Harper's Young People, May 18, 1880 Part 13

I am one, yet it takes many to complete me, though I am intangible.

Motion is necessary to make me. I have no motion of my own, being incapable of voluntary action; still, were there not voluntary action on my part, commerce would be at a stand-still. I am necessary to vessels.

I am a vessel. I am what vessels take. I am ended every day by some one; and though meant to hold a liquid, still, when there is my full complement, more solid food than liquid is needed to satisfy when I am on myself. If broken, I am useless; yet, when separated, I can be brought together again. I am most agreeable when made at will, am generally an ugly piece of domestic furniture, but need a strong hand to keep up proper discipline.

Treat us kindly, we would probably always be amenable. I don't care how you treat me, provided you don't break me. There is nothing breakable about me, though you can bring me to an end at any moment. Of course I cost money, ordinarily a few pennies. There is a fixed tariff for our employment; contracts must be drawn up; yet I can be made as expensive as one chooses. Sometimes I am undertaken in the cause of science. I am generally in the kitchen, and we certainly need a kitchen and me to provide for our many and daily wants.

=The Monkey and the Hawk.=--There lives in the south of France a man of wealth whose chateau, or country place of residence, has around it very tall trees. The cook of the chateau has a monkey--a pert fellow, who knows ever so many tricks. The monkey often helps the cook to pluck the feathers from fowls. One day the cook gave the monkey two partridges to pluck; and the monkey, seating himself in an open window, went to work.

He had picked the feathers from one of the partridges, and placed it on the outer ledge of the window with a satisfied grunt, when, lo! all at once a hawk flew down from one of the tall trees near by, and bore off the plucked bird. Master Monkey was very angry. He shook his fist at the hawk, which took a seat on one of the limbs not far off, and began to eat the partridge with great relish. The owner of the chateau saw the sport, for he was sitting in a grape arbor, and crept up to watch the end of it. The monkey picked the other partridge, laid it on the ledge in the same place, and hid behind the window-screen on the inside.

The hawk was caught in this trap, for when it flew down after the partridge, out reached the monkey, and caught the thief. In a moment the hawk's neck was wrung, and the monkey soon had the hawk plucked.

Taking the two birds to the cook, the monkey handed them to him, as if to say, "Here are your two partridges, master." The cook thought that one of the birds looked queer, but he served them on the table. The owner of the house shook his head when he saw the dish, and telling the cook of the trick, laughed heartily.

=How the Pigeons Help the Doctor.=--A celebrated English physician has found a new use for the carrier-pigeon, as a helper in his practice.

Describing the operation, he says: "I take out half a dozen birds in a small basket with me on my rounds, and when I have seen my patient, no matter at what distance from home, I write my prescription on a small piece of tissue-paper, and having wound it round the shank of the bird's leg, I gently throw the carrier up into the air. In a few minutes it reaches home, and having been shut up fasting since the previous evening, without much delay it enters the trap cage connected with its loft, where it is at once caught by my a.s.sistant, and relieved of its dispatches. The medicine is immediately prepared, and sent off by a messenger, who is thus saved several hours of waiting, and I am enabled to complete my morning round of visits. Should any patient be very ill, and I am desirous of having an early report of him or her next morning, I leave a bird to bring me the tidings."

AUNT FLORA'S ANSWER.

Aunt Flora's _scold_ing never made you ____, Her sympathies, though _cold_, were never ____, And her _old_ pies were marvels of high ____.'

Poor Flora.

Her homespun dress, though _scant_, was made with ____, Her harmless _cant_ would neither cure nor ____, And, like the busy _ant_, she knew no ____.

Good Flora.

A nameless _charm_ with face and form did ____; No _harm_ she did, but graciously would ____ Her _arm_ to guide you safely to your ____.

Kind Flora.

A heart may seem of _stone_ if grief it ____; Her _tone_ to you was ever like a ____; _One_ wise was she among the foolish ____.

Wise Flora.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BREAKERS AHEAD! AH, WHAT A MEETING THAT WILL BE!]