AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
LOOKING AT GRANDPA'S WATCH 
Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
The Editor with his Young Readers. 
AboUt, the Picture. 
Which is the happier, the child or his grandfather? 
The watch is a greater wonder to the little fellow Hum 
all the curiosities of the Museum would be to older per- 
sons. With what delight he looks at the shining vVheels, 
and listens to the. tick-tick which make it appeaf like a 
living thing. Bui that is not the whole of his pleasure. 
Notice the hand on the old -gentleman's shoulder, show- 
ing the arm affectionately thrown around his neck, saying 
as plainly as words could do, "I love Grandpa." See 
loo, how earnestly the grandfather is looking at the watch. 
He has seen it a thousand Limes, why is he so interested ? 
He loves the little one so much Hint he partakes of Hie 
chilli's feelings, he sympathizes in his joy. Every girl 
and boy looking at this beautiful picture will feel like say- 
ing. " What, a dear old man." Although his features are 
sharpened by age, love makes him beautiful, makes him 
happy, and it is a pleasure to look upon him. And. right 
here is the secret of the brightest charm of life, for the 
young and for the old. Selfishness spoils the heart, dis- 
figures the face, and ruins peace; kindness, affection, 
love, are sources of constant joy to the possessor as well 
as to those about him; they give beauty to the spirit, 
which will outshine and outlast every other attraction. 
A Harmless* Monster, 
A young la I of oui acquaintance was one day weeding 
in the garden. The weather was "very warm, and lie 
wore neither coat nor vest. He was very busy over a 
bed of carrots, that is, his fingers were, his thoughts were 
full of something else, as you could see by his steady and 
almost vacant stare. But suddenly lie gave a startling 
bcream, sprang from his sitting position, threw his hand 
wildly over his shoulder, and writhed and twisted as 
though striving to escape from the hold of some terrible 
Monster. His countenance was ghastly with the agony 
of fear. The writer sprang to his relief, and found him 
grasping something which had made its way to hisshoul- 
per, under his shirt. Could it be a snake, or a rat ? The 
collar was quickly loosened and Hie fearful thing CI i 
to light. It was a Large grasshopper '. From that time to 
the present, that boy, who is now a man, has made it a 
rule to first see if there were danger, before losing his 
wits from causeless fear. A very good resolution for all ; 
he who can keep it will be likely to keep his wits also. 
A Cat giving' away her Kitten. 
We have known instances where parents have given 
away their children thai they might be better provided for, 
but this is the first time we have heard of such a proceed- 
ing among animals. A correspondent vouches for the 
truth of the following incident winch he says occurred in 
Hie family of one of the subscribers of the American Agri- 
culturist. Mr. B, had two cats, both long domesticated in 
the house. A short time since each had kittens. The 
owner wished to rear one kitten at the barn that it might 
keep the rats and mice within bounds. He therefore 
took one cat with one kitten (having killed the others of 
her family), and made a nest for them at the barn, where 
they staid for a while quite contentedly. One night there 
occurredavery hard storm of wind ami rain. The next 
morning, as soon as the family were up, the cat brought 
the kitten to the house, apparently half drowned, and 
placed it in a box containing the other family of kittens, 
refusing ever alter to have any thing to do with it. The 
children placed it time and again by Its mother, and every 
means were tried to induce hof to take to it again, but 
without avail. The other cat. among whose kittens it 
was placed, received it kindly into her 
family, and nursed and brought it upas 
though it had been one of her own litter. 
A Voting' &<Iilor. 
It is very seldom that room can be spar- 
ed in the Agriculturist, to speak of the 
books, magazines, etc., which publishers 
oltcnsend to us for examination ; all the 
space is wanted for what will interest our 
readers more. But here is a magazine just 
received from Portland, Maine, about 
which we must say a few words. Its 
name is " King's Lady's Book." It is about 
five inches long, and three inches wide 
contains eight pages, besides a neatly 
printed cover, and is published monthly 
at twenty-five cents a year. Its editor is 
nearly eight years old. His father informs 
us that the lad selects his own articles, and 
sets up the types on which they are print- 
ed. We believe him to be the youngest 
member of the profession, and -extend to 
him the right hand of fellowship. Wc hope 
that his arduous duties will not impair his 
health, nor stop his growth. Let his pa- 
rents take care that his mind be not de- 
veloped at the expense of his body, which 
too often occurs with children. Now, for 
some of you boys, and girls too, from 
twelve to fifteen or more years old, it will 
be a capital thing to commence issuing 
such a paper in your own neighborhood. 
It is not necessaiy to print it. Write it 
out on foolscap paper. Get your school- 
mates to contribute toil, and come together 
once a week to hear it read. Several jour- 
nals of this kind were started among our 
young friends a few years ago, after read- 
ing the advice then given, for them to 
have their own newspaper. Perhaps such 
an enterprise will be the first step toward 
raising up a future editor of the Agricul- 
turist. If so, he will be all the more 
capable for having commenced young. 
Another Perfumery Story. 
A correspondent at Racine, Wis., after 
reading the story of " The Horrified Dan- 
dy," in the November A griculturist, con- 
tributes the following " of the same sort" 
which he says actually occurred. When 
"boarding round" was the fashion with 
school teachers, farmer A, on coming to the 
house at tea time, was introduced to the 
" school ma'am." In a moment he perceiv 
cd a strong odor of musk which came 
from the school ma'am's clothing. He, 
entirely ignorant of the cause, imme- 
diately charged it on Ponto, who had a strong propensity 
for hunting muskrats, and at once commanded him : 
" Ponto, you scamp, you have been killing muslivfits ; go 
out doors, sir, and get sweetened off." But Ponto 
did not stir, and Farmer A spoke again more sharply, 
"Get out, you'll scent the whole 
house." The school 
ma'affl by this time was blushing red as crimson, while 
the girls and the boys could scarcely keep from burst- 
ing into laughter. One of them, unnoticed, at last made 
their father understand how the matter stood, and he, ol 
course, dropped the subject. The evening passed away 
rather awkwardly with all, and the teacher failed tore 
turn the next day. On her account, the affair was kept 
quiet until after she lefl the neighborhood, when many 
were the hearty laughs -had over farmer A's error and the 
schoolma'am's discomfiture. She omitted musk thereafter*. 
Learn to Control tlie Voice, 
To keep the lungs and the voice in good condition, it i 
necessary to give them plenty of exercise. This is doubt- 
less one reason why it is so natural (ov young people to 
laugh, shout, and sing. The Creator intended that their 
vocal organs should be well developed in youth, and 
so it is found almost impossible to keep a child quiet 
long at a time. But, boys and girls, you who are 
old enough to think about the matter, do not let this nat- 
ural impulse make your company unpleasant to older 
persons. Let the playground, or the fields, ring with your 
happy shouts; there is plenty of room for noise there, 
and it will do you good, but in the house, learn to speak 
quietly. Keep the voice down to a pleasant tone. Loud 
w.nds are very annoying to a tired or nervous person. 
Fathers and mothers would be "cross" much less fre- 
quently, and children happier, if this rule were generally 
, bsei'ved , practice would very soon make it a habit. 
