,illustration3 ,,the ,,girl',s ,,own ,,paper ,,vol4 ,,xx4--,,no4 #ajbc4 ,,august #e1 #ahii4 ,,price ,,one ,,penny4 ,,self-,,culture ,,for ,,girls4 ,,by ,,lily ,,watson4 ,illustration3 ,,open-,,air ,,sketching4 ,all rights reserved4 ,,part ,,vii4 ,after all the serious advice we have given to our readers as to the literature that is to make them wise1 it is pleasant to write of self-culture through the study of the best poetry4 ,it is1 however1 not by deliberately taking poetry as a vehicle of education1 hunting up every allusion1 parsing difficult sentences1 and picking the whole thing to pieces1 that readers will fall under its sway and know the power of its magic spell4 ,we have often mourned in secret at the prevailing fashion of 8getting up0 this1 that1 and the other poem for examinations1 and have wondered what such an introduction to ,english literature is worth4 ,of this method of handling the work of poets one may use ,wordsworth's phrase3 8,we murder to dissect40 ,is it desirable1 then1 to pass by allusions without comprehending them8 ,have we not praised the aspiring student who wants to know1 for instance1 who was the 8daughter of the gods1 divinely tall ,and most divinely fair10 or who it was 8,who saw life steadily and saw it whole1 ,the mellow glory of the ,attic stage1 ,singer of sweet ,colonus and its child08 ,we can only say that1 whereas anxiety to understand whatever one reads intelligently is to be commended1 no individual knowledge about a masterpiece of poetic genius is to be put in place of the masterpiece itself4 ,and we unhesitatingly condemn the practice of using poems as vehicles for lessons in grammar1 ,grimm's ,law1 or any other technical matter whatsoever4 ,for instance1 if ,wordsworth's 8,excursion0 has any meaning for your heart and mind1 do not read it with notes which stop you four times in the first three lines1 with the derivation of 8landscape10 the explanation of 8downs0 and other kindred matters1 which are undoubtedly useful1 but should not be learnt by the medium of an immortal poem4 ,if you need lessons in this elementary sort of thing1 we should advise you to find them elsewhere4 ,if you have to read one of ,shakespeare's plays edited by such admirable commentators as ,mr4 ,aldis ,wright or ,mr4 ,verity1 do not adopt the method of the girl who covered up the text1 lest it should divert her attention from the notes6 ,but the notes are the most important matter to the minds of thousands of middle-class girls and boys1 because it is on the notes they are going to be examined4 ,a suggestive and amusing essay on this subject for elder readers is to be found in ,reviews and ,essays in ,english ,literature1 by the ,rev4 ,d4 ,c4 ,tovey1 ,m4,a41 ,clark ,lecturer at ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge4 ,the well-known couplet3 8,you must love him ere to you ,he will seem worthy of your love10 is true of the poet4 ,and does the utilising of ,shakespeare as a class-book make him beloved by the young8 ,we are afraid it does not4 ,yet do not throw notes aside--only remember--do remember6--they touch nothing but the form2 the spirit of poetry eludes them altogether4 ,we may imagine two students of a poem brought into comparison4 ,the one regards it as a task alone2 she has conscientiously learnt by heart the notes of an erudite commentator1 has looked up every allusion1 can expatiate on 8,grimm's ,law10 and give instances of its working4 ,the other can do none of these things2 she has found the volume in some library1 has pored over the poem till it has become part of her inner life2 its music rings in her ears2 she loves it passionately1 and it haunts her inner consciousness like sweet1 strange music4 ,if both girls are suddenly examined for the 8,cambridge ,local10 the latter will fail and the former will pass4 ,yet the latter is the one for whom the poem has really done its true work4 ,we are not denying that she would be the better for the technical knowledge possessed by the other2 but if one has to choose between them1 she it is who really understands her poet4 ,love and knowledge should go hand in hand1 as ,browning has taught us by his legend of ,paracelsus and ,aprile2 but the modern tendency in much-examined young people is to dwell so largely on the knowledge that the love flies away4 ,read and love poetry as much as you can4 ,it will open and enlarge your mind2 feed and enlighten your imagination2 make life beautiful to you1 and teach you of the greater things that lie beyond life4 ,one sometimes hears a girl remark in a self-satisfied voice1 8,oh1 ,i don't care for poetry60 ,dear young friend1 are you aware that ,goethe said3 8,wer der ,dichtkunst ,stimme nicht vernimmt1 ,ist ein ,barbar1 er sei auch wer er sei08 7,he who has no ear for the voice of poetry is a barbarian1 be he who he may47 ,and there is considerable truth in the statement4 ,no one would be proud of physical partial deafness and blindness2 they constitute nothing to be elated about in the mental sphere4 ,if you 8do not care for poetry10 you had better at least give yourself a chance of caring for it by reading some poem on a subject which seems likely to appeal to you4 ,in this way you may find out that you have an unsuspected capacity of being touched by this music4 ,if you do not appreciate ,milton1 you may enjoy a simple poem by ,coleridge2 if ,tennyson does not please you1 ,rudyard ,kipling's stirring words may cause your heart to throb and your eyes to melt2 if ,browning is too obscure1 ,tennyson's melody may charm you2 if ,keats and ,shelley are too mystical1 ,scott's 8,marmion10 or 8,lady of the ,lake10 may prove fascinating4 ,in any case1 give yourself every chance of entering into your immortal and divine heritage of 8truth and pure delight40 ,the greatest literature of all ages has a tendency to become poetry1 as you will see if you consider the ,hebrew ,psalms1 ,homer1 schylus1 ,sophocles1 ,virgil 8lo buon maestro10 and ,dante his pupil1 ,shakespeare1 ,goethe4 ,poetry is the language in which highest aspirations1 loftiest truths1 naturally clothe themselves4 ,coleridge's definition in ,table ,talk is worth remembering4 8,i wish10 he says1 8our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry3 that is1 prose--words in their best order2 poetry--the best words in their best order40 ,we must not1 however1 be led away into a disquisition on the extremely difficult question of the true nature and scope of poetry1 but must give a few hints to the reader4 ,here much depends1 and must always depend1 on individual taste and habit of mind4 ,dante1 the great poet of the ,middle ,ages1 should be read and studied by all who have the necessary time and capacity1 but unfortunately no translation can render the poetry of the original4 ,it is worth while to learn ,italian in order to read the 8,divine ,comedy10 but if that is impossible1 it is also worth while to read it in ,dean ,plumptre's1 ,cary's1 or ,longfellow's translation4 ,longfellow's is absolutely literal1 but truth compels us to state it is often very unmusical4 ,for 8self-culture0 the intelligent study of this great poet is a mighty instrument4 ,to enter into ,dante's thought is to enter into the view of human life and human civilisation as it appeared to the greatest man of the time1 and anyone who can understand the historical allusions of the 8,divine ,comedy0 need not blush for her knowledge of history4 ,do not take ,shakespeare 8as read40 ,that is even worse than concerning yourself principally with the notes on his plays6 ,there are small editions of separate plays1 such as ,cassell's sixpenny edition1 too numerous to mention1 which are small enough to slip into the pocket1 and may form a companion on a wearisome journey4 ,the ,merchant of ,venice1 ,as ,you ,like ,it1 ,the ,tempest1 ,richard ,,ii41 may be quoted as good plays to begin with if your knowledge of the poet of poets is scanty4 ,but you may study ,shakespeare all your life without exhausting the wealth contained in his pages4 ,every succeeding generation sees more and more meaning in what he says1 because he is true to the inner life of the human heart4 ,the life is there4 ,the lessons that can be drawn from the life are practically endless4 ,the constant issue of fresh cheap editions of the plays is a good sign4 ,perhaps ,milton is not so much read nowadays2 and yet you cannot afford to neglect him4 ,if you are alarmed at the length of 8,paradise ,lost10 begin with some of his shorter poems and sonnets2 and if you do not read right through ,spenser's 8,faerie ,queen10 you will find many beautiful scenes and thoughts here and there4 ,we have spoken of the great ,florentine poet and the study of ,italian2 it will not perhaps be quite out of place to hint to students of ,german that a rich reward lies before them if they can master the language sufficiently to enjoy the lyric poems of ,goethe1 the higher flights of ,schiller1 and many others4 ,the 8,erl-,knig0 7,erl ,king7 by ,goethe and the 8,farewell of ,joan of ,arc to the ,mountains0 from ,schiller's play1 ,the ,maid of ,orleans1 were great favourites of the writer in her girlhood4 ,german poetry is true music1 whatever may be said to the contrary by those who only half know the language4 ,space fails us to write in full of modern ,english poetry4 ,wordsworth1 ,scott1 ,longfellow1 ,tennyson1 ,browning1 ,mrs4 ,browning1 ,keats1 ,shelley1 ,matthew ,arnold1 ,arthur ,hugh ,clough1 ,william ,morris1 are names of varying fame1 but each name brings unspeakable associations to those who know and love the poet through his work4 ,surely one of these may become to you a teacher who will help and inspire4 ,wordsworth will transport you into the world of nature4 ,how much those are to be pitied who live in the 8stony-hearted0 street1 far from the sweet influences of wood and meadow1 moor and mountain1 lake and waterfall6 ,these exiles from the true home of man may find solace in the poet of nature4 8,keep fresh the grass upon his grave1 ,o ,rotha1 with thy living wave2 ,sing him thy best6 for few or none ,hears thy voice right1 now he is gone40 ,thus ,matthew ,arnold apostrophises the little river that washes the ,grasmere churchyard4 ,the epitaph to ,wordsworth in the ,grasmere church so aptly describes his work that we cannot refrain from quoting it here4 8,to the memory of ,william ,wordsworth1 a ,true ,philosopher and ,poet3 who1 by the special gift and calling of ,almighty ,god1 whether he discoursed of ,man or ,nature1 failed not to lift up the heart to ,holy ,things3 tired not of maintaining the cause of the ,poor and ,simple2 and so in ,perilous ,times was raised up to be a ,chief ,minister1 not only of noblest ,poesy1 but of high and sacred ,truth40 ,robert ,browning1 unlike ,wordsworth1 is a dramatic poet at heart4 ,we do not mean that his plays are his best work1 but that he has unerring skill in reading the human heart and translating into poetry its loves1 hates1 fears1 and ambitions4 ,if you will try to understand him1 do not be discouraged by obscurity1 but begin by some of the shorter1 simpler1 and yet characteristic poems in the volume of ,selections4 ,as for ,tennyson1 who sings alike of man and of nature1 you will probably be more readily lured to his pages than to those of ,wordsworth or ,browning4 ,if you are in sorrow1 ,in ,memoriam may prove a faithful comforter4 ,it is impossible1 of course1 to expatiate on all the poets named and many others who are not named2 a volume would not be sufficient4 ,all one can say is--read for yourself1 and if you are ambitious for self-culture1 remember that the reading of the best poetry will do more for you than can possibly be expressed by any words here4 ,there are two minor poets whose works you will probably much enjoy--,jean ,ingelow and ,coventry ,patmore4 ,the 8,angel in the ,house0 by the latter is greatly esteemed by ,mr4 ,ruskin4 8,teach your children poetry10 says ,lord ,macaulay2 8it opens the mind1 lends grace to wisdom1 and makes the heroic virtues hereditary40 ,and the rugged old philosopher1 ,carlyle1 speaks thus of the influence of poetry on any living human creature-- 8,tones of sphere-music and tidings from loftier worlds will flit round him if he can but listen1 and visit him with holy influences1 even in the thickest press of trivialities or the din of busiest life40 7,to be concluded47 ,,the ,,house ,,with ,,the ,,verandah4 ,,by ,,isabella ,,fyvie ,,mayo1 ,author of 8,other ,people's ,stairs10 8,her ,object in ,life10 etc4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,christmas ,,again4 ,the missive in ,lucy's hand was no simple workman's clumsy bill4 ,it was a sheet of blank paper4 8,what can this mean80 said ,lucy1 turning it about1 while ,miss ,latimer and ,tom watched her4 8,you may be sure it ought to be the bricklayer's bill1 but that he has put in the wrong piece of paper10 observed ,miss ,latimer4 8,or it may have come from that stupid fellow we found in the area10 said ,tom4 8,perhaps his next tipsy fit has taken this form1 and he is under the delusion that he has written a letter to ,jane ,smith40 8,that is not unlikely10 ,lucy admitted1 still turning the paper about4 8,the letter has been posted at this district office1 and there is no maker's name on the envelope4 ,anyhow1 there it goes10 and she tore it in two and dropped it into the waste-paper basket4 8,i wonder if ,clementina would notice the strange-looking letter10 said ,miss ,latimer4 8,i'm always afraid of something stirring her superstitions and making her take flight to her ,highland hills on the score that #8,babylon' is too terrible a place to stay in40 ,that was all4 ,it was but a nine minutes' wonder4 ,yet they remembered it afterwards4 ,early in ,december there came a letter from ,mrs4 ,grant in ,peterhead4 ,lucy and the captain's wife had kept up a slight correspondence during their husbands' absence on the ,slains ,castle4 ,each had always written to apprise the other of any news she had received4 ,once or twice1 indeed1 when unexpected opportunities for ship's letters had arisen1 the busy captain had contented himself with sending a message to his wife vi his passenger's home epistle4 ,mrs4 ,grant had always promptly and cordially acknowledged these curtesies on ,lucy's part4 ,but she was not naturally a letter-writing woman4 ,her missives were always of the briefest1 and never until now had she taken the initiative4 ,mrs4 ,grant's letter seemed1 on the face of it1 both as cheerful and as brief as usual4 ,she 8supposed ,lucy had heard nothing lately1 as she knew she would have let her know if she had40 8,sailing vessels are often out of their reckoning for weeks and weeks10 she added4 ,she dropped a word of congratulation that ,lucy's own welcoming day was assuredly near at hand now1 and of half-comic self-condolence that hers was so much farther off4 8,in my case1 too1 one suspense is no sooner over than another begins10 she wrote4 8,but that's