1867 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4=15 
2b©y$ & mm®> ®mvmm a 
Which Premium Will You Take ? 
The wide-awake boys and girls who read these columns 
have probably looked over the list of valuable premiums 
in the first part of the paper. The most energetic among 
them have already commenced taking subscribers, that 
they may secure that music-bos, or a watch, a gnu, a me- 
lodeon, perhaps some aim as high as one of the pianos. 
Such go-ahead characters need no encouragement from 
us. In a few weeks their lists will be complete, and they 
will have the satisfaction of owning some choice article 
honorably earned by their own efforts, which will be far 
better than to have asked father or some other friend for 
the money. Some, however, are still looking and long- 
ing, but have not yet mustered up courage to undertake 
the work. They dislike to ask for subscriptions, they 
say, because it looks like begging. That is a great mis- 
take. Whoever induces another to subscribe for a good 
paper does him a favor. The thousands of good hints 
and suggestions, the beautiful engravings, the interesting 
stories, and other good things which the Agriculturist 
brings to its readers every month, will confer on each 
a benefit worth many times the subscription price. 
We ask no one to beg, but to offer the money's worth 
and more. So take heart, young friends. There are 
many in almost every neighborhood who will readily 
subscribe if you will let them examine a number, and 
point out to them its many attractive features. It always 
Lives us great pleasure to send premiums to our young 
friends, and we have remembered hundreds of them in 
this way. Who will earn a piano within the nest three 
mouths ? If yon should fail to find enough for that, the 
melodcon or some other valuable premium will be reach- 
ed—there will surely be good pay for all you accomplish. 
A Faithful Sentinel. 
Nearly 1700 years ago the city of Pompeii was buried 
by ashes and lava thrown out from the volcano Vesuvius. 
Since its discovery under the mound where it had lain so 
long undisturbed, an immense number of interesting rel- 
ics have been brought to light — household utensils, 
works of art, tools of the trades, and remains of the 
former inhabitants. Among the latter was a skeleton 
that might be called a monument of fidelity. It was that 
of a Roman sentinel stationed at the gate of the city. 
Military law required him to remain at his post until or- 
dered away, no matter what should come. He might 
have properly said: "The eruption of a volcano is an 
exception to all common law ; I have a right now to run 
for my life." But no, that, he thought, would bring dis- 
honor, and he preferred death. He stood firm, the ashes 
falling thick around him ; deeper and deeper they gather- 
ed, slowly burying him, yet he stirred not, and there he 
found his tomb ! After seventeen centuries they found his 
skeleton standing erect, clad in its rusty armor, the hel- 
met on his empty skull, and his bony fingers still grasp- 
ing his spear, his own monument to his faithfulness. 
Our Old Boys and Girls. 
It i- pleasing to notice the great number of men and 
women who, on receiving the American Agriculturist, 
open first to the Boys' and Girls' Department. This is 
true of at least five-sixths of those we have noticed who 
call at the office for their monthly numbers. Another in- 
dication of the same fact is the large number of answejs 
to problems that come from adnlts. We have published 
puzzles made by Presidents of Colleges and Judges of 
Courts, showing that they have not forgotten to be 
young. It is in every way desirable to keep a young heart 
as long as possible. Americans are probably the oldest 
of civilized people. The proverb ' ; Care killed a cat" 
(which, yon know, is said to have nine lives) is at least 
partly realized here. The cares and perplexities of busi- 
ness are suffered to take too much time and attention, and 
people grow old fast. An hour a day of downright play 
would lengthen the lives of most people and make the 
life itself richer in enjoyment and in power. We invite 
our friends who are old in years but young in feeling, and 
those who desire to become so, to take a frolic occasion- 
ally with the young folks in these columns. ■ Tell them a 
good story (let it be short), set them to puzzling over 
some ingenious problem, show them how to make a new 
toy— in short amuse them and yourselves at the same 
time, and thus secure a welcome benefit all around. 
A Boy with his Eyes Open. 
Many years ago, a lad thirteen years old was sent to 
school in a town on the coast of Ireland. Like other 
boys he often roamed by the seashore, collected shells, 
caught insects, picked up seaweed and gathered flowers, 
but, unlike most, while others forgot or threw them away, 
or only half observed them, he bore them in his thoughts, 
compared one with another, kept and reconsidered 
them, asked questions and looked at books, and so, by 
degrees, acquired information and a habit of observation 
which influenced the course of his whole life. Any boy 
could have done the same, but none of his companions 
did it, and so he only gained the distinction which such 
a course persevered in is sure to bring. One day he 
found a plant differing from any he had seen in all his 
careful observation of the surrounding country. He 
looked in botanical works, but could find no description of 
it, so at last he sent it to a distinguished botanist to learn 
its name. The gentleman not only cheerfully gave the 
information, but complimented him on his sharp-sighted- 
ness and close observation, which, of course, inspired 
him to new effort. Although he was soon called to enter 
business life, he continued to study nature with open 
eyes, and was soon rewarded by discovering new species 
of shells and plants. From one step to another he passed 
on, until he became the distinguished naturalist, Dr. 
