Out of the Triangle: A Story of the Far East

nswer to Heraklas' cry, though ther

s, the tears running down his face in the da

okles, "Heraklas! How

eraklas in terror. "

rms about his broth

es?" asked Heraklas, when they

body fasteneth me to a hook in the wall," answered Timokles.

try," whispered H

gs, and these Heraklas cut also, but the other five Christians were bound hand and foot with chains, and for them Heraklas' knife could not avail. Timokles and the other two had been considered weaker in body, or else the perso

s. "Go now, my brother. O my Heraklas, I rejoice thou art a

las, firmly. "The men are drinking themse

old on the wall. Then Heraklas seized the staple, and swung his whole weight upon it, and dug his knife into the wall like a madman. He worked with perspiration standing on his forehead

ll at last he threw his

s," he begged. "See i

se. Nothing

hispered, tremblin

ill I help our brethren, al

his remaining strength, he succeeded

," urged

Heraklas with a sob, "wo

ly, "Why weepest thou, brother? We but

d released, thanked him most h

affrighted them, though they knew a drunken stupor rested on some of the ship's company. One after another the three fugitives finally slipped into the water. Hera

okles and Philo should proceed along the edge of the sea in an easterly direction and hide themselves at a point agreed upon, on the coast, a distance from the city. Heraklas was to enter into Alexandria at the earliest dawn and was,

It seemed as if he could not part from Timok

om, which, after the manner of the Egyptians, stood isolated in one of the passages. In this isolated room, the mother sat on a stool of ebony, inlaid

who had brought her the fol

O my mother, I also am a Christian: Read, I pray thee, the papyrus I send. It is part of

and her cry rang through the

ce more. And now, when she knew that he had been in Alexandria, that he needed a mother's care, that Heraklas, also, had owned allegiance to the Christians' God-when she thought of Christians burned, b

senger, quickly. "Thy

eized the me

ns are," she begged.

to bring her this message. Dare he trust this woman, known to be a devo

ther?" he asked ge

l me! I cannot lose them! What is my home to me without them? I will

r's eyes that she spoke truthfully,

sis!" implore

y, "it is not meet that a Christian s

eclaring that she would depart from Alexa

it. Knowest thou not how many Christians have fled, and what torments Christians who have been br

xile with them,"

his, thy beautiful hom

the care of my kin

thine again," war

know not the Christians' God, but the Emperor Severus sh

ssenger. "I trust thee! May the Chri

iot drawn by two mules. Seated in the chariot a lady and

Cocce and her mother rode. Who would hinder so devout worshipers of the gods f

some distance behi

hariot," sh

The woman and child

ve thou home again, and say thou nau

him som

other of Heraklas had known whom to

ce away from the road, a man rose and beckoned. It wa

straining eyes looked ever forward. How if the Ch

neared the sea. What if her sons w

eet. The salt splay blew in her face.

she who had once held the sacred sistrum in Amun's temple, she who had taught him to worship Isis, and Osiris, and Horus, and the River Nile-his mother t

am Suph, the Sea of Weeds," known now as the Red Sea, in the country spoken of by the Romans as

sang. Her voice rose exultantly

u, O Lord; teach

a refuge for us from g

rd, have me

soul in that I have

se thou art my God; Because thou art the fountain of life In thy

nding a little apart from the other Christians and gazing toward the northwest, in

e love of Christ, and not for love of her two sons, only! Then she would feel, as the others of us do, that there is no one who hath left house or lands for our Lord's sake

ians' Book. But to Timokles she seemed no nearer to accepting Christ than when she was i

oward him, but in place of the homesick longing he had expect

y mother?" he

Alexandria and of our dear home there. Timokles, if God had

joy. Could she be speaking of t

Christian's God-my moth

oked from his

e cast out'?" she answered. "I have come to him, Timokles-eve

overcome by the glad tidings. "Wha

company the evening hymn of the early church. His

lory. O Lord the King, the Father of Christ, Of the spotless Lamb who taketh away The sin of the world, To thee belongeth praise, To thee

. Here they would abide, telling of Christ to every heathen wanderer whom they could seek out in these wilds. And if it should please God that henceforth Egypt might never hold a home for them, yet they could

SH OF TH

. The father, Bernardo Esvido, stood on a step-ladder, picking black olives into a bucket half filled with water, the bucket being fastened to Mr. Esvido's waist so that

ing olives in a water-trough. The small black dog raised his voice, and di

r Testaments in Portuguese, and then going into the surrounding country and hunting for Portuguese who could read. To such, on account of their poverty, Miss Elizabeth often sold for ten cents a Bible she had bought for forty or sixty

t read, either in English or in their own language. If a Portuguese woman reads Portuguese, her neighbors perhaps know of her accompli

(Holy Bible) questioned Miss El

n that there was such a book. She remembered hearing of the Biblia Sagrada years ago, when she was a girl in Lisbon, long before

ok was handed back

relessly expla

ive-growers had not yet paid for the olives. Even

xious for them. A woman who could read Portuguese ought to have a Bible, and she ought to pay something for it in order t

I give you Biblia S

t?" asked Mr. E

that showed she meant to carry the squash, hi

o; and Miss Elizabeth, leaving th

iece of newspaper, which she wrapped over as much of the vegetable as possible. The rest her cape covered, and then she marched on tow