the lot of the sailor's wife1 and ,i know it was all in my bargain when ,i took the captain40 ,there certainly seemed nothing in that letter to alarm ,lucy1 and she marvelled at a strange uneasiness which she felt stirring within her4 ,was she intuitively aware of some anxiety on the part of ,mrs4 ,grant1 which she had studiously kept out of her words8 ,lucy wrote a prompt reply1 saying that she had heard nothing yet1 but was daily looking for tidings4 ,she tried to make her letter cheerful1 and wondered whether ,mrs4 ,grant1 in her turn1 would read anything between the lines4 ,lucy scarcely liked to think of the approaching ,christmas ,day4 ,if ,charlie had returned1 it would be a day of supreme joy2 if timely sea news came in1 it would be one of gladdest thanksgiving4 ,but if----6 ,there ,lucy paused1 and turned aside as from a great mist advancing to enfold her4 ,yet she must make her little plans to be fit for the fulfilment of her hope4 ,not to do so1 would seem like creating an omen of prolonged separation and anxiety4 ,so she and ,miss ,latimer sent out a ,christmas bidding to ,mr4 ,somerset1 ,lucy saying with pathetic playfulness that under the circumstances she scarcely knew whether she ought to issue her invitations in her own name only or with ,charlie's joined thereto4 8,for he may be among us on that day yet10 she added4 ,writing down her hope seemed to make it more tangible4 ,mr4 ,somerset called in reply to ,lucy's invitation4 ,he told her that in accepting it1 he was accepting a real kindness4 ,without it1 this ,christmas might have been very lonely and desolate for him4 ,his old landlord lay at the point of death1 and consequently the whole household was saddened and absorbed4 8,how much sadness there is in the world60 sighed ,lucy4 8,and how terrible it is that there is a sort of consolation in realising that one is not the only burdened and anxious soul4 ,it seems a selfish and cruel feeling to find comfort in that thought60 ,mr4 ,somerset looked up brightly4 8,yes1 it seems so10 he said4 8,i used to think so1 and probably it is so in the spirit in which the idea may sometimes be suggested and received4 ,yet ,i have learned to understand that it does not have a selfish and cruel origin4 ,i think ,i have discovered what the idea springs from1 and how it is that such a thought may really soothe and strengthen4 ,after all1 what is the very depth of woe--its unendurable sting80 ,lucy mused4 8,i think it is the failure of our faith10 she said gently4 8,the chilly feeling that ,god has let go of us and that there are none to help40 8,exactly so10 answered ,mr4 ,somerset1 8and ,i daresay all of us have known that feeling more than once4 ,it calls our very humility and littleness to its aid1 so that we ask1 #8,who am ,i that ,god should remember me8' ,but can any sane mind look upon another1 the lowest1 the worst and the most abject1 and deliberately say1 #8,who is he that ,god should remember him8' ,i think not4 ,we can feel that would be the vilest blasphemy against ,god4 ,it would at once strip ,god of all that makes ,him good1 ay1 or great either1 with that wonderful greatness1 before which earth's highest and lowest and best and worst are all the same4 ,no1 ,mrs4 ,challoner1 in realising the fellowship of others in suffering1 we at once realise that ,god must know all about it1 and that there must be some wise purpose in it1 and if so for that other1 then for ourselves too40 8,did not some philosopher say that death1 being universal1 could be no evil80 asked ,lucy4 8,i think it was the poet ,schiller said so10 returned ,mr4 ,somerset1 8and ,i believe it is the consciousness of this1 however little realised1 which keeps life brave and bright and sane in the perpetual presence of death4 ,the #8solidarity of humanity1' though the phrase is one which they may scarcely understand1 is the secret treasure of the humble4 ,it never occurs to them to be surprised and shocked when those evils befall them which they always knew befell others4 ,in their eyes #8it is the ,lord1 let ,him do what seemeth to ,him good1' always #8good1' you may observe4 #8,it is all in the day's work1' they tell one1 when their lot is hardest40 ,lucy thought of ,mrs4 ,may1 and of the strength and comfort she had gathered1 more than a year ago1 from that good woman's calm outlook on events1 and her fixed conviction that there is inward strength at command sufficient to lift us elastic after any outward blow4 ,it seemed to ,lucy that she too might rise equal to the sublime suspenses and sorrows of life if only her strength and spirits were spared the perpetual corrosion of petty cares and worries which fretted them away as moths consume a garment4 ,then the wiser reflection came--that neither were such petty cares and worries special to her2 they too entered into every lot2 one could not doubt that brave cheery ,mrs4 ,may had her full share4 ,the same inward strength must be as ready and able to bear the perpetual little trials as the occasional great ones1 if only we invoke it and know how to use it4 ,the great ocean of ,divine love and strength is always waiting to flow into our smallest trials1 if we would but hold them ready4 ,once more the ,institute holidays began4 ,lucy had now made arrangements for continuing her services there into the next year1 under a running 8quarter's notice40 ,she had in readiness all her little gala preparations with which to greet ,charlie's return1 however unexpected it might happen to be4 ,of late she had seen very little of the ,brands4 ,she knew that ,jem had made a great success in some of his speculations4 ,in newspapers she saw that his name was held in prominent place at 8financial0 meetings1 and she noticed mention of ,florence as among the guests at showy social functions4 ,taking up a 8society paper0 by chance1 she actually read an account of her sister's toilette6 ,to ,lucy's ideas1 such a thing was an indecent intrusion into the affairs of a private lady4 ,when ,florence called on her1 elate over all these things1 she could not congratulate her1 and ,lucy felt that her simple silence chafed ,florence4 ,even as the boy-boarder1 poor ,tom1 8degraded0 ,lucy in ,florence's eyes1 so1 from ,lucy's standpoint1 these vanities degraded ,florence4 ,the sisters were drifting ever further apart4 ,lives with aims and aspirations diametrically opposed cannot keep together1 however household love and the memory of old associations may yearn that they should do so4 ,nay1 the more these struggle against the separating tide1 the more ghastly is their shipwreck likely to be4 ,there is 8a time to embrace1 and a time to refrain from embracing40 ,the most poignant tragedy of life comes in just here4 ,for whatever love has ever been1 will persist1 and has to learn to rest patient in the faith that 8,god seeketh again that which is passed away40 ,christmas morning came4 ,miss ,latimer had her ,christmas offering of daintily hemmed net ruffles1 just the sort of thing which ,lucy had now no time to make4 ,there was the usual budget of ,christmas letters and parcels4 ,a book for ,hugh1 from 8his father's friend ,wilfrid ,somerset10 sent by post1 because ,mr4 ,somerset knew that a 8post parcel for his very self0 would bulk so largely in a child's delight2 and a magnificent hand-painted glove and handkerchief sachet in white satin from ,jem and ,florence4 ,what significance there was in those gifts6 ,miss ,latimer and ,mr4 ,somerset gave with theirs a wee bit of themselves1 the kind consideration for a tired woman's inability to serve herself1 and for the eager vanity of a little child4 ,but that costly and delicate sachet could have had no proper place in the little house with the verandah at any time1 and certainly could have no function in the life of a working woman-artist1 who bought no gloves but dark 8suedes10 and who could scarcely find time or spare energy to dust her books6 ,lucy expressed a desperate admiration of the thing's delicate beauty1 and so did ,miss ,latimer4 ,there was nothing else to say4 ,each knew the other was not deceived as to her estimate of the thoughtlessness of such a gift4 8,but poor ,florence means to be so kind10 ,lucy urged upon herself4 8,that is in her taste1 and it would suit her own white-and-gold bedroom4 ,she cannot realise the difference between us6 ,we always used to have everything alike4 ,and she means to be kind60 ,lucy secretly pressed a yearning kiss on the soft white thing1 ere she refolded it in its dainty papers1 from which1 she knew1 it would not be taken again for a long time4 ,they rend us terribly1 do these thoughtless favours in which a kind intention seems to blunder4 ,possibly this pang of remorse for seeming ungraciousness and ingratitude might sometimes be lessened if we could look deeper into the matter4 ,it might have been spared to ,lucy had she known that ,florence had neither chosen nor even bought this gift4 ,it had been sent to ,florence herself1 but she had just received another1 much handsomer1 so after writing a gushing note of thanks to the donor1 she had promptly forwarded it to ,lucy6 ,mr4 ,somerset himself arrived in due time4 ,lucy sat amid her little circle with a smiling face1 but they all felt that she must feel a keen disappointment that1 after all1 she still remained the sole head of the household4 ,they pressed upon her all the cheer possible4 8,after all1 the weary waiting time is all behind you10 said ,mr4 ,somerset4 8,only fancy if last year you could have felt as you may now1 that all which remains is but a few days more or less40 8,we'll have to be quite sure that we recognise ,mr4 ,challoner when he appears10 put in ,miss ,latimer playfully1 pointing to ,charlie's portrait over the fireplace4 8,remember he has had long voyagings through sunny seas even since that was taken1 and his present self may be as much of an improvement on that as that is on the pale invalid who went away40 8,you have made a supreme effort to win this triumph1 ,mrs4 ,challoner10 remarked ,mr4 ,somerset4 8,it may all seem easy to you now it is ending so beautifully4 ,but you made the effort in the dark1 not knowing how it might end40 8,but it was right to do1 and that was ,lucy's part1 and the disposing of it is ,god's10 said ,miss ,latimer4 8,we must not do evil that good may come4 ,but we must do right1 however its ending may seem to us40 8,but possibly right is somewhat different with different people10 remarked ,mr4 ,somerset4 8,what was right for our friend here to do was an action right only in those as brave and capable as she is40 8,i am no casuist10 returned ,miss ,latimer4 8,my idea of right is that it is what each person knows he or she ought to do and can do40 8,ah1 but there is a great deal in that #8can do1'0 smiled ,mr4 ,somerset4 8,none know what they can do till they try10 retorted ,miss ,latimer4 8,dr4 ,ivery has been so kind10 said ,lucy4 8,he had sent two or three times to inquire after ,charlie's progress4 ,so when ,i got that photograph ,i thought ,i ought to let him see it4 ,i said ,i hoped he would excuse me for bringing it1 but ,i thought it might help him what to advise in similar cases1 and he said1 #8,yes4'0 ,lucy broke off abruptly with a little laugh and a heightened colour4 ,mr4 ,somerset and ,miss ,latimer also laughed4 ,they both guessed what ,lucy did not choose to tell them1 that the doctor had said he would often be happy to prescribe such a cure if the patient were but provided with such a wife to help him to carry it out6 8,all this is very well10 said ,tom ,black1 assuming a grumbling tone4 8,but ,i should look forward to ,mr4 ,challoner's coming with much more delight if ,i did not fear that it will end my days here2 he will want all his house for himself60 ,lucy laughed very sincerely now4 8,charlie's coming will bring you nothing but good1 ,tom10 she observed1 8and you know that well enough4 ,you have been a great help to me1 and ,charlie will be even more grateful than ,i am4 ,but there is something for which we can all be grateful together1 at the very present moment--to wit1 that no poor ,jessie ,morison is spoiling the peace of this ,christmas ,day4 ,i was in the kitchen half an hour ago1 and ,clementina has got everything most conscientiously in order40 8,nevertheless she's something of a spoil-sport10 put in ,tom4 8,i wonder if it takes any nourishment out of one's food when the cook is always sighing80 ,hugh had been perched up in the window1 watching cabs which were bringing ,christmas guests to the neighbours4 ,at this instant he turned1 crying-- 8,something is the matter opposite4 ,policemen60 ,they all rushed to the window4 8,is it a chimney on fire80 asked ,miss ,latimer4 8,there is no smoke10 said ,lucy4 7,to be continued47 ,illustration ,,sunshine3 ,a ,,summer ,,sermon4 ,,by ,dr4 ,,gordon-,,stables1 ,r4,n4 78,,medicus074 8,catch1 then1 ,o catch the transient hour1 ,improve each moment as it flies1 ,life's a short summer1 man a flower1 ,he dies--alas6 how soon he dies60 99 99 99 99 99 ,i will not begin by saying--as so many people do--that the small amount of sunshine we get in this country is not worth mentioning4 ,this is not the case4 ,would you be surprised to learn that we have enough for health's sake1 and that when we do not get actual summer sunshine1 we get the summer light all around us out of doors8 ,that this light is diffused1 filtered for us through the clouds that float high above1 and that many people of wealth who leave this land of ours to seek for sunnier soils and sunnier shores1 about the ,riviera1 the isles of the blue ,levant or ,madeira and the ,canaries1 make a most egregious mistake1 and their health would be vastly improved were they to spend their time in the cool green midlands of ,england1 on the sunshiny braes and hills of majestic ,scotland or even down at our own seaside watering-places--quiet ones1 mind you--where the wavelets ripple with gladsome laughter as they break on the golden sands8 ,the maids of merry ,england seldom need the dry hot sunshine of the ,soudan or banks of the gliding ,nile4 ,our maidens1 ,i maintain1 are flowers1 and beautiful flowers too1 but not like those on far southern shores that can without hurt or harm stare the sun in the face4 ,there is as much difference indeed between an ,english1 ,scottish1 or ,irish girl1 and an ,italian or ,spanish as there is between the violets blue and the crimson flower of the cactus4 ,our sunshine--our own own sunshine--is best for us1 unless our lungs and blood are weakened by the on-coming of ailments like the deadly and all too fatal disease we call phthisis4 ,well1 all my readers1 even the youngest ,i hope have heard of the sunshine bath4 ,it is a very old form of bathing indeed4 ,it is said to have been invented by the ,romans in their palmiest days1 but it was used by ,indians and ,africans or ,egyptians long long before ,rome or ,greece itself was very much of a country or kingdom4 ,and they