Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1906 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Quoth the Haven. Many stories are told about the raven, a bird which really seems to have reasoning powers. .One story relates how a raven got a young hare for dinner. It pounced upon the little animal, but the mother hare drove it away. Then the raven slowly retreated, pretending to be afraid, until it decoyed the hare a considerable distance, whereupon it rose in the air, flew back swiftly and bore away the young hare. A similar plan was adopted by some ravens that wished to steal food from a dog. They teased him until he grew so angry that he chased them, and then the artful birds turned sharply around, easily reached the dish before him and carried bff the choicer bits in triumph. As to the raven's power of speech, the impression is that it can talk if it will, but it Is not loquacious and does not like to show off. like a parrot. But when it does speak it is very apt to use its words more appropriately than a parrot does. A Child'* Sermon. On one occasion Harry and Eddie, two little brothers, toqk it into their heads to have church. As Harry was the older of the two, he said, “I’ll be the preacher and preach you a sermon." “Well,” said- Eddie, “and I’ll be the people.” And so Harry began by announcing his text. “My brethren, my text today is ‘Be kind.’/-There are some little texts In the Bible for little children, and this is one of them. “Firstly.—Be kind to father. Don’t bother him when he’s busy. Don’t make a noise when his head aches. Father has to w<*k hard and earn money. “Secondly.—Be kind to mother. Don’t make her tell you several times to do the same thing. My brethren, we ought to mind right off. “Thirdly.—Be kind to Mary. She is small and lame and can’t talk plain. “Finally, my brethren, be kind to the cat. Amen!”—Brooklyn Eagle.

The Flying Thimble. Have a thimble which easily fits your forefinger. Show the thimble on the forefinger of your right hand and lay the finger with thimble on the palm of your left, which you theu clone. Now withdraw the finger minus the thimble. The company will naturally imagine that It is in the left baud, but on opening it they are astonished to see it empty. The secret Is that you do not place the thimble In the left hand at all, but In the act of laying the forefinger of the right hand on the left you quickly bend the finger aud leave the thimble secrete# lietween the ball of your thumb and the root of the forefinger, only placing the bare finger in the left This you Instantly close aud then withdraw the forefinger. You can eventually produce the thimble from your pocket or show It again on the tip of the forefinger by a reverse movement. ’ No National Holiday. We have no "national” holidays, not even the Fourth at July. Of course that holiday, like several others, is national In the sense that it 1b observed all over the country, but not in the sense that it has been made a holiday by an act of congress. Congress has no right to pass an act making a legal holiday In the states; that power is vested In the state legislatures. Congress may make a holiday In the District of Columbia and at all posts and in all buildings that belong to the government, but to make a holiday legal Ln any state there must be an act of the legislature to that effect. Even Thanksgiving day is not a national holiday; the president merely recommends that it be observed. There are a few states In which the day is not a legal holiday.—Chicago News. Not* It Down. We all have bright friends whose opinions are Valuable to us In regard to our reading. They seldom recommend books that are not well worth while, and yet at times we forget ths

book* recommended by ffieae helpful readers just when we might be able to find them. Thia item la a reminder to write down such recommendations‘<rf good books to read at the time when they are made. Keep a little list of books to read, and then when selecting for a vacation, a birthday gift or the holidays you will not be at a loss.—St. Nicholas. .< Game For Little People. A good game from the kindergarten leads to accuracy and discrimination In the use of the senses. Several objects are grouped on a table; a child Is blindfolded; one object is removed; the child tells which is gone. Coaundrama. Why did the scarlet runner run? Because the dog rose. When did the baker bake? When the loafer loafed. -Why did the coal scuttle? Because the tongs were snappy.