-

and panting as if he had been hotly chased. | among the sheep again. Some of the other Ascertaining by a hasty examination that he dogs were shot, others sent away; and so was not wounded, for she feared he had many threats were made against Dan, that we been shot, she readily guessed what the trou- thought it best finally to sell him. ble was, and quickly filling a large tub with water, called the dog to her, and he, in obedience to her directions, stepped into it with his fore paws while she washed his head, neck, and shoulders, and then turned to have his back and the rest of his body washed. She rubbed him as dry as she could, and bade him lie on the mat before the large blazing fire in the kitchen fireplace.

She had hardly made all tidy again, before there came a great noise of voices, and trampling of feet, and raps both loud and long on the door. Mother told Dan to lie still and go to sleep; and he, with a look that told her he understood the part he had to play, did as he was bid, while she went to the door to see what all the noise was about.

There were five or six men, with horses and lanterns, very much excited and angry, who said they had come for Dan; that he had been seen and identified, by several men, as the ringleader of the gang of dogs that had killed so many of their sheep, and that they had chased him some distance, but lost sight of him a mile or two off; and they felt sure that, if he was not at home then, he would come during the night, and they would wait till he

came.

Mother expostulated with them, and tried to make peace by offering to pay for the sheep if they would prove that Dan killed them, and finally told them that Dan was at home lying on the mat before the kitchen fire; that he was a very faithful watch-dog, and she should be very sorry to lose him; and ended by inviting the men in to see that her words were true. There he lay, stretched at full length, showing his powerful body to good advantage, and enjoying the warmth of the roaring wood fire, but apparently too sleepy to give them much attention, though he did raise his huge shaggy head, and give two or three deep, ominous growls when they approached near to where he lay; and as he put his head down again, he turned his eyes, with a knowing look, to the face of his mistress, as if he assured her the men would not dare to touch him, or harm her. The men slowly withdrew, complaining and wondering, and by no means sure that it really was Dan whom they had chased, after all.

We tried after this to keep Dan at home, and chained him up a great part of the time; but now and then he would evade us, and get off with his companions, and make sad havoc

The captain of a small British bark, whom we knew, and who promised to be kind to the dog, concluded at last to buy him; and we sadly consented to part with our well-loved and faithful friend, who was also strongly attached to us.

Captain B. took him with him on several voyages, and became very fond of him, as did also all his crew, who considered the dog as a valuable member of their ship's company, and an amusing playmate.

One dark winter's night a furious storm of wind and rain drove the bark on to the rocks, and she was wrecked. The men tried to swim through the breakers, but were all lost but three the captain, mate, and one of the crew these Dan saved.

The sagacious animal, with an affection and instinct almost human, grasped the stout jacket of the captain, his master, with his teeth, near the shoulder, and thus kept his head above water, while the other men, one on each side of the dog, held on by the long, thick hair which covered his large, strong body, and he swam with them safely to the shore, a distance of three miles, all of them alive, but very much exhausted. The grateful captain took good care of the dog till he grew old and died, and they buried him in the garden. The whole family mourned for the loss of the faithful and devoted friend, who saved the life of the husband and father, and shared so many hardships, and endured so many perils, with him — some of them on the sea, and some in foreign lands, far from home and friends; but by land or sea, in other lands or at home, his trusty dog Dan was ever his true and constant companion.

MORE than three hundred years ago cannon were made in India larger than any we have in use at present, though not quite so efficient. perhaps, as some of ours. At Beejapoor there is one made of brass, which weighs more than forty tons. The diameter of the muzzle is four feet eight inches. A cast-iron ball for this cannon would be about thirty inches in diameter, and would weigh more than a ton and a quarter. This gun was cast in 1559. On one of the forts in the same town is an iron cannon of nearly the same calibre, and another of less calibre, but more than thirty feet in length.

eminently a popular amusement; people of every class can participate in it, an advantage over cricket or rowing, since the large expenses attendant on the latter sports often debar many from their enjoyment.