no doubt were but following the example set to them by the birds and beasts in forest and wildery4 ,the ,romans before they became demoralised and effete had special baths in which they could revel in the sunshine4 ,these were very luxurious1 and splendidly draped apartments open only to the sky1 in which one could sit or lounge uncovered save by garments of gauze1 and where1 with the head alone protected at times by a shade1 one could benefit in a most especial way from direct sun-rays4 ,we have none such in our day4 ,the strong need none such1 and may best take the sunshine out of doors when it comes1 not even troubling themselves to go in search of it4 ,but so convinced am ,i of the benefits of sunshine that ,i confidently advise girls--young or not quite so young--to court it1 to enjoy it all they can1 to sit or recline in it1 to hang their hammocks in it1 and with or without a sunshade to dream and revel1 laugh and live in it1 for verily1 verily1 to the delicate1 summer sunshine is life itself4 ,yes1 and if it makes them drowsy when in their hammock1 let them place the magazine they have been reading over brow and eyes and go to sleep in it4 ,but supposing the sun is not shining but the day is dry1 well1 you still have light4 ,and a bath of diffused light is a bath of health4 ,don't swing your hammocks under trees except in too bright sunshine4 ,only beetles and toadstools can flourish under a cedar or spruce4 ,but what ,i want you1 reader1 specially to remember1 and ,i'll be fearfully cross and grumpy if you do not remember it1 is this3 don't take your sunshine bath in a window or even a verandah4 ,this is altogether too one-sided an affair4 ,the light or the sun-rays must be all around you4 ,all around you too must circle the fresh air4 ,reverting to the ,romish bath3 ,i must say that if we had at sunny seaside places institutions where we could enjoy such a thing nearly or quite unclothed1 with the sky alone above us1 it would be a really good thing1 but following the example of the less endowed animals we see in fields and woods we shall benefit by being out in the sunshine simply lightly dressed4 ,the sun can penetrate like ,rntgen rays through and through our garments and bodies if we but expose ourselves thereto4 ,mere animals1 as we are all too fond of calling them1 appear oftentimes to know what is good for them better than we do4 8,reason raise o'er instinct if we can1 ,in this 'tis ,god directs1--in that 'tis man40 ,when a favourite animal belonging to our domestic circle1 such as a dog or cat1 is weak because well-stricken in years1 you may always notice that he courts the sunshine whenever he has a chance1 and with it the fresh air4 ,a question which naturally enough often recurs to one is this3 ,what is the difference between indoor heat and that obtained from the sunshine8 ,well1 apart from the fact that sunshine1 whether clearitically or otherwise1 exerts a very powerful influence for good on the animal and vegetable creation1 it has a hundred times more of penetrating force than that which comes from a fire or that which we find in a room heated by steam or hot water pipes4 ,moreover1 the heat which is artificial is all too often decidedly one-sided1 and many a most disagreeable cold has been caught on a chilly night from hugging the fire1 by which one portion of the body is heated at the expense of the other4 ,there is less oxygen to be breathed indoors1 and a dangerous amount of carbonic acid and other deleterious gases4 ,again1 all nature shows us that sunshine and light permeate every tissue of the animal or vegetable structure1 so that they may be considered synonymous with the term life itself4 ,and the purer the air we breathe when out of doors the greater the effect for good sunshine will have4 ,but if we are to benefit thoroughly by summer sunshine1 we must be out every day and1 if possible1 at the self-same hours of the day4 ,walking in moderation will be found far more advantageous to the delicate girl who would regain health than cycling4 ,it must not be carried to the boundary line of fatigue1 however4 ,one should be just nicely pleasantly tired4 ,here1 for instance1 is a rgime that would suit many a lassie who had gone to some bracing delightful spot to live for the sixty or one hundred days of summer4 ,she ought to adopt it from the very second day4 ,having retired early on the previous evening from quiet but non-exciting employment1 having neither talked nor laughed nor sung much for the two hours previous1 let her pull the window down1 have sufficient bed-clothing and a not too soft mattress1 and easy yielding pillows4 ,let her go to bed1 and having done so--think of nothing4 ,if this plan is adopted sleep will soon waft her away to the beautiful ,land of ,nod1 and if she is breathing pure air all night she will awake betimes1 refreshed and as happy as the birds on the lawn4 ,but this awaking betimes is a sine qu non of this health-giving rgime1 so if not sure of being called by seven o'clock1 she ought to have an alarm4 ,the first thing on getting up is tonic1 bracing1 cold sponge-bath followed by a thorough towelling4 ,she should not dawdle in dressing1 but get out into the garden for a fifteen minutes' walk as soon as possible4 ,after a solid breakfast with not too much coffee or tea1 the forenoon may be said to be fairly begun4 ,and the whole of this should be spent out of doors in the sunshine or light4 ,even rain must not confine her to the house4 ,if she could live in a tent entirely it would be better than a house4 ,she ought to be back home to wash hands and face and rest a little1 a good half-hour before the #a4cj dinner4 ,rest for half an hour after this4 ,no wine or stimulant of any kind1 and just enough solid food to satisfy the needs of nature4 ,soup is a mistake and so is cheese1 and1 as a rule1 salad4 ,pudding is not to be eaten if there is the slightest inclination to embonpoint4 ,fruit may be partaken of at any time so long as it is quite fresh and seasonable4 ,a little rest should be taken for say half an hour after dinner1 then out again for pleasant exercise or non-exciting games4 ,one cup of the very best tea about five1 and supper at seven4 ,if sleepless and thin1 a little food should be taken the very last thing1 a biscuit or two with butter1 and a large tumblerful of hot milk with sugar and flavouring to taste4 ,then meditation and bed4 ,really and truly a summer spent thus in fresh air1 sunshine1 or light will cure seventy per cent4 of all chronic ailments1 quite bring back appetite and happiness to the dyspeptic and gloomy1 and even eradicate the first seeds of consumption itself4 ,but one word in conclusion3 if everything is not done day after day with method and regularity1 if late hours be kept1 or the evenings spent too excitedly1 then you need expect but little benefit from even the summer sunshine4 ,i hope to have a paper very soon on the 8,fresh ,air ,treatment of ,consumption40 ,,grilling ,,and ,,devilling4 ,,by ,,dora ,,de ,,blaqui,,re4 ,i have taken the trouble to look in the dictionary for the word 8grill10 and ,i find it is derived from the ,french word 8grille0--a grate or gridiron--and it means to broil on a grate or gridiron4 ,but to-day1 in point of fact1 grilling is rarely performed in this manner1 few people having the gridiron2 and if not done in the oven1 it is performed in an open frying-pan4 ,i have begun with this piece of information because some of my readers may say on seeing the word1 8,oh1 we can't grill6 ,we have no means of using a gridiron60 ,and as all devils must be grilled or fried quickly1 without burning them in a hot oven1 it is well to understand exactly what is meant4 ,to my mind a frying-pan is better than an oven1 because you can watch the process and see that the gravy does not waste4 ,and the very first thing you have to guard against with an inexperienced or poor cook is her either wasting all the mixture for the gravy1 or else her drying it up and burning the meat1 or scorching the bones1 and making them uneatable4 ,the operation of grilling must be performed quickly1 and needs the best attention of the operator4 ,now ,i must tell you what ,i daresay you may already know1 i4e41 that all the great cooks1 like ,francatelli1 give you a recipe for what they generally call 8devil's mixture02 and the following is the composition of that renowned master in the art of cooking4 ,mix well upon a plate a spoonful of either ,french or ,english mustard1 a spoonful of ,oude sauce or chutney1 the same of anchovy1 two spoonfuls of olive oil1 and a little cayenne pepper4 ,this should be used to cover whatever you are about to grill4 ,in the ,pytchley ,cookery ,book1 which is so celebrated1 you will find two or three recipes for devil sauce4 ,the first is the simplest4 ,warm and blend together a teaspoonful of mixed mustard1 a tablespoonful of ,worcestershire sauce1 an ounce of glaze1 an ounce of butter1 a saltspoonful of cayenne pepper1 one of salt1 and a tablespoonful of chopped parsley4 ,mix1 warm up1 and rub the meat well with the mixture1 serving it as gravy1 should any remain after the broiling4 ,the second ,pytchley recipe is intended to be poured over the meat when broiled4 ,a tablespoonful of mustard1 a teaspoonful of curry paste1 a tablespoonful of ,worcestershire sauce1 two tablespoonfuls of mushroom ketchup1 a teaspoonful of anchovy sauce1 a teaspoonful of salt1 the yolk of an egg1 and half a pint of thick soup from the night before1 if a thin soup4 ,then thicken it with some brown thickening1 boil up1 and pour over the broiled bones4 ,thus1 you see1 there are really two methods of devilling2 the one first-mentioned when you pour the sauce over the meat before broiling1 and the second when you put it over afterwards1 which really takes more the form of a gravy1 though it is not intended to be too plentiful1 nor to surround the devilled meat in the dish4 ,for the first intention of devils is1 that they should be dry1 rather crisp1 and savoury1 not wet and soft in the slightest degree4 ,this you must be pleased to remember if you would make them successfully1 and one of your great difficulties will be to have the dish dry1 yet not dried up1 which is the test of a good devil4 ,what is known as ,indian devil mixture is made as follows3 ,to one tablespoonful each of vinegar1 ketchup1 and chutney paste1 add an ounce of dissolved butter1 a dessertspoonful of made mustard1 salt1 and a small cup of good gravy4 ,mix all together1 and rub them into the meat either cooked or uncooked4 ,make all hot slowly together4 ,they will take ten minutes to make hot4 ,serve in the dish in which you have cooked them4 ,this recipe is one which was left to the cooking world by ,admiral ,ross1 and it is an excellent one1 quickly and easily made4 ,in all those ,i have given you will see that either mustard1 mixed or unmixed1 is made use of2 but ,i myself dispense with it1 as ,i like the mixture better without it for ordinary use4 ,what is known as a ,cambridge devil was given to me long ago by a ,fellow of ,st4 ,john's1 and dates certainly from the very last days of the last century1 or the early days of this one--which1 if we all live long enough1 will soon be spoken of as 8the last century0 too6 ,this can be employed with any kind of meat1 but ,i have chiefly used it with ham1 and it is very excellent in helping to use up the remains of a ham1 which is rather difficult to deal with when you do not turn it into potted ham1 which is1 perhaps1 the most sensible way of all4 ,the rough and ready way of making a ,cambridge devil is to take the mustard pot1 and with the mustard spoon to smear over the slices of ham on one side as much mustard as you think you are likely to stand1 and then to add some vinegar--perhaps two tablespoonfuls--just enough to make a thickened gravy with the mustard you have put in4 ,you have first laid the slices of ham neatly on an old plate1 or1 at least1 on one plate which you do not mind putting into a very hot oven1 and when you have added the mustard and the vinegar1 you must put the plate into a hot oven4 ,when it gets very hot1 take a fork and turn about the slices of ham until they be covered with vinegar1 and the vinegar and the mustard have amalgamated in some measure1 then put back into the oven1 and let it brown well and frizzle up1 and then serve in the same plate in which it has been cooked4 ,but you should stand it1 of course1 on another one1 so that it may not do any damage1 nor burn people's fingers4 ,i learned years ago a very nice and simple method of preparing slices of cold meat of any kind by rubbing them with curry powder and then frying them1 or1 better still1 grilling4 ,when you have cut the slices of meat 7mutton1 ,i think1 for choice71 pour some curry powder on a plate1 and roll the slices in it2 but if you do not like things very hot and fierce1 then mix the curry powder with flour in the proportion of half and half1 and this will make the dish more suitable for the family4 ,i am inclined to think that all these dishes of an extremely savoury description are more suitable for the 8grown-ups0 than the smaller fry4 ,cold meat may be also simply devilled by shaking over it a mixture of cayenne1 black pepper1 and salt1 and sometimes a little ,french mustard is added at the last before the meat is made hot4 ,i have also seen the above mixed with butter into a paste1 the meat slightly scored1 and the mixture rubbed into the scorings4 ,amongst the most delightful of breakfast dishes are those made of drumsticks of fowls1 turkeys1 or ducks4 ,these should be scored lengthways1 and the mixture inserted2 then you should put on some tiny bits of butter 7if you do not use oil7 and grill4 ,now ,i must enter on the very important subject of bones 7,i am sure it ought to have a capital ,b71 grilled and devilled bones constituting one of those delicacies which are always associated with club suppers1 or the midnight meals of celebrated eating-houses4 ,in private houses1 devilled bones are not so well known1 nor so successful1 perhaps1 when done2 and this is generally owing1 as ,i have said before1 to the carelessness or to the inexperience of cooks1 who may never have been taught how to do them4 ,the bones most used for grilling and devilling are from the sirloin of beef1 or the shoulder or leg of mutton4 ,of course1 when we speak of 8bones10 we do not mean that they are 8bare bones02 they must of necessity have a certain amount of meat left upon them--that is to say1 enough to be scored with a sharp knife1 if to be devilled as well as grilled4 ,if to be grilled only1 and you be fortunate enough to have a gridiron1 they need nothing but a little pepper and salt1 and sometimes not even that4 ,the bones require a fierce1 hot1 and clear fire1 and the epicure of grilled bones prefers that the meat should be black4 ,if the fire be not fierce enough1 you can make it more so by throwing a little fat