THE PRACTICAL JOKER. 205 A THE PRACTICAL JOKER. RTHUR was a bright little boy of ten years, and his pleasant face and cheerful spirit seemed like a ray of heaven's own blessed sunlight in his mother's otherwise solitary dwelling. But I am sorry to say, Arthur was not loved by his companions. He was a practical joker, and his little friends were in constant fear, when in his company, of having some unpleasant trick played upon them. If they went to gather nuts or berries, he did love to kill a snake and throw it around some boy's neck, just for the fun of hearing him scream. When they went to bathe, they often found a frog in their pockets, or their shoes would be filled with angle worms. And he was sometimes so very cruel as to take away a boy's dinner, and fill his basket with stones. These things were very annoying, and at length Arthur was left to play alone, or go home to his little sister. Dear little Eliza was just beginning to go to school, and Arthur loved her very much. But his love of “fun,” as he called it, was sometimes so strong, that he would even overturn his sled, and throw the sweet little girl into the snow. His mother strove in vain to correct this cruel propensity, and she felt some anxiety on his account, when a new father came to take charge of his education. His own father died when he was a babe, and of course he had never known a father's love. But he was very much pleased when a pleasant, smiling gentleman came to live with them, and he was told that he might call him father. One morning, a few days after Mrs. M. was married to Mr. L., Arthur was told to cut some potatoes and give them to the cow. He obeyed very cheerfully, cut the potatoes, and carried them to the barn; but when he placed them before the cow, he turned a peck measure over them, so that the cow could not eat them. "My son," said Mr. L. when he returned, "did you give the potatoes to the Cow?" "Yes, sir," he replied; but the merry twinkle of his eye led his father to suspect something wrong, and he very soon went to the barn himself. Arthur was frightened when he saw him go out, for he expected a whipping. But no notice was taken of the joke, as he called it. Soon there came a snow-storm, and when it passed away, the 206 THE PRACTICAL JOKER. snow lay piled in deep drifts on both sides of the road. Arthur started for school the next morning, drawing his little sister on his sled; but when he came near the deep drifts, suddenly the sled overturned, and Eliza was buried in the snow. Arthur sprang to take her up, and very tenderly led her back to the house. But his father stood at the window and saw the whole transaction. Next morning Mr. L. said, pleasantly, "I'll draw you to school this morning if you like." Arthur was delighted. He thought his father was very kind indeed. But when they came to the drift, suddenly the sled was overturned, and he was buried in the snow. "You must learn to hold on better than this," said Mr. L., "if you mean I shall draw you.” And he quietly returned to the house, leaving Arthur to get out as he could. "Oh! chicken for dinner! chicken for dinner!" shouted Arthur as he returned from school, finding his favorite dish on the table. They were soon seated, and Mr. L. helped Arthur to a large plate full. But just as he was taking up his knife and fork, his father took up a large bowl that stood by his plate and turned it over Arthur's dinner. At first he looked up in surprise, but he immediately understood it. He was very hungry, but he did not dare to remove the bowl. The rest of the family began to eat, but he sat looking very red and unhappy. At length he burst into tears. 66 Father," said he, "I never will put the peck-measure over the cow's dinner again, and I'll never turn sissy into the snow again, if you'll let me eat my dinner." 66 Very well, my son," said Mr. L., removing the bowl; "you find practical jokes are not very pleasant when played upon yourself. Always remember, that if you would be loved and respected, you must do by others as you wish others to do by you."-N. Y. Independent. THE EFFECTS OF VICES AND FOLLIES, when so portrayed as to familiarize the mind with them, as in trashy literature, is most truthfully and forcibly depicted by the poet in the following lines: "Vice is a monster of such hideous mien, We first endure, then PITY, then EMBRACE." Children's Department. THE MARY ANNE'S FAULT. little girl of whom I am going to tell you, is a nice child, and has many good qualities; but there is one fault which mars all, and takes away much of the loveliness of her character. It prevents her friends from loving her as dearly as they might, were it not for this. If it were some natural defect which she could not help, none could blame her; none would love her less for it. But it is something she could easily overcome; a fault which she did not use to have, but which grows upon her every day. Mary Anne has a pleasant face. When lighted with a kind and cheerful smile, it is as pleasing a countenance as one would ask to see. But, alas! this ugly fault so mars its good looks, that I often turn from it with a great deal more pain than I would from the homeliest features childhood ever wore. Shall I tell you what that fault is? Perhaps some of my young readers have the same fault, and they might not like to hear about it. We hope, if any of them are so unfortunate as to possess it, that they will get rid of it at once, when they have learned what it is. Mary Anne's fault is-looking angry when she is reproved or corrected in any way. When told, if ever so gently, to do something in a different way from what she chooses; or if ever so kindly it is suggested that she might do her work a little better than she has done it, a dark frown falls on her brow! By being cross she destroys the peace and pleasure of those around her. She is only corrected for the sake of making her become a useful, happy woman; but she does not seem to see it so. Instead of being thankful to any 208 THE CAT AND THE CANARY. friend who tries to lead her in the right way, she looks displeased with the gentlest reproof. Is it not a pity that so sweet a child as Mary Anne might be should have this ugly fault? She does not know how it spoils her. But this little girl can overcome this fault, if she will. So can you overcome your faults, little readers, if you will try in earnest. Some children always want their own way, and are angry when not allowed to do just as they please. They do not realize how important it is that their parents train them to do right. Suppose we should never train the vines and trees in the garden, how crooked many of them would grow! Just so it is with children who will not follow the training and advice of older friends and their parents-they grow crooked. A THE CAT AND THE CANARY. LADY had a pretty canary-bird which was so tame that she allowed it to leave its cage and fly at large in her apartment. She had likewise a fine large cat, which she had trained to treat her bird with gentleness, so that they were very good friends. One morning the bird was hopping about the room, picking up crumbs from the carpet as usual, when the cat, which was asleep on the rug, suddenly sprang up, and seizing the bird in her mouth, jumped with it upon the table. The lady was alarmed for the life of her favorite bird, and starting from her seat was about to visit her displeasure upon poor pussy, when she discovered the occasion of the cat's unusual behavior. The door had been left open, and a strange cat had just crept into the room, intent to make the bird his prey, had not the friendly puss so seasonably rescued her. The lady immediately turned out the intruder, when her own cat "I WILL BE GOOD TO-DAY." 209 leaped off the table and released her affrighted captive without doing it the slightest injury. It was the nature of this friendly puss to destroy every bird within her reach, but in respect to canary she had learned self-control. And can not a child overcome his natural tendency to selfishness, anger, or any other fault, as well as the cat her disposition to destroy birds? It can be done, my little friends. Will you try? It will make you lovely in the sight of all.—Child's Paper. "I WILL BE GOOD TO-DAY." I WILL be good, dear mother," She lifted up her bright young eyes And when night came, that little one, Oh, many, many bitter tears 'Twould save us, did we say, Like that dear child, with earnest heart, "I will be good to-day." -Selected. HOW TO HAVE BRIGHT EYES.-Shut them early at night, and open them early in the morning. Learn to read good books, and improve all your time in study, or work, or useful play; and be cheerful, pleasant, and kind to all. |