Harper's Young People, January 27, 1880 Part 5

This diamond, which decorated the hilt of the sword of state of the first Napoleon, was taken by the Prussians at Waterloo, and now belongs to the King of Prussia.

In former times, superst.i.tion attributed to the diamond many virtues. It was supposed to protect the possessor from poison, pestilence, panic-fear, and enchantments of every kind. A wonderful property was also ascribed to it when the figure of Mars, whom the ancients represented as the G.o.d of war, was engraved upon it. In such cases the diamond was believed to insure victory in battle to its fortunate owner, whatever might be the number of his enemies.

For a long time diamonds were sent to Holland to be cut and polished, but this art is now well understood in England, and has been recently introduced into this country.

Diamonds are not only worn as ornaments of dress, or rare objects of art, but they are employed for several useful purposes, as for cutting gla.s.s by the glazier, and all kinds of hard stones by the lapidary.

TEMERITY.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ON THE TRACK.]

A b.u.t.terfly lived like a princess in a green and golden wood, guarded day and night by the trees; but as there was never a b.u.t.terfly yet that did not prefer suns.h.i.+ne to safety, she came fluttering out one morning, and after dazzling all the flowers in the neighborhood, spread her wings for a long flight.

There was no one to warn her of the dangers abroad, so when she came to the railroad track she just settled upon it, with no more fear than if it were a twig. An ugly brown worm that had been sunning himself on a sleeper crept up to her.

"You are in a dreadfully dangerous place," he groaned.

"Why?" asked the little rainbow, not a bit scared.

"There is a great monster coming soon. He crushes everything he meets; he has no heart; his bones are made of iron."

"How funny!" exclaimed the b.u.t.terfly.

"See how dark the sky is getting; he will soon be here," went on the worm, solemnly.

"Oh, pshaw! it's only a shower coming up," said the b.u.t.terfly, stretching her wings.

"No, it is the monster; don't you feel the ground shake? The storm is coming, but the monster is coming too. Get into this hole under the track; I beg you, I entreat you, get into this hole and be saved."

"Nonsense!" laughed the b.u.t.terfly.

The rail was trembling, and in the distance a strange wild shriek was heard, a great puff of smoke went rolling up to the sky.

"Quick! quick!" implored the worm. "Do as I do, or you will be killed.

There is no time to lose."

But the only answer he got was a laugh.

The monster was getting nearer and nearer, and the worm, with one more vain pet.i.tion to the b.u.t.terfly to follow him, squirmed into a crevice under the rail.

On came the monster, its great iron limbs pounding back and forth. A rattle, a shriek, a puff of smoke: he had come and gone. The worm--where was he? Limp and dead in his little hole under the rail. And the b.u.t.terfly--the poor beautiful b.u.t.terfly?

Oh, she had simply flown away.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]

NEW YORK CITY.

In a short paper ent.i.tled "The Paradise of Insects," in _Young People_ No. 10, some interesting facts are told of small sand-flies, called sancudos, which abound on the Upper Amazons and other swampy localities of South and Central America. Boys will like to know the origin of their name. Stilts are called _zancos_ in Spanish, and these flies, a species of mosquito, are called sancudos--more properly spelled zancudos--on account of their very long, slender legs and disproportionately small bodies, which remind one of a very small boy on very high stilts. Flies on stilts is a funny idea, but not more funny than the appearance of these troublesome little insects.

RODRIGO.

I am a little girl twelve years old, and live at Fort Supply, Indian Territory. My father is a captain in the Twenty-third Infantry. We live in huts made of logs, and the cracks filled with mud to keep out the cold, and the inside lined with canvas. We have frequent visits from the Indians. Not long ago a party of about fifty Indians were here, some of whom were on the war-path last fall. We have a school, and about sixteen scholars. If it were not for school I should be very lonesome, as I have only one playmate.

There are plenty of children here, but they are all too small to play with. I take _Young People_, and it is a great addition to my small fund of amus.e.m.e.nts.

GRACE W. HENTON.

PUTNAM, CONNECTICUT.

DEAR "YOUNG PEOPLE."--I thought when you made your first appearance that you were as pretty and interesting as possible, but when you arrived in your new dress, looking so fresh and bright, wis.h.i.+ng us a "Merry Christmas," I was still more delighted with you. I hope the number of your subscribers will grow as fast as you have, you are such a dear little paper.

ANNA C. B.

The two following letters are from very young readers, who wrote in big capitals with their own little hands:

NEW YORK CITY.

I am so glad you have published _Young People_. I am five years old. I have a little kitten, and my papa says it will soon be a cat. I wish it wouldn't.

JIMMIE B.

STOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

I thought I would drop you a line or two about the _Young People_ and the "Wiggles," and I will. I send you what I make of the last number of the "Wiggles," and I like the new paper. So good-by. From

ROBBIE REYNOLDS (six years).

Here are two more little folks, who employ an amanuensis:

BELMONT.