upon it1 either in the form of dripping1 or of odd pieces of fat that may be cut off from the meat4 ,this will make a sufficient blaze1 and you will attain without trouble to the coveted degree of blackness1 which really is more smoke and scorch than burn1 and gives with the grease that kind of smoky taste to the grill that we enjoy so much with ham and any other smoked meats4 ,grilled ,kippered ,salmon4--,cut some dried salmon into small long pieces--about four inches long and two inches wide2 broil them over a clear fire1 then rub them over with fresh butter seasoned with lemon-juice and cayenne1 and serve very hot4 ,grilled ,cod ,cutlets4--,one ancient recipe for grilling will serve to explain the process1 and will enable anyone to perform the operation without difficulty4 ,the first thing to do is to dry the cutlets or anything else in a clean cloth1 and then to brush them over lightly with fresh olive oil1 place them on a hot gridiron1 and grill for about ten minutes2 turn them on both sides1 and1 when done1 sprinkle with pepper and salt1 squeeze lemon-juice over them1 and serve very hot4 ,this is the usual process1 and everything--fish1 mutton1 beef1 mushrooms1 and chicken or turkey--can be done by it4 ,and now ,i hope that you will have quite comprehended from what ,i have written the difference between grilling and devilling1 and can see that grills need not be devilled1 but that devils must always be grilled4 ,so ,i will finish up my subject by discoursing on the things to which you may apply the latter process1 which are so many that you will find your list of breakfast and supper dishes greatly enlarged4 ,i hope you are not foolishly prejudiced against tinned foods1 because they are very excellent if you do not try to purchase them cheaply1 and always go to good and reliable shops for them4 ,thus the matter is in your own hands completely2 and you have no one to blame but yourself if they turn out unsatisfactorily4 ,i hope you understand also that devils must not be black as grills are1 and not be placed over a too hot fire2 but must be well browned and frizzled4 ,and while there are some people who like dry ones1 there are other people who prefer that the devil mixture should be thickened round them like a rather thick gravy4 ,in fact1 this process rather repeats that of curry-making1 as there are dry curries1 wet curries1 and very wet ones4 ,and now ,i shall finish with a few more available dishes1 which are simple and easily made by any cook1 whether good or bad1 who can at least read a recipe and follow it4 ,devilled ,lobster is one of the things that can be made with tinned lobster4 ,you must first prepare a paste of salt1 dry mustard1 curry powder1 black pepper1 and salad oil4 ,spread it over the lobster1 then melt an ounce of butter in a fire-proof dish1 put in the fish1 and heat it well through1 browning the top4 ,if you are using fresh lobster1 it will require fully ten minutes in cooking4 ,tinned salmon1 or the remains of a tinned tongue1 may be used in the same manner1 and so may the ,australian beef4 ,the remains of a cold roast duck are suitable for a most excellent devil4 ,to make it you must remove the bones and cut the meat into rather small pieces1 but not too small4 7,this is better made in a small enamelled saucepan47 ,take a tablespoonful of dry mustard1 a teaspoonful of salt1 a little cayenne1 and two tablespoonfuls of lemon-juice4 ,mix these ingredients gradually and very thoroughly together1 and add two tablespoonfuls of butter melted1 and two tablespoonfuls of water4 ,when this gets hot1 put in the pieces of duck and also a gill of some white wine--,sauterne--or even a light claret1 or1 if you do not like wine1 use a gill of good stock instead4 ,place the saucepan over the fire and stir it carefully till smoking hot1 then turn it on to a hot-water dish1 if you have it1 and serve as hot as possible4 ,now1 the next dish that occurs to me is devilled kidneys4 ,for a large dish1 twelve sheep's kidneys will be required2 but1 of course1 you must be guided by the number of people for whom you are catering4 ,cut the kidneys in half1 remove the centres and white tubes1 and then scald them1 removing also the skin4 ,put two ounces of butter into an enamelled saucepan2 and1 when it is hot1 throw in the kidneys and cook them quickly4 ,dust them over with salt and white pepper1 and then pour over them a tablespoonful of onion juice1 one of ,worcestershire sauce1 and four teaspoonfuls of light sherry4 ,serve smoking hot1 and1 if possible1 in a hot-water dish1 for ,i hope you understand that everything in this way must be served and kept hot while at table4 ,sardines may be either grilled or devilled4 ,if the former1 scrape them free from skin and oil1 and wipe them in a clean cloth4 ,oil a little butter and roll them in it1 powder them with cayenne pepper and salt1 and cover them with some finely-chopped parsley and chopped mushrooms4 ,wrap each sardine in oiled paper1 and put in the oven till hot2 and serve in the same papers in which they were cooked without unfolding them1 and lay each on a slice of toast4 ,devilled ,sardines are done in quite the same way4 ,to begin with1 they are scraped and wiped1 and rolled in a mixture of mustard1 ,worcestershire sauce1 anchovy sauce 7be sure to shake both the bottles71 and four tablespoonfuls of melted butter1 and lay each on a slice of toast in the oven1 and serve very hot4 ,it should not take more than five minutes to cook them in a very quick oven4 ,eggs devilled with anchovy toast is another good supper dish4 ,you must first put a little butter in the frying-pan1 and afterwards a mixture of half a teaspoonful of dry mustard1 two tablespoonfuls of tomato sauce1 one of ,worcester sauce1 and one of mushroom ketchup4 ,put into this four hard-boiled eggs1 sliced1 salted and peppered1 and when heated through1 place the egg on toasts which you have previously spread with anchovy paste4 ,in conclusion1 ,i will say that ,i find ,worcester sauce my greatest reliance in devilling bones1 in making that thoroughly delightful dish--a devilled shoulder-bone of either mutton or lamb1 or1 indeed1 where anything in the way of meat is concerned4 ,i do not shake the bottle2 but that is a matter of individual taste4 ,i have tried ,harvey sauce1 which also answers2 but we at home prefer the former4 ,tomato sauce is very excellent for some things--like pork--and is also good with veal2 but you cannot mix other sauces with it4 ,and1 unless very very sour1 ,i would counsel you to avoid the sugar so freely recommended in most books on cookery4 ,and ,i had nearly omitted to mention a very important item1 viz41 devilled biscuits1 which are so much enjoyed by many people4 ,these are done either dry or buttered4 ,what are called ,american toast biscuits1 or soda biscuits in ,america1 are the nicest2 but they need a light hand1 as they break easily4 ,dip them twice into warm water1 then pepper them with cayenne pepper1 and bake till quite crisp in a slow oven4 ,serve hot in a toast-rack4 ,in the other way1 you must knead together an ounce and a half of butter1 a saltspoonful of cayenne1 and a saltspoonful of flour of mustard4 ,dip the biscuits twice into warm milk1 spread them with the mixture1 and bake in a slow oven till crisp4 ,serve very hot4 ,,varieties4 ,,lotteries ,,in ,,great ,,britain4 ,in the close of last century and the beginning of this the lottery system prevailed in ,great ,britain to a surprising extent4 ,from #aghe to #ahbc there was a ,lottery ,act every year which brought in the ,state over a quarter of a million a year4 ,independent of the ,state lotteries there were lotteries for houses and lands1 jewels and plate1 merchandise and ships1 and even advowsons and presentations4 ,tailors advertised their business by means of lotteries2 so did hatters and glovers4 ,even the bootblacks gave away coupons1 entitling their customers to a share in lotteries4 ,a plate of meat at an eating house gave the purchaser a chance of sixty guineas4 ,threepennyworth of oysters included a ticket in a five guinea lottery4 ,even a sausage stall had a lottery attached1 offering the chance of a five shilling prize to every one who ate a farthing's worth of sausages4 ,the whole system--and a demoralising one it was--had an end put to it by the ,lottery ,act of #ahbc4 ,,the ,,wedding-,,ring ,,finger4--,the origin of wearing the wedding-ring upon the fourth finger of the left hand has been much disputed even from very ancient times4 ,a ,latin writer of the fifth century gives the following matter-of-fact reason4 ,the fourth finger was chosen1 he says1 8as being least used of any1 as being guarded on either side1 and having in most this peculiar feature1 that it cannot be extended alone and by itself1 but will in all its movements be accompanied by some finger placed on either side40 ,,they ,,did ,,not ,,get ,,his ,,fortune4 ,one of the great benefactors of the ,city of ,bristol in bygone days was ,mr4 ,john ,whitson1 a merchant of that place1 who by his life afforded a pleasing example of the success which in general accompanies diligence and honesty4 ,the following anecdote told of him is worth repeating3-- ,as he was one day busy in his office he overheard his nephews talking loudly in another room1 and found the subject of their discourse turn upon himself and the great fortune they would inherit at his death4 ,they declared they would spend it like men of fashion1 in pleasurable and expensive pursuits4 ,the good old gentleman upon this burst in upon them1 and with honest indignation said that since he had heard from their own mouths their resolution with respect to his fortune1 they should now hear his4 ,he had long been a witness1 he told them1 of the abandoned course of life into which they were plunging themselves1 and had often remonstrated to no purpose against it4 ,they now stood self-convicted1 and to prevent the infamy which they might entail upon him1 themselves and the public by such irregular excesses1 he was resolved to put it entirely out of their power4 ,he accordingly made his will immediately afterwards1 and after the death of his wife left the whole of his money to charitable purposes4 ,,courage4 ,if courage is gone1 then all is gone6 ',twere better that thou hadst never been born4 ,goethe4 ,,an ,,indian ,,song ,,of ,,welcome4 ,when ,lord ,reay was governor of ,bombay a few years ago1 in the course of a tour he visited the native state of ,morvi4 ,amongst other institutions shown to his ,excellency was the telephone exchange1 which connects various public buildings as well as the towns lying round about4 ,here the ,thokore ,saheb had a microphone attachment so arranged that from a school fourteen miles off some of the scholars sang a song specially composed for the occasion by the chief judge of the state4 ,the words of the song were as follows3-- 8,reay1 the lord1 our ,governor good1 ,eternal be your fame2 ,first-class ,state of ,morvi made1 ,increased thus far its name2 ,visit now our capital town1 ,with condescension kind1 ,and view ,sir ,waghji's works of art1 ,which surely please your mind4 ,tram1 telegraph1 railway choice1 ,and many another thing1 ,to your ,excellency's ears ,telephone by which we sing40 ,,calculating ,,her ,,age4 ,an indiscreet young man once asked a lady her age4 8,wait till ,i count10 she replied4 8,i married at eighteen1 my husband was then thirty4 ,now he is twice that--then ,i must be thirty-six40 8,is it possible10 ejaculated the other1 amazed at this method of feminine computation4 8,well1 ,i should never have expected it40 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,cecilly4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,how ,,we ,,managed ,,without ,,servants4 ,,by ,mrs4 ,,frank ,w4 ,w4 ,,topham1 ,author of 8,the ,alibi10 8,the ,fateful ,number10 etc4 ,,chapter ,i4 8,it is no good1 we can never manage it10 cried ,cecilly1 half crying1 throwing on the floor1 as she spoke1 the book she had been studying for the last half hour4 8,well1 ,cecilly1 it is no good spoiling the book4 ,that won't help us10 ,i said1 picking it up and smoothing its ruffled pages4 8,it is just as silly as the others10 ,cecilly continued1 starting up and walking quickly up and down the room4 8,these people did not put a majolica sink in their dining-room1 or embroider their dish-cloths1 but they spent fifty pounds in having water laid on to every bedroom1 bought a new cooking-stove1 and every other contrivance advertised for saving labour4 ,if we had fifty pounds to spend to save ourselves trouble1 we need not do without the servants4 ,i see we shall have to give up the idea after all4 ,jack is right2 we can never manage40 8,don't say that10 ,i cried1 for ,cecilly had been the originator of the idea1 and last evening had fought most hopefully every objection the boys had raised against our carrying out our plan of doing without servants4 ,it was only six months ago that the first shadow had fallen on our bright happy home4 ,our dear father had been suddenly struck down by illness1 an illness which had seemed but slight at first1 but which1 as the weeks went by1 grew graver day by day1 till there came a long1 long night when we waited in silent grief for the summons to bid him our last farewell4 ,but ,god in ,his mercy heard our broken-hearted prayers1 and gave him back to us and life4 ,his recovery was fearfully low and tedious1 and no one was surprised to learn that the only hope for his recovery was for him to pass the winter abroad4 ,it had been very difficult to find the means to take him away1 but they were found4 ,at first the change did wonders1 but the improvement did not last1 and in every letter we could read the anxiety mother was trying to hide from us4 ,the day before the one of which ,i write the first bright report had reached us4 8,father is really better10 mother wrote1 but even as we gave our shout of joy1 ,jack read these words3 8but the improvement comes too late--our funds are nearly exhausted1 and we must soon turn our faces homewards4 ,the doctors say if only he could stay on for another few months1 they are certain of his recovery4 ,but that cannot be1 and ,god knows what is best for us always40 ,again and again we asked ourselves what it was possible for us to do to keep him in ,cannes1 but there seemed no way4 ,cecilly had found a few pupils for music when dear father had first been ill1 and she had left no stone unturned in trying to get more1 but in vain4 ,i too had sought for employment1 but beyond going to read to an old lady two afternoons in each week1 ,i had been unable to find any4 ,jack was in a solicitor's office1 and already was filling up every spare hour with extra work1 while ,bob and ,phil were still at school4 ,everything of value our home possessed had already been parted with for the journey1 so that it was no wonder we cried out in despair4 8,can't we give up meat80 ,bob asked at dinner that