406 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
■- A STRANGER IN THE 
This lively lillle guinea pig, in liis wanderings, has made 
his way into a private family circle, where his reception 
is somewhat doubtful. The different liittens are prepared 
to entertain him, each according to its own disposition. 
One lifts a spiteful paw for a scratch at his nose ; another 
sees a chance for a game of romps with the new comer, 
and is i eady for the first spring ; while another is rather 
shy of the stranger, and waits to see how he will con- 
duct himself. One little fellow Ihinlis more of his din- 
ner than of any thing else, and makes good use of liis op- 
portunities while the rest are busy otherwise. The old 
cat seems willing that her young should make a new 
acquaintance, but she keeps a watchful eye on the 
stranger, ready to pounce upon him, should he prove 
dangerous or troublesome. It is a charming family scene, 
full of life, and shows the real genius of the artist, 
Mr. Wm. Beard, of New York, whose animal paint- 
ings tell their o«n story without any description. 
" ILafit a l,ittle." 
This is tile singular title of a little book published by 
the Boston Tract Society, which we have ju?t been read- 
ing, and which every boy and girl in the land would find 
interesting and profitable. It tells of a number of girls 
who formed a. society called the " Burden Bearers." 
They were each pledged to try and do something to help 
those around them, to lighten their burdens, and their 
excellent motto was " Lift a little." Once a week they 
met and related their successes. One little girl had risen 
an hour earlier in the morning and taken care of a fiet 
ful baby, so that her mother could get a little rest aflcr 
being disturbed by the crying child during the night ; 
another had tried to keep from making unnecessary 
noises with hands and feet, whicli she had a habit of do- 
ing, and thus disturbing tlie household ; a third had en- 
deavored to keep a playmate from whisperin;; in school 
time and annoying her teacher , and llius in many umvs 
J tliey ■' lifted a lillle" of the care and weariness from 
their friends and neighbois. Such an exceileut sugges- 
[COPTEIGHT SECUEED.] 
FAMILY .—From a Paestemg by Wm. 
tion should have the widest possible circulation, and we 
therefore recommend tlie plan to the half mUlion or 
more young readers of the AgricuHurist. The boys as 
well as girls can easily find many ways to '• lift a little." 
Many of those gray hairs and lengthening wrinkles which 
you may see changing the features of father and mother, 
are marks made by little cares and troubles, many of 
which might be prevented by thoughtful children. Few 
persons are called upon to perform a great deed, but it 
M ill be just as noble to abound in "lillle acts of kindness." 
Begin to-iay to do your part and try to "lift a little." 
Plenty of Oysters. 
From the immense quantities of oysters consumed 
every yeaL one might fear that the supply of these deli- 
cious shelrfish would finally become exhausted. There 
is little prospect of tiiis, however, as will appear from the 
following fact, ki an exhibition recently given at the 
London University College, a portion of oyster spawn, 
(eggs), was exhibited under a magnifying glass, which 
by calculation showed that a single oyster would pro- 
duce 1,200,000 young. Should these all come to maturity 
they would fill 1,200 barrels. If nothing hindered this 
rapid propagation, the ocean must in a few years be too 
small to contain the oysters alone. But tliere are myriads 
of other hungry inhabitants of the sea which feed upon 
the oyster spawn ; other larger creatures eat them, and 
so by multiplying and eating, and being eaten in turn, 
there is food enough for .all, man included, and the proper 
balance of inhabitants in ocean and on land is kept up. 
Abont Snakes. 
k young correspondent sends to the Agriculturist 
Office the skin of a snake's egg (they have no shells), with 
an account of finding a whole nest full, 36 in all, while 
(dowing by the road side, That snalies are produced 
from eggs may be new to some of our young readers. Our 
coirespondent writes that when the eggs were broken, 
BeAED. — Engraved for the American AgriciiUtirist. 
there crawded from each a lively little snake, about ten 
inches long, and nearly as large around as a common lead 
pencil. Although entire strangers in the world, they 
seemed to know very well how to take care of them- 
selves, as they would raise their heads aLid dart out their 
tongues in a very threatening manner when molested. 
They were of the common striped variety, and we hope 
they were left to go on their way and do good. " A snake 
do good I" many are ready to exclaim. " Ugh I I always 
kill litem when I find them."— Well, that is because you 
have never become acquainted with Ihcm and learned 
their habits. They live mostly on worms and insects, 
occasionally taking in a frog that comes in their way, 
and never injure any person. Surely that ought at least 
to entitle them to live. The rattlesnake, adder, and oth- 
er poisonous reptiles are, of course, outcasts, to be de- 
stroyed at sight ; but the common small sn.akes found on 
most farms in this country earn their right to live lllere. ' 
Even the dreaded black snake would rather run than 
fight, and need not be feared. We would not advise to 
make pets of them, but would not have children suffer 
by being foolishly afraii! of such harmless creatures, 
Tlie Floating- €«rin<1stone. 
The following is said to have occurred among some 
simple fishermen on the English coast. A party were 
gathered together on a rocky promontory just toward 
dark, to see a wonder, a floating grindstone. As such 
things were quite valuable in those days, a boat was 
soon manned and away they went, the mover of the ex- 
pedition being in the bow of the boat. As they approach- 
ed the grindstone, this man planted his foot on the edge 
of the boat rcaily for a spring. Presently he cried out 
"All my own, and none for nobody," and sprang off 
upon the grindstone. Lo ! to his great surprise he sank 
under water, and presently came popping up again, with 
his liead within the cliarmed circle, to be gieetedwith 
joars of laughtei-, lie had leaped ifitu a sheet of sea 
foam, which had gathered witiiin a large hoop. j» 
