MISCELLANEOUS.

Soldier’s Friend.—The Royal Artillery College is at Woolwich. The Royal School of Military Engineering is at Chatham. We do not quite comprehend your question. The candidate would have to pass the entrance examination, of course.

Fiancée.—At a reception after a two o’clock wedding the refreshments would consist of tea, coffee, or iced coffee, cups of any kind you may like; sandwiches, jellies, blancmanges, trifles, ices, cake, bread and butter; plenty of flowers, and the wedding-cake. You could have some tiny tables arranged about the room, but the refreshments are what are called “standing up,” exactly like a large afternoon tea. The bride’s father provides carriages for the bride and the family in the house. Her bridesmaids should meet her at the church, and if needful a carriage should be provided for their return; but it is not customary to provide any for the guests, unless the church be at a great distance off. In this case it is better to invite the guests to the reception only, but this is optional. You would take your father’s left arm to walk up the aisle, and you return in the same carriage that brought you, unless the bridegroom should possess a carriage of his own, when the bride sometimes returns in that, but not always.

Mabel.—For a mayor’s reception held in the evening you and your husband should both wear evening dress. The lady mayoress generally receives her guests, and you should give your names to the servant who announces you, and then go forward and shake hands.

Sophia.—“The King’s Daughters” form an order of Christian service, which was first founded in America, where it has over 200,000 members. It has now been made international. The branch for Great Britain was formed in 1891. The object of the Order is to develop spiritual life and to stimulate Christian activity by creating a world-wide sisterhood of service among all women who are doing anything to uplift humanity. Their badge is a small silver cross, bearing the initials of their watchword—“In His Name.” It is now worn all over the world. In all 400,000 men, women, and children have taken the little cross as the outward symbol of their pledge of love and service for Christ’s sake, and there are more than 1,000 different lines of work carried out by the Order. It was founded by ten women in New York City on January 13th, 1886, and its progress may be considered quite unique, as it is one of the most remarkable of the great religious societies of the day. In England the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer is Miss M. Stuart, 17, Morpeth Mansions, Victoria Street, London, S.W., from whom all information can be obtained.

Rowena.—The personal property of an unmarried sister would be equally divided between mother, brothers, and sisters; but if the father were living, the whole would go to him. Real property would all go to the eldest brother, unless there were a father, when it would all go to him. You will find all about intestates’ estates in Whitaker’s Almanack, from which we take the above.

Clematis.—The word “Beryl” is pronounced as having two syllables—Ber-ril; and the word “minx” is pronounced as spelt—minks.

Isabel.—February 13th, 1847, was a Saturday.

[THE GIRL’S OWN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPETITION.]

The sixth and last instalment of questions in this instructive Competition is given below. Full details as to prizes and certificates of merit appeared on [page 14].

Questions 61-72.

61. Is what is known as the poisonous upas tree of Java a fact or a hoax?

* * * *

62. What is the best way of treating a fainting fit?

* * * *

63. What public punishment was once in use in England for scolding women?

* * * *

64. What was the origin of the phrase “The Wise Fools of Gotham?”

* * * *

65. Is length of life greater now than it used to be?

* * * *

66. Of what literary work has it been said that it is “perhaps the only book about which the educated minority has come over to the opinion of the common people?”

* * * *

67. Who was the young Fellow of Oxford who, during the latter half of last century, eloped with a banker’s daughter and came in the end to be Lord Chancellor of England?

* * * *

68. What plant was introduced early in the seventeenth century into this country as an ornamental plant but is now a favourite vegetable?

* * * *

69. Who was the father of English Cathedral music?

* * * *

70. What may fairly claim to be the greatest work of imagination in the world?

* * * *

71. What Scottish sovereign, looking out of the window of the prison in which he was once confined, caught sight for the first time of the lady whom he afterwards married?

* * * *

72. How many different kinds of clouds may be seen floating in the sky?

The answers to the above questions, Nos. 61-72, together with the answers to questions 49-60, which appeared on [page 135], must be sent in on or before February 24, 1899.

Address to The Editor, The Girl’s Own Paper Office, 56, Paternoster Row, London, E.C., and at the left-hand top corner of the envelope or wrapper write the words “Questions Competition.”

A WORKING PARTY.

[THE FAIRY GOVERNESS.]

A MUSICAL STORY.

Written and Composed by Herbert Harraden.

[Transcriber's Note: Click on the [Listen] links to download and listen to MP3 files of the music, and on the [XML] links to download the notation in MusicXML format. Click the [Larger version] links to see larger images of the notation. If you are reading this e-book in a format other than HTML, you may not be able to use these links.]

Characters:

Hyacinthia	The Fairy of the Dell.
Fairy Governess	(Elderly looking).
Flibbie	An Elf.
Alice	A Mortal Child.
Fairies and Elves in attendance on Hyacinthia (but these can be dispensed with).

Introduction: Play the Accompaniment of No. 3 for the Introduction.

Scene: A Dell.

Enter Fairy Governess.

No. 1. SAD AND SORROWFUL.

(SONG.—Governess.)

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1. For me the sun doth ne - ver shine,
For me there is no peace,
A wea - ry, drea - ry lot is mine,
My troubles nev - er cease,
A wea - ry, drea - ry lot is mine,
My troubles nev - er cease.

A stranger to joy and glee,
With ne - ver a mo - ment free,
There’s rest for me ne - ver,
For ev - er and ev - er
A Go - ver - ness I must be,
A sad and sor - row - ful, tired - out
Go - ver - ness I must ev - er be.

2. And will the sun ne’er shine a - gain
As in the days of yore?
Ah, no! my hopes have been in vain,
And will be ev - er - more.
Ah, no! my hopes have been in vain,
And will be ev - er - more.

Gov. (sitting down). Ah! it is a cruel punishment! Once I was a mortal child, but that was years ago, and when I came into Hyacinth Dell I was made a Fairy, and was appointed Governess to the most trying and perverse Elf in all Fairy Land. I don’t dare to think that I was as trying and perverse to my Governess. She told me that this Dell was enchanted, and forbade me to enter it, and only when it was too late did I regret my disobedience. Here comes my precious pupil.

Enter Flibbie.

Gov. Now, Flibbie, late again! You are always unpunctual. It is very wrong to be unpunctual. Come here at once!

Flib. (slyly). Please, Governess, is it worse to be unpunctual than disobedient?

Gov. Whatever you do that is not right is wrong.

Flib. That is rather an artful answer.

Gov. How dare you speak to me like that?

Flib. (laughs slyly).

Gov. Don’t laugh!

Flib. (serious). I’m not laughing.

Gov. But you were laughing. And how many times have I told you not to twiddle your thumbs?

Flib. I really don’t know, Governess; it never occurred to me to count.

Gov. We will commence with History. How was William Rufus killed?

Flib. With an arrow.

Gov. There’s a good Flibbie! You see you can be good if you try. And who killed him?

Flib. A sparrow.

Gov. A sparrow?

Flib. Yes, Governess. “I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow.” Shakespeare!

Gov. But I was asking about William Rufus.

Flib. Oh, I beg your pardon, Governess, I thought you were asking about Cock Robin. Of course, William Rufus was killed by Sir Walter Squirrel.

Gov. “Sir Walter” is right, Flibbie, but not “Squirrel.”

Flib. Oh, I beg your pardon, Governess, I saw one on that oak-tree, and it diverted my thoughts. Of course, it was Sir Walter Tyrrel.

Gov. Quite right, Flibbie. And why was William called Rufus?

Flib. On account of the colour of his hair.

Gov. And what colour was his hair?

Flib. Blue; and he had a big beard of the same colour, and he had ever so many wives, and he cut off their heads, and, and—hung them up in the drawing-room, and locked the door—and——

Gov. No, no, Flibbie! You are thinking of Blue Beard. What colour was the hair of William Rufus?

Flib. Green.

Gov. No.

Flib. Magenta.

Gov. No.

Flib. Vandyke brown.

Gov. No.

Flib. Crimson lake.

Gov. Oh, Flibbie, how trying you are!

Flib. Pink.

Gov. No.

Flib. Vermilion.

Gov. No.

Flib. I recollect, now. Red.

Gov. Quite right, Flibbie.

Flib. And for this reason the boys at school called him “Carrots.”

Gov. I don’t think that’s in history, Flibbie.

Flib. Then, please, Governess, I think it ought to be.

Gov. Now for Geography. What is an Island?

Flib. An Island is a piece of water surrounded by land.

Gov. Oh, Flibbie, how can you be so irritating? I must insist upon knowing what an Island is.

Flib. Don’t you know? As you are a Governess, you ought to know.

Gov. Of course I know, but I want you to tell me what an Island is, so that I may know that you know.

Flib. An Island is a piece of land surrounded by water.

Gov. Quite right! Why didn’t you say that at first?

Flib. Didn’t I?

Gov. Flibbie, you know you didn’t. What is Sheffield celebrated for?

Flib. For the crocodiles that infest its shores.

Gov. Flibbie, your behaviour is shameful.

Flib. Oh, I beg your pardon, Governess, that’s the answer to “What is the Nile celebrated for?” Sheffield is celebrated for its cutlets.

Gov. For its cutlets?

Flib. I beg your pardon, Governess, I meant cutlery.

Gov. And now for Grammar. What is Grammar?

Flib. A nuisance.

Gov. I don’t want your opinion of Grammar, Flibbie, I want your definition of it.

Flib. Please, Governess, I cannot give my definition of it, but I can give Webster’s.

Gov. Very well, Flibbie.

Flib. Grammar is “the science of language; the theory of human speech; the study of forms of speech, and their relations to one another.”

Gov. Very good indeed, Flibbie. Now, what is a Conjunction?

Flib. It is a place where different lines of railways meet. There’s one at Clapham.

Gov. No, Flibbie, you are thinking of a Junction. What is a Conjunction?

Flib. Oh, I beg your pardon! A Conjunction is “a connective or connecting word; an indeclinable word which serves to unite sentences, clauses of a sentence, or words.” Also Webster. And, please, Governess, there is a little point of grammar that has always puzzled me. Will you kindly explain it?

Gov. Certainly, Flibbie. What is it?

Flib. Is it correct to say “Four and seven is twelve,” or, “Four and seven are twelve”?

Gov. Why, of course, Flibbie, it is correct to say “Four and seven are twelve.”

Flib. (laughing). Please, Governess, I’m sure it isn’t, for four and seven are eleven. I caught you there!

Gov. Was there ever such an imp! Now for Spelling.

No. 2. SPELLING DUET.

(Governess and Flibbie.)

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Governess.
1. How do you spell Cat?

Flibbie.
Please, Go - ver - ness, did you say Rat?

Governess.
No, I said Cat.

Flibbie.
I beg your par - don! I thought you said Rat.

Governess.
No, I said Cat!

Flibbie.
I thought you said Rat.

Governess.
Spell Cat!

Flibbie.
I can ea - si - ly do that.
K A T, Kat.

Governess.
You are so wil - ful and per - verse,
It’s real - ly ve - ry sad;
Each day you’re get - ting worse and worse,
And soon you’ll drive me mad!

Flibbie.
I’m ve - ry sor - ry, Go - ver - ness,
I real - ly can’t be good;
How much I try you can - not guess,
I on - ly wish I could.

Governess.
2. How do you spell Fat?

Flibbie.
Please, Go - ver - ness, did you say Mat?

Governess.
No, I said Fat.

Flibbie.
Kind - ly ex - cuse me! I thought you said Mat.

Governess.
No, I said Fat!

Flibbie.
I thought you said Mat.

Governess.
Spell Fat!

Flibbie.
I can ea - si - ly do that.
P H A T, Phat.

Governess.
You are so wil - ful and per - verse,
It’s real - ly ve - ry sad;
Each day you’re get - ting worse and worse,
And soon you’ll drive me mad!

Flibbie.
I’m ve - ry sor - ry, Go - ver - ness,
I real - ly can’t be good;
How much I try you can - not guess,
I real - ly wish I could,

{Governess. / Flibbie. }
{You are so wil - ful and per - verse, / I’m ve - ry sor - ry, Go - ver - ness,}
{It’s real - ly ve - ry sad; / I real - ly can’t be good;}
{Each day you’re get - ting worse and worse, / How much I try you can - not guess,}
{And soon you’ll drive me mad, / I real - ly wish I could,}
{Each day you’re get - ting worse and worse, / How much I try you can - not guess,}
{And soon you’ll drive me mad! / I on - ly wish I could.}

Flib. Please, Governess, I’m tired of lessons. Take me for a little walk.

Gov. Very well, Flibbie, but you must try to walk slower. I am not so active as you are.

Flib. I’ll try, Governess. (Aside) Won’t I lead her a dance! That’s all.

Gov. Come along, then!

Exeunt Governess and Flibbie.

Enter Alice.

No. 3. “I’M NOT TO DO THIS.”

(SONG.—Alice.)

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1. I’ve es - caped from my Go - ver - ness! Oh, what a treat!
Some fault she has al - ways to find;
And when I get home, with a scold - ing I’ll meet,
But not in the least shall I mind.
She’ll be in a ter - ri - ble fright, I can tell,
But she’ll hunt for me vain - ly, I fear;
She for - bade me to en - ter this beau - ti - ful Dell,
And that is the rea - son I’m here.

I’m not to do this, I am to do that,
I’m grum - bled at all the day long;
What - ev - er I don’t do,
What - ev - er I do do,
I’m sure to be told it is wrong, wrong, wrong,
Ne - ver right, ne - ver right, al - ways wrong.

2. And this is the Dell that’s en - chant - ed, she said,
I’m sure it looks harm - less e - nough;
The sto - ry in some chil - dren’s book she has read,
So it must all be non - sense and stuff.
Of course she will say to me, “Where did you go?”
And the truth I will cer - tain - ly tell;
And then I can tease her and laugh at her so,
For be - liev - ing in Hy - a - cinth Dell.

Alice (looking off). But who is this coming so slowly along? She certainly looks as if she wanted stirring up a bit.

Enter Governess. Alice retires to the back and listens.

Gov. (sitting down). I seem to get weaker and weaker and more tired every day. I’m sure it is hard enough to have to take Flibbie out for a walk, for he goes so fast on purpose, as he knows that I am obliged to keep up with him; but when it comes to have to run after him, it is intolerable. Of course, if he gets into mischief, I get into trouble for it; and as he is always getting into mischief, on purpose, I am always getting into trouble. He’s run away and hidden himself somewhere. I’ve hunted for him high and low, and it’s almost time for his Euclid lesson. Oh, dear me! Who’d be a Governess, a miserable Governess!

Alice (coming forward). Oh, tell me that I have not heard rightly. Tell me that you are not a Governess.

Gov. (rising). A mortal child! Unhappy One! Why, oh, why did you venture into Hyacinth Dell. I am a Governess—a Fairy Governess.

Alice. Then what my Governess told me was true! Why didn’t I believe her?

Gov. What did she tell you?

Alice. She told me that this Dell was enchanted, and forbade me to enter it.

Gov. History repeats itself. It was the same in my case.

Alice. She told me of a child called Alice—and my name is Alice, too—and how the other Alice lived with her parents in Ivy Hall, where we are all living now; and my Governess told me how the other Alice disobeyed her Governess and came into this Dell, and how her parents never saw her again, and how they both died broken-hearted, for she was their only child, and was very dear to them. But I only laughed at her.

Gov. Poor child! There will be no more laughter for you. I am that other Alice.

Enter Flibbie.

Flib. Oh, there you are, Governess! I’ll report you for leaving me during school time.

Gov. (to Alice). This is my pupil.

Flib. (seeing Alice). Who’s this? What’s this? Why, it’s a mortal child! Oh, naughty, naughty! Haven’t you put your foot into it! (dancing round her). What fun, what fun!

Alice. Oh, let me go! (To Governess) Help me to get away.

Enter Hyacinthia with Attendants.

Hya. No, Alice, that cannot be.

Alice (to Hyacinthia). Who are you?

Flibbie seats himself at the side and silently expresses his delight during the following Trio.