Delpha, listened, while gently rubbing the black olives in the water-tro

g olive harvest! All his workmen, even when off duty, must refrain from smoking, for the tobacco odor clung to clothing. The olives would absorb tobacco smoke. The oil would be spoiled. Mr. Esvido grumbled much, but obeyed. There was a warning in the fate of the nei

smoking, and found solace in listening with Delpha to Mrs. Esvido's evening readings from the Biblia Sagrada. It seemed marvelous to Mr. Esvido that his wife could read.

artled Delpha. Site could hardly believe i

ai a vossos inimigos, fazei bem aos que vos tem odio

a knew whom

Sara Frates. Thinking of this bitter animosity, Delpha f

shing troughs daily, sweeping the scraps of olive skins from the floors, and scalding the floors to keep every odor away from the precious olive oil. Before beginning this season

st never be allowed to come in contact with olive juice. The tannic acid in the olive juice acts very rapidly on the iron, producing a kind of ink, that turns the oil black and almost ru

resolved Delpha fiercel

(Do good to them that hate you.) To Sara's amazement, D

e noon rest, Delpha, sitting in a side door, thought she caught the odor of smo

in the bay sparkling in the distance, and had brought them this way going home. The American being absent, the young mill-workers

s smoke would not injure the oil. She was troubled a

sprang up. Sara came running arou

med, "Delpha, help me!" She

aos-que-vos

She ran to Sara. She breathlessly tore at the blazing garments, rolling Sara in the shawl and canva

ive oil on the burns, Sara flun

bbed, and the enmity bet

e that squash I brought home from those Portuguese! But anyhow the squash made that

of the squash of the Esvidos, or of the messag

SE MART

he was now returning. Over the hot, dry grass of the fields there swayed at frequent intervals the heads of California wild oats. One such stem grew near the road,

horses back to be shod, and I have to walk a mile to day-school and back, and learn my lessons, and I'd like to know how teacher thinks I've got much time to read the Bible some every day. There's lots of days I don't b

r Miss Bruce, his Sunday-school teacher, did not have money enough to buy Bibles for her class of thirteen

ach boy's New Testament for a book-mark. The boys thought a great deal of the pieces of ribbon, they were so bright and pretty. Miss Bruce had written some special little message to each boy in the front of his Testament. The general purport

said that she hoped each boy would read a little, daily,

ringly eyed his piece of red ribbon. "It'll be a shame if I have to tell her, the first Sunday, that I've fo

he first piece of the Bible Martin had ever owned. There was an old, unuse

himself now. "I want an easy ver

ifficulty. Finally he settled on one, because of its sh

oming-'s-u-d-d-e-n-l-y-he find you s-l-e-e-p-i-n-

significance, Martin knew nothing. The word "l-e

s at the barn that evening, Martin quest

asked his father. "I guess it'

ed Martin, perching on the wateri

rs, but he knew that verse was on the eighty-second page. Ma

riumphantly ex

k. Martin's eager finge

ddenly, he find

e Bible. His eyes now ran over the preceding verses. He caught parts of them. "The Son of man is as a man taking a far jour

s-t' means?" asked Martin,

s father. "It means 'For fe

asked

eturned his f

they be sleepin

ther, turning to a

said Martin. "

er, "I'm no hand at explaining.

ce persisted in asking whether t

," Martin told his father. "I don't read much, but I ought to read some, after her fringing tha

r moved uneasil

verse after all these w

y for that. A good many folks don't become Christians, and Miss Bruce says she's afraid they'll be like that verse, 'Lest coming suddenly, he fin

were on the harnes

Martin," answered the f

r days acted as a sort of expressman, bringing freight in a large wagon over the miles from town. One night about nine o'clock, Mr. Colver was on the long, l

g wagon suddenly gave way and fell off. Mr. Colver was thrown violently from the wagon's high seat into the road,

rward again. They did not know that th

r. Colver lying still insensible, and brought him home. The blow on the head had been a v

ie?" the boy anxiously thoug

ed consciousness, but for weeks he felt the effects

oing to his room, his fathe

found his mother sitt

ion to. We were both brought up better, Martin. The Lord's had mercy upon me. He might have taken me suddenly that night, but he knew I wasn't ready, and he had mercy on me. A

stage-driver's family knelt together. They

THE

the breakers, old stumps that had been months before brought in by the waves lay half buried from sight. A short distance farther up the coast, the sands went a greater way inland, forming a nook where driftwood and stumps had accumulated. On the sand

g a walk on a road high up on the cliffs, looked

t they are traveling that way f

her. "The milk boy said he saw a wagon drive on the beach about dark. I wonder if th

ed the daughter. "If they had wanted to see a

. Both Mrs. Weeks and her daughter Addie were somewhat breathless by the time they had pushed their way through t

" said Mrs. We

ho held the spider lift

fishing?" ask

other woman. "Maybe we didn't fish in t

ored and hung her head at this refe

fish for us every day," said Addie to the older little girl. "Don't you

emonstrated, the child's mother; but Addie assured the woman that fish were so plentiful i

down on a log. When Addie and the little girl came back with the f

oast. I told her there were some unoccupied tents in our settlement, and I wished she and the children would come and sleep in the tents, while she's here.

