text: UFDC Home | Help | RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS HIDE Front Cover Front Matter Half Title Title Page Preface Index The wild ass The Polar bear The cat The dog The elk The fox The gun The hedgehog The ibex The jerboa The kangaroo The lion The harvest mouse The nautilus The opossum The peccary The quagga The rabbit The squirrel The tiger The unicorn The viper The walrus The xiphias The yak The zebu Back Cover Spine Group Title: Sunday alphabet of animals / Title: The Sunday alphabet of animals / CITATION THUMBNAILS PAGE TURNER PAGE IMAGE ZOOMABLE Full Citation STANDARD VIEW MARC VIEW Permanent Link: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00003137/00001 Material Information Title: The Sunday alphabet of animals / Physical Description: 175 p., <1> leaf of plates : ill. ; 16 cm. Language: English Creator: KatieCloues, Samuel ( Engraver )Hyde, J ( Illustrator )Rudd, Nathaniel ( Engraver )Geo. C. Rand & Avery ( Printer )American Tract Society (Boston, Mass.) ( Publisher ) Publisher: American Tract Society Place of Publication: Boston Manufacturer: Geo. C. Rand & Avery, Electrotypers and printers Publication Date: 1861 Copyright Date: 1861 Subjects Subject: Animals -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )Natural history -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )Glory of God -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )Alphabet books -- 1861 ( rbgenr )Pictorial cloth bindings (Binding) -- 1861 ( rbbin )Bldn -- 1861 Genre: Alphabet books ( rbgenr )Pictorial cloth bindings (Binding) ( rbbin )non-fiction ( marcgt ) Spatial Coverage: United States -- Massachusetts -- Boston Notes General Note: Added tinted title page, engraved by Rudd after Hyde. General Note: Illustrations engraved and signed by Cloues after Hyde. Statement of Responsibility: by Aunt Katie. Record Information Bibliographic ID: UF00003137 Volume ID: VID00001 Source Institution: University of Florida Holding Location: University of Florida Rights Management: All rights reserved by the source institution and holding location. Resource Identifier: ltqf - AAA4159notis - ALG1615oclc - 08382295alephbibnum - 002221392 Table of Contents Front Cover Front Cover 1 Front Cover 2 Front Matter Front Matter 1 Front Matter 2 Half Title Half Title 1 Half Title 2 Title Page Page 1 Page 2 Preface Page 3 Page 4 Index Page 5 Page 6 The wild ass Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 The Polar bear Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 The cat Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 The dog Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 The elk Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 The fox Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 The gun Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 The hedgehog Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 The ibex Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 The jerboa Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 The kangaroo Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 The lion Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 The harvest mouse Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 The nautilus Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 The opossum Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 The peccary Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 The quagga Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 The rabbit Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 The squirrel Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 The tiger Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 The unicorn Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 The viper Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 The walrus Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 The xiphias Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 The yak Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 The zebu Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Back Cover Page 177 Page 178 Spine Page 179 Full Text T "N ANIMALS The Baldwin Library A tT ^'^N^^~\^^~\^^~^^^~^^^~Vj^\^.'^V^^V^'^\^.'^^^.'~V^'^'^>^ ^fs^ A- THE OF ANIMALS BY AUNT KATIE. PUBLISHED BY j gmerian racrt SiTti tg, 28 CORNHILL, BOSTON. ) Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1861, by THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. ELECTROTY r A WORD TO MY LITTLE FRIENDS. IN the following pages, I hope you will find not only amusement, but instruction. The facts stated in regard to the different animals you may rely upon as being true, having been gathered with great care from the best author- ities, the names of which it is not necessary to give here. In almost every instance, too, the stories are real, true stories. Perhaps your parents will help you to get correct ideas of the size of the animals, where the size is given in feet and inches and also their weight. It is always pleasant to learn about the works of God, for they are perfect, as the works of man can never be; and if, by reading this little book, you have any desire strengthened to know more of God, to find out more of him either in his works or in the Bible; -and oh, if one little heart should thus be led to LOVE the good Being who has so wonderfully made every thing, more than satisfied,-most grateful and happy will be AUNT KATIE. N/W3 q 4 IND A-ss, 7 B-EAR, 14 C-AT, 25 D-OG, 32 E-LK, 41 F-ox, 48 (G-NU, 56 -Jk-EDGEHOG, ...... 59 I-BEX, 69 k-ERBOA, 76 K-ANGAROO, ...... 81 L-ION,............ 86 Myl--OUSE, 98 I 'A - r i L a ,' E X. N--AUTILUS, ...... 104 0-POSSUM, 111 P-ECCARY, 117 Q-UAGGA, 123 R-ABBIT, 126 S-QUIRREL, 132 T-IGER,.......... 139 U-NICORNY ....... 144 V-IPER, 149 W --ALRUS, ....... 154 X-IPHIAS, 158 Y-AK, 162 Z-EBU, 168 5 T R W AI D i. ROBABLY my little readers would hardly recognize this picture of so frolicsome an animal as an ass. You think of the ass as a clumsy-looking creature and very stupid; but perhaps if it was always kindly treated it would seem far less stupid, for it has, many good traits. It carries enormous loads, and is gentle, patient, and very sure- 7 Page Missing or Unavailable Page Missing or Unavailable ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. usually of an ash color, with a darker streak along its backbone, and another across its shoulders. This is the Wild Ass, taller and much handsomer than the common one, such as lives in the deserts and mountainous countries of the East. Its braying, which is very disagreeable, is said to be almost the only voice to be heard in the wilderness. It lives where no other < animal can live, eating very little and ( very coarse food, such as dried herbs < and grass, and drinking even salt water. It will go for ten days without drinking I at all, if necessary. Indeed, it is said ( that one species is never known to t drink, and lives in places where no t water can be found. Its scent is so acute, however, that it can discover water at a great distance. I suppose John the Baptist may have been thinking of the solitary braying of the wild ass, when he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilder- o- THE WILD ASS. ness," because his was the only voice to be heard then, proclaiming the coming of the Saviour to this wilderness world. Wild asses go in herds or troops, as do wild horses, always having one for a leader. They are very shy, and so swift that one of the ancient poets speaks of them as having feet like the whirl- wind." The only method of catching them is to chase them with a number of horses, when one is tired taking another, and then another, and so on until the ass is too weary to go any farther. It is said by some that they can never be ( tamed. None has ever been brought ( alive to Europe. Its coat in winter is softer and more ( silky than that of the horse, so that it ( seeks a warm country for its home. Its hoofs are made into rings by the peasants of Arabia, which are worn on their thumbs, or under their arms, to keep away rheumatism, as they say. () ^y11 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS, When the Bible speaks of a land as the dwelling of wild asses, it means that it is very unfruitful and desolate, so that no one can live there; and a famine in which even the wild asses are spoken of as suffering for food and water is the most dreadful which can be imagined. When the Bible calls man a wild ass's colt, it means that he is rebellious, unsubdued, of no use to any body, and always having his own way. Perhaps you have sometimes felt that you should be very happy if you could only have your own way, always doing just as you please; but I think I could show you, instead of that, that if left to yourself, you would be the most unhappy of beings, and to be pitied by every- body, for nobody would love you, you would be so selfish and disagreeable; and nobody would mourn for you when you were gone, because you had never tried to make anybody happy, never done any good. _ -. m - _.-1- -- THE WILD ASS. Which would you choose to be like, the wild ass, always having his own ( way, and of no use in the world, or like ( the sometimes despised and ill-treated j ass, who labors, not for himself, and does ( all the good he can ? T I T Il P. L A R HE Polar Bear is a native of the cold regions about the North Pole, where man can not often disturb it; living on the cold icebergs, or on the frozen edges of the ocean, and digging its bed in snows which have been there for ages. Sometimes it is drifted upon the broken ice to the coast of 14 THE POLAR BEAR. Siberia and to the northern coast of America. You will wonder, perhaps, how it can live in such intense cold; but the same hand that fitted us for this climate, has made the bear to endure and enjoy the ( cold of its northern home; and as I tell ( you something of it you will see how ( it is thus fitted. Its color is white. Its neck is thicker than the head, and twice as long, and its snout pointed so as to give it rather a poking look; its ears not large and rather pointed, its tongue smooth, its ( body and its limbs large and heavy, its feet five-toed, with strong hooked claws for digging or for climbing. Its paws are very large, and covered on the under side with coarse hair, so that it can walk easily on the slippery ice. It treads upon the entire sole of its hind feet, and is so strong upon them that it can stand or walk carrying a horse in its fore paws I Its coat is long, fine, and ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. K woolly, except about the neck, and of considerable value. $ It is a strong, rapid diver and swim- mer. If it were not for this it would often have to go hungry: for although it eats berries, fruits, and honey, it finds very little of such food in those barren regions, and must live mostly upon seals, or cubs of the whale, or those parts of the whale which have been left by the fishermen who have taken all they wanted for oil. The Greenlanders burn the bears' grease for their lights, so that it is very useful to ( them. Old navigators tell wonderful stories of its size and ferocity, many of which are true. It is a formidable animal, very savage in its disposition, and having immense strength. When full grown its length is more than the hight of most men, being from six to seven feet. Capt. Lyon speaks of one which measured eight feet, seven and a half 16 THE POLAR BEAR. inches, and weighed sixteen hundred pounds! As I told you, they are great climbers, although so large, and in coming down a tree will seem to use as much prudence as a little boy, perhaps more, for boys do sometimes come down "head first," but a bear, never I He always turns about and comes down backwards. Most species of the bear sleep during a part of the winter, but the male of the Polar bear wanders along the shore in search of food. The females stay in their dens till mild weather. White bears were probably unknown in Palestine, but the Bible often speaks of the bear, and one thing is true of all ( species, they are very much attached to ( their young, which are called cubs or ( whelps. The Bible refers to this again ( and again, and it is something which should make us love the Bible very much, and study it more and more, that 17 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. in all it says of animals, or birds, or trees, it is always true to the life, so that although it does not profess to teach any thing of Natural History, or Botany, we can learn a great deal about animals and plants in its study; and you would be well repaid for a search for these things yourself. It is very dangerous to attack the young of the bear, and many a poor sailor has had reason to repent his fool- hardiness in attempting it. The mother bear will fight for them till she dies; she will swim after them when carried away, until wearied out, or killed by the shot of some sailor; she will grieve over them and try to raise them up when wounded, and when she finds they are dead, it is pitiful to see her sit by and moan, until forced by hunger to leave them. Many years ago, long before you and I were born, a good old man was going from Jericho to Bethel. We think THE POLAR BEAR. Jericho must have been a pleasant place, for it was called the city of palm-trees," and this good man had been with his teacher to visit the young men at the college there, and was returning, when, very suddenly, his teacher or father," as he called him, was taken away in a very strange manner. The prophet had lived a great many years and God wanted him in ( heaven, so he sent a chariot of fire and ( took him home in that way, without ( dying. Elijah was gone, and Elisha was ( left alone; no, not alone, for God ( was with him, as he had been with ( Elijah; and the young men who had ( stood on the hills of Jericho and seen their teacher taken away, watclied Elisha as he smote the waters of the Jordan with the mantle which Elijah had left, and the waters parted as they had for Elijah, and Elisha walked over on dry ground. ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. So they knew that he was to take Elijah's place, and went out as he came towards them, to meet and welcome him. He remained at Jericho several days, and then went to Bethel, where was another college, or school of theo prophets," which lie wanted to visit. As he came near the place, the children of the city came out to meet him, not to welcome, but to mock him! And why should they mock Elisha? Not because he was poor and meanly dressed, as I am sorry to say some children might, for he was not poor. His father was a rich man. They had heard of the way in which the good Elijah, of whom they were afraid, had been taken up to heaven, so they said to Elisha, Go up! go up!" 1 after Elijah, and then they would be rid of him too. Go up, thou bald-head " In these days it is no disgrace to be bald-headed, and many young persons are so; but in the East it was generally ~2O____ THE POLAR BEAR. a sign of leprosy, that dreadful disease which shut a person away from all his friends; and here, it was intended as an insult to the old prophet. Elisha turned and cursed them, and there came two bears out of the wood and tore two and forty of them! It was nothing strange that bears should be there, for the country was very woody, and rocky, and lonely enough, but why should they come out just then? Plainly, the Lord sent them. Do you think this was too great a punishment for mocking the prophet? He did not call the bears. He only cursed the children, and the Lord sent the bears, and he knew better than we how great the sin was, and what kind of punishment it deserved. We do not know how old the children were. They are called "little children in one place, and yet when the Bible says the bears tore them, it only calls them children." So although there 21 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. may have been quite a crowd of little children with them, those who were attacked by the bears must have been old enough to know better than to mock Elisha. It seems strange that the children of Bethel should have been so wicked, for Bethel had been a sacred place. Jacob, years before, rested there when he dreamed that beautiful dream of the ladder and the angels, and he named it ( Bethel, which means house of God." ( But since his time a golden calf had ( been placed there for the people to ( worship; and they were idolaters, so that instead of being the "house of God," it had become Beth-aven," the "house of idols." It was a dreadful thing to speak improperly, or to treat unkindly a person so old as Elisha. The Bible teaches us to reverence the aged, and among the laws of the Israelites was L this: Thou shalt rise up before the ^ - - - -~22- THE POLAR BEAR. hoary head, and honor the face of the old man;" and we can not be too kind, nor too careful how we speak and act before an aged person. But this was not all the sin of these wicked children. They were old enough to understand that Elisha was a prophet of the true God, and in mocking him they not only meant to grieve him, but to show that they did not love, nor fear, nor care for the God he worshiped, and so the Lord punished this sin. God is too great, too good, too holy a being to be trifled with; and although very loving and very merciful to those who love and try to please him, he is very angry with those who speak lightly of his holy name. So you should be careful always to sit still, and be attentive during prayer, for then we are talking to God; you should be quiet in church, never whispering or laughing, or looking about, never reading books or papers 23 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. during the service, for the church is God's house,. Remember God sees you at all times, and I hope he will never see, even in your hearts, the spirit of those wicked children who said to his prophet, Go up, thou bald-head." j^ - ^ ^ 4- - Ds T H, 9"G" A T. OW many dear little pets will be ( called up by the sight of this little puss who is quietly sipping her milk! Each pair of eyes that sees her will bring up some pet kitten, white, black, brown, maltese, or yellow; 1 and with the greatest variety of names, Buff, or Smut, or Dingy (who is always ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. ) getting into the coal-bin and soiling her white fur), or Pompey, or Caesar. I wonder if all your thoughts of Puss, and your frolics with her are happy ones I They must be so if you have been kind and gentle to her, as I hope you always are. When I see a child kind to the kitten, and the dog, and the birds, I always feel he must also be kind to brothers and sisters, and playmates. Some time ago, in the great city of New York, in one of its busy streets, where every body was walking as if in such a hurry they could not stop for any thing, you might have noticed as people passed a certain tree, that every body. looked up, as if some strange sound attracted them, but nobody stopped. The merchant was too full < of business, and although the sound caught his ear, he had only time to glance upward, and then hurry on as before. One and another came along, well-dressed, kind-hearted, but none 26 THE CAT. could stop, save for a passing, pitying look. By-and-by a news-boy came to the spot, crying at the top of his voice, "Herald Times Tribune "- Mew mew" said a little voice up in the tree. "Herald -Times screamed the boy. "Mew -mew" again the voice said, very piteously. The boy stopped. Coarse were his clothes, and his voice was harsh, but he heard the sound, and looking up into the tree, what do you think he saw? A dear little kitten I who had climbed up and was hanging to one of the limbs, not knowing how to get herself down again. In an instant the boy swung off his bundle of papers, laying them down at the foot of the tree. By this time people's curiosity was excited. "What can that rough fellow want of that little kitten?" they thought. "Of course, he 27 V ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. only wants to tease, or perhaps to kill her." So quite a crowd of passers-by stopped to see what would happen. The boy hurried up the tree. He reached the limb where poor pussy was hanging, and you might almost have felt the stillness as he reached out his hand - to dash her to the ground. But no I Loosening the little creature very gently from the branch, he laid her ( carefully away in his big pocket; and ( then sliding down the tree, handed her ( very tenderly to the little girl who had been anxiously watching, to see what was to become of her pet, and without waiting for even a thank you," from the delighted child, he snatched his ( bundle of papers, and crying, Herald, Times, Tribune," hurried away as if he had done nothing to speak of, and his voice died away in the distance. I never saw the boy. I do not know what his name is, but I know he has a kind heart, and I will venture to say 28 THE CAT. he is kind to his mother and to his brothers and sisters, and one of these days somebody will hear that he has become a good and useful man. What would you have done, had you been in his place ? I should like to tell you many things i about the cat, but you know her so well ( already, that I will speak only of two. ( You have noticed her paws, -how nicely the claws are all covered with little cushions of fat; but did you ever think why they are thus covered ? It is because she gets her living mostly by killing rats and mice, and she needs to walk very softly, so as not to frighten them away. With her feet thus nicely cushioned, she can walk and even jump from a considerable hight without making any noise. You put your hand to her mouth, and she very lovingly puts out her tongue and licks it all over. You startle, it is so rough, but do you know why it S29 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. was thus made? You have seen the hostler clean and smooth the horse's coat with a curry-comb. Well, the tongue is the cat's curry-comb. with which she cleans and smooths her glossy fur; and if you could know the habits of every creature God has made, however small, you would find its bones and limbs all nicely adapted to its peculiar mode of life. Showing not only how wise, but how kind is He who thus provides for the wants of all. Surely, then, we who want to be like God, should be kind to every body. Not long ago I asked some children why brothers and sisters should love each other, and they made me many pleasant answers. One said, "Because the Bible says we must; another said, " Because it will please the Saviour;" and another, "Because it will please our parents." All very good reasons, were they not? But one little girl, with her face beaming with love, said, Because 80 THE CAT. it is pleasant I ki.ew by her answer, and by her looks, that she must have some dear little brother or sister whom she loved very tenderly, and I thought, "What a comfort that little girl must be to her mother, and to all about her." So if Aunt Katie should ask her little pets, "Why should we love Jesus?" I hope some little hearts among them would say, Because it is pleasant." I should feel very sure that heart had itself learned that Jesus is very precious, and makes the soul truly happy. cll( 81 f TlE DOG. HE Dog is another, favorite pet with the children, especially with the boys. I knew a little dog when I was a child, whom we called Sailor, and although he was not particu- larly pretty, and I do not remember that he had any strange traits, yet he was quite a pet with us all; and we felt A L 832 THE DOG. more sorry than I can tell when he wandered off one day and we never saw him any more. There are many kinds of dogs, and I could fill a book much larger than this with stories of their wonderful doings. Some have very smooth, short, glossy fur; some long, and soft, and shaggy, as the Newfoundland; some long, and ( stiff, and straight; and others woolly ( and curly. The one you see in this picture is ( a terrier, who catches rats and mice, ( and is of great assistance to hunters. ( Some of them seem to know about as ( much as a child, and will understand what is said to them almost as well. The dog is generally very obedient, and I always love him for that. You have heard of the dogs of St. Bernard, who are such a help to travelers as they pass up the mountains. The mountains are covered with snow, and oftentimes the storms come so 33 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. suddenly and so severely as to hide the path entirely. So many a tired traveler who has lost his way in the driving snow, has sat down to rest, been covered with the snow, and would never have been wakened from his fearful sleep, but for these kind crea- tures, who go out, and by smelling along follow the track of the traveler and find him. You