evening4 8,kitty is always moaning over the butcher's bill40 8,is it likely you can give up meat10 ,jack answered crossly1 and ,i said-- 8,we might1 but the servants would not40 ,then it was that ,cecilly had cried out1 8,send the servants away4 ,i am sure we could manage without them40 ,jack was as indignant with ,cecilly as with ,bob1 but she would not be quieted4 8,listen to me and hear reason10 she cried4 8,we must have money somehow1 and here is a way of getting it1 or saving it1 which is the same thing4 ,cook's wages are #bj a year1 ,ann's are #af4 ,so in three months we should save #i4 ,nine hard sovereigns--not counting their keep4 ,oh1 ,kitty1 what is their keep80 8,quite ten shillings a week each1 not counting their washing10 ,i answered4 8,and we should save the kitchen fire1 except when we are cooking10 said ,cecilly4 8,and the gas10 said ,phil4 8,they flare it away at every burner4 ,i turned it out myself in the scullery last night40 8,we should be able to live much more economically1 of course10 ,i said4 8,one dinner instead of the two we always have to cook now1 must be a saving in every way4 ,oh1 ,cecilly1 what a splendid idea yours is40 8,it is all rubbish10 said ,jack4 8,is it likely mother and father would allow you girls to turn into slaves80 ,but ,cecilly would not be silenced1 and if she had her will would have rushed off into the kitchen and dismissed the servants there and then4 ,she was up quite early and off to the stores to buy two or three books she had seen advertised on the subject of 8,how to manage without servants40 ,but1 as ,i have said before1 the authors had all been able to spend the servants' wages for a year in labour-saving contrivances4 ,poor ,cecilly had been so excited and hopeful the evening before that she could not endure facing all the difficulties the morning laid before her4 8,jack is right4 ,we cannot manage10 she cried again1 and then burst into a flood of tears4 ,i was vainly trying to cheer her when the door opened and our dear old friend ,mrs4 ,travers1 whom we all call ,aunt ,jane1 entered4 8,oh1 my dears10 she cried1 in dismay1 8you have bad news from your mother60 ,i hastened to reassure her1 while ,cecilly cried out-- 8,yes1 the news is bad1 ,aunt ,jane4 ,he will never be well again1 and we can't help him40 ,then ,i told her mother's words1 and all about our idea that had come to nothing4 8,why should your idea come to nothing80 she asked1 and when we both asked her at once if she really thought we could manage1 and she answered1 8,if you can face plenty of hard work1 of course you can10 ,cecilly rushed at her to hug her in her joy4 8,sit down1 you scatter-brain10 said the dear old lady1 8and we will then talk seriously4 ,there can be no doubt that you will save considerably if you do send away the servants1 but the necessary work you will find very hard1 far harder than you can yet imagine1 especially at first4 ,i speak from experience1 my dears1 for my early married days were spent in ,canada1 and there ,i learnt to use my hands4 ,i have known many girls and women as gentle and refined as any ,english lady1 doing the entire work not only of a house1 but helping husband1 brother or father with poultry or dairy as well4 ,and if our sisters in the ,colonies can do without hired help1 why can't we here8 ,there is nothing so healthy as housework4 ,have your windows open while you work1 and there will be no need for any more bicycle rides4 ,the question is1 ,are you really prepared for hard work8 ,can you face the early rising1 the spoiling of pretty white hands1 a good many backaches1 and a great many irksome duties80 8,of course we can60 we cried at once4 8,if only we can give father this chance1 we will face anything60 8,then1 my dears1 the first thing is to give the servants notice40 8,luckily1 ,aunt ,jane1 ,ann is going2 she is only staying on till we knew when mother would be back40 8,and ,i know of a place that would suit cook beautifully10 said ,cecilly4 8,that's well10 said ,aunt ,jane1 8they are easily disposed of4 ,when they are gone1 you must find a little girl40 8,no1 no60 we both called out4 8,we will do everything ourselves40 8,hear me out1 my dears10 said ,aunt ,jane quietly1 8and then raise your objections4 ,i say you must have a girl just for one hour in the morning to clean the boots40 8,oh1 ,i had forgotten the boots60 sighed ,cecilly4 8,i would have said a boot-boy1 but a girl can clean your doorsteps1 for you must not do that40 8,why not80 asked ,cecilly4 8,i see nothing to be ashamed of in any work40 8,neither do ,i1 my dear2 but your mother would object to that1 ,i am sure1 and as you must have someone for the boys' boots1 the someone may as well clean your steps40 8,why can't the boys clean their own boots80 ,cecilly began1 but ,i stopped her1 for ,i saw ,aunt ,jane was looking vexed at her interruptions1 and ,i knew mother would not like the boys to do such work while they were going to school among other boys4 8,next10 continued ,aunt ,jane1 8,i should advise you to do away with your kitchen range and have a gas stove40 8,no1 dear ,aunt ,jane10 ,i pleaded4 8,we must not spend anything to save ourselves40 8,i am not asking you to spend anything1 my dear1 excepting a few shillings4 ,the gas company will let out on hire any stove for a small sum1 ,i believe about one shilling and eightpence a quarter4 ,there will be the cost of setting it1 but that will soon be paid for by the saving in coals4 ,a gas stove can be turned off as soon as you no longer require it1 so is economical in every way4 ,i know ,i must not add that it will save you much work1 both in cleaning and lighting1 though that is the truth40 ,we laughed as we told her we were quite lazy enough to be saved any labour1 and she continued1 8,i will tell you another plan to lighten your work4 ,take up all the heavy carpets possible1 especially in the bedrooms4 ,a stained floor with rugs you can shake is far easier to keep clean as well as being more healthy40 8,but we should have to have the floors stained10 said ,cecilly4 8,and every shilling will be wanted for father40 8,i think you must spare one or two of them to buy a bottle or so of stains10 replied ,aunt ,jane1 smiling4 8,stain them1 and then polish them by degrees with beeswax and turpentine4 ,i had an oak staircase once that ,i treated in that way1 and it looked beautiful4 ,of course1 if you have mats and rugs1 so much the better1 but strips of carpet with the ends fringed out do very nicely4 ,what you will find most irksome is the continual washing up4 ,take my advice and leave your evening dinner things till the next morning4 ,i know it is far nicer to get them washed up overnight1 but you must remember that your first duty is to make home bright for the boys4 ,when dinner is over1 put away all domestic duties and make the evenings as bright with music and suchlike as you do now4 ,now ,i must be going1 and will only add this piece of advice4 ,when you speak to cook and ,ann1 tell them the reason you are parting with them4 ,they are both kind-hearted girls and will1 ,i am sure1 help you in getting ready to do without them1 and doubtless will be able to give you good advice too40 8,i hope ,jack won't be very vexed10 sighed ,cecilly4 8,never mind ,jack10 said ,aunt ,jane4 8,he is too sensible to be really vexed40 8,poor ,jack10 ,i said4 8,you know1 ,aunt ,jane1 how very friendly and kind ,mr4 ,marriott has always been to him4 ,now1 although he has been goodness itself in finding him extra work after office hours1 we can all see he does not approve of the friendship between ,jack and ,cynthia4 ,cynthia comes to us in the daytime as much as ever1 but very rarely in the evening when ,jack is home40 8,mr4 ,marriott is quite right1 my love4 ,the way they are bringing up their daughters makes marriage with any but a rich man out of the question40 8,oh1 ,aunt ,jane1 ,cynthia is the sweetest girl10 we both cried1 while ,aunt ,jane answered-- 8,the sweetest of girls can make the worst of wives40 ,after bidding our kind old friend good-bye1 we went at once to the kitchen to tell our tale to cook and ,ann4 ,as ,aunt ,jane had predicted1 they received our news with the greatest kindness1 and immediately offered to help us in every way4 8,you had better come into the kitchen every day while ,i am here1 and let me teach you the young gentlemen's favourite dishes1 ,miss ,kitty10 cook said1 and ,ann1 who was leaving because she had been so rude to ,cecilly1 sat down and cried because she could not bear to think of us having to 8so bemean0 ourselves4 7,to be continued47 ,,the ,,fire ,,of ,,love4 ,,by ,,mary ,,bradford ,,whiting4 8,come here1 ,lion40 ,it was not a dog that obeyed the summons1 but a child1 a sweet-faced1 curly-headed child1 with big1 pathetic eyes1 and soft smiling mouth4 ,treading on tip-toe1 so as not to disturb the sleeping figure on the sofa1 ,lion made his way across the room and crept up to his father's chair4 8,what were you crying for80 asked ,mr4 ,beresford1 as he lifted the little fellow to his knee4 8,oh1 daddy1 how much1 much too sharp your eyes are6 ,i hid myself all up with my ship book1 so as you shouldn't see40 8,no ship book that was ever made would hide your tears from me60 said ,mr4 ,beresford1 in a tone that was evidently more for himself than for the child4 8,but never mind that now4 ,i did see1 and now you must tell me all about it4 ,what were you crying for80 8,i don't want you to go away10 said ,lion1 in a trembling voice4 8,why must you go1 daddy1 and leave me alone with----0 ,the loyal little fellow caught himself up without finishing the sentence1 but ,mr4 ,beresford knew only too well what the concluding word would have been1 and he sighed heavily4 ,a wealthy man1 with congenial work to occupy him1 with a lovely wife and a sweet little son1 there were plenty of people who envied him with all their hearts2 but ,paul ,beresford1 like many of those who seem the most prosperous1 had a secret sorrow that embittered his whole life4 ,he had married young1 believing that he had found the embodiment of grace and goodness in the beautiful girl to whom he had given his heart1 only to discover too late that she was utterly selfish and cold-hearted4 ,it was a terrible awakening for him1 and many a man in his place would have made shipwreck altogether2 but ,paul ,beresford only clung the closer to the hidden faith that sustained him1 and solaced himself with the oft-quoted lines-- 8,my own hope is a sun will pierce ,the darkest cloud earth ever stretched40 ,that hope seemed to him to be fulfilled when his baby son was first put into his arms and he felt the touch of the tiny fingers1 and kissed the soft roseleaf face4 ,surely no woman could resist such a darling mite as this1 and he looked forward confidently to the dawn of better days4 ,but as time went on1 the terrible truth was borne in upon him that the child had only widened the breach between his wife and himself4 ,little as she had cared for his love in the past1 she was jealous when she saw it bestowed upon another1 and far from lavishing any tenderness on the little ,lionel herself1 she treated him with an indifference that made her husband's blood boil4 ,the child had never been strong1 but no one but his father gave him much attention1 for the nurse who had brought him through his babyhood was obliged to leave when he was five years old1 and his mother's maid1 who was supposed to have the charge of him1 was as selfish as her mistress4 ,but there was a courage and pluck in his slender frame that would have done honour to a boy of twice his age1 and which well deserved his father's name of 8,lion40 ,he had early seen that it distressed his beloved 8daddy0 if he told him of the troubles he had to undergo1 and the result was that he tried to keep them to himself with a self-control that was marvellous in so young a child4 ,but now a terrible trial had come for ,lion4 ,they had no sooner settled down in the little ,cornish village that had been selected for their summer holiday1 than a summons had come for ,mr4 ,beresford to go out to his ,west ,indian property on imperative business1 and he was obliged to start as early as possible on the very next day4 ,somewhat to his surprise1 his wife had made no objection to his sudden departure2 he had expected a storm of tears and reproaches1 but beyond the one cold remark that he seemed to be glad of any excuse for leaving her1 she had said nothing1 and he had felt thankful at being let off so easily4 ,if he could have read her thoughts1 he might1 however1 have felt differently4 ,she had given him no reason for her sudden desire to settle down in a quiet seaside village1 and he had been too glad of the suggestion for the boy's sake to ask any explanations4 ,but now it seemed to her that his departure was arranged as conveniently as everything else had been2 she had known very well when she chose their holiday resort that ,lord ,barfield's yacht would be anchored in the neighbouring bay1 and on board the yacht were people for whose society she cared far more than she did for that of her husband or child1 people whom he distrusted1 and had forbidden her to visit4 ,mr4 ,beresford was ignorant of all this1 however1 and he tried to comfort his little son with parting injunctions2 it was useless1 alas1 to hope that his mother would take any care of him1 but perhaps it might console his loneliness to tell him to take care of her4 8,but mother won't let me take care of her10 said ,lion piteously4 8,that must only make you try all the more10 said his father1 speaking out of the depths of his own bitter experience4 8,you must be very careful not to worry her1 because you know that sometimes you talk too loud when she has a headache1 or even slam the doors4 ,will you promise me that you will be very good while ,i am away80 8,yes1 ,i will1 ,i truthfully will60 said ,lion1 drying his eyes with a brave attempt at a smile4 8,i shall soon come back10 said ,mr4 ,beresford1 8and ,i shall write you long letters while ,i am away1 and tell you all about the shells and the snakes and the little black boys40 8,and you'll write it like print1 won't you80 said ,lion1 8so as ,i needn't bother mamma to read it1 because that's just one of the things that vexes her so1 when ,i ask her to read your letters40 ,he spoke innocently1 little knowing the wounding power that his words contained1 but ,mr4 ,beresford was well used to hiding his feelings1 and he made the required promise in an unshaken voice4 8,that's all right1 then10 said ,lion joyfully4 8,but oh1 daddy dear1 you won't have me to curl your moustache for you1 and you don't look a bit nice when it hangs all down like that10 and throwing himself against his father1 he proceeded to curl the offending moustache with his small fingers1 while ,mr4 ,beresford laughed at the sight of his earnest frown4 8,i wish you would not let that child make so much noise10 said a querulous voice at this moment1 and leaving their play with a start1 both father and son were hushed in a moment4 ,lion slipped down to the floor and took up his book1 and ,mr4 ,beresford went across to the sofa and tried to soften his wife's displeasure with his attentions4 ,the morning came all too soon1 and ,lion had hard work to keep a bright face through their hurried breakfast4 ,greatly to his relief ,mrs4 ,beresford had chosen to remain upstairs1 so that he had his father all to himself and could hang lovingly about him until the carriage came to take him to the station4 8,don't forget your promise10 said ,mr4 ,beresford as he drove away4 ,he spoke cheerfully1 but his eyes were moist as he looked back at the lonely figure of the little six-year-old boy at the gate4 ,if only his mother's arm had been round him1 he could have far better borne to leave him2 but it was useless to indulge in such thoughts1 and taking out his pocket-book he was soon deep in calculations4 ,lion1 for his part1 tried quite as practical a cure for his grief4 8,i'll pick some flowers for mamma10 he said to himself manfully1 and having rubbed the tears out of his eyes1 he set off round the flower-beds of their hired house1 picking a rose here1 and a geranium here1 until he had as large a bunch as he could hold4 8,mamma1 ,i've brought you some flowers10 he said1 as he ran into her bedroom and laid the straggling nosegay on her lap4 ,mrs4 ,beresford was lying on the couch1 a novel in her hand and a breakfast tray on the table by her side4 8,oh1 you bad boy60 she exclaimed1 brushing the flowers hastily on to the floor1 8how dare you put those dirty things on my new white wrapper4 ,and there's an earwig running over me6 ,go away this minute1 ,i tell you6 ,lettice1 ,lettice1 come here60 ,her screams brought the maid1 who succeeded in catching the earwig2 but ,lion had not waited to see the end of his escapade2 a sudden sharp pain had stabbed his baby breast1 pain1 not so much at his mother's anger1 as at the thought that he had already disobeyed his father's command4 8,oh1 daddy1 daddy1 ,i didn't mean to be naughty60 he cried1 and throwing himself down on the grass1 he sobbed as if his heart would break4 8,i am going out this afternoon10 said ,mrs4 ,beresford at lunch-time1 8so you must amuse yourself in the garden40 8,mayn't ,i come with you10 said ,lion timidly4 8,daddy said ,i was to take care of you while he was away40 8,nonsense60 said ,mrs4 ,beresford sharply1 as though the words stung her4 8,do you think ,i can have you always after me8 ,you must stay at home1 and see that you don't get into any more mischief40 ,it was very lonely for ,lion that afternoon4 ,lettice slipped out as soon as her mistress had disappeared1 and the servants of the house did not consider it part of their business to look after other people's children4 ,by-and-by it began to rain1 and the little boy stood sadly counting the falling drops until a sudden thought seized him4 ,his mother's cloak was hanging in the hall2 how wet she would get unless he took it to her6 ,to trot out into the hall and put on his hat was the work of a moment1 and seizing the cloak1 he sallied forth4 ,far and wide the poor little fellow wandered1 while the driving rain soaked him through and through2 but no trace of his mother could he see1 and at last he turned back to the house4 ,just as he reached the gate a carriage drove up1 however1 and he saw his mother alight1 and heard her parting words1 8,on ,thursday1 then2 ,i will be sure not to fail40 8,you naughty boy1 what have you been doing80 were her next words1 as she espied the dripping child at the gate4 8,look at my cloak1 all messed and spoilt4 ,go upstairs at once2 didn't ,i tell you not to get into mischief80 ,weary and heart-broken1 ,lion attempted no explanation1 but creeping sadly up to his room1 cried himself to sleep on the floor4 ,at breakfast-time next morning ,lettice rushed into her mistress's room exclaiming1 8,oh1 ma'am1 ,master ,lionel's dying60 8,nonsense10 said ,mrs4 ,beresford4 8,i daresay he has eaten something that has disagreed with him2 but you can send for the doctor40 ,she had forgotten all about it in five minutes1 but when the doctor came he insisted upon seeing her4 8,your child has acute inflammation10 he said1 8and his life will depend upon the nursing40 8,then you must send for a nurse10 she said coolly1 though she felt an inward qualm at the thought of her husband4 8,i shall do so1 of course1 but she cannot be here until to-morrow morning1 and in the meantime you must be responsible2 your maid is perfectly useless40 ,mrs4 ,beresford assented resignedly4 ,she was glad now that they could not take her on the yacht till ,thursday4 ,the nurse would have come by then1 and she could leave without trouble1 and with this consoling prospect in view she even agreed to sit up with ,lion that night4 ,some people would have been touched by the child's piteous cries for his father1 and by the way in which he constantly checked himself with the reminder1 8,daddy's gone away2 ,i must take care of mamma now40 ,but ,mrs4 ,beresford only found it wearisome1 and tried to bury herself in her book4 ,she knew1 however1 that it would not do to forget the nourishment that the doctor had ordered1 and rousing herself at last she tried to light the spirit-lamp4 ,the most simple things of everyday life were mysteries to her1 and as she bent over it1 candle in hand1 there was a flare and a scream1 and ,lettice rushed into the room to find her mistress's hair in flames4 ,help was summoned1 and the doctor sent for1 but he made short work of her complaints4 8,there's not much harm done10 he said bluntly4 8,i daresay your hair will grow2 your skin will never look the same again1 but1 after all1 that doesn't matter40 ,and this to one whose chief joy in life had been the beauty of her complexion6 ,mrs4 ,beresford hid her bandaged face in the pillows and gave herself up to despair4 ,no hope of going on the yacht now4 ,they would sail away and forget all about her1 or1 worse still1 make ill-natured remarks about her misfortune4 ,at any rate1 no one should see her altered appearance1 and she had the blinds pulled down1 and admitted no one but ,lettice into her room4 ,but the day came when the hospital nurse forced an entrance into the forbidden precincts4 ,she and the doctor had held many an indignant conclave over their little patient1 and when his perpetual inquiries for his mother could be silenced in no other way1 she made up her mind to fetch her4 ,her words were few1 but they made an impression that ,mrs4 ,beresford could not resist1 for however indifferent she might appear1 she knew that she should not dare to face her husband if the child should die without her seeing him4 ,her resolution almost failed as she caught a glimpse of herself in the glass that had once reflected such a lovely vision1 but it was too late to turn back now1 and she crossed the passage and entered the sick-room4 ,there on the bed lay ,lion1 his curls gone1 his face hollow and deathlike1 but when he saw her he held out his hands with a cry1 8,oh1 please say forgive60 8,what does he mean80 she asked4 8,i don't know10 said the nurse1 8he has been saying it ever since ,i came4 ,you had better speak to him40 8,what do you want1 ,lion80 she said1 repressing a shudder as she went up to the bedside4 8,oh1 mamma1 ,i did promise daddy to be good1 and you said ,i was so naughty1 and then you got your face burnt1 and it was all my fault4 ,oh1 please say forgive60 ,forgive8 ,if anyone needed forgiveness it was not ,lion1 and as if a veil had suddenly been lifted from her eyes1 ,mrs4 ,beresford saw herself in the true light at last1 worldly-minded1 selfish-hearted1 far1 far different from the pure and loving nature before her6 8,oh1 my child1 my little child60 she said1 bending down to take him in her arms4 ,there was silence for a few moments1 while ,lion lay wonderingly in the embrace that had never enfolded him before1 then raising his hand to her bandaged face he whispered-- 8,poor mamma1 you're much worser than ,i am2 but you'll tell daddy ,i was sorry1 won't you80 8,no1 no2 you shall tell him yourself10 she exclaimed with sudden vehemence2 8you are going to get well1 you must1 you shall60 ,the nurse looked at her warningly1 and she was silent again while ,lion's excitement subsided into a drowsy state which lasted till the doctor came4 ,he looked in amazement at the strange figure by the bed1 but for once in her life ,mrs4 ,beresford had no thoughts for herself4 8,he is better1 is he not80 she said eagerly1 but the doctor shook his head4 8,no10 he said1 8,i shall telegraph for your husband to-night40 ,the days passed on1 and one evening a carriage dashed up to the door and springing out almost before it had stopped1 ,paul ,beresford seized upon the doctor1 who came forward to greet him4 8,how is he80 he asked4 8,better10 was the answer1 and waiting to hear no more he dashed upstairs and opened the door of his boy's room4 8,how are you1 my darling80 he said eagerly4 ,his wife turned away with a sudden pang4 ,it was not likely that he would recognise her for she had sent him no news of her accident1 but for the first time she felt that he was dearer to her than the friends for whom she had once sacrificed his happiness4 ,but ,lion did not forget her4 8,daddy10 he said1 8mamma has forgiven me1 but you must forgive me too2 it was all my fault1 you know1 that she was burnt40 8,lena60 cried ,paul in astonishment1 as he gazed at the white-capped figure by the window4 8,you told me to take care of her10 said ,lion mournfully2 8but she has had to take care of me all the time60 ,lena had hidden her face in her hands1 but in a moment she felt her husband's arms round her and knew that a new life had begun for them both4 8,are you so very sorry that mamma was burnt80 asked ,lion wistfully1 as he saw the tears in his father's eyes4 8,no1 dear1 he is glad10 said his mother softly1 8because there is a fire in my heart that will1 ,i hope1 burn up all the selfishness40 8,what fire comes in people's hearts80 asked ,lion in wonder1 and with a look that made her scarred face more beautiful than it had been in all the perfection of its bloom1 his mother answered-- 8,the fire of love60 ,illustration ,,old ,,english ,,cottage ,,homes2 ,,or1 ,,village ,,architecture ,,of ,,bygone ,,times4 ,,part ,,xi4 ,,interiors ,,and ,,details4 ,it is remarkable what pretty bits of detail we often come across in old cottages2 unfortunately1 it is sometimes difficult to ascertain for certain whether these are 8in situ0 or whether they have originally belonged to more important buildings and have found their way down to the cottages1 just as ladies' dresses find themselves after some time in more humble hands than those for which they were originally intended4 ,a beautiful partition1 or screen1 which we give from a small farmhouse or cottage at ,toppesfield1 in ,essex1 is a case in point2 it may have always formed a portion of the building in which it now stands1 or it may have been removed from some more stately one4 ,it is singularly well preserved1 but seems to be almost too elaborate and costly a work to have been made for a house which is little more than a cottage4 ,however1 as we have seen from examples at ,clare and ,newport1 the exteriors of cottages were sometimes elaborately adorned2 and if the exterior1 why not the interior8 ,illustration3 ,,brick ,,chimney1 ,,amersham4 ,the screen or partition at ,toppesfield is carved in oak1 and what is very remarkable is the fact that while the four lower ranges of panels are ,english in style1 the top range1 with the heads introduced1 is like ,french work4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,toppesfield4 ,the two mantelpieces and fireplaces1 which we illustrate1 are certainly in their original places1 and have not been removed4 ,the example from ,alfreston dates from the second half of the sixteenth century1 and the very singular one at ,amersham from the earlier part of the seventeenth4 ,the latter has a pretty but very uncommon feature about it4 ,the ingle nooks are pierced by little windows1 so that when sitting down to warm yourself at the fire you can look out of the window at the same time1 a great advantage to the aged and infirm1 who cannot move about very readily1 and yet get tired of looking always at the fire or always out of the window4 ,sometimes the ceilings of the rooms in cottages are very pretty examples of ornamental plaster work4 ,a cottage at ,margate1 which was recently pulled down1 had a singularly elegant plaster ceiling1 with the same motto repeated over and over again1 and in every case misspelt2 the words were intended to be 8,ich ,dien10 but the mistake 8,ich pien0 was repeated throughout4 ,while speaking on ornamental plaster work it is known that during the sixteenth century rye-dough was frequently mixed with the plaster to obtain sharp and delicate work4 ,this material dries very hard1 as any of our girls who have been educated at a ,german school will know from their experience of black bread which is over a week old4 ,our remaining sketch represents one of those prettily-cut brick chimneys which are so very ornamental in ,tudor houses and cottages4 ,the example here given is at ,amersham4 ,the two chimneys are almost of the same design1 which in one case is nearly four times the scale of the other1 and it is worthy of notice how totally different is the effect of the same pattern in a large and a small scale4 ,a complete and thorough understanding of this fact is all important to the architect and the decorator6 ,chimneys are often very beautiful objects4 ,perhaps the most magnificent examples are to be seen at ,east ,barsham ,hall1 near ,walsingham1 ,norfolk4 ,this building1 the finest example of ,tudor domestic work in the country1 deserves better treatment than it has received4 ,portions of it are in ruins1 and one part of it cooked up into a farmhouse4 ,how it is that this splendid mansion was ever abandoned and left to fall into ruins is unintelligible4 ,nowhere is more elaborate or beautiful carved brickwork to be seen4 ,great coats-of-arms1 badges1 lions1 and elaborate ,gothic tracery are all to be found carved out of the finest red brick4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,alfreston1 ,,essex4 ,but the beautiful architectural works in ,norfolk1 which are rapidly being reduced to ruins1 are indeed a sad story for those who are interested in ancient memorials or beautiful works of art4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,amersham4 7,see page #gaf47 7,to be concluded47 ,,sheila',s ,,cousin ,,effie4 ,a ,,story ,,for ,,girls4 ,,by ,,evelyn ,,everett-,,green1 ,author of 8,greyfriars10 8,half-a-dozen ,sisters10 etc4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,gathering ,,storm4 8,i am sorry you feel like that about it1 my dear4 ,she seems to me a nice little girl