with a heap of stones. The baby died two
days after, which was a relief; but it seem-
ed too awful lonesome to leave it by itself
in the midst of the desert, so they carried
it back and laid it with its mother. This
was a mighty satisfaction, but it was heavy
loss of time, and provisions were getting
down near to starvation point. The man
and his three boys still trudged on, by turns
giving the little sister a lift over the rough
places, and always reserving her the big-
gest share of the provisions. But, in spite
of their pluck, the boys dropped one after
another, and only she and I have stuck it
out.' So saying, the stranger
wiped his moistening eyes
with his coat sleeve, com-
posed his troubled counte-
nance, and took the proffered
seat beside his little girl at
the supper table.

"A sudden and curious change appeared in the manners and temper of our party. From the hour that our new guests were established among us, gold ceased to be the leading topic of conversation, and its value depreciated to an extent that might have puzzled and alarmed the most able financier in Wall Street. The men worked languidly, gave up prospecting, hurried home earlier to their meals, and lingered longer about the camp, apparently for the sole purpose of being near the little girl, holding her on their knees, caressing and talking to her a privilege which was as eagerly claimed and jealously divided as had been heretofore the glittering dust of the placer. Cards were forgotten, oaths were suppressed, and we talked pleasantly and dreamily together of our distant homes, mothers, wives, sweethearts, and friends in the old States. Wild Indian whoops and ribald songs no longer roused the harsh echoes of

this poor little sunburnt skinny suggestion of womanhood remained with us, it seemed as if an angel sojourned in our camp, rebuking our wild greediness and brutality, and filling our hearts with humanizing hopes and memories.

"At length, rested, strengthened, and comforted, the stranger prepared to resume his journey, and although it appeared the result of that week's labor had fallen at least thirty per cent. below the usual average, we all with one voice entreated our guests to remain. But the poor man was unwilling to trespass longer on our hospitality, and his

THE MINER'S PICCIOLA.

the rocky cañon, and we searched our mem- | vague hopes and plans still beckoned him ories for all the scraps of sacred or senti- onward. Then came the leave-taking, with mental music that might have survived our long exile from the land of church bells and Sunday-schools. It was even suggested that we might have better luck in our diggings if we should resolve hereafter to abstain from work and give some recognition to the Sabbath; but it appeared we had lost the run of the calendar so completely that not a man of us could have guessed within four days of Sunday. The idea was abandoned reluctantly. So, during the week

a cheery grip for his hand, a regretful kiss for the child's cheek, and a more substantial remembrance from each rugged heart in the shape of a plump nugget or a purse of shining dust, until the joint contributions made quite a load to carry, amounting to several hundred dollars in value, without reckoning in the count the shamefaced tears that trickled down the bronzed cheeks and hid in the shaggy beards of some of our company.

enemies, genius to

win honors, goodness to wear them nobly the sustenance, stay, and crowning glory of her life.

Practically, young

master commences his career on a somewhat lower key. The boy's régime of cold rolls, drumsticks, and gizzards he accepts with Spartan resignation, but growls a little when told to wait for the second table on feast-days. He will sleep three in a bed, or any where he may happen to drop, and never complains unless you attempt to wake him up. He bears bumps, cut fingers, and stumped toes with more fortitude than he exhibits under tansy bitters and having his face washed on cold mornings, perhaps because he

and defeats, soon develops another necessity | Johnny wants a sweetheart. In his first in our boy's rapidly progressing career-the passion the boy will invariably select a valnecessity of sympathy.

ments are stimulated and flattered by the greatness of his undertaking, as the sportsman rejoices in the spoils of his guns and hooks in proportion to their weight and measurement.

The chosen one, generally verging on womanhood, and far less precocious in her fancies than her little knight, readily accepts his proffered homage - an innocent plaything, half lover and half baby, with whom she may flirt and fondle alternately-a rehearsal of the leading parts she is expected to play in the comedy of life. These early romances can not last long in the nature of things, and some morning poor Johnny is rudely awakened from his ambitious love dreams by a heavy chunk-of wedding cake,

THE CHUB.

limited, but a sentiment dignified by its depth and universality, sublimated by its controlling influence over human society. The objects of his animosity are giants, dragons, magicians, ogres, and all those mighty monstrosities that insult, oppress, and devour little folks. Jack the Giant-killer becomes his favorite hero, and his heart thrills joyfully in unison with all humanity at the triumph of littleness, feebleness, and simplicity over tyrannical strength and subtlety. With what breathless interest he hangs upon the narrative of his young hero's valor, wit, and hair-breadth 'scapes! with what uncontrollable delight he hails the final victory, encoring the piece again and again and again, and gloating over the car

cass of the fallen monster with a vindictiveness sharpened, perhaps, by a sense of personal wrong, as he remembers the burly fellow who lately robbed him of his lady-love.