have heard, too, of the New- foundland dogs, those noble creatures who have saved so many precious lives. A little boy was once playing with a little boat he had made, by putting some sticks into a block of wood for masts, and some bits of paper for sails, when he lost his balance, and fell into the brook. His mother was too far away to hear his screams, but she missed her boy, and going out to look for him, saw dear old Rover tugging up the bank, with the precious burden in his mouth, all dripping with water. THE DOG. He had saved the life of little Jamie, and they all loved him better than ever after that. I hope Jamie, too, learned not to go away from his mother again without her leave. The Colly, or shepherd's dog, is a very fond creature, and a great assistance to his master. We do not need it much in this country, but in countries where they have very large flocks of sheep, the shepherd would hardly < know how to get along without his dog. He will watch the flock if the shepherd ( is called away, and if the lambs wander ( into the wrong pasture, he will follow ( and drive them back, so that the ( shepherd loves his faithful helper almost as much as a child. Some fifty years ago, among the Grampian Hills, in going to look after the flocks that fed on the mountains, a shepherd happened to take along one of his children, a little boy of three years of age. After going about for some '8t ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. time without finding the sheep, he found he must go to a higher point of land where he could see still farther off. It was too far and too weary a way for the little feet at his side, so he left the child on a level place at the foot of the hill, telling him not to leave until he came back, and then, with the dog, he went on. He had hardly reached the top, when a heavy mist came down on the moun- tain, making it almost as dark as night. He hurried down to find his child, but missed the way in the darkness. After searching for hours in vain, night over- took him, and when he came out of the mist, he found he was far down in the valley, and near his cottage. It was useless to search any more that night, and he went home with a heavy heart, having lost both his child and the faithful dog who had been his companion for many, many years. Early the next morning he set out 86 THE DOG. with a party of neighbors to look for the little boy, but the day was spent in vain. On returning to the cottage at night, he learned that the dog had been home during the day, and on receiving a piece of cake had instantly gone off again. For several days the search was con- tinued, but no tidings of the little lost boy cheered their hearts; and, returning ( at night, heart-sick and weary, they ( found that the dog had been home each day for his cake, and then ran off again. ( This seemed so strange that the ( shepherd made up his mind to stay at home himself, the next day, and see tile dog. He came as usual for his cake, and the shepherd followed him as he went away to see what he did with it. The dog led the way across the spot where the child had been left, to a roaring cataract, some distance beyond. The rocks on either side were very steep and rough, but the dog made his 87 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. way down over them, and at last turned into a cave at the bottom. The shep- herd followed with great difficulty, and with a trembling heart, as you may suppose, and what were his feelings, as he reached the mouth of the cave, to see the boy of his love sitting quietly and safely inside, enjoying very much the cake which his devoted friend had brought him, while the dog stood by looking as satisfied and happy as it was ( possible for a dog to look I The child had wandered to the edge ( of the precipice, and then had either ( rolled or crept down till he reached the ( cave, which the dread of the noisy waters had probably prevented him from leaving. Here the dog had found ( him, and afterwards had kept the little ( fellow from starving, by giving him his own daily allowance, never leaving him by night or by day, except to go for food, and then always running at full speed to and from the cottage. 88 THE DOG. How much affection and care this faithful creature showed for his little charge I I almost fear there are some little boys and girls who would not have given up their piece of cake so readily for a poor hungry child, especially if they knew they could get no more for themselves. They might learn a lesson *of love and self-denial from the noble dog at the shepherd's cottage. In Bible times the dog was not thought so much of as it is now. The Jews called all people dogs who did ( not belong to them. They considered themselves the chosen people of God, and if you or I had lived near them, they would have called us dogs, because we were not Jews, or the descendants of Abraham. You know the poor woman w.ho came to Christ for his blessing was told that it was not meet to give the children's bread to dogs; and instead of being angry, and going away thinking she 89 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. would not ask any favor of one who would call her a dog, she very meekly told the Saviour that was true, but that the dogs could eat the crumbs which fell from their master's table. She only asked for the crumbs; she would be thankful for even those, and Christ, who knew all the time what was in the woman's heart, was so pleased with her answer that he turned to his disciples and told them he had not seen any faith like hers, not even among the Jews; ,and he blessed the woman, and she went away with a glad heart. Better be called a dog, as this poor woman was, whose sins were forgiven, than to be a proud Jew with no Saviour I 40 j HE Elk is a native of the forests ( of Poland, and Sweden, and the northern part of America, although it is not quite certain whether the Elk of Europe and that of America are the same. Those who study and know most about animals generally suppose they are, but in America it is called the ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. Moose-Deer. In former times it was found in all the New England States, but it is now seldom seen, except in Maine, and is scarce even there. You have heard much of the grace and beauty of the deer, but the moose- deer is not at all attractive. It is the only species which is not so, and is the largest of the deer kind, weighing some- times eleven or twelve hundred pounds. Its head is large and long, its neck short, thick, and strong; and why ? Because it has to support large horns ( which grow from the head to an ( enormous size. They are generally two or three, and often four or five feet long, and sometimes weigh sixty pounds! The males cast their horns every November, and they grow out again in the Spring. In walking, the elk throws its nose up so as to lay the horns back on its neck to keep them from getting fast in the branches of the trees. THE ELK. On account of the shortness of its neck and the length of its limbs, too, it dwells mostly in hilly and woody countries, where it can graze upon the hillside, or can feed upon the tops of low shrubs, or the twigs from the lower branches of the trees, without stooping. For this purpose its lips are made long and limber, so that it can easily draw its food into its mouth. Its ears are large and open, so that it can hear very quickly, and on this account it is very difficult for the huntsman to take it. The rustling of a leaf, the crackling of a twig will frighten it, and away it runs very swiftly. It is very awkward in its movements, not galloping like the horse, but running with great strides, and for a long time, without weariness. Its hoofs are broad, and split, as we should say, in the middle, quite high, so as to open as they press the ground, making good 43 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. snow-shoes. When the foot is raised, the hoof springs together again, making a loud noise which can be heard for a long distance. Its legs are said by some to be without joints, but this is not so. They are very stiff, to be sure, and this helps it to travel on the ice swiftly, without slipping. The hunting of the elk is tiresome, and oftentimes dangerous, but it is so useful an animal that the suc- cessful hunter feels quite repaid for all his toil in the chase. Its eyes are small, its body strong and short, its hair long and coarse, black at the ends, gray in the middle, and white at the roots. Its tail is quite ( short, and below its throat hang two ( dew-laps of loose skin; called so ( because, as the animal feeds, they lap or lick the dew. The moose-deer of America is fond of the water, and is a good swimmer. In summer, it often remains day and 144 THE ELK. ) night in the swamps, almost covered with water, to escape the mosquitoes which torment it. It is shy and timid, but when taken young is easily tamed, and becomes very much attached to its owners. The Indians would hardly know how to live without the elk. Its flesh, which tastes much like our beef, they like better than any other meat. Of its skin they make a soft nice leather, which they use for moccasins. They cover their tents with it. also make their belts, and indeed, all their clothing of it, and of the horns they make ladles and other useful articles. So you see, although the Indian has not the conveniences which we have, a kind Father provides for his wants. One animal furnishes him with food, shelter, clothing, and cooking utensils; the plants about him furnish his medicines; the trees of the forest his little canoe, and the flinty rock the 45 arrow-heads with which he kills his game. How good God is thus to make every thing for the use of man, and how wise in making each animal, however small, so perfectly adapted to its mode of life and its home. If you could study the history of any creature he has made, ( even the smallest insect that lives, you ( would find it supplied with every thing ( it needs to make it happy in its way of ( living; and has he forgotten to do as ( much for us ? I need not tell you; for when you look at your own body, so wonderfully made; ( when you look around at this beautiful ( world which he has made for our home; when you feel in your heart a longing for the good, and know that he has provided a home where that heart shall be satisfied, shall never do wrong nor grow sad; more and better than all, when you open the Bible and read of the beloved Son whom he sent into the S-46 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. THE ELK. world to die for you, that you might be fitted, by having your sins all forgiven, for that sinless home, -I'm sure you will feel and say in your heart, God is good to me, and I mean to do all I can to show how thankful I am." )I 47 sure, says some little boy, as he glances at this picture. It is not much like the one I saw when I went with papa and Uncle James. Very true, my little fellow, very true. This is not like the fox you saw in the show of wild beasts. This is what I 48 THE FOX. shall call the Bible fox, because it is generally called so in the good Book; although, nowadays, it is called the Jackal. But you were expecting to hear about the fox, so I will not disappoint you, but will tell you some things which I think you will be glad to know about ( the common fox. It has always been ( famous for its cunning and mischief, ( and I presume you have already heard ( many stories and fables about Reynard, ( as he is generally called. He keeps by himself very much, and ( shows great cunning and contrivance in ( digging his own den, generally making it under hard ground, or under the ( thick and tangled roots of trees, so that ( he cannot be easily disturbed. When chased he always starts for his hole, goes to the bottom of it, and lies there ; so the huntsman stops up the hole at the entrance and digs down to the den. Sometimes he sends in a terrier to keep 49 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. ) the fox in his place till he can dig away the earth from the outside and take him. He generally seeks a home near some well-stocked farm-yard, from which he can take his food as he wants it. Some- times he kills quite a number of chickens, and, taking them off one by one, he hides each in a different place, so that no one but himself can find them all. The Bible often speaks of the fox, comparing cunning, crafty men to it. Our Saviour refers to its habit of living when he says, Foxes have holes,- but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." He who made all things, ( who left the glories and riches of a ( heavenly home, and came to this world ( bearing our griefs and carrying our ( sorrows that we might become truly rich, had not where to lay his head I The birds of the air, and even the foxes had their dwellings, but the Saviour of 50 THE FOX. men had no home here, no resting- place I The jackal was much more common in Palestine than the fox, and this is probably meant in many cases where the word fox is used in the Bible. It is about as large as a medium-sized dog, ( being about two and a half feet long, ( and fourteen inches high. It has a head ( like a wolf's, and a tail bushy like the ( fox's, and black at the end. Its eyes ( are small, its ears pointed, and its skin ( has a strong, disagreeable smell. The ( upper part of its body is yellow, with a ( darker mark along its back and sides. It is quite fierce, and prowls about' villages, feeding on poultry, insects, grapes, etc. Unlike the common fox, which goes about alone, it goes in packs, perhaps forty or fifty, and sometimes even one hundred in a pack. Its cry is dreadful, being partly a howl and partly a bark, and often sounds like the cry of a child 61 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. or some person in distress. In the stillness of the night it is frightful enough, for when one screams the whole pack answers. It has been called the "lion's pro- vider;" but all this means is, that when the lion hears the cry of the jackal, he knows it has something to eat, and so he makes his appearance and takes off the food, whatever it may be, without even saying, "If you please," or, By your leave, sir"1 The jackal is particularly destructive in the vineyards, nibbling off the tender vines and the young grapes. There is a reference to this in Solomon's Song, ii. 15: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." The church is often called a vineyard in the Bible, you know, and each member is a vine which ought to bear good fruit; but when "little foxes,1" like wrong, foolish, unloving words, or 62 THE FOX. cunning men who teach false things, creep in, they spoil the vines, so that they bear no fruit. Just so every little child is a vine, and ought to bear fruit, but too often the " little foxes get into the heart, spoiling the first beginnings of good, and the child shows no fruit. Be careful, then, of what you would perhaps call little sins, the very beginnings of evil, for they are very dangerous. Although they may seem small to you, they are the little foxes" which do a great deal of mischief. We read in the Bible that the fruits of the good Spirit are love, joy, and peace." Then, if joy is one of the fruits which God expects you to bear, do notletsour, unhappy looks and cross words be the little foxes" that shall steal the fruit of joy from your pleasant face, or from your heart, for sour looks betoken sour feelings, and wrong feel- ings lead to naughty words, and so, by-and-by, you will find the "little 53 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. foxes" to have taken the choicest fruits of your once happy home. Many years ago, when the prophet Elisha told Hazael what dreadful things he would do when he was king of Syria, he was very angry, and said, Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" "Do you suppose I could ever be bad enough to do so ( wicked a thing ?" But it all came to ( pass just as the prophet said. Just so, I suppose, when Cain was a ( little boy, if any body had told him he ( would ever kill his dear brother, he might have said, Am I a dog ? Could I ever be so unkind to dear little Abel? I'm sure I love him very dearly." But by-and-by he began to see that every- body loved Abel best, and that called out wicked feelings in his heart; then ( he hated him, and began to wish Abel was out of the way. So, one day when they were in the field, he struck him and killed him I 64 THE FOX. Now I suppose Cain would have been just as much surprised if any body had told him he would ever be so wicked, as you would be if I should tell you you would ever strike that precious baby brother of yours and kill him. You would shudder all over, and say, Oh, Aunt Katie, I could not do it I I'm sure I could not!" and the tears would T fill your eyes, and Aunt Katie would ( think, "No, of course you never could." ( But you must be very careful, then, ( about the smallest beginnings of unkind- ( ness, or of wrong, naughty feelings, ( those cunning, crafty little foxes that ( creep in almost without your knowing ( it, to spoil the vines. Always cherish kind thoughts, always ( put away unkind words and acts, and you will always have a loving heart, will make others happy, be happy your- self, and, better than all, Jesus will love you and you will please him. 66( - " -- r -- C- T V-.!77 =7 nny. -Mnp. VOMP Nrnp -. Fr-j (p- ^ ^>-. ._'-. .--^ NA HE Gnu is a native of South Africa, living mostly in the hilly districts of that country, and is quite a remarkable animal, belonging to the family of antelopes. Its strange name was given to it by the Hottentots. Its height is that of a small pony, and in form it resembles partly the _ t 56 6 THE GNU. " horse, partly the buffalo, and partly the stag. Its head is large, its eyes wild and fiery, and it is provided with what may be called tear-openings under the eyes, as is the stag, which greatly relieve it in hurried breathing. Its horns are large, heavy, and rough, beginning at the back part of the head, close together at the base, and after bending forward beyond the eyes, they turn suddenly upward to a point. Its neck is short and thick, though more slender than that of the buffalo, ( with a full, stiff mane above it, the ( hairs of which are white at the roots, ( and black at the tips. Beneath the lower jaw is a thick, shaggy beard, and below the neck a dew-lap much like the elk', The body and the tail are not unlike those of the horse, and of a deep brown color. The legs are long and elegantly formed, like those of the stag, and the space 57 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. between the forelegs is covered with long bushy hair. Its flesh is very juicy, and more agreeable and nourishing than beef. In disposition it is fierce, bold, and dan- gerous to the hunter, especially when wounded, striking with its horns, and, like the buffalo, is made very angry by the sight of any thing of a scarlet color. When angry, it plunges and leaps about, tearing the ground with its hoofs and butting with its head, looking rather frightfully. It is very seldom ( that one is found alone, for it generally ( goes with the herd, which sometimes ( number hundreds, I suppose. ( ) ) ^ _ .^ . . _. ( STRANGE looking creature this, is it not, little reader, with its \ large body, small head, long nose, and little round ears? I fear you would scarcely be able to tell me, if I should ask you its name, for it is not common with us. It is found all over Europe, except perhaps the cold regions ( k "' gns ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. of the north, and is a hedgehog. It is ( usually nine or ten inches long, with a ( tail about as long as your thumb, and ( has four feet, which it uses for digging, each having five toes with long nails. But its skin is the most curious part of the hedgehog, being covered over the back with thick, sharp prickles or spines, instead of hair. It is provided ( with muscles, too, or little fibres, so ( that it can raise its prickles and roll ( itself into the form of a ball, exposing ( no part of its body which is not covered ( with spines, for the under part is ( covered with hair. This is its only way of defending itself -when attacked; ( so, although weak and timid, it never ( runs, but rolls itself up and waits until ( the danger is over. It seems to know that this is its only safety, and no violence will make it change its ball form. It suffers injuries with great patience and forbearance. Its skin was used in ancient times for 60 THE HEDGEHOG. clothes brushes, and also in dressing hemp. It is found near hedges and thickets, from the fruits and leaves of which it obtains food. It also feeds upon small insects, snails, beetles, and the like. It is fond of eggs, and will sometimes drive a hen off her nest and take her eggs. It robs birds' nests also, and destroys young hares. In some parts ) of Europe it is tamed and made very ( useful in destroying cockroaches. It ( burrows for roots with its nose. It ( eats the root of the plantain, boring ( under the plant with its upper jaw, ( which is longer than the lower, and, ( gnawing off the root upwards, it leaves ( the tuft of leaves standing. It generally remains concealed during ( the day, creeping out at night for its ( food. In the winter it rolls itself ( into a round hole made at the foot of a hedge, or in some decayed tree, { lining its nest warmly with moss, hay, 61 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. and leaves, and sleeps there until the spring. It is not so very stupid as you might imagine from the picture, but shows great sagacity in many ways. One is, it has its burrow open in various points, and when its instinct warns it of a change in the wind, it stops up the hole on that side. A gentleman who had noticed this, predicted by it to what point the wind would next change. In an English magazine is an account of one, who, having been tamed in a garden, found its way to the scullery, and made regular search for the bits left on the dinner plates, retreating afterwards to the cellar. One is spoken of, also, who would turn the spit while the meat was roasting, as well as a dog. Children, did you ever see any people who were, like the hedgehog, all over prickles and spines, so that you could not touch them without feeling uncom- 62 THE HEDGEHOG. fortable, getting pricked; people who are so selfish that they mako every one about them uncomfortable ? I think I have sometimes seen such. Did you never see a boy at school fret and scold, and look very cross, because some other boy had learned his lesson better than he, and perhaps had gone above him in his class? How much better for himself and others if he had rejoiced that his classmate had done so well, and resolved to try and do better himself next time! Did you ever see a boy feel and act uncomfortably because his mother did not want him to wear his best cap out to play ? Did you ever see a child at school always wanting the best places to play, the best coasting-ground, and the best of every thing to himself, or else he would not play at all ? Such children seem to me something like the hedgehog, and I never want any 63 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS., thing more to do with them than I can help. How much better always to be a comfort to every body. No child who reads this book is too young or too small to learn to be a comfort, and I can tell you some very simple ways. If you come home from school and your feet are all muddy, don't go through Bridget's clean kitchen, nor into mamma's room, until you have ( thoroughly cleaned your boots. Don't disturb mamma by whistling ( about the house, or teasing her, or ( jumping upon the chairs and the table, ( as I have seen boys do. If at school some cold morning ( you see a little fellow come in all shivering and half frozen, don't think, " I got my warm place at the stove or the register first, and I mean to keep it!" But perhaps some little girl says, " Well, this is all for boys; of course 64 -dph -=k -1 h -=. d 1 - THE HEDGEHOG. they can do a great deal; but I am only a little girl, seven or eight years old; how can I be a comfort, Aunt Katie ?" In many, many ways, little reader. You must not think because you can not wash the dishes and make bread as Bridget does, nor make shirts for papa as mamma does, that you can not be a " comfort." If brother Willie wants some of your playthings which it is proper he should have. don't hold them up just out of his reach, and tease him till he gets impatient, and perhaps angry and cries. If you have any thing given you to eat which Willie ought not to have, don't eat it before him, and say, "Sister has got something to eat, ( and Willie can't have any." That is ( not being a comfort to your dear little brother. If mamma tells you to go and get ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. something for her, don't whine and say, " Oh dear I can not Susie or Jamie go? I want to play." If you ask mamma for any thing which it is not best you should have, or if she is not willing you should go out to slide or to skate when you want to, don't shrug your shoulders, and look ( sullen and cross, and say, I should ( think I might go; Ellen and Sarah are ( going;" for then come naughty thoughts D which make you very unhappy yourself, and any thing but a comfort to the dear ( mother who is always doing so much for ( you. If mamma is busy with company, don't hang about her chair, nor meddle ( with things in the parlor which you ( know she never allows you to have. Your little brother, younger, is watch- ing, and will learn to do every thing naughty which he sees you do. When cousin Mary is busy, don't be meddling with her work-basket or pin- 66 THE HEDGEHOG. cushion, and making her "fidgetty," when perplexed and troubled about her work. If mamma has a headache and wants to be quiet, don't be noisy, but try to keep the little ones still, too, by showing them pictures, or building houses for them with the blocks. Mamma loves her little children, and nothing makes her so happy as to see them kind and affectionate to each other. If you meet any poor little girl, not so well dressed as you are, in the street, don't laugh nor make fun of her. If at school any little scholar does not learn so easily as you do, don't call her .stupid, but try and help her, and say pleasant things to her. You see how easy it is for little boys and girls to make themselves disagree- able to others; and yet how easy to be a comfort. Always have a loving heart, always say pleasant things, always try to make others happy. 