Among the thousands of young people who read this paper there must be some who suffer from timidity or bashfulness. The Postmistress wishes all such to read the following quotation from an address made to children at a recent service in Westminster Abbey by Dr. Bradley, the successor of Dean Stanley, of whom you all have heard:
"Dean Stanley was, as I said, a man whom not only children, but all persons, rejoiced to meet, because, as an American whose name is known all over Europe said, at a great meeting held close by the other day, 'he was so pleasant'; simple words, but very true. Yet, strange to say, he was in his childhood and boyhood so shy and timid that his mother and his father—who, besides being a very good man, could tell stories all day about birds and insects and country life, and could draw children after him as a magnet draws the needle—were alarmed about him. They could not teach him to enjoy games like other children; and though he was not unhappy at school, they were much distressed because they could not get him to speak a word or seem happy in company. He seemed not to like—some of you, perhaps, know the feeling—to notice anything, or to be noticed when others were by him that he did not know quite well. He cured himself of this so completely that if it were not for the many letters describing him as he was then, no one would now believe this about him. How did he do so? By always trying to instruct himself about other things, and to interest himself about other people.
"It was not merely because he was so clever, and wrote such good poetry, that boys christened the corner where his little study was 'Poet's Corner,' that the Rugby boys were so fond of him, but because he was so affectionate, pure-minded, warm-hearted, and kind; and years afterward we young men, as we were at Oxford, learned to love him as our tutor, not because he was becoming famous in the land, but because he cared so much about us, and was always ready with a kind word and act, and we thought him so good. If any of the children to whom I am speaking suffer very much now, as boys and girls often do, in a way their elders never know of, from this same shyness and timidity, let them learn from the story of Dean Stanley the best way to cure themselves, and be of good cheer."
The members of the C. Y. P. R. U. will find in this number an interesting article, by Mrs. John Lillie, entitled "The Gavotte," giving a description of this picturesque old dance, together with a sketch of the boy life of the famous musician John Sebastian Bach. Our boy readers will be interested in the description of "Mr. Barnum's Show in Winter-Quarters," some of them may be inclined to try the Indian game of "Tchungkee," and others may like to busy themselves in the construction of "A Novel Chair-Sleigh." The girls will be interested in the story of "The Milkmaids of Dort."
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
DIAMOND.
1. A letter. 2. To descry. 3. A vulgar woman. 4. One of the United States. 5. A place where watches are manufactured. 6. A loud noise. 7. A letter.
Bob.