In this age of science and six-shooters, when any fivepenny boot-black or saucy girl may emulate the prowess of these traditional heroes, when magicians and giants are exhibited at country fairs with the learned pigs and prize oxen, ten cents admittance, the boy soon learns to laugh at the subjects of his childish dread or admiration; but the ineradicable sentiment directed against another class of monsters which insult and oppress modern society continues to grow with his growth and strengthen with his strength, and at no period has the great multitude of breeches-clad Jacks waged more vindictive war against every thing that towers above the average Bloated bond-holders, giant cor

panies, oppressive reputations, eminent rascality, and monsters of virtue, all fare alike, being weighed in the balance and found superfluous.

offered as an atonement for her broken faith | littleness. and a poultice for his wounded affections. porations, tyrannical monopolies, gas comHe is at first incredulous, then, enraged, seizes his wooden sword and glares fiercely on the bearded rival who has stolen his love. At length, convinced of the futility of opposition, he retires, humiliated and bewildered, eats his cake salted with tears, but never forgets the lesson; and we need not wonder when he comes of age to find him ever so shy and mistrustful of the girls.

In a fertile soil the crops spring in uninterrupted succession; as the flowers perish, weeds occupy their places; so, in the warm succulent nature of boyhood, disappointed love is speedily succeeded by hatred-not a mean personal spite, a truculence despicably

As a counter to this rather unamiable propensity of human nature, we may observe that it is always accompanied and complemented by as deep-rooted and ardent a sentiment of pity for the poor, humble, unfortunate, and unworthy. The most savage giant-killer of boyhood will wade middle deep into a horse-pond to rescue a soreeyed kitten from drowning, and cherish the most greedy, ungrateful, flea-infested puppy in his heart of hearts. So the innate nobil

ity of the popular heart is verified by their | The cautious peddler replies, "Why, sonny, persistence in elevating weaklings to places of honor, and investing rogues and incompetents with the most important trusts.

I'm afraid you're not quite big enough to break that colt if you owned him." Johnny retorts with assurance, proudly indicating the disjointed proofs of his prowess: "Don't you see I've broken two hobby-horses already, and I don't think it would take me very long to break a colt like that."

It requires a deal of faith to sustain a lively imagination in its flights, but our little people are rarely lacking in that regard. They believe in Santa Claus, and hang up their stockings on Christmas - eve, never

Of all the attributes of childhood, the imagination is the most admirable and enviable. Potent as the wand of a fairy or the muttered spells of the enchanter, it can transmute the veriest dirt and dross into fairest flowers and brightest jewels with a simple effort of the will. No wealthy and cultured dame, parading her costly wares of Sèvres or Dresden on high days and holidays, appreciates their artistic splendor or receives such unalloyed pleasure as does our little rustic maiden arranging her store of potsherds and broken "chanies" on a buffet of dirty boards and brick bats. No famous horse-fancier ever galloped into bankruptcy on a nobler strain of steeds than Johnny can show you in that stud of canes, broomsticks, and bean-poles which he keeps stabled in the corner of the porch, and maintains so economically on a few handfuls of grass. Indeed, it would seem that children preferred these rude and readily improvised playthings, metamorphosed at will by their uncontrolled imaginations, to the more artistic and skillfully made toys, whose nearer approach to reality limits the exercise of this ever-charming faculty.

We know of no phase in adult life where this happy faculty is so innocently exhibited as in the critical domain of high art, where h profound connoisseurship affects disdain for the varied and brilliant achievements of modern skill, and turns with childish conceit to the corn-cobs, sticks, and potsherds of the preraphaelistic schools.

THE BRAT.

A sad cynic must he be who does not feel | doubting that they will find them filled in rather disposed to envy than to sneer at the the morning according to their wishes. But simple enjoyments of our boys or bearded it occasionally happens that fancy has been dilettanti-pleasures, alas! evanescent as exorbitant in its demands, and the long-exthey are innocent. All too soon little mam-pected morning brings disappointment in ma wearies of her cracked crockery, cherry the quantity and character of the presents. bobs, and sham babies, and demands real- Then we have heard Johnny pitch into Santa ities, while Johnny becomes precociously Claus as savagely as some grown people feel ambitious to risk his neck on a horse that toward Providence when their prayers are grows his own mane and tail, and asks our not answered to their liking. butter-man to give him the bay colt that trots so gayly after his sober-faced "mère."