ONE-LEGGED DUCKS.
nce a gentleman reproved his negro servant for serving a duck for dinner to which there was only one leg. He suspected Sam of having eaten the missing limb.
"Oh, no, sir," replied Sam; "these ducks have only one leg!"
"Indeed!" said the master. "I must see them."
So the next morning he told Sam to show him the one-legged ducks. Sam conducted his master to the poultry-yard, and pointed to half a dozen ducks, each standing on one leg near the pond.
"There, sah!" he exclaimed.
The master waved his arms, and cried out, "Shoo! shoo!" and the ducks scampered away.
"How about that?" he said, turning to Sam.
"That's right, sah," returned Sam, calmly; "but why didn't yo' shoo de oder duck, las' night?"
[A VALENTINE PARTY.]
BY MARY B. SLEIGHT.
he Chadwick girls, one February morning, were deep in consultation as to the best way in which to entertain their friend Dorothy Adams, who was coming the next week to make them a two days' visit.
"Why not have a valentine party instead of a tea?" suggested Catharine. "Teas are so stiff and poky when one is not acquainted with any of the other guests, and Dorothy is one that likes a thoroughly good time."
"A valentine party would be much more lively, of course," said Helen; "but where in the world could we find enough valentines to go round?"
"Write them, the same as the girls did in Grandmother Livingston's day," answered Catharine. "Even if we haven't any especial gift for verse-making, we can string some passable rhymes together, I hope."
"How would it do," asked stately Elizabeth, beginning to be interested, "to have bows or rosettes of ribbon—two of each color—distributed, and let each person take for a partner the one that wears the corresponding badge? Then, of course, there would have to be two sets of Valentines. For example— Here, give me your pencil, Catharine, please, and that empty envelope. How would this do?
"Blue No. 1, fastening her badge to the lapel of her partner's coat:
"As ladies fair, in days of old,
To chosen knights their colors gave,
This ribbon blue
I give to you;
And this, dear Valentine, I crave,
That you the little badge will take,
And bravely wear it for my sake.
"And something like this for an answer:
"Blue No. 2 (fastening his own badge on his lady's gown):
"Of all the merry throng to-night,
With colors rich and rare bedight,
Believe me, none will prove more true
Than he who wears this bonny blue."
"Bravo, Beth!" cried the others.
"Verily I believe it's catching," exclaimed Helen. "I too have an idea. Quick, give me a pencil!" And straightway all three fell to scribbling, each taking a different color for her subject.
And when they had made an end of cudgelling their brains, the following rhymes were ready to be copied:
Red, No. 1—
Red as my own is the badge I seek,
And red as a rose is the wearer's cheek.
Why art thou thrilling, heart of mine?
Ah, if I knew they were both for me,
The badge and the blush, on bended knee
I would sue for the love of my Valentine.
No. 2.—
This ruddy bow for thee I bind.
Be true, and thou wilt ever find
Warm is the heart that wears the red;
No scorn nor coldness needst thou dread.
Pink, No. 1—
My lady fair doth wear the tint
That deep within the sea-shell glows,
But, like the shell beneath the pink,
Her heart is white as Alpine snows.
No. 2—
I would this little knot of pink
Might be, dear Valentine, the link,
Where'er the lines for us be cast,
To hold our friendship firm and fast.
Yellow, No. 1—
Dear Valentine, one boon I ask—
Pray make it not a loveless task,
Nor think me somewhat overbold—
When you this yellow knot espy,
Ask not to-night the reason why,
Within your own my hand enfold.
No. 2—
Oh, maiden fair, whose badge is yellow,
Let heart and hand
Together band,
And find in me your happy fellow.
Green, No. 1—
Green as the larch's bursting buds
When spring is everywhere afield,
This pledge of all my heart's desire
To thee, sweet Valentine, I yield.
No. 2—
Leal throbs the heart beneath the sheen
That mates thy knot of tender green.
If thou, dear knight, that heart wouldst woo,
Be this thy motto, "Brave and true."
A badge of two colors, violet and orange, No. 1—
Who wears to-night
The colors bright
That in this radiant badge entwine,
I single from the lovely ranks,
And claim her for my Valentine.
No. 2—
A happy Valentine is she
Whose fortune in this badge is told,
For violet for heart's ease stands,
And orange for the heart of gold.
Brown, No. 1—
Ah me! no golden gift have I
To offer to my lady fair,
And much I fear she will not deign
This tawny gift of mine to wear.
Accepting his and fastening hers to his lapel.
No. 2—
Though sombre-hued this badge may seem,
Disdain it not, for oft, I deem,
Those forced to wear life's thrifty brown
Are worthy of love's brightest crown.
A white satin star, No. 1—
The bravest knight in Arthur's train
Was he who wore with ne'er a stain
The shining badge of purity;
And since I know that thou art true,
And that my trust I ne'er shall rue,
This token white I yield to thee.
No. 2—
Thy gift, as pure as thy radiant brow,
I take, dear heart, with the reverent vow
That whether the way be near or far,
I'll follow the lead of my lady's star.
"There!" said Helen. "Counting in the first two, we have sixteen, and the two sets must be put in separate baskets and drawn for. The next question is, what are the people to do after they find their partners?"
"We must seat each couple at a table and give them some puzzle or problem to work out together," said Catharine, promptly. "How would 'An Astronomical Wedding-Journey' answer? You can get that up, Beth—you are so fond of star-gazing; but don't make it too prosy."
"I'll attempt it only on one condition," answered Elizabeth: "neither of you must see it until it is given to the rest."
"Very well, Beth; we'll leave you to yourself while we copy the valentines."
And this is what Elizabeth set them to pondering over on St. Valentine's eve: