Revolving Serpent.
A Revolving Serpent.—Draw on a piece of cardboard a spiral serpent, as shown in the figure. Cut along the lines with a sharp knife, and mount it on a needle fixed in a cork. The serpent will now revolve on its own account. Its movements may be greatly accelerated by fixing it by means of a bent wire over the flame of a lamp or candle.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CONCERNING MANY THINGS
A Simple Shelter.
A Simple Shelter.—A very easy way to rig up a shelter from sun or rain is given in the accompanying sketch. Two poles with a deep notch in the top of each, a rope, two pegs, a sheet, and a few large stones complete the shelter. An ingenious boy could arrange an end, or two if he needs them.
A Calendar on Your Fingers.—This is the way that an old-timer manages to keep account of the days of the week that months open with. It will be found correct and interesting to people who have a memory for such things:
“What day of the week did January come in on?” asked Grandfather Martin. “If you can tell that, I can tell you the day that any month will come in on, by help of a little lingo I learned from my father when I was a boy. Friday, did you say?” and he held up his hand preparatory to counting his fingers. "Now, April is the fourth month; let us see—‘At Dover dwelt George Brown, Esq., good Christopher Finch, and David Frier.’ We go by the first letters of these words—1, 2, 3, 4: ‘At Dover dwelt George’—G is the letter, and it is the seventh in the alphabet. January came in on Friday you say, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday—seven; April comes in on Thursday. Take February—second month: ‘At Dover.’ D is the letter, and fourth in the alphabet. Friday, one; Saturday, two; Sunday, three; Monday, four; February comes in on Monday.