No. 5.
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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Fay," "Fern Heather," Lucie Timpson, Emil Hirsh, Eddie S. Hequembourg, Annie Meeker, Maud Mary Chambers, Florence V. Williams, Benjamin Smith, Lottie Hope, Ernest Pullen, Norman Cary, Elsie, "Rose-bud," "Fuss and Feathers," "Bright Eyes," C. J. C., Leslie Meigs, "Empire City," Annis Temple, John P. Mott, Emma Ray, Louise Prescott, Guy Paynter, Viola C., Ray M., Evarts Folsom, Etta Wheelock, and Flossie Dean.
[For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover.]
THE PLAYMATES.—From a Photograph by Singhi.
THE FOX'S DINNER PARTY.
BY F. CASSIDY.
One of the funniest animal stories I ever heard was lately told by a sober Quaker gentleman from New Jersey, who said it was related to him by the eye-witness himself. He was one day in a field near a stream, where several geese were swimming. Presently he observed one of them disappear under water with a sudden jerk. While he looked for her to rise again he saw a fox emerge from the water, and trot off to the woods with the unfortunate goose in his mouth.
The fox chanced to go in a direction where it was easy to watch his movements. He carried his burden to a recess under an overhanging rock. Here he scratched away a mass of dry leaves, made a hole, hid his treasure within, and covered it up very carefully. Then off he went to the stream again, entered behind the flock of geese, and floated noiselessly along, with merely the tip of his nose visible above the surface. But this time he was not so fortunate in his manœuvre. The geese by some means took the alarm, and flew away with a loud cackling.
The fox, finding himself defeated, walked off in the direction opposite to the place where his victim was buried. The man went to the place, uncovered the hole, put the goose in his basket, replaced the leaves carefully, and stood patiently at a distance to watch further proceedings. The sly thief soon returned with another fox, whom he had apparently invited to dine with him. They trotted along right merrily, swinging their tails, snuffing the air, and smacking their lips in expectation of a rich repast.
When they arrived under the rocks, Reynard eagerly scratched away the leaves; but, lo! his dinner had disappeared. He looked at his companion, and plainly saw by his countenance that he more than doubted whether any goose was ever there at all. Appearances were certainly very much against the host. His tail slunk between his legs, and he held his head down, looking sideways, with a timid glance, at his disappointed companion. Indignant at what he supposed to be an attempt to get up a character for generosity on false pretenses, the offended guest seized his unlucky associate and cuffed him most unmercifully. Poor Reynard bore the infliction with the utmost patience and sneaked off, as if aware that he received no more than might naturally be expected under the peculiar circumstances.
PARLOR MAGIC.
HOW TO MAKE A QUARTER PASS INTO A BALL OF WORSTED.
Procure a ball of worsted, and also a piece of tin about three inches long and about an inch and a quarter broad, and turn up one-eighth of an inch of it on each side at an angle inward, and roll the worsted round this piece of tin until you make a ball, taking care to leave that part of the ball where one end of the tin slide is open so as to enable you to drop the quarter into it.
The ball of worsted is now placed on the table, and having borrowed a quarter, which you get the owner to mark, you turn to the table, and take up the worsted ball, dropping the marked quarter quickly down the slide or tube, which you then secretly withdraw from the ball. Now turn to the audience, and show them the ball of worsted (the hole where the tube was taken from will not be visible), and hold up a quarter (another one) which you have had secreted in your right hand until now, or which you can have fastened to an elastic attached to the inside of your sleeve, and inform them you will pass the coin into the ball.
Now get one of the company to cover the ball of worsted with a tumbler; hold up the quarter, and say, "Presto, go, fly!" then pretend to throw the quarter to the ball. Give one end of the worsted to the company to unwind, when the marked quarter will be found in the centre of the ball.
THE THERMOMETER AT 100°—ENJOYING FREE(ZE) SEATS.