. Both became distinguished scholars. Silvio isnow a celebrated artist, and Francesco a musician whose vocal andinstrumental acquirements have charmed the largest audiences, andreceived the highest praise of the world. Both have visited their nativecountry, and have pursued their studies among their own countrymen, butthey have never heard of any of their own kindred. The gentleman whobefriended them still lives to see the good results of his kind deed,and they, in return, look upon him with feelings of love and gratitude.
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THE LITTLE MILKMAID.
"Please, Grandmother, I can milk Daisy."
"There, child! Nonsense!" said the old woman crossly. "Daisy would kickthee and thy pail over in no time. We should lose our milk, and happen
have thee to nurse as well."
"But Daisy likes me, Granny," pleaded the would-be milkmaid. "I neverthrow stones at her or pull her tail; she would not kick me. I know howto milk, don't I, Grandfather?"
"Eh, bless her, so she do!" returned a feeble voice from the bed in thecorner of the kitchen. "It's a brave little lass, that it is! I'd soonertrust her than Tom, for all he's three years older."
Grandmother gave a reluctant consent, and forth went the littlemilkmaid, her bucket on her arm, and her dog Gypsy jumping about andinviting her to have a race with him. Play was a very good thing, andSusie dearly loved a romp, but this morning she shook her head, and toldGypsy he must wait until her task was safely over. She was very proud ofGrandfather's confidence in her, and made up her mind to deserve it.
Susie looked like a part of the bright May morning as she