Museum of Wonders, or Curiosities of the World

A cabinet of curiosities in book form, 1890: monsters of the ancient world, wild animals, queer wanderers in the vasty deep, famous inventions and sublime scenery — assembled to astonish the young and, the preface admits, their elders too.

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E. J. Wheeler

$ Early Promise.

IR WALTER SCOTT, when a boy at the High School, Edinburgh, is said to have been remarkably active and dauntless, full of all manner of fun, and ready for any mischief. One of his chief pleasures gave a sure sign of his future occupation. He had the name at school of being the best maker of romances amongst them. His fellows were only too ready to listen, and Scott was ready enough to tell stories at any time. Even school-hours were not free from these interruptions, but the applause of his companions was held by him at that time an ample set-off against punishment for unprepared lessons.

THANKSGIVING.
THANKSGIVING.

On holidays it was Scott's delight to take long country walks with a chosen companion. Each in turn recited some long story about ancient times, battles, sieges, and the deeds of brave knights. These romances were continued from day to day as they had opportunity of meeting, and the end was always long. delayed. This love of romancing was no doubt a bar to Scott's progress at school. When he left, he only held the eleventh place in the Rector's class. "Б Help One Another.

ELP one another," the snow-flakes said, As they cuddled down in their fleecy bed; "One of us here would not be felt, One of us here would quickly melt, But I'll help you, and you help me, And then what a big white drift we'll see." "Help one another," the maple spray Said to its fellow leaves one day; "The sun would wither me here alone, Long enough ere the day is gone, But I'll help you, and you help me, And then what a splendid shade there'll be." "Help one another," the dew-drop cried, Seeing another drop close to its side; "This warm south breeze would dry me away, And I should be gone ere noon to-day, But I'll help you, and you help me, And we'll make a brook and run to the sea. "Help one another," a grain of sand Said to another grain just at hand; "The wind may carry me over the sea, And then, oh, what will become of me?

But come, my brother, give me your hand We'll build a mountain and there we'l stand." "Help one another," a penny said To a fellow penny, round and red; "Nobody cares for me alone, Nobody'll care when I am gone, But we'll stick together, and grow in time To a nickel, or even a silver dime." "Help one another," I hear the dimes Whisper beneath the Christmas chimes; "We're only little folks, but you know Little folks sometimes make a show, Ten of us, if we're good and pure, Equal a big round dollar, sure."

And so the snow-flakes grew to drifts, The grains of sand to mountains, The leaves became a pleasant shade, And dew-drops fed the fountains; T THANKSGIVING. (423) CHE The pennies grew to silver dimes, The dimes to dollars, brother!

And children bring this Christmas gift By helping one another.

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