hough the woman and the children kept

t evening, and have a camp-fire. Some old stump would be lit, and the people would sit on logs

and wandered up the beach, as persons sometimes did, to watch the waves. At a distance from the camp-fire, w

sleep, and I came here to listen to the folks sing. That's the reason I haven't driven on to-day, because I hoped the folks would sing again to-nigh

oman

y baby's at the R

mprehended the

er?" aske

about last night,"

nt camp-fire, and Addie remembered that on

gather at

I've mostly forgot such things. Mining camps and a drunk husband make you forget. There never was a church anywhere we lived, and Sam got drunk S

an bega

baby." she faltered. "He

" said Mrs. We

his father did. I wouldn't feel acquainted with the saints that the folks sang g

"your baby's by the River,

listen, while Addie told in as simple

ing him to make us his," finished the girl. "He's pr

aited a

d Addie. "Those people are only, some of our neighbors. They like t

f you'd got back from going down to see the breakers roll in, the way some of the folks do? And don't let anybody know you've seen me at all! Don't say one word about me, but when they get through si

promise

beginning to burn low, and the girl was fearful lest at the end of the hymn that was being sun

gather at

n. No one noticed that Addie's v

t angel-feet have trod: With its crystal t

and sweet, and then the jo

, the beautiful river. Gather with the saints

pper sands with a distinctness that the loud waves did not overcome. There was no

und it empty. She ran upon the bluffs, and looked northward, but there was neither horse nor wagon visible. The mother, and children h

to the River!"

SIN HA

d among THE filaree there stood, on slender, bare stems, small flowers of the lily family which are known as "bluebells." A b

hard working on the alkali patch is," he

dropped, and a

;" he said chokingly. "Mos

was hard, for he was overworked,

hildren's former home. It had been very hard for the children to part from their father so soon after their mother's death, but he told them that while the business that called him East would take a number of months, yet there was some prospect t

tried to do her duty by the three left in her charge. Rose and Daisy did not find the household tasks that were assigned them very difficult. Cousin Harriet secretly did not like boys, however. She tried to treat Claude justly, b

of the alkali in the soil. The alkali stood on the ground in white patches here and there, and Claude hated the sight of

rst things that was done with Cousin Harriet's "alkali sink" was to make some redwood drains, shaped like the letter V, and place these about three feet below the surface. A "sump," or drainage pit, was dug, too, into which the drains might discharge the alkali water

ght to-day, as he went toward the part of the ranch where he was expected

ould come i

pounding the clods. Claude chose to work near a man called Neil. The bo

and how uncomfortably warm the sun! The boy worked dejectedly. After a

said Neil, with

Claude vehemently. "I wouldn't touch

ked kindly at the

returned, "but what I think

" asked Claude, giving

ld have said, 'Neil's heart can never be different' But Jesus took away my hard heart and gave me a new one. That is what makes me glad all the time, though I work on these hard alkali clods. Some da

voice as it had sounded nights when she had knelt beside his bed and prayed that her boy might become a Christian. There had been one night that

ard, but his face showed that he had spoken truly when he said th

like Neil," t

a prayer for the same blessing that Neil had-a new heart. No earnest prayer for that g

an change itself," said Neil, "but we can yield ourselves an

y, "I've done it, Neil. I'

ed to stand several inches deep over the alkali plot. The water stood for several weeks. Gradually it soaked through the soil and passed out into the drainage pit. After several soakings, alternating with breaking of clods a

d saved," she said.

. He was thinking of a greater change. He

use. The little girls rushed out to meet their father. With him was

t work, and did not hear

nd the two little girls rushed where Claude was worki

Jennie," his fath

red Rose tremulously, and Claude ca

nd him. He heard a voice like his mother's say, "Is this my boy?" He felt a warm teardrop on his che

to his sisters. The boy looked back at the ranch. It was rapidly being left behind, but he could still see the green patch of corn that covered the place where the alkali

hat seemed to be some sand. Something in the sand objected, but the boy held on and gathered sand and all into his tin. He looked with much satisf

two nimble hand

t, maybe!" h

bit for

t the station in town would be attracted toward a spiny "horned toad" as a curiosity, and would buy one.

reason that nephews are sometimes troublesome to their aunts, there is a Spa

, for neither Arturo nor tia Marta was perfect. Yet they really thought a good deal of each other. The third member of the household was Tia Marta's husband, do (uncle) Diego, but he was ver

esirous of being a customer save an old gentleman who doubtfully offered twenty-five cents for the creature. 'Arturo stuck bravely to his intended price of

it catch "muchos, muchos" (many) flies, and have "mucho, mucho" air. The toad was in a pasta-board box at present. Arturo was anxious that it

ections. But when the train had puffed away, Arturo sat

" Arturo muttered; "

anish for "high" or "enormous" "dollars," or, as Americans say, "a pile of money." Therefore

wenty-five cents. He wanted the money himself. Tia Marta w

st not be spent lightly. It was not so o

the old gentleman, and had told two or three comrades. They came about Arturo t

m a good many of the younger boys admired because he could play a guitar an

of the cake proposition. What good was

e showy thing was worthless, tried to picture how a fine-looking boy like Arturo would appear with so gorgeous an ornament. The younger boys listened enviously, and Arturo's Spanish lov

