THE SKATING PARTY, AND Other Stories. [Illustration] NEW YORK: GEO. A. LEAVITT. [Illustration: SKATING PARTY. ] THE SKATING PARTY. One cold winter's morning, Willie's mother promised to take him to seethe skaters on the river. Willie was in great glee, and when theyarrived at the river, he wanted to go on the ice but his mother wasafraid to venture. The river was frozen very hard, and the merry skatersseemed almost to fly, they went so fast over the glib ice. Now and thenone of them would fall down, causing a burst of laughter from theothers; but he would jump up and go it again. Skating is a pleasant andhealthful exercise, but sometimes dangerous, for should the ice breakmany would probably be drowned. Little boys should be careful how theyventure, and not go near air holes. [Illustration: THE ARREST. ] THE ARREST. As Harry Somers and his father were one day walking along the street, they saw a policeman leading a poor ragged little boy, who seemed verymuch frightened. Mr. Somers asked the policeman, what he had been doing. The man told him, that the little boy had been caught in the act ofstealing cakes and apples, from the stand of a poor woman. Mr. Somerstold Harry, that it was very likely that miserable boy had drunkenparents who encouraged him to lie and steal, and that when he grew up, he would be likely to turn out a bad man, and cautioned Harry not tokeep bad company. [Illustration: THE SOLDIERS. ] THE SOLDIERS. Hark! What noise is that? I surely heard a drum. Look there is a companyof boys dressed up like soldiers. One playing the fife, another thedrum, while at the side of the company, stands a boy, with his drawnsword over his shoulder, for all the world like a captain. And thenthere is another, with the flag flying, as proudly as if he was inreality bearing the colors of a real troop. Well, boys will be boys. Andthis little company, have had their minds filled with brave thoughtsfrom infancy perhaps. It may be, that in that little company ofboy-soldiers, there is one whose name will be yet heard of in thehistory of his country. [Illustration: THE DEPOT. ] THE DEPOT. Here is a picture of a rail-road depot, and passengers awaiting thearrival of the cars. There are many very handsome depots in the UnitedStates furnished with every thing that will afford comfort fortravellers. The cars too are sometimes very beautiful. Accidents veryoften happen on rail-roads, and lives are often lost by the thecarelessness of those having charge of the locomotive. They go veryfast; indeed so fast, that you cannot see the houses, or trees alongthe road. [Illustration: THE POSTMASTER. ] THE POSTMASTER. In olden times, in country towns, they had no post offices, as we nowhave; but a man was appointed by the authorities, whose duty was totravel on horseback from one village to another, with his bag ofletters, and deliver them to the persons to whom they are directed. His arrival was always anxiously looked for, and men, women andchildren, ran to meet him, all wanting letters, and feeling greatlydisappointed if he had not one for them. But now we have post officesin almost every little town, where the mails arrive regularly. [Illustration: THE FUNERAL. ] THE FUNERAL. See that slow and solemn procession. What does it mean? Ah! there is acoffin, carried by four persons, called pall bearers. Some one has beencalled upon to die; to return to the God who made him. See his friendsweeping, as slowly the coffin is born to the grave. Death is a verysolemn affair, children. We all have to die some time, and aftera-while, your turn will come, and you will be laid in the cold darkearth to rise again at the day of judgment. [Illustration: SCISSORS GRINDER. ] THE SCISSORS GRINDER. Oh! here he comes, his little bell tinkling, and inviting those who haveknives or scissors that want sharpening to give him a call, as he won'tcharge them much, and will sharpen the ladies' scissors, so that theywill cut like razors. See that little dog, how he watches the operation, and then there is a little boy hastening with his mother's scissors, no doubt as well pleased with the importance of his errand, as if he wasa great man. Poor old man he has a hard time to make an honest penny andyet he is as cheerful, as if he was wealthy. [Illustration] * * * * * [Illustration: HAYMAKING. ] HAYMAKING. After the grass is cut, it is spread out to dry and then put up inheaps, called stacks. If it should happen to rain, it has again to bespread out, and subjected to the heat of the sun, for if it was put intothe barn wet it would