67 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. " Do you think it will be very hard always to remember this and to do right? Then ask the blessed Saviour, who wants you to be good, and who is always willing to help you, and he will make you just what you want so much to be, a "comfort." ( (; .... .-- ^ N 0 9T 7M HIS spirited, beautiful looking creature is probably the wild or mountain goat often mentioned in the Bible. When Saul went to seek David, we are told he looked for him " upon the rocks of the wild goats; " and David himself refers to them in Ps. civ. 18, when he says, The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats." 69 L-4 --tr-no- -- - 11- - - - -- I -- N- I 19 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. These goats are quite large and are found in the mountains on the peninsula of Sinai, and east and south of the Dead Sea, and resemble somewhat the chamois of the Alps. They feed in flocks of from forty to fifty, with one of their number as a sort of sentinel to watch and give the alarm ( when danger approaches. At the ( slightest warning they are off in an ( instant, darting over the rocks at great ( speed. They are very affectionate, nourish their young with corn, and make their home, as the Bible says, among the ( rocks and mountains. They are larger ( than the tame goat, though much like it ( in their general form. Their horns are two or three feet long and very large, weighing sixteen or eighteen pounds. They are arched gracefully backwards, and knotted with a series of rings, which look like knobs towards the tips. The Arabs make the 70 THE IBEX. horns into handles for knives, and rings which they wear on their thumbs. Of their skins they make water-bags. In ancient times, when kid skins were used for water, the side on which the hair grew was turned inward; when for wine, that side was turned outward. The head is small, the eyes large, round, and very bright. Their legs are strong but slender, and the forelegs being shorter than the hinder, they can D go up a mountain much easier than they ) can come down, so, when pursued,they ( always start for the summit. Their hoofs are short, and hollow ) inside, and on the outside end with a ) little projecting border. The limhls are ) white, with regular black marks down D the front of the legs, and a black ring above and below the knees. The body is short, thick, and strong. It is covered with a fur of dark brown, with a black streak along the back. They have a long tawny beard under ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. the chin. The tail is short, and covered() over the top with long white hairs, black above and at the end. When still, they carry their heads low, but in running, hold them high and bent a little forward. They mount a perpendicular rock of fifteen feet at three bounds, not seeming to have any footing on the rock, but touching it as a rubber ball would, merely to be sent onward. If between two rocks which are near to each other, they leap from the side of one rock to the other, till they reach the top. During the night they feed in the woods, but as soon as the sun begins to rise they go up the mountain, ascending to dangerous heights, and always choos- ing the sides which face the east and south, because they are the most sunny. As the sun begins to go down, they feed down towards the woods again. The woods are their resort, too, when it is likely to snow, and they pass the 7 12. THE IBEX. winter there. Nothing but the severest weather ever leads them into the valleys. The female shows great attachment to her young, defending it against eagles, wolves, and other enemies. When pursued, she takes refuge in some cave, presenting her head at the entrance. The season for hunting is in August or September, but only they who live in the mountains engage in the chase, for it requires a head that can look down from the greatest heights; sure footed- ness, an expert marksman, and strength and vigor to endure hunger, cold, and great fatigue. The hunters associate together in ( bands of two or three, furnish them- selves with small bags of provisions, and are armed with rifle-guns. They pass the night in miserable huts, which are often blocked up by morning with snow several feet deep; but the flesh a ~le!% :=%11-1 _,_ -73 - - N ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. of the ibex is so nice, like that of the deer, that they are willing to undergo great peril to obtain it. Sometimes they will turn upon the hunter and push him off a precipice. On the plains, the goats are easily caught by the dogs, but in the moun- tains they take such long leaps that the dogs can not reach them. The hunters can not easily get a shot at them either, so they hide themselves among the reeds on the banks of the streams where the goats come to drink. It is said they will leap. fifty feet without hurting themselves, and will fall from a great hight upon their horns, without injury. Stories are told, too, of their hanging themselves by their horns, on a tree on the edge of a preci- pice, so that they can not be reached, but I can not tell how true they are. A gentleman, who, with a small party, ascended Mt. Catherine, near Mt. Sinai, Says they saw at a distance, a small 74 THE IBEX. flock of mountain goats feeding. An Arab left the party, telling them to keep very still so as not to frighten the goats, while he went a roundabout way to get where he could fire at them. He had nearly reached the spot he wanted to, when the whole flock suddenly fled. They could not have seen the Arab, but the wind having changed, they smelt him; and away they sped, with great swiftness. How kindly and how wonderfully does God give to each creature he has made its weapon of defence;- the instinct to warn it of the approach of danger, and to teach it its way of escape I No wonder the Psalmist, who studied the works of God so much, should exclaim, 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all !" And the more he studied, the more he admired and loved the Being who created so many forms of life, for so many different forms of enjoyment. ;76 A HIS diminutive and singular look- ing animal is supposed by some to be the cony of the. Bible; but the cony is spoken of as living among the "( high hills," while the Jerboa lives in burrows which it digs. for itself in the sand-hills of the desert, and is not at all fitted for climbing. The cony had no 76 THE JERBOA. claws for digging. Its paws were short, flat, and very tender on the under side, and on each of its hind paws one claw was much longer than the others. Others think the Jerboa is the same as the mouse of the Bible, and indeed it is called the jumping mouse of Egypt, where it was very common. At all events, it must have been well known to the Israelites, for it was one of the common animals of Syria, and under the name of mouse, probably is men- tioned among the animals which they were forbidden to eat. Its flesh was eaten by the Egyptians and Arabs, though it is rather unsavory. The Jerboas live in troops, and their ( burrows, though not very deep, are ( several yards in length, and winding, ( ending in a chamber well lined with ( grass, in which they make their nest. These burrows usually have but one opening, though they make another ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. passage very near the surface, through which they can easily dig their way out if the entrance is closed. They remain in their holes during the day, sleeping, rolled up, with their heads between their thighs; feeding at dusk, sporting abroad through the night, and resting again at the dawn. They are very timid, and driven into their nests by the slightest noise. If ( < prevented from entering the nest, they ( trust to their speed, which is so great ( that often a greyhound can not overtake ( ( them. As you look at the picture and see the difference between the fore and hinder legs, you will wonder how they can run at all. The hinder legs are ( quite long, you see, while the fore legs only seem like little paws. When seen at their full speed, they look as if they moved only on their hind legs, but in reality they jump, raising the body first on the hind toes, ^ ^ ^ ^ ^~78 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ THE JERBOA. their fore paws being pressed so closely to the body as scarcely to be seen at all, keeping their balance by the assistance of the tail. Having taken the leap of six or seven feet, they come down on their fore paws, but raise themselves so quickly for another jump that they seem to keep erect all the time. They do not leap in a straight line, but first to one side and then to the other, with their tails stretched out. In standing, they carry their tails in the form of an ( S, the lower curve of the S resting on ( the ground. Although smaller, the Jerboas are ( something like the Kangaroo in their ( form. They are about the size of a large rat, the body being eight inches long, and the tail ten inches. Their fur is soft, and smooth, and of a pale, yellow, fawn color on the upper parts of the body, and white underneath. The tail has a black tuft on the end, L^^^_ ^ 9^ ^ ^ .64 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. the head is in shape something like a rabbit's, the eyes full and round, the ears large and open. They sit and eat their food from their fore paws, as does the squirrel, and are quite easily tamed. 