g. Arturo always dreaded to hear her sing, because then he was sure that some calamity had oc

eans, one of the main staples of food among the Mexicans, were almost gone from the household supplies, and there was no money to buy more. Tia Marta had cooked the last of th

h sayings, "God sends the sore, and knows the medicine," and "God sen

Beans! Twenty-five cents would buy beans enough for a number of days. But it would be such a downfall to buy only beans with that tw

school were overawed by his showy ornament, but the teacher

a was singing again. There was only a little bread and some dried figs for supper,

igs to eat all day. The next day there were figs for bre

Marta said joyfully,

felt re

feebly and leaning over tia Marta, who had sunk in the door-way. Scantily fed tia Marta's strength had given out in the midst

was desperate. He knew better than to go to Manuel. Manuel would have spent the twenty-five cents long ago, and Arturo pleaded with the grocer. The grocer's wife was in and out, looking after he

beans, and gave it, with a loaf of bread, to

ia Marta sitting s

o, thrusting the l

stayed home from school that afternoon, and helped wash. To-morr

lared her intention of washing, when Arturo su

alo!" (bad)

nd told tia Marta ab

ed pityingly at he

she said, "t

ernoon, and he had confessed the whole story, the teacher said, "Arturo, it is more beautiful to have a

and the teacher

Marta does not come t

E'S R

e town. Upon a rock outside of Colombo stood a barefoot boy, his dark eyes gazing toward the tropically green mountains of the island. His attention was particularly riveted on one of the

ilgrimage to the holy footprint," m

k. These flights of butterflies, occurring occasionally in Ceylon, have won for the butterflies themselves the name of "Samanaliya," since it is thought th

riads of flying butterflies without remembering what he had been taught in his earlier years

ms." The butterflies seemed countless, and at last Comale, sighing a little, said, "They are

d being moreover a careful, observing lad, was fast attaining a degree of success in his trade. Formerly the Cingalese had allowed the cinnamon trees to grow to their natural height, about twenty or thirty feet, and naturally the cinnamon bark from such trees had been tough. This was lon

branches he chose for cutting were about three feet

n a small shoot, more cuts in a large shoot, and then

nd the under green portion might be more easily scraped away by Comale with a curved knife. After that, the inner cinnamon bark would dry and

er sharply, "that was a b

ills into larger ones, till he made a collection about forty inches long. Then he would bind the cinn

lengthwise, the whole looking like a small bunch of firewood. Comale knew what this bundle was, well enough, for many a time he had found this kind of a nest of the larva of a moth. He knew it was lined with fine spun silk, and that the heathen people said that

erflies that he had that morn

"The butterflies go on pilgrimage, but the bad moth's little bundle o

oth or butterfly, but to-day there was in Comale's heart a

is father again, "

to be so awkward a peeler. It was something beside awkwardness that ailed Comale

house possesses. This veranda was overshadowed by the high-pitched roof, and while, inside the house, there was matting on the floor, as in Cingalese houses, the veranda had a rough material made from the husks of the cocoanut. This material was so placed as to prevent serpents from crawling into the house. Ceylon has many serpents, and Pidura, Comale's sister, was very much afraid of them. As Comale, yet very angry with

he fire, and then again she turned away, her light jacket and striped skirt vanishing toward another corner of the kitchen. Coma

to weigh heavily on Comale's conscience, and had lent an accusing tongue to nature. So true is it that a gui

a poisonous snake should find that opening, and should creep in, and strike his mother, or Pidura, or the little brother, or, the baby! It was dreadful to think of! Why had he bli

ng one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hat

t cried. "Oh, I am bad, bad! How can I bear it,

e he lived. He ran past the tile-roofed houses. There was his home's veranda with bunches of bananas hanging in the shade, and a basket of cocoa-nuts below. Comale hastened in, out of breath, yet trying t

might have hidden itself, and might not come out till sometime in the night. Comale guiltily slipped in

ght be a defense as before. Then he went softly around within the house, hunti

at are you doing?" And Comale

w to listen. The walls of Cingalese houses are not carried up to the roof, and, because of this, an outcry or conversation in one room can be heard all over the house. Comale listened. Sometimes he f

lower toward the sleeping child. Comale started. He sprang forward with a cry, and caught the swaying thing. But it was no living creature that Comale brought with him to the floor. It was only a long, thin strip of bamboo with which Comale's father had intend

ly the story of his misdeed. His dark-faced father smiled slightly and showed his teeth through

rundoo peeling go ill,

the native wor

oftly confessed Pidura. "I am sorry for yesterday

ed from one chi

n, love one ano

E PAN

"breadery" or bake-house. All California does not read English, and it behooves shop-keepers sometimes to word their signs for the customers d

zanja," or irrigation ditch, that here bordered the road. The fern-leaved peppe

little way, "I saw in that big yard many purple

brother carried a loaf in brown paper. He and she lived at the panade

r a pause, "all the little oranges

ven look towar

"the Chinese doctor is measuring a window in his house! See! He has s

scrap of bread or anything else. Rosa sighed to think what would become of the panaderia, if all the world had the same opinion as the Chinese doctor, in regard to eating. In these days Rosa was in danger of looking upon the world from a strictly calculating standpoint, and of regarding only those people as worthy of her interest who ei

