Volume XXII - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection
The twinkle that crept into the trespasser's
eye did not tend to mollify the
furious brook-owner.
" I'll find out ye name and prosecute
ye. Ye needn't be a-smilin'; I kin find
it out easy enough ye'll see."
" Oh, don't go to too much trouble,
my friend," was the distressing reply,
" I'll tell you my name myself. It is
Grant, — General Grant,—and if I've
intruded, I really beg your par "—
The old soldier was talking to air;
that countryman had vanished.
But nevertheless he eventually recovered
in time to hold out, as an inducement
to summer boarders from
New York, the manifold attractions of
Grant Hill, now one of the most popular
trout-streams in that mountain district.
««Father's Old Boots are There ! "
Many a picture of moving pathos appears
in the dark gallery of drunkenness.
We have seen but few more
touching ones than this from the pen
of Mrs. M. A. Kinder. She describes
little Benny, the son of a drunken
father, sitting in a room with his
mother and little sister. By looking
at his sad and thoughtful face one
would have taken him to be ten years
of age, yet he was but six. No
wonder. For four years this almost
baby had been used to seeing a drunken
father go in and out of the cottage.
He scarcely remembered anything from
him but cruelty and abuse, especially
towards his kind and loving mother.
But now he is dead ! The green sod
had lain on his grave a week or so, but
the terrible effects of his conduct were
not buried with him. The poor children
would start with a shudder at every uncertain
step on the walk outside, and
at every hesitating hand upon the latch.
On the day mentioned above, Benny's
mother was getting dinner.
' Will my little son go to the wood
shed and get mother a few sticks to
finish boiling the kettle?
' I don't like to go to the wood-shed,
mamma,' said Benny, looking down.
THE HOSPITAL REVIEW.
' Why, my son ? '
' Because there is a pair of father's
old boots on the beam out there, and I
don't like to see them.
'Why do you mind the old boots,
Benny, any more than you do your
father's old coat and hat upstairs ?'
' Because,' said Benny, the tears filling
his blue eyes, ' they look as if they
wanted to kick me.'
O the dreadful after-influence of a
drunken father to innocent children!
what an awful memory to bear through
life !—Richmond Christian Advocate.
Illuminated Nest of the Baya.
The nest is in itself a beautiful and
ingenious piece of work. The upper
portion is divided into two chambers,
one for Mother Baya while she is sitting,
and one for Father Baya when he has
earned the right to rest by having provided
his wife with food. The lower
portion of the nest is a general living
room for the whole family as soon as
the little ones have grown strong
enough to leave the upper chamber.
Here is a home that might well be all
that the most exacting could require,
but having provided for creature comfort,
the baya has yet to gratify its
sense of the beautiful. The little mother
is hardly settled down when the male
bird, having put the finishing touches
to the nest, darts forth and returns with
a fresh lump of clay, which he affixes
to the inner wall of the nest. Then
quickly away again to capture one of
the living sparks of which there are
myriads in the tropics. The fire-fly is
secured to the lump of clay, and lights
up the little home with its phosphorescent
glow. Another and another are
added, until the patient little mother
has light enough to cheer her during
the long dark night. After that one or
more of the animated diamonds is fastened
to the exterior, there to glitter
and flash for the delection of the outside
world, for the baya is no selfish
lover of art. He does not lock his
treasures up in his gallery, but is willing
to share his enjoyment with all.