Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1891 — CHILDREN’S COLUMN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHILDREN’S COLUMN.

A DEPARTMENT FOR LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. Something that Will Interest the Juvenile Members of Every Household Quaint Actions and bright Sayings of Cute Children.

Curing a Stingy Boy.

JIMMY was the stingiest little boy you ever knew. He couldn’t bear to give y away a cent, nor a z-jfa bite of an apple, nor )rl a crumb of candy. He couldn’t even *tT\bear to lend his sled, or his hoop, or skates. All his friends ¥ were very sorry he was so stingy, and

talked to him about it; but he couldn’t see any reason why he should give away what he wanted himself. “If I didn’t want it,” he would say, “p’r’aps I would give it away; but why should I give it awav when I want it myself?” “Because it is nice to be generous,” said his mother, “and to think about the happiness of other people. It makes you feel better and happier yourself. If you gave your sled to little ragged Johnny, who never had one in his life, you will feel a thousand times better watching his enjoyment of it than if you had kept it yourself.” “Well,” ■ said Jimmy, “I’ll try it.” The sled was sent off. “How soon shall I feel better?” he asked, by and by. “I don’t feel as well as I did when I had the sled. Are you sure I shall feel better ?” “Certainly,” answered bis mother; “but if you should keep on giving something away you would feel better all the sooner.” Then he gave away a kite, and thought he didn’t feel quite as well as before. He gave away a silver piece that he meant to spend for taffy. Then he said: “I don’t like this giving away things; it doesn’t agree with me. I don’t feel anv better. I like being stingy better.” v j Just then ragged Johnny came up the street dragging the sled, looking proud as a prince, and asking all the boys to take a slide with him. Jimmy began to smile as he watched him, and said: “You might give Johnny my old overcoat; he’s littler than I am, and he doesn’t seem to have one. I think—l guess—l know I’m beginning to feel ever so much better. I’m glad I gave Johnny my sled. I’ll give away something else.” And Jimmy has been feeling better ever since.— Our Little Ones Fanny and the Baby Pigs. It was a very frosty morning, and William came in with two poor little pigs that were almost stiff with the cold. They had come some time in the night, and their frivolous young mother had gone off aud left them in the long grass, where William had found them. They were too cold and weak even to squeal, and, although we thought there was not the slightest chance of their living, we put them in a bushel basket by the kitchen stove and covered them over with a piece of carpet. By-and-by they got warm and began to make themselves heard, and I have no doubt they thought (pigs do think) they had come into a selfish, stingy world, for they seemed to be trying to make us understand that they were very hungry. We had hard work to keep one little fellow in the basket, for he became so desperate he would jump out and run around the floor. William owned a lovely spaniel. Fannie her name was, and she bad three of the fattest, curliest little puppies about six weeks old. Fannie came into the kitchen, and when she heard the baby pigs squealing she was greatly distressed. She walked around the basket, sticking her nose in, and giving them an affectionate kiss now and then. Seeing this, her master said: “Now, Fannie, these little pigs have no mother, and they are just starving, and you must give them some dinner. ” So he made her lie down on the floor and gave her the two hungry strangers, and a more comical sight you never saw than pretty Fannie nursing those tiny white and liver spotted pigs. She licked them all over while they took their dinner, and when their hunger was satisfied they went to sleep. I think Fannie ought to have a medal for her kind-heartedness, for I am sure she knew thoy were not puppies; anyway, she knew they did not be.ong to her.— Detroit Free Press. Fean Bags. Probably the most of my readers have seen the game of beanbags, but in case some have not, I will briefly describe it. Take a board three feet long by ten inches wide, hinge to one end a piece one foot in length and secure it by hooks and eyes so that the two will stand upon the floor. Cut a hole in the slope about five inches square and three inches from the top. That is your target; now for the i ammunition. Have ten square red cotton bags prepared just large enough to hold half a pint of beans comfortably, and one of yellow cotton capable of bolding a whole pint. The latter is appropriately known as Jumbo. Place a mat on the floor five yards or more away from the board.

The players in turn take their stand upon the mat and try to throw the bags through the hole in the slope. Each red one that goes through counts 5. Jumbo is good for 10. If a bag stays on the board it counts nothing. If it falls to the floor or misses altogether 5 points must be deducted. This is the accepted method of scoring, but there is nothing to prevent its being modified in any way thought fit. Bides should be chosen and scorces carefully kept in order to have the most enjoyment from the game.