Chatterbox, 1906 Part 65

'O Mother,' cried a little mouse, Hurrying down the cellar stairs, 'As I was coming through the house I met the kitten unawares.

'And as I pa.s.sed she called to me: "Come back! come back! I've much to tell.

And most delighted I shall be If your mamma would come as well."

'So mother, let us hurry, _do_!

To keep her waiting would be rude: And asking _me_, as well as you, I think was very kind and good.'

But mother mouse with terror cried-- Her eyes were round, her cheeks were pale, And leaping to her baby's side She held him by the paw and tail.

'No, no!' said she; 'you must not go!

You should not trust a kitten's word.

Her claws are sharp: she is our foe-- The direful foe of mouse and bird.'

But when an hour had pa.s.sed away, The baby mouse said soft and low: 'I wonder what she had to say?

I'll just creep out and ask her now.'

And heedless of his mother's call, In self-opinion sadly vain, He met the kitten in the hall-- And never more came back again.

CONQUERED BY LOVE.

A soldier in the American army was the terror of his company. He was disobedient, quarrelsome, and vicious. As a result he was often punished, but there was no reformation. In due time a captain from another regiment was placed in command of that company, and was informed of the bad character of this soldier. Very soon the man broke out, was arrested, and brought before the captain. He looked at him for a moment, and, speaking to the sergeant, said, 'Let him go to his quarters.'

'Shall I keep him under guard?' inquired the sergeant.

'Oh, no,' said the captain, quietly.

That evening the captain called his sergeant, and said: 'Go down to Blank's quarters and tell him to come up to my tent; I wish to see him.'

'Shall I bring him up under guard?' asked the sergeant.

'No,' said the captain. 'Just tell him to come.'

In due time the soldier stood inside the captain's tent, cap in hand.

'Take a seat,' said the captain.

The soldier obeyed, but all the time looked defiance. The captain inquired of his home and his relations, and then said: 'I have heard all about you, and thought I would like to see you privately, and talk with you. You have been punished often--most times, no doubt, justly, but perhaps sometimes unjustly. But I see in you the making of a first-cla.s.s soldier--just the kind of a man that I would like to have a whole company of. Now, if you will obey orders, and behave as a soldier should, and as I know you can, I promise on my honour as a soldier that I will be your friend, and stand by you. I do not want you to destroy yourself.'

With that the soldier's chin began to quiver, and the tears trickled down his cheeks, and he said: 'Captain, you are the first man to speak a kind word to me in two years, and for your sake I will do it.'

'Give me your hand on that, my brave fellow,' said the captain. 'I will trust you.'

And from that day on there was not a better soldier in the army.

THE SYMBOLS OF j.a.pAN.

The Imperial House of j.a.pan owns three symbols which are carried before the Emperor on all state occasions. These symbols are the Mirror, the Crystal, and the Sword, and each has its own significance. The mirror signifies 'know thyself;' 'be pure and s.h.i.+ne,' is the message of the crystal; whilst the sword is a reminder to 'be sharp.'

HARE VERSUS PHEASANT.

Two friends while driving past a field of young grain observed a number of pheasants together, a couple of the male birds being engaged in a fight. A little way off they also saw a fine hare, which seemed to be an interested spectator of the battle.

The hare, to the astonishment of the spectators, began to hop towards the pheasants, and when a few yards off, charged them full with fore feet and head. One of the c.o.c.ks sneaked off, but the other tackled the hare, and for a few seconds fought gamely, flying up and striking at the hare's head with beak and spur, the hare in return b.u.t.ting with his head. The fur, however, proved too much for the feather, and in the long run the pheasant had to retreat in an exhausted condition.

That the c.o.c.k pheasants should have a sparring match is nothing unusual, but that the hare should interfere in the quarrel is not easily to be explained. Can any readers of _Chatterbox_ who live in the country explain this strange scene?

PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS.

8.--GEOGRAPHICAL ARITHMOREM.

_British Isles._

1.--50, tears, e, 100. A Warwicks.h.i.+re market town.

2.--100, war, 1000, 50, bee, 50. A South London parliamentary borough.

3.--500, run, in, fee, 1000, 50. A city of Fife.

4.--100, no, 500, tears. A town in Yorks.h.i.+re.

5.--500, u, yes, r, 50. A town in Gloucesters.h.i.+re, near the Cotswold Hills.

6.--1000, 500, 50, 500, 10, I see. A county in England.

C. J. B.

[_Answers on page 254._]

ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 179.

7.--1. Macaroni.

2. Caviare.

3. Sauerkraut.

4. Welsh rabbit.

5. Chocolate cream.