6 LIVING CREATURES. 



One of the charming little books containing Mrs. 

 Barbauld's writings is entitled ''Evenings at Home." 

 In it is included a story called "Eyes and No Eyes, 

 or the Art of Seeing." This story is here selected 

 and adapted to introduce some short histories of living 

 creatures that are to be found in this marvelous world 

 in which we live. These creatures could never have 

 been described had there been no sharp and careful 

 eyes. Much less can their wonderful characters be 

 understood unless dull and thoughtless eyes can be 

 made bright and quick. Sharp wits follow sharp eyes. 



A few words of explanation must precede the two 

 boys in the story. They lived a hundred years ago, 

 and wore the dress peculiar to their time. Their coats 

 were short, and were called "monkey-jackets." Their 

 trousers were tight, and terminated at the knees. Then 

 followed long stockings and very low shoes, which were 

 apt to stick in the mud and come off. 



Boys, a hundred years ago, had a bad habit of car- 

 rying their hands in their pockets, when they had 

 pockets. The best way to cure them of this habit was 

 to sew up the pockets, or, better, to have no pockets 

 at all. The latter was precisely the case with the two 

 boys of Mrs. Barbauld's story. The only pocket they 

 had was just capacious enough to hold a handkerchief. 

 This fact will explain the reason why, when the boy 

 of a hundred years ago found rusty nails, pieces of 

 tin and glass, wet clams and dirty marbles, he did not, 

 like the boy of to-day, thrust them into his pocket, 

 but rather tied them up in his handkerchief. But 

 stop ! One of the boys is coming in to see Mr. 

 Andrews, his teacher. 



