A LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY.
There was a lady named Mrs. —— (a city in New Brunswick), who had in her charge —— (three islands in New York State), whose mother was —— (a sea in Europe). The eldest was called —— (a city in Virginia), and-the two younger ones —— (two cities in West Virginia). Their father and uncle were —— (an island in Polynesia), and had, from time to time, sent them a great many presents. Among them was a beautiful —— (islands off the western coast of Africa), a hat made of —— (a city in Italy), and a —— (a river in California) from the —— (a city in France) of a —— (a lake in Canada), and a scarf-pin made of —— (a sea in Polynesia).
One (a lake in Minnesota) day Mrs. —— (a city in New Brunswick) went out to buy three yards of —— (a city in Hindostan), five pounds of —— (an island in Canada), and two pounds of —— (a river in Idaho). As soon as she had gone, these —— (three islands in New York State) thought there would be some —— (an island belonging to Denmark) making a —— (an island in New York State). They could not start it, so they poured on some —— (a country in Europe). Such a blaze! The younger ones were frightened, so —— (the city in Virginia) threw on some (a spring in Nevada) water, that quenched the ——(an island in New York State). (The city in Virginia) received a bad —— (a city in Switzerland). When the fright was over, they all declared they would —— (a cape in North Carolina), and never be found on such a —— (river in Germany) again.
[THROWING A LIGHT.]
BY E. M.
An object of fear and dislike, a boy's—nay, some men's—perfect delight, yet I am, in one sense, a slang word. Never abroad except at night, then I can no longer be used; yet instead of using me, people shun me, and I am of no use. Black and unsightly; yet, made of any wood, I can be as ornamented as my maker desires. I can't be made, for I am a living thing, and am now, as all my type have been before me. Though used in play, I can inflict a blow. I doubt if any one would ever venture to play with me; do not see how it could be done; and it is generally by a blow that I am killed. I can be broken, or lost, or burned, but not killed; but yet, having life, I die; am not lost nor broken. I live in dark places, and fly; do not walk. I can't move; am an instrument in the hands of others, but can make something else fly.
I am sensible to pain, and have always been an object of interest to naturalists. I am of wood—how can I feel?—and am used only in sport, though I can inflict pain. Thousands of me are made every year in this country, and I am the means by which people who become proficient in the use of me earn their living. I am of no use save to destroy insects, and it is somewhat doubtful whether I do that or no.
There are many varieties of me, and I am more often found in warm countries; the using of me is too heating to be much indulged in in the tropics, and hence it is only at the North and West that I am so popular.
A DANCE IN THE MEADOW.