The spirit of conservatism is so strong in England that a set of rules, to be commonly conformed to, has never been instituted by the public schools, where the game chiefly flourishes; and Eton, Marlborough, Rugby, Shrewsbury, and Winchester play according to their own code, each differing somewhat from the other. In primary principles, however, wherever played, the game is invariably the same.

The ground is fifty yards and upwards in length, a goal, marked by flags, being made by the two contesting parties at each end, and a boundary line at each side, within which the game must be played. Thus, in the diagram,

3

I

THE

FOOTBALL.

BY WILLIAM H. RIDEING.

I

2

the ground marked 1 and 2 is technically called "touch," and 3 and 4 are the goals. The object of the rival players is to kick the ball through the opponents' goal; and in a good match the utmost difficulties have to be overcome ere the feat is accomplished. A few years ago a convention of the representatives of clubs, not connected with the colleges, was held in London, and a code, embodying features from all existing rules, was constructed, which, as the best, I append.

HE game of football is probably older than cricket; for in the reign of James I. we learn that the brutal mode, then in vogue, of playing the game, was severely censured and forbidden. And later, or in contemporary annals, of course including the versatile diary of Samuel Pepys, Esq., allusions to the game frequently occur. Until quite recently, actual barbarisms were permitted; and even to-day some of the leading public schools in England sanction the inhuman habit of "hacking," i. e., kicking shins, intentionally. But, taken all in all, the game is manly and healthful; and to see the famous "sixth match," played annually at Rugby, is sure to excite enthusiasm for its vigorous qualities. In England the place filled by cricket in summer is in winter occupied by football. Towards September, bats, wickets, &c., are put aside, and the simple implement of the winter game heralds by its appearance a series of hotblooded " scrimmages," disastrous "mauls," and exciting "tussles." If the club belongs to a school, the players are party-costumed; and at Rugby the primitive use of the cap to mark the wearer's office or social distinc-kick off, and the goals shall be changed.

1. The maximum length of the ground shall be two hundred yards, and the maximum breadth one hundred yards;* the length and breadth shall be marked off by flags, and the goals shall be upright posts, eight yards apart, with a tape across them eight feet from the ground.

tion - is preserved, every boy having a capsometimes a badge to denote his aptitude and prowess in the game. Football is pre

2. The winners of the toss shall have the

choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place kick (a kick at the ball while on the ground, in any position the kicker may choose to place it) from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss. The other side shall not approach within ten yards of the ball until it is kicked off.

3. After a game is won, the losing side shall

4. A goal shall be won when the ball passes

A space so large as this is very seldom needed or used.

between the goal posts under the tape, not being thrown, knocked over (propelled by a player with his hands or arms), or carried.

FOR

CHARADES.

BY AUNT CARRIE.

5. When the ball is in touch (that part of `OR an evening at home, nothing can afford the field, on either side of the ground, which more amusement than a charade party. is beyond the line of flags), the first player Elaborate scenery or dress causes delay and who touches it shall throw it from the point labor, which would lessen the pleasure. We on the boundary line where it left the ground, much prefer impromptu charades to those in a direction at right angles with the boun- where the whole dialogue must be committed dary line, and it shall not be in play until it to memory. The best and most effective chahas touched the ground; and the player throw-rades we ever saw were those acted without ing it shall not play it until it has been played by another player.

6. When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who is nearer the opponents' goal line, is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any player from doing so until the ball has been played, unless there are at least three of his opponents between him and their own goal; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from behind the goal

line.

any previous training; the ready wit of the actors could improvise most laughable dialogues. We will simply give you plans of action, leaving it for the actors themselves to make much or little conversation, as they choose. Some prefer acting charades in pantomime. We will give you this week a plan for acting the word "Bandage.”

SCENE I. - BAND. Form your charade actors into a band of musicians, one acting as leader. Tin pails can be used for drums, large spoons for drumsticks; combs, covered with paper, and played like a harmonica; small waiters for tamborines, wooden whistles, and any real or pretended instrument that can readily be obtained, will supply the instru

7. When the ball is kicked behind the goal line, it must be kicked off by the side behind whose goal it went, within six yards from the limit of their goal. The side who thus kick the ball are entitled to a fair kick off in what-ments for the band. A large, old-fashioned ever direction they please, without any obstruction, the opposite side not being able to approach within six yards of the ball.

