Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE SCOTCH PIPER. Draw a design upon cardboard, similar to the annexed engraving. Then cut it out neatly with a pair of scissors, and gum a piece of black cloth or velvet over the part intended as the cap; attach two pieces of China ribbon to the side of the cap, and gild or paint the epaulettes. Sew a small band of tape or webbing to the back part of the kilt, large enough to allow the two fore-fingers to pass through it; and when this is done, gum a portion of tartan over the lower part of the design, so as to represent the kilt, and otherwise ornament the figure so that it may represent Highland piper.

a

If the whole figure is only intended to be painted, the

band at the back of the kilt must be glued on instead of sewing it. Thus far the figure is complete, and you must now make the boots, which may be easily done from a piece of plaid ribbon or stuff, and some black cloth, leather, or velvet. Take care that they are large enough to admit the tips of your fingers at the tops, which should be ornamented with some strips of China ribbon of various colours. The figure is now finished.

To make the piper dance, introduce the two fore-fingers of the right hand through the bands, at the back of the kilt, so that the knuckles only are seen; then place the boots upon the tips of the fingers, and as the back of the hand and other fingers are concealed, the Scotchman may be made to dance, by moving the fingers in such a manner that the knuckles are bent during the performance.

This forms a very amusing trifle for children at this season of the year.

RIDDLES. 1.

In the town I am often red-in the country I ought to be green: In the town I am sought for mineral productions-in the country for vegetable ones: In the country I may be frequented for love-in the town always for interest: I am as old as the hills in the country-but have not seen many centuries in the town.

2.

I may squeeze you to death, when complete, Beheaded, I'm still a worse fate;

My whole you would not fear to meet,

[ocr errors]

5.

Who is that who is a friend very convenient to have; but if you cut off his tail increases to every one, both friend and foe?

CHARADES. 1.

My second my first need not be,
Unless we come close by his side,
And then 't were disgraceful to see
That my first could not well be applied;
My next the philosopher thinks on

As the best of all creatures or worst; My whole is that second's distinction, And the birth of my whole is my first.

2.

Do not my whole too often to your glass; Or shorten me, you to that state may pass, And shorten health-nay, life as well, alas!

3.

My first is, forsooth, as I steadfastly hold,

Yet I own it appears somewhat strange, Though time roll away, what will never grow old, But remain ever new without change; My second than my first is more mystical still, For I swear that since first it was found, By misfortune, by chance, by art, or by skill, Has never been lost, being firmly bound; My third is a thing that in Europe is seen, In Asia, Africa, and America,

From which all mankind must confess there have

been

Vast riches derived magnâ curâ ; My whole, I maintain, when correctly combined, The British do at present possess Which on the American coasts you will find, If you'll just take the trouble to guess. L. J. G. D.

ARITHMETICAL QUESTION.

If I lend a friend £200 for 12 months, on condition of his returning the favour, how long ought he to lend me £150 to requite my kindness?

ANSWERS TO FAMILY PASTIME.
PAGE 382.

ARITHMETICAL QUESTIONS

1. 75 feet in a second. 2. 4166 yards.

ENIGMAS

1. D eath, A nts, C rown (5s.), R ing, E astDacre. 2. Shaft. 3. Brat-rat. 4. It makes

If led: but if shortened, in all forms you hate. Virgo a virago. 5. Great-toe. 6. Please, lease,

3.

Complete, I brought a giant down, Shortened, a king's sad heart I won; Behead again, I am the one,

Who power to do these things did own.

4.

What babies sit on,

And a spoiled child's oft in,
Is what ladies fit on
For dress, with a pin.

ease.

TRANSPOSITION

1. The Ivel, in Bedfordshire. 2. The Ivel, in Somersetshire. 3. Levi, the son of Jacob. 4. Levi, one of our Lord's disciples. 5. Evil (adj.). 6. Evil (subst.). 7. Live (coal). 8. Veil. 9. Vile. 10. Live. The French article le (the) taken from Levi (or Vile), VI., the Roman numeral for six remains.

EDITED BY HERR HARRWITZ.