wn. The Zanjero is the man who has the oversight of the irrigation system, and he has deputies under him. Rosa and her brother Joseph thought the Zanjero a grea

cular himself to keep the hour that he paid for, as other men should be. Up to the Zanjero's house Rosa now carried the bread

gh the orange orchard again, "when I am grown up, I shall

anted every man to be the Zanjero," return

wall that was hung with a thick veil of red peppers that her grandmother was drying in the sun. It was only because the panaderia had

s being shut when Rosa and Joseph arrived. The little water-gate was like a wooden shovel. It slid down some grooves, and the running water stopped. It squirmed in the zanja an instant. Then the little wooden gate was fastened with a padlock, as every gate must be when the p

is paper-enfolded loaf to the house of this second regular custo

the panaderia; but alas! no customers were there. Only the grandmother sat

andmother," Rosa offered; and the grandmot

ria paid better, if there were more regular customers to whom Rosa and Joseph could carry eatables, then the grandmother would not attempt sewing

A little boy came in and bought a loaf. Two girls bought another. Then the panaderia door ceased t

ck. Finally the panaderia door opened, and a woman e

ently, and her eyes had tears in their depths. Under the black shawl that was over the newcomer

nd their father drinks mescal-always mescal. I have no money. Will you

s. She did not doubt the woman's tale; only it was disappointing, when one thought a real customer had at last come to th

to grandmother

down still, but half awake, an

ead. Has not the Lord told us to care for the poor? He would not be pleased if we sent her

and gave the woman two fresh loa

sobbed the young wom

red Rosa to herself as the usual quiet settled over the

used. She said with a sensitive eagerness that when she was well again she would work and pay all back, and Rosa's grandmother answered "Yes," cheerily, to this promis

ery scarce, and the grandmother's eyes became so weak that she could no longer sew. Rosa sewed the little that she could, but some days there was scarcely enough to eat at the panaderia, except the very few loaves in the case-the loaves that the three hardly knew whether to dare eat or not, for fear som

s," thought Rosa one night when th

oor were God's care, and he would b

poorer and poorer," th

r than usual. Her face was very white. Rosa and her grandmother were both by the counter. The grandmother smiled and was about to draw out the bread and give it to the woman. B

ck neighbor, "and tell him to forgive!

gates and close them again before morning. It was thieving, of course, and the Zanjero or his deputies might catch the person who did it. But the sick neighbor's husband, wanting money to buy more mescal, had been induced to undertake the task of stealthily opening the gates. His wife, suspiciou

im `No! No! The panaderia is my friend! The Zanjero is the panaderia's friend!' He shall not cheat the Zanjero! My husband say if he open other gates he get money for mescal. I say 'No!' I run away with key. My husband say, 'Don't tell anybod

r of the panaderia. Rosa and her grandmother had never told about his ceasing to buy

he long-unused path to the Zanjero'

bread-bringers! No, I don't want any

Zanjero?" ask

en into her husband's presence. Rosa, very pale with the thought of being in the p

it, and looked

poor, sick woman asks you to forgive. She says

ned the man grimly. "

han her husband. She dropped into

tand," she said gently. "What makes this woman so much your f

ttempts at sewing; her failing eyes; the lack of customers, yet the daily giving of bread to the poo

now. She looked up at her husband. Th

nd yet giving bread every day to a woman and three babies! If the panaderia folks had not done this, you'd never have found out about this plan to rob the zanja! That woman would simply have kept the story and the key to herself,

ero turned and

know how much water he helped steal that night. Tell her, though, that he must never do such a thing aga

read every day. Here's the money for the three loaves. And I'm going to get you a lot of regular customers! I have friends e

blessing on the panaderia. For the Zanjero's wife rested not till she had fulfilled her promise. Customers

the Lord knew about the panaderia? It is he who

RATTON'

rough the darkness of the avenue. She was talking behind her coat collar, the tips of which brushed her lips. If what Miss

h. "We have a broad walk, and there's plenty of room! I've been out in the yard three or four times to-night, and h

long steps of a house. She fumbled for the bell and rang it. There was a little stir within, the opening of an interior door to let

our paper to-night," she deman

ht within the farther room might fall on

e boy, "your pape

dignantly. "Why didn't you come in and t

e, I'd have thrown in another,"

to see following him to his home. Miss Stratton sternly waited. The boy's sister had come into the hall, a

d him, her indignation cooling. "I've spoken to you about that before. I d

answere

that Harry had thrown into a pepper tree near the side fence. During Miss Stratton's absence, the strong wind had shaken the paper down, and it lay at the foot of

this: Then matters went back to their old state and Miss Stratton

ndignantly, as she pushed aside the branches of blue marguerites and the leaves of calla-lilies, and peered into

had passed, and while Harry was as careful at some houses as before, Miss Stratton's was not among that number. Harry had three 'customers on that street and he nightly walked only as far toward Miss Stratton's as would enable him to throw her paper and then, with two or three steps, throw another paper to the neighbor diagonally across the street. A few more step

hey sat, pleasantly chatting, Mr. Landler spoke of a ship that had been overdue for almost two weeks. A neighbor's son was on board, and this fact cau

too," returned Mrs. Stratton. "I wonder if thi

r glanced a

"That paper ought to

nted carefully. No paper was

yet," she said to the

Landler came to help search, though Mi

e it," explained Miss Stratton, mortified at

sked Mrs. Landler, lookin

orth," answere

Harry's mother was a church friend of the Landlers and the Stratt

Dusk was coming. Miss Stratton had occasion to go upstairs for something, and glancing out of the fr