enough--rather fascinating indeed4 ,she appears very much liked here40 ,mrs4 ,cossart's reply was something like a snort1 and the toss of her head and set of her mouth showed from whom ,effie had inherited some of her little tricks of manner4 8,and she is such a nice companion for ,effie10 concluded ,mr4 ,cossart after a brief pause4 8,a fine companion indeed60 retorted his wife4 8,a wonderful lot of time she spends with ,effie6 ,i call it simply shameful the way she is going on6 ,we bring her out with us at great cost to be a companion for ,effie1 and here she is from morning to night running after some new people1 just because they are rich and well connected1 and she hopes to catch the young man for a husband60 ,like many rather easy-going and phlegmatic people1 ,mrs4 ,cossart took a good deal of rousing1 but when once an idea had thoroughly taken possession of her mind1 there was no getting it out1 and if it happened to be one of an irritating and disturbing kind1 it would gradually work like leaven in her nature1 and entirely overset her natural equilibrium4 ,she had been brooding for weeks over the turn affairs seemed taking1 but this was the first time she had spoken quite so openly to her husband1 and ,mr4 ,cossart was decidedly taken aback4 8,really1 my dear1 ,i don't think such an idea has ever entered ,sheila's head4 ,she is such a child still4 ,she is fond of ,miss ,adene and these ,dumaresqs1 and they have taken a fancy to her2 but ,i don't think you need think such things of her4 ,she is just as happy playing with the little boy as being with young ,dumaresq2 and it seems to me that he pays quite as much attention to ,effie4 ,i have taken care to let him know1 in an indirect kind of way1 that our little girl will have a pretty dower when she marries4 ,and in these days young men think of such things4 ,high time too1 with the land depreciating as it is60 8,yes1 and perhaps if ,sheila were not here something might come of it4 ,effie has twice the character of ,sheila1 but there is something about the way that little flirt goes on that takes the fancy of people in a way ,i can't understand6 ,and if you would believe it1 on ,new ,year's ,eve1 when ,i thought ,ronald ,dumaresq was sitting out with ,effie watching the fireworks and so on--if you would believe it he had just turned her over to his aunt1 and off he set down the hill in a carro1 and found ,sheila out on the verandah here1 and stayed with her all the time6 ,what do you call that sort of thing1 ,i wonder80 8,well1 my dear1 ,i don't see that ,sheila was in fault4 ,and there were other people out too4 ,she was not alone4 ,if young ,dumaresq chose to come and watch the display from here1 nobody could blame her40 8,i expect it was a got-up thing between them4 ,she never said a word about it either2 ,i only heard it incidentally a few days ago4 ,she is a very artful young minx--that is what she is60 ,mr4 ,cossart was uncomfortable4 ,he was a just man and a kindly one by nature2 and ,sheila's pretty ways had taken his fancy as they had taken the fancy of others4 ,he had no special matrimonial ambitions for his own daughter4 ,he would very well have liked to see her the wife of ,ronald ,dumaresq2 but1 on the other hand1 if the young man had other ideas for himself1 he would never make a trouble of it4 8,there's as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it10 was a favourite maxim of his1 and if ,sheila were to get a handsome husband in ,ronald1 her uncle would wish her joy and be ready to arrange matters for her in fatherly fashion4 ,but he knew by experience that his wife1 when once her mind was made up1 was inexorable4 8,yes10 continued ,mrs4 ,cossart wrathfully1 8you men never see an inch before your noses1 but ,i have had my misgivings ever since ,sheila came4 ,look how things were with the girls and ,cyril4 ,i don't mean that ,i think much of ,cyril--he's only a ,cossart when all's said and done4 ,all his grand ways won't make him a better man than his father before him1 and of course they're cousins4 ,still ,i had no particular objection1 and ,effie seemed to think more of him than of anybody else1 and to be a good deal taken up with him4 ,but as soon as ,sheila came ,i noticed the difference4 ,it was she who was the attraction then4 ,they were always scheming to get together and ride off alone and all that sort of thing4 ,there was talk about ,effie1 to be sure1 and teaching her to ride2 but that was just the excuse4 ,oh1 ,i know what ,i am talking about6 ,and now it is just the same thing again4 ,if it were not for ,sheila1 young ,dumaresq would be very attentive to ,effie1 but as things are he never gets the chance4 ,that girl1 with her craving after notice1 her laughing ways and bold artful scheming1 just winds him round her fingers1 and the end of it will be1 you'll see1 that she lands the fish1 and ,effie is left out in the cold60 8,but1 my dear1 if the young man prefers ,sheila 7and ,i'm not at all prepared to think he does2 but she is pretty and taking1 and he naturally talks to her7 ,i don't see that we could interfere40 8,then you will stand quietly by to see your own child's heart broken1 whilst this artful little minx carries on her games under our very noses40 ,at that ,mr4 ,cossart looked grave and uttered a low whistle4 8,do you mean that our ,effie has begun to--to--well1 to care for this young man8 ,i never thought her the kind to fall in love just with a handsome face40 8,ronald ,dumaresq has more than a handsome face10 answered ,mrs4 ,cossart with slight asperity1 8and ,i have no hesitation in saying that he has taken ,effie's fancy in a way that no other man has done to my knowledge4 ,the last doctor we consulted about ,effie said that some interest of that sort in her life just now might be the best possible thing for her4 ,when first ,i saw ,ronald ,dumaresq ,i thought that he would be the very husband for her2 he is well-born1 fairly well-to-do1 kind-hearted1 affectionate1 and1 ,i think1 very high principled4 ,if you watch ,effie when she is talking to him1 you will see how she brightens up4 ,but that ,sheila is for ever putting herself forward4 ,i wish we had never brought her1 and ,i am certain ,effie is beginning to wish the same40 ,mr4 ,cossart was silent2 this was putting the matter in a new light4 ,he rubbed his chin and looked disturbed4 8,what are the girls doing now80 he asked as though to gain time4 8,we will come and see10 said ,mrs4 ,cossart1 rising with a kind of vicious alacrity4 8,i know nothing1 but ,i can guess4 ,sheila will by hook or by crook have got ,ronald ,dumaresq in tow1 you will see1 and ,effie will be left out in the cold1 or reduced to fall back on those everlasting ,murchison girls6 ,i did not bring ,effie out here to throw her into the arms of a tradesman's daughters60 and ,mrs4 ,cossart gave that little toss to her head which was so like ,effie's4 ,husband and wife rose and wandered down the garden paths1 too well used to the wealth of flowers and the glint of the sparkling sea to remark upon the beauties before them4 ,mrs4 ,cossart's face was displeased1 and his was troubled4 ,presently the sound of a clear ringing laugh broke upon their ears1 and ,mrs4 ,cossart uttered a suggestive snort4 8,there's ,sheila1 on the tennis court1 ,i expect4 ,come and see for yourself how she plays companion to ,effie60 ,they moved on till they could command a view of the court from a terrace above1 and then a pretty scene revealed itself to their eyes4 ,on one side of the net stood ,ronald1 tennis-bat in hand1 his white flannels showing off his slight figure to great advantage4 ,on the other side was little ,guy1 with ,sheila superintending1 her bat in his hand1 as he made vigorous and often successful attempts to send the ball across to his uncle4 ,sir ,guy and ,lady ,dumaresq sat together in wicker chairs in the shade1 and ,miss ,adene was sketching the group1 a smile on her lips1 as her clever pencil travelled swiftly over the paper4 ,sheila was in the plot1 and strove to keep little ,guy still from time to time in one of his pretty attitudes4 ,of ,effie there was no trace4 8,you see60 said ,mrs4 ,cossart triumphantly4 8,yes1 my dear2 but you know ,sheila offered to help with the child when his nurse was taken ill4 ,we must not complain if she keeps her promise4 ,you allowed her to undertake the task40 8,she gave me no choice1 speaking it out before ,lady ,dumaresq as she did4 ,of course ,i saw the motive all the while4 ,as though people like that could not get a temporary nurse60 8,well1 they have done that2 but of course a ,portuguese woman is not like their own trusted servant4 ,naturally they do not like the boy left much with her4 ,i cannot find fault with ,sheila for trying to help4 ,she is so fond of the little fellow40 ,sheila's voice came up to them just then clear and sweet4 8,oh1 isn't he a darling6 ,isn't he quite too sweet8 ,lady ,dumaresq1 ,i hope ,taylor isn't going to get well just yet1 ,i do so love having him4 ,mayn't ,i give him his bath again to-night8 ,he likes it so when ,i do4 ,and he is such a little duck60 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,cossart walked down and approached the group4 8,where is ,effie1 ,sheila80 asked the latter4 ,sheila looked round quickly4 8,effie8 ,oh1 she was here just now4 ,we were playing tennis against ,mr4 ,dumaresq4 ,we beat him1 but ,i don't believe he played up10 and she threw a sparkling glance towards ,ronald who was strolling up with ,guy perched on his shoulder4 8,then ,guy wanted to play1 and ,effie sat down2 ,i thought she was here still40 8,the ,miss ,murchisons came and asked her to go down the town with them in their carro1 and hear the band play at the ,casino10 said ,miss ,adene1 looking up from her sketch4 8,there1 ,sheila1 will that do8 ,it is the best ,i could get--he is a restless little mortal40 8,oh1 but you have got him delightfully60 cried ,sheila1 taking the sketch-book1 her face alight with pleasure4 8,oh1 isn't it just that pretty way of his when he tries to hit the ball1 and laughs all over his dear little face6 ,see1 ,lady ,dumaresq1 isn't it good8 ,but you can't have it1 for ,miss ,adene has promised it to me4 ,you know you did1 didn't you--the first good sketch you could catch of him80 ,lady ,dumaresq smiled and patted ,sheila's cheek4 8,you will make my boy quite vain by your open admiration1 my dear2 you must remember that he is not quite a baby1 and can understand a good deal of what is said40 ,she looked up at the girl1 and then her glance fell upon the ,cossarts1 and she seemed to divine that something was amiss4 ,with ready tact she turned to them and said-- 8,will you not join us at tea8 ,it is just coming out4 ,we prefer having it brought here to going to the drawing-room2 and the people are very kind about indulging us4 ,we want to talk to you about a plan for to-morrow or the next day4 ,we feel we have been idle long enough4 ,we were thinking of taking the excursion to ,camacha1 and were hoping you would join us4 ,your daughter seemed pleased with the plan40 ,there was something about ,lady ,dumaresq's graceful and gracious manner that ,mrs4 ,cossart could never resist4 ,the frown faded from her brow1 and she took the seat ,ronald brought for her1 preparing to be responsive1 though she could not forget her regret in ,effie's absence2 for naturally ,sheila and ,ronald consorted together1 and they evidently had an infinite number of little jokes in common1 and it seemed to her that little ,guy made a very strong link between them4 8,you know ,camacha is a quaint little village lying behind that wooded hill we look at to the right10 said ,lady ,dumaresq indicating the direction4 8,it is one of the easy excursions1 and it is much more often free from rain cloud than other places in the island4 ,it is about two hours distant1 whether we take horses or hammocks or a light carro4 ,we think a picnic up there would be very agreeable4 ,it will be a pleasure to us if your party will join us4 ,the weather is so settled again just now that we feel we ought to take advantage of it40 8,very kind1 ,i am sure10 said ,mr4 ,cossart heartily4 8,we shall be delighted to join you4 ,i think ,i and my old lady had better have a carro1 and perhaps two yoke of bullocks1 and take the luncheon baskets with us4 ,i suppose you young people will all ride4 ,so would ,i have done at your age60 8,i think my aunt and my husband will have hammocks10 said ,lady ,dumaresq1 8and ,i fancy your daughter inclined to that method also4 ,i don't know whether ,i can make up my mind to try one4 ,i think ,i have a greater fancy for a horse40 8,it seems rather cruel work being carried by human bearers10 said ,miss ,adene4 8,i did not like it at all at first1 but ,i got used to it4 ,and as they say1 it is the men's livelihood4 ,if visitors do not take hammocks1 the bearers starve40 8,we'll have horses10 cried ,ronald1 including himself1 ,sheila1 ,lady ,dumaresq and little ,guy in his glance4 8,yes1 ,i've seen ,susa1 and he's got a good little pony1 and the boy's donkey saddle will fit on all right4 ,we'll take him along with us4 ,the man will walk alongside all the time4 ,oh1 he'll be as safe as a tree6 ,he'll like it awfully1 won't you1 boy80 ,guy cut capers and clapped his hands4 ,he was a perfectly fearless morsel of humanity1 and had ridden the old donkey at home ever since he could get his little legs across its broad back4 ,at nearly four he was wild to have a pony and go with ,uncle ,ronald and ,sheila1 and they were equally eager to have him4 ,when ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,cossart went back to the hotel1 it was in a more complaisant mood than they had left it4 8,you see1 my dear10 he said1 8they are quite friendly to us40 8,oh1 yes1 that is all right enough2 but all the same ,i am not satisfied with the way things are going4 ,i mean to make this excursion to ,camacha something of a test case40 8,what do you mean80 8,i know what ,i mean myself4 ,i mean to keep my eyes well open1 and you can do the same4 ,if ,i am not satisfied with what ,i see1 ,i have quite made up my mind what to do40 8,and what is that80 asked her husband rather uneasily4 8,to pack ,sheila straight off home in the ,dunraven ,castle that is due next ,monday or ,tuesday40 7,to be continued47 ,,answers ,,to ,,correspondents4 ,,study ,,and ,,studio4 ,a ,,lover ,,of ,,the 8,g4,o4,p40--#a4 ,albert ,loeschorn1 a distinguished musical professor of ,berlin1 was born there in #ahai4 ,he was a pupil of ,ludwig ,berger1 taught in ,berlin1 and has held chamber concerts there4 ,his principal works consist of studies for the pianoforte4 ,the title of 8,royal ,professor0 was conferred upon him in #ahfh4--b4 ,when a canary moults in ,july or ,august1 be careful to keep him quiet and free from draughts4 ,give him once a week a very small quantity of raw beef scraped and moistened with water1 with now and then a little of the yolk of