No. 4. THE PUNISHMENT.

(TRIO.—Hyacinthia, Fairy Governess, and Alice.)

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Recit.—Hyacinthia.
I am the Fai - ry of the Dell,
And on it there’s a spell!
A - lice! A - lice!
You know a - bout it well.
The words of your Go - ver - ness scorn - ing,
And heed - less of her warn - ing,
In - to my realms you’ve dared to stray,
And the pe - nal - ty you must pay.

Alice.
This is a dream, a ter - ri - ble dream,
Ah! would that I could wake!

Hyacinthia.
This is no dream, un - hap - py child!
All hope you must for - sake!

Governess (to Hyacinthia).
Oh! save her from the grief in store!
Spare her, spare her, I im - plore!
Spare her, spare her, I im - plore!

Hyacinthia (to Alice)
1. Your Go - ver - ness was good and kind,
And pa - tient as could be;
But ah! how good and kind she was
You nev - er seemed to see.
You al - ways did your ve - ry best
To vex her in each way,
And e’en the slight - est wish of hers,
At once you’d dis - o - bey.
Such bit - ter pain as you have caus’d,
Now, A - lice, you shall know,
And com - ing ’neath my ma - gic power,
No mer - cy may I show.

Hyacinthia (to Alice)
2. Your dis - o - be - dience you will rue,
Your pun - ish - ment is great;
You’ll find it more than hard to bear,
So lis - ten to your fate.
From hence - forth it will be your task
To try to teach this elf,
Whom you will find as cru - el and
As wil - ful as your - self.
He’ll mock at you, and jeer at you,
And vain - ly you’ll com - plain,
And in this Dell as Go - ver - ness
For ev - er you’ll re - main.

{Alice. / Governess.}
Spare {me, / her,} I im - plore!
Oh, spare {me, / her,} I im - plore!

Hyacinthia.
No! in this Dell as Go - ver - ness,

{Hyacinthia. / Governess & Alice.}
{For ev - er you’ll re - main. / Oh, spare {her, / me,} I im - plore!}

Flib. (coming forward). Well, this has been a treat. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for ever so long.

Alice (to Hyacinthia). Oh, spare me!

Hya. Why should you be spared? Did you spare your poor, patient Governess?

Alice. Bitterly, most bitterly do I repent my conduct. Ah! let me go back, and I will make up to her for the past.

Hya. It is too late.

Flib. (to Alice). Cry-Baby!

Gov. Shame on you, Flibbie! How unkind you are!

Alice. And am I to remain in this Dell for ever?

Hya. For ever.

Alice. Shall I never again see my parents, nor my sisters and brother?

Hya. Never!

Flib. Nor your pet rabbit, Cry-Baby.

Gov. Flibbie, how heartless you are! And besides, how do you know that she has a pet rabbit?

Flib. She looks that sort of girl.

Hya. (to Alice). All that you hold dear is forfeited.

Alice. Spare me! Forgive me!

Hya. I would spare you, I would forgive you, but I am powerless to do so, except under one condition.

Alice. Oh, what is it? I promise faithfully to perform any condition.

Hya. I may not tell you. It is a secret entrusted to me, and only to me, by the Queen of the Fairies.

Gov. (to Hyacinthia). Mistress, have pity! Long, long ago, when I was a mortal child I disobeyed my Governess and came into Hyacinth Dell. For all these weary years I have borne the bitter punishment of being Governess to this Elf. I have lost every happiness, and there only remains the memory of the bright and golden days of my childhood to make me more unhappy still. Ah! do not doom poor Alice to such a fate as mine. I know that by the laws of Fairy Land the coming of this mortal child releases me from my dreadful post. I know that she will have to fill this, and that I shall be appointed to a lighter punishment; but rather than that she should suffer as I have suffered, ah! let me remain still a Governess, and set Alice free!

Hya. All your pleadings would have been in vain, but you yourself, unknowingly, have fulfilled the condition. Your loving words of self-denial have broken the charm, and Alice is free.

Alice. Free!