80 T Ti1`1 KN AIt NGA Ift 0,0 IHE Kangaroo is peculiar to New Holland and some islands of the / Indian Archipelago. It was first noticed by Capt. Cook, the distin- guished navigator, in his first voyage round the world, in 1770. Some of his men found it in New South Wales. Before that, it was known only to 81 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. savages; but since that time it has become quite common in Europe, and, with a little care, might be tamed so as to live and sport in the parks, as does the deer. The great kangaroo measures nine feet in length, and weighs one hundred and fifty pounds. The fore legs, are, as you see, much shorter than the hinder ones; the hinder being three feet and a half long, which is more than a yard, and the fore legs only one foot and a half, or a half a yard long. The hind feet are not unlike those of birds, being divided into five toes, of which the two inner ones are very small, and so united as to appear in reality but one. One of the toes is long, of great strength, and ends in a powerful claw. The fore feet or paws are divided into five fingers, with strong hooked claws or nails, for scratching or digging. Its general position, when at rest, 82 THE KANGAROO. is sitting posture; in which it is supported by the hind legs and the tail, which is very thick at its base, and tapering, -but so strong as to seem almost like another limb. These animals use the hind feet and the tail as weapons of defence, some- times striking a man's leg with such force as to break it. When pursued and overtaken by dogs, with which they are generally hunted, they turn, and seizing them with their fore paws, will hug ( them closely, striking them at the same time with their hind feet in such a way as to kill them very quickly. ( The head and upper parts are small ( and delicate, appearing rather out of ( proportion to the others, which are large and strong. The eyes are full and bright, the mouth small, the ears large and pointed. They feed chiefly on grass, and go about in small herds of from thirty to fifty, under the lead of the older males. i\/i~t oqs&83 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. The young are carried about in a bag or pouch of skin, and even when quite large often return to it for safety. The flesh is said to be quite nice, much like mutton. They are naturally timid, and fly from the approach of man. They frequently place their fore feet on the ground, and feed like quadrupeds, and in drinking ( they lap like the dog. They do not ( run, but take amazing leaps of twenty ( feet, and will jump over any thing ( which they meet in their flight, to the ( hight of nine or ten feet. They are hunted silently, for they ( hear very quickly. If water be at ( hand when they are fleeing, they ( plunge into it and await very quietly the attacks of the dogs, which they hold under the water and drown. The males are called by the natives of New Holland, old men, or wool men," and the female is the "young liddy," (lady.) Sometimes they will ^^^^-^ ^^^ ^.^^^84 THE KANGAROO. drive the males into wet places, where their weight causes them to sink in the damp ground, and they soon become tired; but even then it is difficult to take them, for they very easily dispose of the dogs which attack them, so that dogs which have been used to the chase never venture to approach them alone, but by barking keep them from escaping until the hunters come up. m . . .^ . ..85 THE LI ,N. OU will not be long in reco this as a picture of the li ( king of beasts. His for] already know so well, I nee describe it particularly; and ye ,nizing on, the m you d not t he is such a wonderful animal, you will be glad to know some facts about him, which, perhaps, you have not heard. 86 THE LION. In size, the lion is eight feet long, and four feet high. It was once very common in Palestine, and is often mentioned in the Bible as an emblem of power or majesty; but has been driven by the progress of man further away. It now exists throughout Africa, India, and Persia. The African lion often weighs five hundred pounds, and lives fifty, and sometimes even seventy years. The bones of its fore limbs are remarkable for their strength and firmness. They are said to be so hard that they will strike fire with steel, and a single stroke of them will kill a horse or a buffalo. His jaws and neck are very powerful; his hearing very acute; and his eyes are adapted to seeing in the night; for he is quite nocturnal in his habits, rousing up at sunset and creeping about or lying in ambush for his prey. His strength is so great that he can carry off a horse or a buffalo, and yet ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. travelers have often passed him in the daytime unharmed; when he had probably had enough to eat the night before. But the paws are the most wonderful, in their adaptation to his want. He creeps very stealthily and silently, and then bounds some twenty or thirty feet. His paws are softly cushioned. The sole is padded with a soft, springy cushion of fat, two inches thick, and a similar, smaller one, on each toe. This is for two reasons; first, that he may tread noiselessly, and second, that in jumping so far, the spine and the shoulder may not be broken by so great a weight. The claws, too, or talons, are drawn back into sheaths, and hidden by the fur, except when making his attacks, and they are raised so high above the cushions that they do not touch the ground in walking, and so are unworn, always sharp and ready for service. 88 THE LION. He can sheath or unsheath them when- ever he chooses, as the cat does her claws. Indeed, the lion is nothing more nor less than a cat of immense size and power. Its skin is of little value, and is seldom used. It is stated to be a fact that if one lion is killed, the others take the hint, and leave that part of the country. The lion has been much regarded not only for its power, but for its generosity and dignity. Its generosity is shown by never killing any thing for the mere pleasure of it, but only for food, and no more than it is able to consume. Although so ferocious, it is sometimes domesticated with safety. Perhaps you have heard the old story of the slave who was exposed to a lion in the circus. Everybody supposed the lion would dispose of the poor man with one stroke of his paw, but instead of that, he seemed very glad to see him, 89 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. and did not attempt to hurt him at all, because hlie did not forget that he had once taken a thorn out of his foot. In consequence of this the slave was set free, and led the lion about the streets of Rome. In 1650, a great plague raged at Naples. Sir George Davis, English Consul there at that time, went to Florence to escape the disease. One ( day, while visiting the menagerie of the ( Grand Duke, he noticed a lion in the ( further end of one of the dens, looking ( very sullen and cross, and the keeper ( s~id they had tried in vain to tame him ( for three years. No sooner did Sir George come near ( the den, than the lion sprang towards ( him with every appearance of delight, purred like a cat, and licked his hand. The keeper, frightened for the safety of his visitor, urged him to keep away, but he insisted upon entering the cage. The lion threw his paws upon his 'Q _90 r THE LION. shoulders, licked his face, rubbing his head upon him and fawning like a cat. When asked for an explanation, Sir George said this lion was given him ( when it was quite young by a sea captain. He brought him up tame, had a den for him in his yard, and finally gave him away, because he grew so large that he feared he might do harm I Another story is told of a knight in the Holy Land, who was riding through a forest, and hearing a cry of distress, rode into the thicket, but was aston- ( ished to see, instead of some unfortunate man, a lion, with a large serpent coiled around hii body. The knight was a brave man, as all knights ought to be, and with one stroke of his sword killed the serpent. So thankful was the lion for this kindness that he followed him afterwards like a dog. A traveler in Africa, returning from hunting, found a beautiful lion sick, and suffering, and in great weakness. Outs .91 c.Yl ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. of pity, he poured a small quantity of milk down his throat, by which he was greatly refreshed. After this, the lion became so much attached to the kind person who had relieved him, that he followed him every where, being led only by a string around his neck, and even ate from his master's hand. I might tell you a great many stories ( about this wonderful and noble animal, ( but I will add only one more, which is ( the most beautiful lion-story I have ever ( heard. Daniel was among the Jewish youth ( who were taken from their loved homes ( when twelve or sixteen years old, and ( carried captives into Babylon. He belonged to the royal family, and his birthplace was probably Jerusalem. But the Lord was with him, even amidst the temptations and trials of his new life at the heathen court, and he made every body love him. Daniel did not forget the God of his fathers when \ '!? Q<> S?*92 ("9THE LION. ) away from the Holy City, and the services of the temple, to which he had been accustomed. He knew that God could take care of him just as well at Babylon as in Jerusalem, and that heaven was just as near to the one as to the other. So he went to his chamber, and kneeling with his face towards Jerusalem, the city of his love, he prayed three times every day. When the king, Darius, wanted some ( one to take charge of the affairs of his kingdom, his first thought was of Daniel, because of the excellent spirit'" that ( was in him. But some of the great men of the kingdom were very jealous of Daniel, and did not want him to be ( governor. So they watched very closely, to see if they could not find him guilty of some wrong which they could report to the king. But after watch- ing in vain for some time, they concluded they could not find fault 93 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. with any thing except his faithfulness to his God. So they drew up a paper, in writing, ( making a law that no one must ask any thing of God or man, only of the king himself; for thirty days.; if he did, he must be cast into the den of lions. The king, who loved Daniel, little thought what mischief these wicked men were planning, so he signed the writing, and the men went away quite satisfied, because they knew that a law ( which the king had once signed could ( never be changed. Daniel know of the writing, but lie loved God. God had taken care of him ( thus far, and he was able still to defend him. Better even to be thrown to the lions than to sin against God! Better disobey Darius than to cease to thank ( the Being who had done more for him ( than any earthly king could ever do! ( So, "his window being open in his ( chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled Contact Us | Permissions | Preferences | Technical Aspects | Statistics | Internal | Privacy Policy © 2004 - 2010 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries.All rights reserved. Acceptable Use, Copyright, and Disclaimer Statement Last updated October 10, 2010 - - mvs


text: Seaplane Kitchen & Bar offers guests an approachable atmosphere perfect for drinks with friends, a family dinner, date night and everything in between. In the kitchen, Executive Chef and Co-owner Jason Stoneburner serves up a menu centered around stone hearth pizzas, shareable roasted veggies, and Northwest fisheries and farms. The wine offerings, hand-selected by sommelier James Lechner, showcase Washington state's award-winning growing regions through an approachable bottle list, glass pours and wine on tap. The bar program, headed by Bastille and Stoneburner Bar Manager and Seaplane Co-owner Erik Carlson, features 12 drafts & 2 wines on tap with a heavy tilt towards regional breweries, and food-friendly cocktails highlighting agricultural spirits and seasonal ingredients.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Digital Strategy
We offer consulting and strategy to clients on an independent basis - when you need to understand competing points of view or wish to embark on a thorough from the top analysis.
Information Arcitecture
We provide multiple views of the information architecture needed for your project.
In-depth brand discovery covering market research, demographics, audiences and competitor analysis.
User Experience
Target market analysis to gauge audience needs and encourage high engagement and delightful experiences on all devices.
Future Proofing
Advice on existing technologies and recommendations to evolve with the digital space. We build "future proofing" into all our projects.
We provide wireframes that clearly show the direction and design for projects.
We help you develop strategies for your project, including social media, digital and offline marketing.
Ready to start a project with us?
Contact email@example.com or call us on +353 (0)45 486828


text:
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a government subsidized program that helps provide part time employment to students in financial need. Eligibility for Federal Work-Study (FWS) is based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At Palm Beach Atlantic University, the Office of Financial Aid determines student eligibility and allocates work study funds to students.
What can you do with a Federal Work-Study (FWS) job?