PROBLEM XIII.-Dedicated to Mr. HARRWITZ, by Mr. M'COMBE. White playing first, mates in four moves.

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[graphic]

THE MOTHER'S MISTAKE.

CHAPTER II.

HAVING So far delineated the leading characteristics of the heads of the Clifton family, we turn not unwillingly to the younger branches of the house, and to those who are more especially to live and act in the further development of our story. It is, consequently, necessary at this stage of its progress to overstep a few of the less eventful years of their history, at all events so many as will bring us again into acquaintance with the villa, after other portions of the establishment besides its nursery, have become enlivened by the stirring feet, the merry laughter, and the busy hands of a happy and hopeful little family.

[ocr errors]

Mrs. Clifton at this stage of her life was a woman of many cares, but also of many enjoyments. She was naturally

VOL. IX.-NO. C.

fond of children, as well as fond of managing and scheming for those whom it was her business or her pleasure to manage; for it was said of her, that she extended the sphere of her operations a little beyond what was positively demanded of her by any direct business of hers. Five healthy and promising children of her own, however, afforded at the present time abundant scope for the exercise of all her provisional, as well as matronly propensities. Five olive-branches now graced the paternal board.

The boys, especially, had begun to evince those characteristics which had been clearly indicated by the dream which preceded the birth of each, but to which the mother paid so little respect in her prospective arrangements. For instance, it was no uncommon thing to find the three brothers grouped together in the garden, the oldest ever at work constructing houses, or bridges, or boats, out of such materials as fell in his way; the second gazing thoughtfully upon his bro

D

ther's work, but taking no active part in it; and the third, even while a mere infant, wielding some weapon of warfare, with which he was apt to strike down whatever edifice his strength was able to destroy.

[ocr errors]

Without recording the nature of any of the mother's after dreams,-for though regularly repeated they became, as already stated, less distinct, as well as less regarded,-it is important only to state, that the little Cliftons arose and walked much according to their parents wishes, in the following order: Robert, the oldest, destined to carry on his father's business,-Seymour, destined to be an Admiral,-Philip, destined for the Church,-Helen, destined to be a beauty, and to make a great connection in marriage,-Catharine, destined to be learned and clever, because she did not appear very likely to be beautiful. It must be confessed that this last item in the family catalogue had a very different destination allotted to her in the mother's calculations previous to her birth, because she was not expected to be a girl. There had, in fact, been a whole life laid out for her, or rather for him, with perhaps more certainty than for any of the others. Of this we say nothing further, feeling a little delicacy for maternal feelings under so signal a mistake. It would have been well for Mrs. Clifton's family had she made no more practical mistakes than this.

The youngest child, too, besides being a girl, evinced certain other characteristics which threatened seriously to endanger any ambitious structure which might be built upon the foundation of her feminine graces. As an infant she was singularly plain-looking, and hence the popular destination for those who are so was adopted; and as a matter of necessity not at all in conformity with the vision which, in this instance, at least, might have been understood, this child was to be clever, talented, distinguished perhaps as authoress, or as the leader of a literary circle; which the mother thought, with reason on her side, would be really being more distinguished, than if she wrote books herself, seeing writers were so common.

an

All these destinations being clearly planned out, all these matters being finally settled, and no other little life

to

appearing likely to be committed her care for plans and settlement, Mrs. Clifton had nothing left to do but to get her children trained and educated. It would have seemed likely enough, according to her theory of the future, that their education should have had especial reference to what the children were expected to do, and to be, in after life. But no such idea of adaptation ever seemed to dawn upon the parental mind. School was school to Mr. and Mrs. Clifton, and so long as the accustomed items of what is called a first-rate education were duly filled up in the catalogue, and duly paid for, neither the father nor the mother thought it necessary to trouble themselves about the result. Both, indeed, seemed to have imbibed, and so rested satisfied in, the somewhat vulgar notion, that if they paid well they should be well served. So they made up their minds to stint for nothing in the way of masters, &c., and only inquired in the different families with whom they visited as to which schools they could most cordially recommend. Of course the recommendations thus elicited were so many and so various, that the question increased in difficulty, instead of being cleared up by this mode of procedure; so that common consequences ensued-the children were sent to many schools, and by making trial of numbers, it was hoped they would select and profit by what was good in each.