Flib. Oh, I am sorry! I was so looking forward to having a Cry-Baby for a new Governess. I’d have given her something to cry for. Never mind! I’ll give the old Governess a worse time of it.

Alice (to Flibbie). You horrid little monster! (To Governess) Oh, but this is too terrible! How can I leave you to all this misery, and for my sake? I should always be thinking of you. No! you shall not make this sacrifice for me. (To Hyacinthia) Fairy, forget what she has said, and give me my punishment!

Hya. No, Alice, that cannot be, for the charm is broken! But be comforted, for there is also happiness for her who has restored you your happiness. (To Governess) Once having been made a Fairy, you must always remain a Fairy, but the memory of the days when you were a mortal child shall fade away, and only glad thoughts shall be yours. You have aged beneath your constant cares, but a Governess no longer, be young once more, and let a bright raiment be in keeping with your Future!

Hyacinthia waves her wand and a change comes over the Fairy Governess. She is now young looking, and she wears a glittering dress.

Hya. (to Governess). I appoint you to be Alice’s Good Fairy; to watch over her, and to guide her lovingly all through her life.

Alice (to Governess). Ah! how beautiful you are, and as good as you are beautiful!

Hya. Look your last on her, Alice, for you will never see her again. When you have left Hyacinth Dell she will be invisible to you, but she will always be with you, and you will only feel her presence.

Flib. And what about me? Without any Governess to tease and torment, life won’t be worth living.

Hya. Then, Flibbie, I will make it worth living. Your nature shall change, and, from being the most wilful and perverse Elf in Fairy Land, in future all the other Elves will look upon you as a model of obedience, sweetness, and goodness, in your new appointment as aide-de-camp to Alice’s Good Fairy.

Flib. (to Governess). For the last time ask me to spell something!

Gov. (laughing). No, Flibbie; you are sure to make a mistake on purpose. I know your tricks.

Flib. Ask me to spell “A phenomenally exquisite Dear.”

Hya. What a big word for such a little thing.

Alice. I half think I couldn’t pronounce that long word. It must be at least twelve syllables; and I certainly altogether think that no one could spell it.

Flib. (to Alice). I beg your pardon! I can. (To Governess) Please, ask me to spell “A phenomenally exquisite Dear.”

Gov. Oh, Flibbie, Flibbie, I know perfectly well that you’ll spell “phenomenally” with an F instead of with P H; and “exquisite” with K S, instead of with an X; and as to “Dear,” there are two ways of spelling it, and I don’t know which one you mean.

Flib. Please, ask me to spell it.

Gov. Very well, then. Spell “A phenomenally exquisite Dear.”

Flib. (embracing her). Now hear me spell it, quite correctly, and in one letter.

Gov. In one letter, Flibbie?

Flib. U.

No. 5. FINALE.

(Hyacinthia, Fairy Governess, Flibbie, and Alice.)

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Flibbie (to Governess).
I’m your hum - ble slave!
You’ll see in fu - ture how well I’ll be - have.

Governess.
I’m sure of that.

Flibbie.
For my bad con - duct your par - don I crave.

Governess.
Is there good rea - son why for that you should ask?

Flibbie.
Yes!

Governess.
No! To be naughty was your du - ty, and you well performed your task.

Hyacinthia.
Dear A - lice, ne’er we’ll meet again,
And now you may de - part;
I’m sure this les - son will re - main
For ev - er in your heart.

Alice (to Governess).
Oh, Fai - ry! words I cannot find
To tell my thanks to you;
Your kind - ness I will bear in mind,
For all my lifetime through.

{Hyacinthia. / Governess, Flibbie, and Alice.}
Oh! nev - er {you’ll / I’ll} for - get the day
That brought {you / me} to this Dell;
No long - er here must {you / I} de - lay,
{So / I’ll} hast - en home, Farewell!

No long - er here must {you / I} de - lay,
{So / I’ll} hast - en home, Fare - well!

FOOTNOTES

[1] In this and later letters, many literal quotations are inserted from MS. letters of that date, indited by a great-great-aunt of my own, Miss Charlotte Giberne, then resident in Bath.

[2] This scare actually took place at the date and place and in the manner described.