Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1882 — FOR THE CHILDREN. [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN.

The Acorn.— ls an acorn be suspended by a piece of thread within half an inch of the surface of some water contained in a hyacinth glass, and so permitted to remain without being disturbed, it will, in a few months, burst, and throw a root into the water, and shoot upwards its straight and tapering stem, with beautiful little green leaves. A young oak tree growing in this way on the mantel shelf of a room is a very elegant and interesting object. I have seen several oak trees, and also a ohesnut tree, thus growing, but all of them, however have died after a few months, probably owing to the water not being changed sufficiently often to afford them the necessary quantity of nourishment from the matter contained in it. TO FIND A NUMBER THOUGHT OF. Example. Let a person think of a number, say 0 Let him multiply by 3. 18 Add r. 19 Multiply by 3• • « .••••••••• . ,57 Add to this the number thought of 68 Let him inform you what is the number produced: it will always end with three. Strike oft the 3, and inform him that he thought of 6. SECOND METHOD. f Example. Suppose the number thought of to be 6 Let nim double it 12 Add 4 16 Multiply by 5 80 Add 12 92 Multiply by 10 .920 Let him inform you what is the number produced . You must then, in every case, subtract 820; the remainder is, in this ease, 600; strike off the two ciphers and announce 6 as the number thought of.

About the Mink.— The mink is a wan'dering creature, leading a solitary life a good part of the year. If you happen to lire near water you have some chance of making his acquaintance, and will find him a very petable thing. I have known of two that were caught and tamed, and became as domestic as kittens. One of them was accidentally discovered by a gentleman who was enjoying May morning by the side of a brook which ran through his doorvard. He heard a queer little t&aintiff cry almost under his feet, and taking up a spear such as is used in killing “suckers”—all boys know about ' 'spearin g suckers’ ’ in the spring—he thrusts it at random into the bank; and out came a young mink, minus the tip of his tail, which the spear had cut off. This poor waif was apparently the only one left of a very young family,and his home had probably Seen broken up by some laborers who had been cutting a ohannel just below. He was about the size of a common house-rati and his hairy covering did not look much like the lovely brown fur of later days. He was cared for, fed with milk, and, as be grew older, with meat and Ash. Of the latter he was very fond, and would go down to the brook and fish there alone by the hour, always returning when whistled for—you know men and boys have the faculty of teaching almost any creature to obey that signal. Visitors always asked to see “the tame mink,” and at the accustomed call he would be perceived hurrying up the bank ana making all speed in their direction: but before they knew it, he was nowhere in sight. By some mysterious feat the droll little thing had suddenly made himself invisible; and all the time the good man would be looking so roguish over the mystification of the guests. He was used to the tactics of this curious pet, and knew just where he would presently por into sight. It was a very absurd proceeding, but the mink chose that way —to run up his master’s leg, inside of the pantaloons, up inside of the vest and then peep out, to the astonishment of the beholders, just under his chin, and there snuggle down—the sly-boots!— purring like a kitten.—Wide Awake.