!" exclaimed Miss Stratton, "an

ar as she dared, she tried with an old umbrella hand

I can't get it

ietly, but Mrs. Stratton had no scruples a

r on the roof!" stated old Mrs. Stratt

at, climbed out of an upper-story window, and secured the paper. In one column was a notice that the missing ship had bee

e minister said pleasantly, "You gave m

oked ast

?" he questioned.

paper fell on her roof. My wife and I were taking

the roof, but who would have supposed Mr. Landler was at the Strattons'? Harry wante

here," apologized Harry,

in any home. You didn't know you were delivering the paper

knowledge

from you, you wouldn't render it in the way you deliver Miss Stratton's paper, would you? Yet she is his child, one of his represen

phatic thwack in the middle of the front walk. The n

Stratton with grateful relief, as weeks pas

efully aimed his papers, the boy t

ST DAY'

mployed by the State Harbor Commissioners in repairing wharves. The piles that supported the wharves often needed re

called. The pumps, being worked, would raise the caps and hold them until blocks could be shoved underneath. Then the pumps were worked some more, and other blocks put under, till the wharf was restored to the required level. Great screws such as are used in

llis saw that three or four of the men were not working. They were idling around the en

harf, working," answered one man. "He thinks

looring. He went there and swung himself down under the wharf. There were r

s?" asked his fa

er men are up there eating crabs. Wh

turned Mr. Sutherland. "W

the men aren't wor

f the men lately have taken to catchi

f an empty kerosene can with one end cut off. They attach a hose to the boiler of the engine and fill that can with hot water. The crabs cook in a short time and those men stop work to eat. It would be all right if the

the wharf, as Willis could tell by the sounds, but the boy's thoughts were with those three o

have to keep on," objected Willis. "I sho

ed by different Harbor Commissioners, and as long as the Commi

the State was looking at yo

t I must do honest work for the State as if I were working for some individual. But it isn't thought of the State that makes me faithful. A Ch

the men who had been eating crabs came back to

t work that way,"

s he went away from the wharf. The next week Willis

day's work, too,

r a man under the wharves did an honest day's work would see whether a b

d not wish to carry bundles home. The store had two pretty, white-covered, small carts for

ds, drove by the house where August lived, a

ought Willis. Just t

" called Aug

rehending, drove on

th their receipt books, signed by customers who had receiv

r house today, didn't yo

half an hour or so, whe

s. "What would they say a

e my aunt. How can the store tell? They don't know just how long it will take to de

" Willis had never heard that anybody had lost his place at the wharves on account of dawdling. What

illis. "I'm goi

later still, because he had had more parcels to deliver.

to Willis afterwards. "I stopped to see it before del

ou stay?" asked

hree-quarters of an hour, maybe. I deli

ll anybody about

e about them, either," tho

August was

a fire, you will not have a chance to keep one of our delivery carts waiting an hour while you waste your employer's time watchi

"with one of our carts standing beside an open block

m the scene in the semi-darkness under the wharf, when his father said, "A

MO

that caught the dust. The jaw-bones were relics from a little whaling station that had once been in business near the town. Even now

t gate that opened into a garden where red hollyhocks rose higher than the humbled jaw-bones. Inside the g

Some of the old vertebrae had now sunk below the original level of the walk, so that the path by wh

d the adobe walls of the dwelling were a yard thick,

at she could see through the blossoming hollyhocks. There was a displeased expression on the

e to this town! In the old days, my father says, there were no cattle notices on the trees. My father did not have to go

re and there along the roads, and proved a source of inquiry

ISO

s have perhaps been wont to think is the only attitude in which an exclamation point can stand, Americans not bei

ay. She was in a bad humor, and nothing suited her. Hence it was in no pleasant voice th

ou must go for t

information. To Isabelita's surprise, however, Timoteo answered only "Yes," and, coming in, put his one book carefully aw

threw himself down; crushing the fragrant, small-leaved vines of "yerba buena" as he fell, and, hiding his face, Timoteo cried in a half-angry, half-hopele

f, his lips quivering. "Americanos tell her my f

id want to learn to be somebody! He looked with admiration on the Americans boys' clothes and on an especial blue necktie that Herbert Page wore. Timoteo wondered how it would seem to have a father who wor

me of the American boy scholars talkin

or your milk-man, Miss Montgomery! I don't believe they keep the milk pails any

of him. Miss Montgomery had almost promised to, before this, and one

sat among the trees, his eyes yet red with crying. "And I try, I try! I have lear

looked so much nicer than he. He only had a sorrowful, hopeles

erved aside a little, and Timoteo saw, standing under the tall red hollyhocks, his tea