Students enjoy:
What PBA Students are saying:
Ron Ross (2015 alumnus):
"The FWS program at PBA has been incredibly helpful to me. Having dependable and convenient places to earn extra cash around campus was invaluable to my ability to attend PBA. Paired with PBA's helpful staff, the FWS program has delivered a great experience for me. "
Melissa Jara:
"Being a Federal Work Study student has helped me to not only support myself, but also to prepare me for once I graduate. It has taught me what it's like to have a real job. Not only is this a great work opportunity but everyone that I work with has also contributed to my experience."


text:
Concerns on the rise over Jim Flaherty's health
OTTAWA – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's appearance at a meeting of Canada's finance ministers this week has renewed backroom speculation about whether his health will allow him to continue in his job.
As meetings at Meech Lake began on Monday, Flaherty was seen to struggle to get out of his car, and his voice was painfully weak as he addressed reporters later.
In the hours-long meeting with his provincial counterparts, he sat in silence most of the time, sometimes with his eyes closed, allowing minister of state, Kevin Sorenson, to chair the meeting.
"He did not seem like a well man," said a person who was in the room. "He kind of closed his eyes a number of times, but whether that was just him sitting there listening or not, I don't know."
Tuesday on Parliament Hill, Flaherty was seen by a reporter walking with great difficulty.
In January, Flaherty went public with news about his health condition, bullous pemphigoid, a rare skin condition that produces painful blisters. He is taking the steroid prednisone, which can cause weight gain and, in large doses, can spur severe mood swings.
Since then, he has often appeared tired, his performances in the House of Commons and committees have sometimes lacked his typical verve, and his staff appears to have made his schedule lighter. Flaherty is often sending his parliamentary secretary to events he previously attended himself.
In 2011, there were 44 announcements of ministerial trips or media availabilities on the Finance Canada web site. In 2012, there were 46. In 2013, so far, there have been just 29.
A source close to him, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Flaherty's strained voice and difficulty moving were due to a cold.
"Minister Flaherty has had some health issues in the past year, which he has discussed publicly," said the source. "His health has improved markedly since then. Yesterday, obviously, he had a cold and was losing his voice. But I can tell you he is in the midst of the pre-budget preparations and he is as engaged in that work as he has been any other year, and the situation with his health has no impact on that."
Other sources, all of whom declined to be interviewed on the record, say his low energy level has made it difficult for him to spend the time necessary in demanding briefing sessions with officials. One source familiar with the situation said the minister's work is suffering.
"It's a problem," the source said. "It's a big problem and it's getting worse. No one's been willing to do anything or say anything. It's not good."
But a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in an email that Flaherty is well enough to do the job.
"The finance minister has the confidence of the prime minister," said Jason MacDonald. "His record more than demonstrates why he continues to be considered the best finance Minister in the world. For instance, he's already created one million net new jobs since the recession and he's on track to balance the budget by 2015."
NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen said he hopes Flaherty is looking after himself.
"There are times where I've seen him in the House where I've felt concerned for his health, that he doesn't appear well to me," Cullen said Tuesday.
Liberal Finance critic Scott Brison, who has been exchanging partisan barbs with Flaherty for years, says he doesn't seem himself.
"He doesn't seem as robust as usual," he said. "There has certainly been a change in his performance both in the House and in committee."
When Flaherty originally announced his illness early in the year, there was an outpouring of support and encouragement for him from all sides of the House of Commons.
Flaherty recently engaged in an unusual and heated exchange with Employment Minister Jason Kenney on the floor of the Commons, angrily rebuking Kenney for calling on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to resign.
On Sunday, as Flaherty arrived for the meeting with finance ministers, he told reporters that Kenney had trespassed on his turf. "You know, I'm the minister for the Greater Toronto Area," he said. "I don't comment on the mayor of Calgary."
A few weeks ago, Flaherty struggled to control his emotions when he was asked to publicly comment on Rob Ford's drug problems. He was close to Ford's father, Doug, when they both served in the Ontario legislature, and is close with the family.
Flaherty, 63, has said he intends to run again in the next election.
Related articles
- Flaherty says Kenney crossed into his turf in criticizing Toronto mayor (calgaryherald.com)


text:
What a site to build your cabin in paradise. Enjoy the peace as you sit under the 50' pines and hardwoods, listening to the river's rushing waters. Set your cabin overlooking peaceful sounds of Mountain Fork River. Enjoy swimming, canoeing, freshwater fishing, and water sports, right off the back...11.50 Acres : $520,000
Mountain Fork River Development PA
Broken Bow : McCurtain Co : OK


text:
In May 2017, the San Francisco Planning Department released the 5th Housing Balance Report, covering the ten-year period from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2016. The reports track the proportion of all new affordable housing units built to the total number of all new housing units for a 10-year period, with the goal of informing decision making around new housing development in the city.
Today, advocates attended a hearing at the SF Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee to discuss the report, highlighting the continuing housing crisis in the city. Again and again, speakers emphasized that:
The amount of affordable housing built is not keeping up with actual need. We are still losing stable rent-controlled units at a rate almost equal to new affordable units. Over the last ten years, for every three affordable units the City built, it lost two rent-controlled units. In fact, after factoring lost affordable units, eight Supervisor Districts had a NEGATIVE Housing Balance.
In the last 10 years, the City lost on average over 400 rent-controlled units per year to Ellis Act and OMI conversions, not even counting TIC conversions. The loss of rental housing has been significant in all Supervisorial Districts across the City, with D8 (Castro/Upper Market) having the most at 655 lost units, D9 (Mission/Bernal) at 582 lost units, and D1 (Richmond) at 496 lost units.
We must produce more affordable housing! This means securing more sites for affordable housing development as well as securing a permanent funding source for new development and for acquisition of existing housing. We must also scale up acquisition programs focused on neighborhoods with high rates of evictions, and preserve at-risk, expiring HUD-subsidized units.
The vast majority of affordable housing in the city is via long-term rent-controlled units. As tenants are pushed out of these units, the affordable housing lotteries are not good solutions for re-housing long-term city residents. There are not enough units to address the need, and many units are too expensive for the tenants trying to stay. Stemming evictions and the loss of rent-controlled units should be a key element of the effort to protect and preserve affordable housing.
We must Protect residents from displacement and preserve our finite stock of rent-controlled homes from being lost! That means protecting tenants facing eviction threats, which should include fully-funded right to legal counsel. It also means strengthening Rent Control, which can only happen with a statewide repeal of Costa-Hawkins. Additionally, we must enforce the City's regulations on short-term vacation rentals and focus on deterring second-homes, pied-a-terres, stash pads, and other vacant housing.


text:
Insurance policies are an agreement or contract between an entity or organization (known as the insurer or provider) and the person or persons being hedged (the policyholder). Although insurance policies to address ranges — a car, credit, health, life and property — the basic terminology is similar.
Features :
An actuarial insurance providers is the arithmetic useful for setting rates and premiums charged to the insured. The premium is the amount of money a policyholder pays to receive and maintain coverage.
Package Benefits Terms :
benefits are charging the insurance services provided to the insured under the policy. Evidence of coverage details (including costs) are the specific range of services and benefits that the insured is entitled to.
Payment :
Deductibles are the amount of money the insured to pay a prescribed period before they will be reimbursed by the insurance company for your eligible expenses are required. Copayments are predetermined flat fee that is charged by the insured individual service (eg, a doctor's appointment or prescription drugs).
Complaint Terms and Processes :
claims are requests for payments to be made and can come from the insurer or the insured. The application is approved or denied, in which case the appeal can be made. Considerations
Additional terminology found within the different types of insurance policies. For example, health insurance, key terms, including compensation and care plans, primary care physician, the state-mandated benefits, HIPAA, Medigap and pre existing and planned conditions. While with collision insurance, no-fault, assigned risk and accident forgiveness are terms related to auto insurance policies
This is a health insurer in which consider hiring a health insurance should be in any event, currently a guarantee for our well-being and quality of life and especially our peace and safety. It's why they offer medical services at discounts of up to four variables months between 30% or 50%, depending on the date you decide to contract insurance.
Therefore, the contract with the company, you not only get a lot of medical benefits, but also get everything you need for your quality of life.
If you were to hire any of the current medical insurance options should know what those major benefits or those requirements that we should not forget are in any case. These three concepts are in any case, vesting periods, hospitalization and pre-existing conditions.
Each of the 3 involves restrictions in some way for the user since even in the case of hospital services is likely that your health insurance finally hired not include such a service so you would have to resort to the comparators where are rapidly each of the relevant characteristics.
Health Insurance Policies :
Medical insurance for individuals are sold by insurance companies them on a large scale.
This means that medical policies are more insurers sell. Are those that serve the public, so for example for families or people who want to secure their individual health.
Those health care insurance for individuals currently enjoy great fame as the offer is huge and more and more people want to have one. Having private health insurance poses to the security ensured in any case no social security. With individual health insurance you have the prompt consultation as well as personalized treatment.
So hire the services of a particular disease for sure the best way to ensure your health and that of his family.
The general thinking is that private health insurance is prohibitively expensive and is usually medical services are expensive so it is normal to think that given the coverage that these policies include their medical premiums are high. On the contrary, far from this thought, there are now cheap medical insurance.
And is that because of the strong current demand insurance cheap health care are increasing in the same or similar level of demand. So it is possible to find both full insurance medical staff illness as basic health insurance or reimbursement that are perfectly suited to the needs of the consumer. These cheap health insurance is today more than ever a reality.
By grace period means roughly the time it would have to wait for the policyholder's health insurance in order to get all the services provided by the terms of their health insurance.
Currently the majority trend are health policies without grace periods being the root causes that users are more interested in health insurance without any deficiency because if they decide to take out private insurance is because it offers all the services of health issues but with greater efficiency; We also have to know that the high demand for them has increased its range and so these health care insurance health insurance are most often hired.
So if you are considering hiring a health insurance but lack time you check back this last note, is that health insurance without waiting periods are the general tone and therefore will find one that suits your needs.