hard-boiled eggs1 a piece of sponge-cake1 and ripe chickweed4 ,,mona4--#a4 ,robert ,browning's poem 8,how they brought the ,good ,news from ,ghent to ,aix0 is founded on no historical incident1 but describes a purely imaginary 8ride40--#b4 ,our summer takes place when the earth is at aphelion 7furthest from the sun7 because the sun's rays fall more vertically upon our part of the world at that time4 ,two questions are our limit4 ,,international ,,correspondence4 ,b4 ,f41 ,scotland1 would like to correspond with an ,italian girl4 ,she is #ae years of age1 very musical1 and understands ,latin1 but not ,italian4 ,would the ,italian girl 8write a letter in ,english with the corresponding ,italian written below80 ,,miss ,,margarethe ,,scholtz1 #aae1 ,friedrichstrasse1 ,berlin1 a teacher1 would like to correspond with another lady teacher1 aged between #bh and #cf4 ,she 8has no objection to writing to any foreign country40 ,miss ,scholtz says1 8,you would be surprised to see how many girls here read ,,the ,,girl',s ,,own ,,paper40 ,,flannel-,,flower1 ,new ,south ,wales1 8in the bush10 wishes to arrange a correspondence with a ,french girl4 ,she is #be1 fond of reading and music1 the ,french language and literature4 ,she would write in ,english1 the correspondent in ,french4 ,,miss ,,margaret ,,speir1 ,newton ,farm1 ,newton1 ,glasgow1 wishes to correspond with a ,french and a ,german girl4 ,she is #ah1 but her correspondents might be a few years older or younger4 8,,louisa10 ,aberdeen1 who is studying ,french1 would like to correspond with a ,french girl about her own age 7#af74 ,the correspondent might write either in ,english or ,french1 but 8,louisa0 would write in ,french4 ,,miss ,,anice ,,cress has received no less than twelve letters from ,roumania1 ,belgium1 ,france1 and ,england1 and says1 8,i feel that life is indeed pleasant when ,i receive such kind1 interesting1 and instructive letters from my dear fellow readers and correspondents40 ,,miss ,,ruth ,e4 ,a4 ,,perritt1 #ei1 ,elmbank ,street1 ,glasgow1 is anxious to correspond regularly with a young ,french lady of her own age 7#ag74 ,we hope some ,french girls will reply to our ,scottish correspondents4 ,,miss ,,emily ,,jacob1 ,belfield1 ,raheny1 ,co4 ,dublin 7a typewriter1 etc471 and ,,miss ,f4 ,,bartram1 ,pleasant ,view1 ,clay ,lane1 ,clay ,cross1 ,derbyshire1 offer to correspond with 8,,nellie40 ,,mrs4 ,,barnard1 ,coomooboolaroo1 ,duaringa1 ,rockhampton1 ,queensland1 ,australia1 sends us six pictorial postcards for 8,o ,,mimosa ,,san10 and asks for 8a few bridges in exchange40 ,we cannot1 as we have often said1 undertake any postal communication in connection with this column1 and have not 8,o ,mimosa ,san's0 address4 ,,aileen ,,jacques 7aged #ac71 ,queen ,street1 ,tramore1 ,co4 ,waterford1 ,ireland1 wishes to correspond with a ,french girl of her own age1 each to write the other's language4 ,,miss ,,ethel ,,kneeshaw1 ,pembina1 ,north ,dakota1 ,u4,s4,a41 would like to exchange duplicate stamps with ,,mademoiselle ,,fran,,ois4 ,why does she not write to her direct8 ,her address has been given more than once4 ,,carmen would like to correspond with a ,spanish girl of good family1 about her own age 7#ah74 ,address3 ,maria ,ricciardi1 ,madonna dell' ,aiuto1 #bh1 ,naples1 ,italy4 ,,miss ,,marie ,,durazzo1 ,piazza ,meridiana #b1 ,genoa1 ,italy1 will send an illustrated post-card to any reader of ,,the ,,girl',s ,,own ,,paper who will send her one4 ,l4 ,k4 ,b4 7not proficient in ,french7 desires to correspond with a young ,french lady1 and would correct her ,english letters4 ,,excelsior is very anxious to study mathematics1 ,latin1 and ,french by correspondence4 ,she would help in all ,english subjects in return1 and adds also1 8perhaps some lonely girl in a land across the sea might be pleased to have letters telling of our great ,england1 sent regularly40 ,we quote a sentence or two from her letter to the ,editor3 8,,the ,,girl',s ,,own has been my very own paper since #ahij2 and however lonely or tired ,i may feel1 it needs but the new number of ,,the ,,girl',s ,,own to put new life into me4 ,if we could but gather round you1 what a babel there would be6 ,girls can talk1 and what a great deal we should wish to say60 ,,sunshine wishes to correspond in ,english with an ,irish1 ,scotch1 or ,french girl of #ae or #af4 ,address3 ,miss ,l4 ,handson1 #hd1 ,cartergate1 ,great ,grimsby1 ,lincolnshire4 ,,miss ,m4 ,,theyne1 ,wiedendamm #b1 ,riga1 ,russia1 a ,russian girl aged #bb1 wishes to correspond with 8,,laura0 7,march74 ,we thank her for her pleasant letter4 ,,medical4 ,e4 ,,messent4--,we have over and over again said that we know of no really efficient and safe way of permanently removing superfluous hairs from the face4 ,all chemical epilators are either injurious to the skin1 or are else useless2 indeed1 most of them are both4 ,it is obvious that no chemical depilatory can be safe to use1 for to prevent the growth of hair it must destroy the hair root1 and as the hair root is placed deeply in the skin1 the chemical has got to deeply destroy the skin before it can commence its work4 ,we know of many epilators which will destroy the skin of the face1 but not one of them can be trusted even to injure the hair roots6 ,then as regards electrolysis1 we know it is frequently used for destroying hairs1 but it is not one case in a hundred that this treatment can benefit4 ,it can permanently remove half-a-dozen hairs or so1 but as to destroying a beard or moustache1 why you would have to have generation after generation of electrolysers at work before all the hair was destroyed4 ,and even where electrolysis is practised1 a permanent cure is exceedingly uncommon1 and the expense of this treatment is very considerable4 ,but if you cannot permanently remove unwelcome hairs1 you can with ease destroy them temporarily either by pulling them out or by cutting them down4 ,the latter is by far the best way of removing superfluous hairs1 and is the only way which is absolutely safe4 ,j4 ,h4 ,r4--#a4 ,powdered boracic acid is very useful for those who suffer from excessive perspiration4 ,another powder consisting of one part of salicylic acid to ninety-nine parts of powdered silica1 is also frequently used for the same purpose4--#b4 ,liquid ammonia is a very good preparation with which to soften hard water4 ,ordinary household ammonia is quite equal to the various patent preparations4 ,about a tablespoonful of strong ammonia will soften about twenty gallons of ,london water4 ,failing ammonia1 common washing soda is as good as anything1 and is certainly cheap enough for everybody4 ,you can easily tell if you have added enough of the ammonia or soda to the water by feeling it with the hand1 when the hard feel of ordinary tap water gives place to the unctuous feel of soft water4 ,,janet4--,it is quite impossible to say what is causing noises in the ear without a personal interview4 ,many conditions1 some slight1 some grave1 produce this symptom1 and the necessity for a careful diagnosis is obvious4 ,we would1 therefore1 be doing you an injustice to attempt to 8cure0 you4 ,you must go to an aurist and get his opinion on the matter4 ,a course of quinine might do you good1 but very likely it would only make you worse4 ,,ariel4--,sarsaparilla is one of those drugs whose action upon the human organism is practically nil6 ,indeed1 it is not too much to say that1 if taken by a man in any quantities1 it will produce no effect whatever4 ,it is no new remedy2 it has been tried and tried1 and found wanting4 ,the decoction of sarsa has a decided action1 but it is due to the water in it1 and not to the sarsaparilla6 ,,henrietta4--,the symptom you mention is one of the manifestations of the milder degrees of hysteria4 ,a little rigid mental training would soon cure you4 ,,inexperienced4--,the best temperature for a working room is between #ee ,f4 and #fj ,f4 ,for a bedroom1 between #ej ,f4 and #ee ,f4 ,for the sick-room for ordinary cases1 between #ee ,f4 and #fe ,f4 ,for some respiratory diseases1 the temperature must be kept between #fb ,f4 and #gj ,f4 ,in these diseases the temperature must be kept constant1 great care being taken that the room does not get cold in the early hours of the morning4 ,,country ,,mouse4--,earache is by no means always due to trouble with the ear4 ,indeed1 pain of any kind is an uncommon symptom of ear disease1 and it is only in acute inflammation of the drum that pain is at all common4 ,earache is most often a 8referred pain10 that is1 it is a pain in one nerve due to irritation of another nerve connected with it4 ,this phenomenon of referred pain is exceedingly common4 ,the nerve which chiefly supplies the skin about the ear is a branch of the inferior dental nerve1 which supplies the sensation to the lower teeth4 ,consequently the presence of carious teeth in the lower jaw is an exceedingly common cause of earache1 and is for certain the cause of the pain which you suffer4 ,you can tell whether pain about the ear is due to ear trouble or to this referred pain1 because in the former case the pain is deeply seated1 whereas in referred pain the pain is situated in the skin about the ear4 ,moreover1 in this latter case the skin about the ear may be acutely tender4 ,illustration ,,miscellaneous4 ,,mrs4 ,c----,s4--,you give no pseudonym4 ,in the ,annotated ,bible there is a note on this subject which points out that ,nahash may have been another name of ,jesse1 the father of ,david4 ,the ancient ,jews are said to have thought that ,abigail and ,zeruiah were daughters of ,david's mother by ,nahash1 ,king of ,ammon1 before her marriage with ,jesse1 as it is not said they were daughters of ,jesse anywhere1 although they are called sisters of ,david4 ,all this is1 however1 conjectural4 ,nahash means a serpent4 ,,anna ,,maria4--#a4 ,you would require a proper butter-mould for it4--#b4 ,it is never proper to shorten words1 such as 8cd410 8wld410 8wk40 for work1 or 8tly40 for truly1 at least in writing letters4 ,if your time be so limited1 it is better to put off writing your letter till you have more time4 ,such abbreviations are only intended for business men1 and are wholly unnecessary in polite letter-writing4 ,,dowdney4--,we have not heard of any lady veterinary surgeons1 nor do we find that there is any opening for their education as yet4 ,why spell ,britain as 8,brittian08 ,the rest of your letter is quite correct4 ,the ,royal ,college of ,veterinary ,surgeons is at #aj1 ,red ,lion ,square1 ,w4,c4 ,write and inquire of the ,secretary4 ,,open ,,sesame4--,we think the best plan is to go to a good and trustworthy hairdresser1 if you have determined to have your hair dyed1 but we will give you an old-fashioned hair 8restorer0 or 8darkener10 as follows3--rust of iron1 #a drachm1 old ale1 strong and unsweetened1 #a pint1 oil of rosemary1 #ab drops4 ,put this mixture into a bottle1 cork very loosely1 agitate it daily for ten or twelve days1 then after an hour's waiting1 decant the clear portion for use4 ,rain water may be substituted for the ale if you wish it4 ,this mixture will ironmould linen clothes4 ,,petite4--#a4 ,it is very difficult to deal with a scratched surface of leather4 ,a kid-restorer will sometimes answer the purpose1 or one of the creams sold for ,russia leather4 ,white of egg will also act as a restorer1 and you might stain the scratches with a green paint4--#b4 ,as to your second question1 we are of opinion that you would do best by joining the ,university ,correspondence ,college1 #cb1 ,red ,lion ,square1 ,w4,c41 particularly as you live so far from ,london4 ,you could write for terms4 ,,effie4--,the loosened back of your book could only be tightened by a binder1 and perhaps not even by him1 unless he took the back off1 when it could be done4 ,,lonely ,,one4--,judging from your letter and its story only1 we should say you were very well rid of such a half-hearted lover4 ,and now1 we think that at twenty-six1 with a delightful profession to occupy you1 you ought to be a thankful and happy girl4 ,throw yourself into your work with your whole heart4 ,discourage all repining and sorrowful thoughts2 be resolute and determined1 until your mind shall gain strength and its normal power again4 ,take plenty of fresh air and exercise1 and look only on the sunny side of life4 ,god helps those who help themselves2 and ,he will help you to a happy life4 ,e4 ,b4 ,h4--,we should think that your weight was about normal1 if tall for your age4 ,has anyone been teasing you about it8 ,don't mind1 you can practise how to preserve a good temper under difficulties4 ,the name ,emma is of very ancient date4 ,it comes from the ,latin amata1 signifying loved2 and was used as a name of honour in the days of ancient ,rome1 when it was bestowed on the newly-consecrated vestal by the high priest4 ,it is neither ugly nor common1 so far as we can see4 ,you have been taking 8chaff0 too seriously4 ,,muriel4--,we suppose that the stains on the teacups are caused by tea2 if so1 rubbing them well with salt will take them off2 and they will sometimes come off when merely scraped with a knife4 ,,annie4--,a housemaid in a gentleman's house would need three cotton dresses1 half-a-dozen linen1 and half-a-dozen lawn or muslin aprons1 and a good black gown for afternoon wear4 ,if you are one of two or three maids1 you are under the upper housemaid1 and she will instruct you in your duties4 ,these would differ in every house respectively4 ,,ayesha4--,your writing is very fairly good4 ,the blue velveteen must be cleaned with benzine1 or some ,french chalk1 which take out the grease--the latter rubbed in on the wrong side4 ,,florence4--,lawyer is a general term which comprehends attorneys1 solicitors1 barristers1 and advocates4 ,a barrister is a councillor1 qualified and admitted to plead at the ,bar1 and to take upon him the defence of clients4 ,he is also a conveyancer4 ,an attorney-at-law is an officer of a court of law1 legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court1 on the retainer of clients4 ,he answers to the solicitor in ,chancery1 and the proctor in ,ecclesiastical and ,admiralty courts1 and all are comprehended under the general term lawyer4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 ,b4--#a4 ,if calling on a lady living with her brother1 you would leave two of your husband's cards4--#b4 ,the lady herself1 in calling on you1 would1 of course1 leave cards for her brother4 ,,floss4--#a4 ,we are much obliged by your kind expression of opinion concerning our paper4--#b4 ,the only way to improve your writing is to go back to copies and improve each letter as it comes4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,note--the following changes have been made to this text4 ,page #gaj3 tho to those--8those made of04 ,page #gac3 soverigns to sovereigns--8,nine hard sovereigns04 ,page #gad3 ,anne to ,ann--8to cook and ,ann04 ,page #gbj3 you to your--8your husband's cards04