s eyes b

disappearing, came back a few minutes after, holdi

and gave h

ched him milking. "I'm afraid some of our Ame

man regularly after that, and when, on Sundays, Miss Montgomery taught a Sunday-school class of boys, T

own, were happier than he, for they did not seem to care to know anything but how to dry nets and dry fish. Herbert Page was one of the school boys who always felt superior to Timoteo. Timoteo did not wonder at it. He had a very humble

tside the town, he saw Herbert picking his way out over the long stre

hink he can knock them off wi

ne, or ear-shell, which is so well known and valued for its beautifully colored, irridescent lining, clings to the rock when the sh

d Timoteo, gazing after He

rned a few cents, visitors to the town buying the large shells for curiosities. But Timoteo h

njectured that the abalone perhaps exhausts the air under the shell, and so causes the shell to cling more tightly to the rock than

or hours, finding abalones now and then, and waging war on these thick, rough ovals that clung so tightly to the rock, the

arge shell. He sat down on the rocks to rest, after the long struggle

he thought it was the gulls. Half in fun he shouted in reply. The distant cries s

confused with the splash of

which the cries seemed to come. He stopped now and then to listen.

shouted Timoteo, forgetting h

ar a place where the sounds seemed to come from between two rocks. Timoteo saw a boy reach up part w

a voice, and Timoteo

naged to topple it. It didn't fall on me, but it fell against the other rocks so that there isn't room for me to crawl out of here! I can't make the rock budge, now. And the tide's coming! I thought

oward the cliffs, up the cliff road, on to the clusters of Chinese huts that made a little fishing-village by itself on the edge of the bay. Whatever Spanish or English

als followed in Timoteo's wake toward the place where Herbert anxiously awaited rescue. There was much pryi

rt to the Chinamen, who nodded and plodded che

looked a

," said Herbert. "You we

med to have overtaken him. He did not answer. The silence lasted till the two bo

give you something for helping me," promised He

is head, but he

ert, stopping on top of the cliffs,

lowly. His dark eyes

ut me?" he besought. "You no tell he

time. I do ver' good to the teacher. But my mother differ from your mother. Your mother give you ni

ul that looked from Timot

teacher that made you feel badly, Timoteo. I won't do it again, and the other boys sha'n't, either! The teache

heart of the Spanish boy was very happy. He had done good to his enemy, and that enemy was turned

ng for joy

red how he had been tempted for one instant not to help Herbert. Timoteo shivered at the r

ped, and looked upward th

o," he murmured reverently. ("To G

TORY OF

Chinese fishing-village from the other fields that stretched away to the houses of the Cal

A great net fifty feet long was spread out on the ground to dry. Jo looked at the wooden sink

nders looked like queer clothes hung to dry on a clothes-line. There were crates of small fish,

of garden inclosed with a fence of branches and containing much mustard. Chinese were washing fish. Shells were exposed for sale, s

the lad, and with much mystery unrolled a piece of brown paper and show

ranging dried squids in boats drawn up on the shore. On one boat was a kind of wooden crane, holding a hanging pan. There were some burnt

shes, and there were some queer, big kettles near. In another place were Chinese children

ll fish lay drying all over the rocks by the sea-beach near Jo, and a Chinaman was lifting up the fish, and letting them drop again by the handful,

he Chinaman

ed Jo, and the co

g on the beach, sifting the white sand through their fingers, huntin

t Jo for a time, and then came and glanced over Jo's shoulder, smiling. The Chinamen of the village were used to having artists come and plant their easels here and there on the rocks or at the entrance of the narrow street, and d

own drawing, as Qua

?" inquired Quang Po,

papers. He's older than I am, and he earns a good deal of money. I'm going to learn to

d. He always thought American pictures strang

d be most lucky to go fishing, and had found that according to the stone the twenty-second day of the month would be the most lucky day. He had therefore gone fishing on the twenty-second, and he had come back sulky, having caught almost nothing. Then Quang Po's niece had actually laughed at the ill-fortune of her uncle, and had openly expressed her unbelief in the village stone! Quang Po had been very angry for many days, bu

Po smiled and said the kindest thing he could think of, alth

Po, winding his queue about his he

gh in air above the village street. The flounders now were safely stretched aloft again, but the last time Jo remembered seeing them they were lying in the dust. Jo was not an ill-natured lad, but he had not objected to helping do the mischief. And now Quang Po had spoken kindly of Jo's drawing! Jo winced a little. He was rather prou

parents were staying at the resort during the summer vacation, proposed going over to the Chinese village

in the dusk. "Let's cut it again! And, say, let's just tip over one of those frames for

was a fort of enemies, and the boys were a band of soldiers reconnoitering in the dark. They became quite excited over the idea. Doing mischief seemed so muc

frames, letting the partially dried fish slide to the gro

" whispered Louis, and the

the Chinese had sallied out toward their frames. Some distance from the fishing village, the boys dropped breathless behind the large rocks near the sea, and laughed softly together. Jo laughed with the others, t

