480 



GLEA.K1KGS IK Bt^E OULTUllE. 



JULY 



Others with the horses, we found we were too tired 

 tor any thing- but visiting- and bed; but in the morn- 

 ing, " Fresh fish ! " was the crj'. 



"Well, I declare! if you haven't been to the wharf 

 fishing-, already ! Yes, and we want some for break- 

 fast." 



So we rush down to the wharf company's disused 

 cook-house, and got our breakfast ready. How we 

 enjoyed the flsh ! After breakfast, all hands must 

 go fishing; but as some of the little ones were hard 

 to watch, we went down to the shore for sea-weed 

 and shells. Such merry times we had! Sometimes a 

 wave would bring a nice piece, and just show it to 

 us, and then rush back with it before we could get it, 

 and the venturesome ones would rush after it, only 

 to be driven back by another wave ; and such shouts 

 when the "waves would catch them! The return 

 was enlivened by the chatternbout who should have 

 some of the sea-weeds nicely pressed, and how they 

 would send it to friends back east, as we say here. 



After a nice fish dinner, a bath was iii order; so 

 we went down toward Seal Rock, and took a wash 

 in the salt sea-waves. Oh it was so nice to have the 

 big waves dash over one ! For fear of under-tow, 

 we tied a rope around the little ones. They thought 

 it was fun, but rather cold. While there we heard 

 a cry like the cry of a woman. We were told it was 

 a seal; and if we would look through a glass, we 

 could see them. Sure enough, we could see them 

 by the score— some monstrous ones, others medium, 

 and others small and spotted— the babies, I suppose. 

 We were told that the males were ugly, and pun- 

 ished their wives, and made them cry; so we did 

 not like them after that— the big ones, I mean; but 

 the others looked very pretty. Were you ever near 

 one? They are pretty. Their fur is fine and glossy, 

 and they have pretty-shaped heads, and beautiful 

 eyes, with a kind of appealing look to them. 



The next morning we thought we should like some 

 mussels ; and so, the tide being low, we started off. 

 About a mile from our camp we found rocks that 

 we could get on to for mussels. The mussel-gath- 

 erers put on bathing-suits, for the best mussels 

 were on the edge of the rocks that were splashed by 

 the waves. When an extra large wave dashed over 

 us we would all shout, in spite of ourselves, as it 

 would come so suddenly, and we had to cling to the 

 rocks for dear life; but we saw some lovely sea-ane- 

 mones, and great star-fish, as big as a dinner-plate, 

 and some not larger than a silver dollar. We tried to 

 get some of the anemones; but when touched they 

 would close around one's finger in such an unpleas- 

 ant manner we decided to see without getting; but 

 we got lots of mussels and abalone shells. We could 

 not find any abalones, as the Chinamen had gath- 

 ered them all. We were told about a Chinaman be- 

 ing drowned by an abalone. He tried to get it ott' 

 the rocks with his fingers, and it shut down on his 

 hand, and held him there till the tide came up, and 

 he was drowned. When found by his friends the 

 next day, he was hanging by his hands. 



Those who dared not venture after mussels went 

 hunting after curiosities. They came back quite 

 excited. They were going up a little creek, and 

 there before them was a half-grown seal. It was 

 very much surprised and so were they; but the seal 

 got back to the ocean before they got their wits to- 

 gether enough to see how easily they could have 

 caught it, if they had only known it was there. On 

 our return we stopped to visit a friend, and the 

 ehildi-en were delighted by a lovely spotted fawn 



that was kept as a pet. We had enjoyed ourselves 

 so much we thought we must go again to the sea- 

 side the first opportunity. Miis. J. Hilton. 

 Los Alamos, Cal., June 9, 1884. 



ONK OF THE JUVENILES PROPOUNDS 

 A QUESTION. 



WHY SHOULD NOT THE BOY WHO HAS NEV'I 

 TOBACCO HAVE A SMOKER? 



HEAD in Gleanings that you would give a 

 ^ smoker to any bee-keeper who used tobacco, and 

 I would promise to permanently give it up, or 

 refund the price of the smoker, if he recom- 

 menced. Now, to begin with, I am a boy 16 

 years of age, and own a small apiary. I never have 

 had, and never shall have, the habit of using tobac- 

 co in any form. Now, in your estimation, am I not 

 entitled to a smoker? or is it the old and hardened 

 sinner only who gets the reward? I think he that 

 never sinned is equally good, therefore equally de- 

 serving of reward. Are you not of the same opin- 

 ion? I shall hardly expect one, but would be awful- 

 ly thankful for a smoker " all the same." 



Hoping that this will at least be read through, I 

 remain Walter E. Gayhabt. 



Sylvania, Ohio, June 30, 1884. 



My young friend, you plead your cause 

 pretty well for a boy of 16 years. The ques- 

 tion lias been raised a good many times 

 since my offer to tobacco-nsers, and many 

 older lieads than yours seem to be a good 

 deal i)U7//.lHd over it. A few years ago some- 

 body said I would not give a boy employ- 

 ment unless he first got (U-uuk and got into 

 jail, and that I was actually ])ayiug a pre- 

 mium on dissolute habits aiid bad Ix-liavior. 

 This same question is often raised when any 

 reform is started. If you will turn to Luke 

 15:2.>, you will find that the older brother of 

 tliH prodigal son was angry with his father, 

 and remonstrated l)ecause he made more of 

 the one wlio liad always been wrong than he 

 did of the obedient son who had stayed 

 at home and worked faithfully. He says, 

 '' Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neith- 

 er transgressed 1 at any time tliy command- 

 ment, and yet tliou never gavest me a kid 

 that I might make merry with my friends." 

 If you read a little further you will see what 

 liis father rei)lied. Now turn to the fore 

 part of the same chapter, and you will notice 

 in the parable that Jesus spoke of tlie man 

 who left his ninety and nine sheep, and went 

 out after the one that strayed in the wilder- 

 ness. 



Suppose I should broadly declare I would 

 give a smoker to every man or boy wlio nev- 

 er used tobjK'co ; would any good be accom- 

 plished in this way. even tliough I expended 

 a large amount of inouev in the operation V 

 Do you see th(^ point, Walter V It is true, I 

 migiit oiler a smoker to every boy who would 

 give me liis piomise not to use it; but even 

 then, woidd it l)e just the thing lo send a 

 smoker totlielhoiisands\\iio]>i-obal)ly would 

 not under any circumstances tliinlv of doing 

 such a tiling V 1 have sometimes felt a little 

 troubled for fear some unprincipled or un- 

 scrupulous boy might begin using tobacco 

 just for the sake of breaking oft', to get a 

 smoker; bitt a little more reflection assured 