8. No player shall carry or knock the ball. 9. Neither tripping (throwing an adversary by the use of the legs) nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary.

10. No player shall throw the ball or pass

it to another.

11. No player shall take the ball from the ground with his hands, while it is in play, on any pretence whatever.

12. No player shall wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha, on the soles or heels of his boots.

SURNAMES. In the early ages a simple name was sufficient for each individual. In the process of time these single names became so numerous that it was necessary to have some other distinction. Thus the reign of surnames. The first approach to this was the addition of the name of the sire, as, Joshua the son of Nun. Then followed the use of significant words, indicating some personal feat, occupation, or social relations, &c., applied to distinguish individuals. These names afterwards became permanent through families.

clothes-frame can be placed at one end of the room, and hung in such a way, with sheets, as to leave an open place in the centre for a window. A young-lady actor can be placed, concealed, behind, with a shawl over her head. When the curtain rises, the leader can give the signal for the band to commence, by waving his baton to mark the time. The band can then play some tune before agreed upon. As soon as they stop, the young lady with a shawl thrown over her head can appear at the window, and throw the leader a bouquet of flowers. (If the band was alone in this scene, the audience could guess the word too easily.)

SCENE II. AGE. A party of boys and girls can be disputing about their different ages. An actor, dressed as an old maid, can be seated, knitting; the children can urge her to tell her age, &c., &c.

SCENE III. - BANDAGE. The lady actors can act a soldiers' sewing society. Some can be making bandages, some knitting, &c., &c. A soldier can come limping in, and beg the ladies, for the love of their country, to bandage his wounded arm. He can tell a story of his wounds, and how kind ladies bandaged his lame leg, &c.

- DANCING is the most ancient of pastimes.

I

THE ORATOR.

DIRECTIONS.-Words in SMALL CAPITALS should be emphasized: words in CAPITALS should be strongly emphasized. The numbers refer to the gestures represented in the margin; and when followed by the sign, the position should be continued to the next number. The gesture should correspond with the emphasis. The asterisks indicate the more important rhetorical pauses.

O, SAD was the father, when, lo, in the skies The 10RAINBOW again spread its beauteous dyes;

And THEN he REMEMBERED the maxims he'd given,

And thought of his child and the "DEW-DROPS

IN HEAVEN.

2

THE CHILD AND THE DEW-
DROPS.

3 “O,

5

BY J. E. CARPENTER.

FATHER, dear father, why pass they away, The 'DEW-DROPS that sparkled at dawning of day – That glittered like +STARS by the light of the MOON,

THE inhabitants of Sybaris, an ancient Greek city of Lower Italy, were almost as celebrated for their luxury as the Lacedemonians were for the frugality of their style of living. Sybaris was finally destroyed by the Crotonians with an army only one third as large as that of the Sybarites. A citizen of Sybaris, who was staying at Sparta, and who dined at the Phiditia, or public meal of the Spartans, is reported to have said, "It is natural enough for the Lacedemonians to be the bravest of men; for any man in his senses

O, WHY are those dew-drops dis- would rather die ten thousand times over than

solving so sOON?

Does the SUN, in his wrath, chase their brightness away,

As though nothing that's LOVELY might live for a DAY?

The MOONLIGHT has FADED

FLOWERS still remain,

the

live in such a miserable way as this."

AN English writer has remarked that most men like well enough to have right on their side, but that few will take the trouble to be on the side of right. An exception — perhaps the most remarkable exception - to

But the dew has dried out of their this rule are those people of Korassan, men

petals again."

tioned by Marco Polo, who were so desirous of becoming better that they were in the habit of murdering such strangers or travellers in

6My child," said the father, "+LOOK their sleep as happened to pass through their

QUINTILIAN mentions a rhetorician how little who was so great an admirer of obscurity in writing that he always exhorted his scholars to The words he had spoken prophetic preserve it, and made them correct, as blem

were carrying a heavy load, but the heaviest As ere this you must have me just over your