" answered Louis, laughing. "It feels

ome. Jo was sil

ng so much," he ex

ind Quang Po's voice had sounded wh

es on his hand and on his cheek were all too plainly visible. He occupied

ed by any one. The old adobe had long ago lost its tile roof, some of the walls had fallen, its former Spanish inhabitants had long since disappeared, and qui

ined its Spanish thickness, being about five feet through, althou

lot of clay to ma

roximity, and ran swiftly over to another part of the wall. Jo was anxious to see where the creature went. The boy

it," said Jo to himself. "This is a

ng of the wall. Jo caught at the adobe, which came away in

which he struggled in vain to extricate himself. He had one free hand, with which, when he found that other exertions did not avail, he tried to dig himself out; but

ew moments' rest he tried to shout for help. His shouts were not very loud, and soo

anted, "I hadn

way adobe, for Jo was now convinced that it was impossible for him to set himself free. He trie

hielded his eyes with his free hand. The sun beat heavily on his head. Sometimes he thought he heard a rustle in the w

n at length the sun that had made his head so hot was guarded from his face by the shadow that reached him. He had lain here a number of hours, and now, as he began to thin

tes around the neigh

that a coyote would usually attack a person. Chickens, lambs, young pigs, were a co

im," thought Jo. "I hope

s the unfrequented hill. But the prospect of such relief seemed very slight, so unused was this place to visitors. Jo saw a wi

sound of clumsy feet that j

with all his strength.

of baskets swung to the ground. A face peered through

h!" he

faintly re

t much to dig with, save his tough, yellow hands and a st

oke?" asked Qu

ng. "My arm hurts, but I

ned Quang. "Me go closs hill to

dizzy and faint, and Quang Po, leavin

fish-baskets past Jo's house. Jo, sitting on the step

to buy some fish

by Jo's mother for helping her boy. Quang we

choking a little, "

Po s

ped the other boys cut the si

g no

nd) he answered, "me

that held up your flounders," faltered

Po n

nk so,"

good to me?"

gravity, as if that one word explaine

ang lifted his heavy

by," h

I won't bother you any more! I won't let t

Po s

be good flends, now." And he trott

ked af

u were the heathe

NEW

r themselves from the bitter wind. This small igloo was built in front of the door of a bigger round igloo in which an Eskimo fa

about something. He rushed to the very low door of his home, dropped down on his hands and knees, put some slender thing between his teeth, pulled the hood of the reindeer coat up over his head so as to keep the snow from slipp

olding up his treasure. "Se

ad pencil, a rarity to him, given

ed the excited

ad's face was illumined with enthusiasm. Never before had he owned such treasures. To think they were his own! He had earned them by good behavior, and diligent, though extremely slow, attempts at learning. A sarcastic laugh came from one side of the platform of snow, that was built

lack eyes

e to want to learn! I have gone to school many days.

nto the lamp's light. The edge of the precious paper took fire,

her laug

day," he said. "Why should

e fat baby, that she carried in the hood of her reindeer suit, crowed over her shoulder at the piece of paper, an

d, putting his hand on his mother's, he trie

de, and gave back the pencil and paper to the boy. She was proud of him, proud that the strange white man sh

wrong. He makes that loud sound when school begins. The wise man says the teacher must n

her but a few days previous, to prophesy evil concerning the ringing of the bell. "The foxes a

Anvik had not noticed the odor when he came in, being then too excited over his prize to have room in his head for any other idea. But now he felt a great sadness o

would steal the boys' souls. Anvik did not understand that very well, but he knew liquor made

t, on the raised platform of s

all night, and shouted," thought the lad. "When the morning came, the people were ashamed to look in the face

rayed in th

t Tanana and the father went off to look at the ice-t

b that they had killed. They were bringing it home with them, and were laughing, and shouting, an

to his brother. "See how strong the hot water we drink makes us!

nxious, for the Eskimos are usually very careful not to kill a young bear without having first killed its mother. It is considered a very rash thing to kill the cub first, and when men

turn off at a right angle, so that the mother-bear, as she presses eagerly forward, may ov

and outside the house sledges are put up right, for the bear is always suspicious of the erect sledge, and she will knock

liquor had left enough sense in their minds so that they had remembered to turn off in the homeward journey, and, if they had com

ather. They were far too much under the influence of what t

ge outside the igloo," s

ered Anvik bravely. "Do not fear, mo

raised platform of snow in the igloo, after t

ing disturbed his father and brother in their heavy, liquor-made sleep. Anvik's eyes closed at last, even while he was determined to keep awake. His mother, tired wit

ened by the destroying of their small igloo. The sledge fell. The family igloo seemed to shake throu

nvik, springing to his feet. "The bea

e and shook them, but

ake up!" sc

were digging into the igloo! The dogs had attacked the bear, but she

nvik!" warne

s. The dogs attacked the bear's back. Anvik, watching his chance while the bear was repelling the dogs, drove a harpoon into the animal. The bear savagely thrust at the lad, but the dogs leaped up and Anvik's mother drove her harpoon into the e

the growls ceased, and the dead bea

time when the inwardly-slanting snow walls had risen to the topmost horizontal block that joined the walls. But, once during the building, when the three workers had taken great flat shovels, mad

e way to the igloo, and when the bear came to kill my wife an

ger brother and not himself had killed the

come to my mouth again," resolve

oken in the scuffle, but Tanana knew his father's an

The teacher speaks well when he tells the boys that the hot water will s

two snow blocks. He remembered his prayer, and

!" he cried. "The hot water will neve

ded, "May the dear Lord Chr