Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad Part 55

You and I most earnestly hope that he may never contrive to escape.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A KITTEN ASLEEP IN A SLIPPER.}]

DISOBEYING MOTHER.

"I think, little goslings, you'd better not go.

You're young, and the water is chilly, you know; But when you get strong, You can sail right along-- Go back in the sunshine, or walk in a row."

"No, no! we will go," said those bold little things, Except one little dear, close to mother's warm wings.

Out went all the rest, On the water with zest; They said, "We will venture, whatever it brings."

Their mother looked out, so kind and so true, Adown where the rushes and lily-pads grew; They looked very gay, As they paddled away, With their bright, yellow backs, on the water so blue.

"Come back!" cried their mother, "come back to the land!

I fear for my dear ones some evil is planned."

But they ventured beyond The sh.o.r.e of the pond, And laughed at her warnings, and spurned her command.

Farewell, to the goslings! their troubles are o'er; They were pelted with stones, by boys on the sh.o.r.e.

Afar from the bank, They struggled and sank, Down deep in the water, to come up no more.

Oh, see what it cost them, to have their own way; Their punishment came without stint or delay; But the sweet one that stayed, And its mother obeyed, Lived long, and was happy for many a day.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLAYING BARBER.]

PLANTS THAT EAT.

These plants are so constructed as to attract insects, capture them in various ways, and feed upon them. Perhaps the best known of the group is _Venus' Fly-Trap_. The leaves vary from one to six inches long, and at the extremities are placed two blades, or claspers. On the inner walls of these claspers are placed six irritable hairs; the slightest touch from an insect on any one of which is sufficient to bring the two blades together with such rapidity as to preclude any possibility of the fly escaping.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LEAVES OF THE FLY-TRAP OPENED AND CLOSED.]

This plant readily discriminates between animal and other matter; thus, if a small stone or piece of wood be dropped into the trap, it will instantly close, but as soon as it has found out its mistake--and it only takes a few minutes--it begins to unfold its trap, and the piece of wood or stone falls out. On the other hand, should a piece of beef or a bluebottle fly be placed in it, it will remain firmly closed until all the matter is absorbed through the leaf. It will then unfold itself, and is ready for another meal.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AUSTRALIAN PITCHER PLANT.]

Another species is called the _Vegetable Whiskey Shop_, as it captures its victims by intoxication. The entire shop is shaped after the manner of a house, with the entrance projecting a little over the rim.

Half-way round the brim of the cavity there are an immense number of honey glands, which the influence of the sun brings into active operation. This sweet acts as a lure to pa.s.sing insects, and they are sure to alight on the outside edge and tap the nectar.

They, however, remain there but a brief period, as there is something more substantial inside the cavity in the shape of an intoxicating liquid, which is distilled by the plant. The way down to this beverage is straight, as the entrance is paved with innumerable fine hairs, all pointing to the bottom, and should the fly walk crooked its feet become entangled in them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AMERICAN SIDE-SADDLE FLOWER.]

When the fly has had its first sip, it does not stop and fly right out, as it could do, but it indulges until it comes staggering up and reaches that portion where the hairs begin; here its progress outward is stopped, owing to the points of the hairs being placed against it.

The fly is now in a pitiable plight; it attempts to use its wings, but in doing so only hasten its destruction. It inevitably gets immersed in the liquid, and dies drunk.

_Australian Pitcher Plant_ is a beautiful little object. Its pitchers are at the bottom of the princ.i.p.al stem of the plant.

One species distils an intoxicant of its own; but owing to its small orifice, it excludes the majority of insects, and admits but a select few. The individual pitchers somewhat resemble an inverted parrot's bill, with a narrow leaf-like expansion running along the top. The color is light green, beautifully shaded with crimson. The inside of the pitcher is divided into three parts: The first, nearest the entrance, is studded with minute honey glands, and is called the attractive surface; a little farther down the inside, very minute hairs are situated with their extremities all pointing to the other chamber. This is the conducting surface.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE PITCHER PLANT OF MADAGASCAR.]

Lastly, the small hairs give place to the longer ones, amid which are placed secreting pores, which give forth the intoxicating nectar. This is termed the detentive surface. When the pitcher has caught a sufficient number of insects, the nectar gives place to a substance which enables the plant more readily to digest its food.

Another variety is the _Mosquito Catcher_. It grows about one foot high, and the leaves, after reaching a certain height, divide into long, narrow spathes, covered with hairs, each coated with a bright gummy substance. This, during sunshine, gives to the plant a most magnificent appearance. If a plant be placed in a room where mosquitoes abound, all the troublesome pests will in a brief period be in its steady embrace.

It is most interesting to watch the method by which it secures its prey. Immediately the fly alights on the leaf, it may be that only one of its six legs stick to the sweet, viscid substance at the extremity of the hairs; but in struggling to free itself, it invariably touches with its legs or wings the contiguous hairs, and is immediately fixed.

These little hairs meantime are not idle; they slowly but surely curl round and draw their victim into the very center of the leaf, thus bringing it into contact with the very short hairs, which are placed there in order to facilitate the process of sucking the life-blood from the body.

THE CUCKOO CLOCK.

The clock is Swiss, And a curious thing it is, Set like a flower against the wall, With a face of walnut brown Twelve white eyes always staring out, And long weights hanging down.

But there is more At the top is a little close-shut door.

And when 'tis time for the hour-stroke, And at the half-stroke too, It opens wide of its own accord, And, hark,--"Cuckoo, cuckoo!"

What do you see?

Why, with a trip and a courtesy, As if to say,--"Good day, good day,"

Out steps a tiny bird!

And though no soul were near to hear He'd pipe that same blithe word.

Through all the night, Through dawn's pale flush, and noon's full light, And even at twilight, when the dusk Hides all the room from view, Out of his little cabinet He calls,--"Cuckoo, cuckoo!"

Though but a toy, Yet might the giddiest girl or boy Learn three most pleasant truths from it: How patiently to wait, How to give greeting graciously, And never to be too late.

'Tis sweet to hear, Though oft repeated, a word of cheer; So this little comrade on the wall, This bird that never flew, Is an hourly comfort, with his call, "Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!"

MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES.

DAVY'S GIRL.