the

one

To Robert, the oldest son, this constant liability to change failed to afford the pleasure which most children experience in the prospect of escaping from school to another, under the hope of leaving all that is disagreeable behind. He was rather remarkable for being a boy of one fixed idea, or rather one decided tendency of mind; and he cared less than many where he was, if only this constitutional tendency was allowed indulgence and exercise. At last he prevailed upon his parents to allow him to remain longer than they had intended,— indeed to finish his education, at one particular seminary, where he had attached himself in an especial manner to a master whose business it was to superintend the drawing department. Not that Robert was what is called a "genius" in this or

any other branch of art.

The last thing he would have dreamed of being was an artist, as that word is generally understood. Little, indeed, of the ideal of general beauty had begun as yet to fill his heart, or fire his brain. He only loved, and this he did love supremely, to make all sorts of architectural drawings; not so much for their beauty, however, as for their character of utility. Thus strength, duration, capability of sustaining weight, and resisting force, were the qualities to which he most frequently endeavoured to give form. In short, all which belongs to the department of engineering, seemed to be implanted in his young mind with a depth which no other power, and no other attraction, could reach; and only just as far as was necessary for such purposes would he give his attention to those mathematical exercises which he was sometimes told by his father would prove the groundwork and foundation of his success in life.

He

Robert could not see very well how the higher branches of study, not even the study of mathematics, should assist him as a merchant. For himself, if he thought at all about the future, it was only to plan that, as a merchant, he should become rich; and so, by escaping very early from business, should be able to indulge his natural tastes by projecting railways, inventing bridges, or planning improvements in any other way. thought he should buy an estate in some badly cultivated district; and, after bringing it into the highest state of cultivation, should then institute a sort of model school for engineers, where all sorts of practical experiments could be tested; a school to which men of science would resort, and which would in time become the centre of attraction to surrounding nations. Thus it will be observed Robert, also, was a dreamer, like his mother; but there was method and consistency in his dreams -there was also that which, had it been attended to in early youth, and cultivated with a view to his happiness and welfare, might have made him a benefactor to his country, and a blessing to the times in which he lived. But he is at school yet, and we must not anticipate

Robert Clifton shared the fate of many other boys who are distinguished by one

particular gift or talent. He was allowed to cultivate that for the sake of display, and thus in a proportionate degree to neglect those other talents from which he was still expected to draw all his resources in after life. It pleased the honest pride of the master to whom Robert had attached himself to exhibit those perfect, and even wonderful drawings which his pupil liked so much to execute. It pleased him to know that Robert would infallibly carry away the first prize in this department; and it pleased the whole school that there was one boy belonging to it so eminently gifted. Thus many circumstances combined to render the indulgence of his native talent both a temptation and a delight to the boy. Even at home, such was the satisfaction with which these drawings were exhibited, that Robert would have been dull indeed to outward impressions had he not gathered from circumstances, though not from direct words, that to exercise with diligence and skill this natural gift of his was really the best and the wisest thing he could do. Such often-how often who shall say!-is the real and practical education which a child is receiving from circumstances, when the language, the advice, nay, even the prayers of a parent are vainly expended in attempting to turn the tastes and employments of the child into a widely different sphere of thought and action. When shall we understand these things better?

So Robert Clifton grew to be what is called a splendid draftsman, and gloried and delighted in the art. Robert was not proud of himself, still less was he a vain boaster; but he was proud of the gift which God had given him, and he did sometimes boast of what that gift might enable any man who possessed it to do. Even at school, there was scarcely any kind of accident or difficulty occurring in the practical occupations of the boys which Robert's constructive talent did not enable him to remedy or surmount; so that on all occasions when a clear head and a ready and methodical hand were wanted, young Clifton was called in; and if he could not set matters right, the whole school was convinced that no living person could. Had the boy really been a little vain and self-conceited no one could

« PreviousContinue »