all rot, and be good for nothing. As soon as it isthoroughly dried the farmers take their hay-wagons and go out into thefield and gather it up. This is anxiously waited for by the children, who delight to ride home on the top of the loads of sweet hay, pleasedwith the success of the farmers. [Illustration: MISCHIEVOUS HARRY. ] MISCHIEVOUS HARRY. Harry Smith was a very mischievous little boy, and delighted to teasehis sister Sarah who had a very quick temper. This only made him worse, and he was often punished for his rude behavior. One day he took hissister's doll, a present from her father, and was in the act of hidingit in a drawer when the door opened, and in walked his sister. He wascaught in the very act; he ran and she after him, crying loudly, untiltheir mother who had been reading, interfered, scolding Harry for hismischievous tricks, and Sarah for her temper. The doll was restored, andshe was pacified. [Illustration: SNOW-BALLING. ] SNOW-BALLING. This is a sport that most boys really love. Most of them are impatientfor the snow to fall, as then they anticipate enjoying themselves in agame of snow-ball. For this purpose they go to some open lot, and formparties. Oftentimes, however, they become excited, especially when oneof them is hit in the eye, and the sport becomes earnest and leads tobad results. This should not be; the balls of snow, should be soft, sothat no one may be hurt; though we are sorry to say some little boys putin their snow-balls, stones and pieces of ice, which is a very dangerouspractice. [Illustration: THE RESCUE. ] THE RESCUE. Some boys are very venturesome, and will rush into danger, no matter howoften they read of accidents that happen to others, and constantlydisobey the commands of their parents. George Harris, was one of these. His father had told him again and again, not to climb trees in search ofbird's nests; but George thought there would be no danger. So one day hegot up a tree, after a bird's nest, lost his balance, and fell intothe creek, and would have been drowned, had not one of his playmatesnobly rescued him from a watery grave. He never tried it ever again, however; it was a lesson he never forgot. [Illustration: THE BURIAL. ] BURIAL OF POOR KITTY. Poor little Kitty died. Little Mary cried, as if her heart would break. Kitty was her only pet, and one which she had loved very dearly. Sheasked her brother George, if he would not make a coffin, and dig a graveto bury it in. Her brother pitied her distress and readily promised todo as she wished. At last the day came, on which it was to be put inthe cold damp earth, and all the children attended the funeral, sobbing, and feeling very solemn, as the coffin was slowly lowered into the graveprepared for its reception. All was over and with slow and reluctantsteps they departed for home, little Mary, weeping violently. [Illustration: BLIND MAN'S BUFF. ] BLIND MAN'S BUFF. This innocent amusement, is familiar to all children, and scarcely needsa description. It causes a great deal of laughter, and as laughter is avery healthy exercise, we can heartily recommend this play. One of anumber of children is blind folded, and led into the middle of the room, while the rest softly go to distant parts of the room, and he tries tofind them. He cuts a funny figure, as with his arms out-stretched hefeels his way and very often stumbles against a chair, or over one ofthe boys, who to add greater zest to the sport, stoops down on thefloor. [Illustration: THE MAGNET. ] THE MAGNETIC SWAN. As Willie had been a very good boy, and learned his lessons well, hisfather bought him a magnet and swan. Willie was delighted, and procureda large basin of water in which he put the swan, and taking the magnetin his hand, the swan followed the magnet around the basin, to thewonder and astonishment of his little sister, who could not understandhow it was. Her father tried to explain, but she could not understand. [Illustration: THE STUDIOUS AND IDLE BOY. ] THE STUDIOUS AND IDLE BOY. As George was one day deeply engaged studying his lessons, his cousinCharles came in and asked him why he sat there all day, and wanted toknow whether he would not join him in his sports. George told him, thathe could not, though he would like to very much; he had his lessons tostudy, and if he did not learn them well, he would be punished for hisidleness. Charles laughed at him and called him a mope; but hisconscience told him that George was right, and that he ought to likehim; but he was too full of play to think much about his lessons.