Companies have the ability to ensure the health and welfare of their employees health insurance hiring for them for businesses. The health insurance companies are especially designed for companies and are mainly characterized by the policyholder is the company being the beneficiary company employees.
With these health insurance companies for health workers is ensured primarily so that the employer ensures that its employees have quality health care fast and efficient. These healthcare insurance for companies are the other way for beneficiaries or workers as any other health insurance so as contracted option would have coverage presented by the medical staff.
Find out which of the 20 health insurance companies offer primary policy with the best coverage and price ratio is very easy with healthatoz.org. Our Health Insurance Comparison Online, helps you analyze the conditions offered by different insurers for your specific case and choose the one that best suits your needs. And all with exclusive offers healthatoz.org users only. And if you prefer to speak to a specialist adviser to clarify your doubts, you can call 902 656 119 and a specialist in health insurance will explain everything in detail and help you choose the best option.
In the health insurance industry, there are two types of policies: policies medical list and refund policies . For both types there are different varieties depending on the coverage's included (hospitalization, diagnostic testing, family planning, etc..) And geographic coverage area (local, national or international).
Medical staff policies :
With a medical staff policy you can go to the doctor's you choose from a list of centers and physicians agreed with the insurance (this list is what is called medical chart). This type of insurance is the most hired to be the most economical choice when hiring health insurance.
If you want to have the tightest possible price, including medical staff policies can choose the more "basic" options, which only cover non-medical consultations and hospitalizations and diagnostic tests. This kind of "basic" policies interest you especially if what you really want is to go to a specialist at any time without having to go through the doctor, and do not change it so important that you cover hospital stays, operations and diagnostic tests, for example, for these cases prefer to go to the Social Security.
If, however, you want a full coverage, you want to choose the "standard" policies, which does include both medical consultations and diagnostic tests, hospitalizations and diagnostic tests . In this case, they should analyze if you want to choose a policy with a slightly reduced monthly fee, but with co-payments (you contribute a small amount (depending on the insurer and specialty, between 2 and 15 euros for each medical act you request) or without health insurance co-payments and monthly costs constant, regardless of the time that you go to the doctor.
Although insurers often have very large medical conditions, it is important that the insurance before you check your reference specialists are included in the medical chart of the entity (for example, your doctor or dermatologist usual).
Analyzed health insurers :
If you appoint a health insurance reimbursement, other than for the medical box, you'll go to any doctor in any clinic in the world, and depending on the policy even the world, as your insurance company will reimburse you between 80% and 95 % of the cost of the query that is not included in the medical chart.
This type of insurance you are interested in if you want to be able to go to the best specialists if needed, should be included in the medical chart or not your insurer. However, they are mandatory considerably more expensive than medical staff, and besides, if you are meeting a doctor who is not on the medical staff of your insurer will have to forward the invoice amount, later your company will partially give it return (between 80 and 95% according to the policy).


text:
Not exactly sure what fixed it, but after trying to connect again it gave me the option to skip, after spiking it connected to the Wi-Fi and downloaded & installed the firmware update. All working now.
Looks like your connection to Community was lost, please wait while we try to reconnect.


text:
We had a fantastic evening out on Thursday, WiiBoy and I. I was looking forward to this evening for ages. You see we were meeting with my show pal couple and their son for tea, then off to our favourite Dublin show venue, the fabulous character- filled and chandaliered Gaiety Theatre, to see the Billie Barry Stage School show: The Time of Our Lives. Oh, the excitement!
Now, I know a lot of you reading this will be groaning at the mere mention of the Billie Barry Kids thinking, no doubt, of the oft hinted at BBKS (Billie Barry Kid Syndrome) which seemingly involves a large dollop of cheesy smiles accompanied with a side of perceived precociousness. Please let me try and dispel that rather unfair assessment....
Before I tell you about the show let me set the scene with our little pre-show, show pals reunion! Plus kids! The perpetual circle of life, eh?
It's about four years since we all met-up so a lot of catching up and 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over the boys, how tall they're getting, who they take after etc had to be done! Then we naturally turned to reminiscing about our own show days. All kinds of things were remembered! Pre-Opening number, side- stage jitters and how they ....ahem....presented themselves got a mention. As did the rather rude names we gave ourselves once when in an extremely giddy humour at one rehearsal! Those names will not be revealed here in order to
Although we ourselves were never Billie Barry Kids (more's the pity) we had the honour of dancing as seniors in two shows, two years apart, back in the 80's as the Billie Barry reins were been handed over from Mother to daughter. The daughter worked us hard for both performances which were each approximately 7 minutes long! We loved every minute of it, every single one. Side-stage nerves were nothing on how we felt on performing at a rehearsal, in their back garden portocabin, for the awe-inspiring Ms. Barry herself! She was always extremely encouraging to us but showed no facial reaction whilst we were dancing, so it was nerve racking to wait until the end to hear her judgement! Kept us all, boys included, on our twinkle toes, that's for sure!!
So, many moons after those thoroughly memorable (to us anyway!) performances, we arrive at the beloved Gaiety Theatre with our own children to see yet another generation of BBKs perform. First thing our boys notice? The chandelier!
The last time we saw a BB show we watched through a veil of excited tears, totally mesmerized by the performances on the stage before us. We knew it would be the same this time and we were not disappointed.
It was a long but thoroughly entertaining show. The whole production, concept, set and costumes were amazing, especially given these difficult financial times. The Billie Barry Show is now only every three years, so they can do it properly. Modern technology also played an important role in this production providing some exciting special effects and allowing dance styles seamlessly segue into mid-number tap dance routines.....without any mad, frantic changing of shoes!!
The choreography was absolutely fabulous for every single number, from babies right up to to seniors. We were totally enthralled. Well done to the very talented Lorraine Barry. We wanted to up there dancing with them Lorriane! A special mention has to go to the Musical Director Peter Beckett, who's musical arrangements were fantastic. I may have tweeted last week, in frustration at the disaster that is this year's XFactor and said that you can't dissect and re-create classic songs. Well you can... when you have a fantastic MD and talented students, that is! Peter had two original compositions in this show: The Gift (Finale) and Superheroes. Oh, and Peter...our apologies for our giddy behaviour at that rehearsal many moons ago. As far as I know you escaped a name-makeover. Although, I can't be 100% sure!
Some of you may still be thinking BBKS but I'll tell you something, those kids provided far more entertainment and professionalism than this year's XFactor.
Apart from the amazing production, choreography and music/singing we were totally blown away by the professionalism displayed by all, from such young performers. Their timing, entrances, exits, holding their final positions ets turned stage training into an art form! And all the beautifully pointed feet deserve a special mention. The most important thing for ANY aspiring dancer to learn! Everyone on that stage performed to the best of their ability, excelled even. To see the 'babies. perform was enchanting. The girl 'fairies' were lead by a front row of four 'older', more experienced girls, one of whom is a daughter of an ex-Billie Barry friend of ours. Dancing in her mother's footsteps, at the tender age of seven! Incredible maturity! Such a beautiful dancer. The boy 'Superheros' were great too and one very young and very enthusiastic Superhero charmed us all and had us in stitches! I'd go as far as to say that he stole the show!!
And all this done without a cheesy smile or any display of precociousness whatsoever. All we saw was bright eyes, smiles, enthusiasiam, professionalism and a level of maturity and stage presence that we achieved only in our late teens/early twenties!
That is the stage training provided by this school. Since 1964. The highlights of the many Theatre,TV and Film appearances by many BB students over the years takes up an impressive two pages in the programme!
There's also a list of some well known past pupils. A lot of other past pupils are pursuing successful careers here and in the UK. Some run their own stage schools!
This is a huge life experience for these children, learning their craft, immersed in fun and encouragement and making friendships for life.
Just like ours.
Stage schools like this provide a supportive outlet for talented children and help keep musical theatre alive.
Judging by the performances of Billie Barry's grandchildren I'd be hopeful that the school will be continuously in good hands for years to come.
I hope all the students involved in this production did indeed have the time of their lives. They will have fond memories of this for years to come, of that I have no doubt.
There is nothing like live performances and I now look forward to my next one which, co-incidentally stars a Billie Barry past pupil........
Committmets- Live at the Olympia on November 10th!
Can't wait!
Note: Photo credit: heathermillan.com


text: I snapped a few photos of Berlin when she was 4 days old so I could quickly make up her birth announcement, and I can across one of her winking that reminded me so much of one I took of Olivia at 4 days old. I dug through Liv's files and found it, then laughed out loud at how similar the expressions are! These two are definitely siblings, they just came in different colors. Look at their identical noses! (Liv is the top photo, Berlin is the bottom).


text:
Sell us your fall leaves!
We buy foliage
This Fall has been unusually warm and has caused a short season here in Massachusetts... it's hampering our leaf collecting!
This year we're branching out to purchase fall leaves from our neighbors in New England...please sell us your leaves!
Instead of paying for someone to rake up the leaves in your backyard...
...you can SELL your leaves to us
We buy foliage for:
$1 / Maple Leaf*
Who says money doesn't grow on tress?
*Each leaf is required to meet the following conditions:
- No visible imperfections, mold, bugs, tears or excessive decay
- Must be collected & shipped from New England (MA, NH, VT, ME, CT)
- Must be shipped in a sealed plastic bag
- Must be Red, Yellow or Orange (or a combination)
- No Brown leaves (anywhere) are accepted, even the smallest parts with brown will be rejected
- Use your best judgement based on the pictures of our products.
- We want to buy your absolute BEST leaves
Ship foliage reserves the right to approve or deny any leaf based on their color, size or gender.
If the leaf doesn't meet our quality standards, we'll ship it back to you in a sealed plastic bag for free.
We buy in quantities of 100.
You pay for shipping.
Send us pictures of your leaves and make and offer using this form!