Chatterbox Stories of Natural History Part 7

But when noon's sultry hour proves oppressively hot, The reapers look out for a cool, shady spot, And a respite they s.n.a.t.c.h, Their short meal to dispatch, And well earned indeed is their rest!

While the children give chase to the hare that's hard prest, Or the bird by the harvest disturbed from her nest.

For what care the children for heat or for work, At that age when all labor so gaily we shirk?

Play, then, little ones, play, And enjoy while ye may, But to all of G.o.d's creatures be kind-- Then when months have rolled by and left Summer behind, Its joys unalloyed shall still dwell in your mind.

TIMOTHY.

Timothy was our pet hedgehog. I bought him in Leadenhall Market, brought him home, and put him into the back-garden, which is walled in. There, to that extent, he had his liberty, and many, and many a time did I watch him from my study window walking about in the twilight among the gra.s.s, searching for worms and other insects. And very useful was he to the plants by so doing. When the dry weather came food got more scarce; then Timothy was fed with bread and milk from the back-kitchen window, which is on a level with the stone. Soon he came to know that when he was hungry there was the supply; and often he would come and scratch at the gla.s.s or at the back-door for his supper, and after getting it, walk off to the garden beds to make himself useful. Few people know of the great use of a hedgehog in a garden, or they would be more generally kept. Our Timothy, poor fellow, however, in spite of all his good qualities, came to a bad end. A strange dog coming one day, saw him walking about in search of his accustomed food, and pounced on him and bit him; still I had hopes of his recovery, but in a few days he died, and all of us were sorry.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOLD ORE.

SILVER ORE.

TIN ORE.

IRON ORE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN.

MONGOLIAN.

CAUCASIAN. HEAD OF BELVEDERE APOLLO.

CAUCASIAN.--MODERN TURK.]

THE BRAVE c.o.c.kATOO.

One Charles Durand, of whose travels and adventures a book has been written, owned a c.o.c.katoo, which he carried about with him on his journeys; the bird's name was Billy, and he seems to have been as wise as he was loving. Charles was asleep in his tent, when he was roused by a sharp, shrill cry of the bird, of "Time to rise! time to rise!"

accompanied by a violent flapping of the wings. So awakened, Charles looked around, wondering what had disturbed his feathered friend. The cause was soon plain--a deadly snake lay coiled up close to his bed, prepared to spring on the defenseless man. Just when he thought that all hope was at an end, the brave c.o.c.katoo sprang from his perch, seized the reptile by the neck, and held him tight till his master could summon help.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

HARE TAKING THE WATER.

I was pike-fishing one season on the Dorset Stour below Canford Major, when on pa.s.sing from one field to another, I disturbed a hare. The animal at once entered an open, dry drain, and I lost sight of her.

Presently, as I silently made my way plying my rod by the bank, I saw her, this time without any appearance of alarm, take to the water, and making her way through the sedges. She put her head to the stream so that the force of the current, with but slight exertion by swimming on her part, carried her nearly in a straight line to the opposite bank.

Here I watched her to see whether she would trundle herself like a dog, but she merely rested a bit, letting the water run from her, and then set off at a rattling pace across the mead, which doubtless soon thoroughly dried her.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

AUTUMN.

The breeze is somewhat cooler growing, The flowers less scent unfold-- But see!--the luscious grape is growing With purple or with gold.

Now drain we up The social cup, When music blithe invites us-- Though Winter threatens from afar Our present mirth he shall not mar, While Autumn still delights us.

Yes! Autumn brings the best of pleasures, With grape and garnered corn-- And lays in stores of future treasures To glad the year unborn.

What need we dread, When wine and bread G.o.d's bounteous hand hath given?

Oh! rather let our voices raise, In fervent hope and humble praise, A grateful hymn to Heaven!

[Ill.u.s.tration]

WINTER.

Stern Winter--most unwelcome guest!-- The earth in whitest robes has drest; And hast'ning through the crunching snow, With tinkling bells, the sledges go.

The leafless wood looks drear and sad, No birds sing now with voices glad;-- But boys are romping far and wide, And o'er the ice delight to slide.

When on the panes with frost encased, The mimic fir-trees may be traced, In spite of biting cold and snow, Poor housewives to the forest go.

And there they gather moss to form Their children's bed all soft and warm, And dried up twigs to make a blaze That cheers the hearth with kindling rays.

Their treasures next the ashes yield, And hot potatoes lie revealed, Which little hungry mouths invite, With dainty smell and welcome sight.

Lord! all Thy ways are great and good!

Thou giv'st e'en orphaned birds their food-- Thy blessing and Thy fostering care Alike the hut and palace share!

OUR WILD BIRDS.

I dare say you notice that all the birds in this picture have long beaks. We may be sure from this that they live in places and seek for their food in ways in which long beaks are just what they want. The fact is they are all marsh birds, and the soil of marshes being wet and soft, and full of worms, these long beaks enable them to probe it, and so get at the worms. I think the beaks of birds afford a striking example of how good G.o.d is in adapting creatures to the mode of life He has appointed for them. The eagles and hawks, you know, are provided with strong, short bills to enable them to seize and tear flesh. Those of canaries and all the finches are just the very instruments to crack seeds with. Parrots, with their tremendous weapons, can crush the hardest nuts of the tropic forest. The crossbill is fitted with a wonderful tool for tearing fir-cones to pieces. Robins and the other warblers have soft bills, which are all they want for eating insects and grubs.

[Ill.u.s.tration]