W. H. Harvey, whose death is recorded in our recent 
foreign exchanges, accompanied by a sketch of his life. 
Iu the course of his studies he visited many parts of the 
globe, discovered and described a great number of new 
species, and enjoyed the highest respect of the scientific 
world. Boys, and girls too, keep your eyes open. There 
are thousands of undiscovered facts all over the world 
waiting for some careful sighted observer to note them, 
and by so doing to distinguish himself and benefit the race. 
Kcw Puzzles to l>e Answered. 
No. 2S6. Mathematical Problem. Contributed to the 
American Agriculturist by A. J. Pierce.— A man has a 
spring at the bottom of an irregular hill. To reach it, he 
first descends by steps, each S inches high and 6 inches 
wide ; then walks along a level plane 20 feet, then de- 
scends an inclined plane 30 feet, depressing at an angle 
of 10 degrees from the horizontal; then descends another 
inclined plane 12JS feet in which at every 5 feet slope he 
descends 3 feet. Required, 1st, the whole horizontal dis- 
tance ; 2d, the perpendicular distance ; 3d, the distance 
in a direct line ; 4th, the angle of depression. ■ 
No. 287. Illustrated Ilebm.—Xory good advice to all. 
No. 285. Puzzle Picture.— The hare Is evidently afraid to venture from his hole. Look carefully at the picture, and 
iml where the danger lies ; if successful, yoo can then enjoy seeing oth i >l your friends look foi It, 
No. 2SS. Puzzle Picture.— Why should there be eleven 
animals more of the same kind shown, in this pen? 
Answers to Problems and Ptizzles. 
The following are answers to the puzzles, etc.. in the 
October number, page 373. No. 2S0. !" tied Rebus.— 
A man intent on charily. 
Above base fear or discontent. 
Twist man and man sees nought amiss, 
Nor sees a Judas iu a kiss. 
No. 281. Illustrated Rebus— Baronet.'... No. 2S2. Riddle. 
—A Watch. ...No. 283. Puasl Picture.— Oyster stew, 
(Oysters two)....No. 284, Pu:r.l, Picture.— Si is sole, 
(soul.) is bent on it. The following have sent in correcl 
answers to puzzles, etc., in October and former numbers. 
Abin. Lutz, Robert J. Philips, L. W. Bridgers, P. M. 
Hunter, James Redmond, R. Baird, Wapsior, " Xubin," 
Benjamin Doe, (we don't know the article,) James W. 
Grata, J.A.Dawson, Augustus C. Bcntsby, "A. B.C.," 
M. H. Kelsoy, R. L. Seidell, John Ober, Ezra Elumbcy, 
Adam Snyder, Matthew Simpson.J. R, Wilkinson, School 
Miss, Wilbur Buzzcll, s. M. llertzler, Frederic E. Willi) 
E. and Ellen L. Raukin, Andrew Jack on, ' E W„" 
"A. M.," "A. L. W. S.," OUieH. Silks, Emma Davl 
" Wido-aslcep," W. H. Corter, Laura Dickson, Hu b I 
Kay, Qcorgo H. Lawrence, Samuel Dwight Drnry, "Old 
Dominion," Thomas W. Kaine. "G. II. C," L. M. 
Wright, Mrs. George Bresner, E. T. Bell, J. Milton Sny- 
der, Mary Vandegrist, Aaron B. Leach, Frank B Mars 
ton, Cyrus T. Fox, C.Boicc, John Kiu-ry. B. Q. J 
John McNcal, 11. J. Meixel, M. G. Mnil* i 
"Papa." said a bright-eyed little girl one u iy, 'I bi 
lieve mamma loves yon beiier'u she .In >< m . ' Papa 
had his doubts upon the subject, but concluded it was 
not best to deny tho charge. She meditated thoughtfully 
about it for some time, evidently construing her father's 
silence as unfavorable to hi 
" Well," said she at last, "I'epose Its all right; you're 
the biggest, nu.i it tabes more to love yon." 
