352 ' AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [Notoiibek, 
HAVING A GOOD TI]\[E. — Engraved for the American AgrictiUnrir.t. 
A ^iSJoriosis Hide. 
Here is a joyous ride ! No millionaire on FiftirAvenue 
with las prancing blood liorscs and splendid carriage can 
Jiave half so good a time as these liappy ehildren are 
enjoying on their log pony in tlie western woods. 
No horse can travel so swiftly as they “play” their 
iiorse is going, and all tlie fine places they visit, and 
tlie adventures tlicy meet in iinaginalion bring them 
equal or more pleasure than they will find in after years 
if they sirould cliancc to become travelers. Wilhout 
knowing it lliey have tlie key which unlocks one of the 
richest stores of earthly happiness, that is an active im¬ 
agination. It can build lionses, lay out farms, cross 
oceans, climb mountains, conquer cities, rule kingdoms, 
make gold fi om stones, and change the rudest things into 
the costliest treasures. But this same faculty of mind 
which brings so much pleasure often needs watching ami 
restraining. I.ikc a spirited horse it may' run away with 
its owner. When a young iierson pictures to himself all 
the pleasures of wealth, “makes believe ” that in some 
way he will have them without working, by tlie death of 
some unknown rich relative, or finding a full pocket book, 
or drawing a prize in a lottery, tlien his imagination is 
preparing liim for discontent willi his present situation, 
aversion to labor, vain wishes, restlessness and unhappi¬ 
ness. Still worse than this is the habit of allowing the 
fancy to sketch pictures of forbidden pleasure; it is a 
long step toward outbreaking sin. He who commands 
his thoughts and keeps them pure, will have little difficul¬ 
ty in resisting otlier temptations. “ Keep thy heart, for 
out of ij are the issues of life,” said tlie wisest of men. 
A TnnsTWOnTiiY Poo.—,4 gentleman in Enginnd, re¬ 
lates Ihe following anredote of )iif ilog, |l appears that 
for a year or two foxes had been very plenty in that 
neighborhood, and had made great liavoc among Ihe 
poultry and their eggs. One lien seemed determined to 
secure the safety of lier treasures, for day by day she 
marched boldly into the dog’s kennel, and deposiled an 
egg in the corner. The dog was not atTronted by this 
liberty taken with his house, but seemed to understand 
all about the matter, for as each egg wa.s laid, he care¬ 
fully took it up in his mouth, carried it as far lojivard the 
house as his chain would permit him to go, where it was 
taken in eliarge by the hou.sckeeper, who always regu¬ 
larly rewarded him for his attention and honesty. 
How they TlJsc«l to Teles;*'aFl». 
Telegraphing by various methods was known long be¬ 
fore Professor Morse invented the way of sending mes¬ 
sages by lightning. The shepherds among the mountains 
of Montenegro, in Turkey, communicated news very 
rapidly by shouting it from peak to peak. It is related 
that when one of them felt lonely, he set up a peculiar 
cry which could be heard at a great distance, signifying 
tliercby that he wished to talk with some one. It was 
usually soon heard by somebody in the neighborhood, 
and a conversation was at once commenced, which was 
often joined by others, who clianced to be near enough 
to hear, and thus the news of the day became generally 
known. A traveler says that atone time he wanted his 
mule which was some ten miles distant. Accordingly 
he yelled out, “ Ho ! ho ! you people there in the village 
of Brelizzu ! High up in the mountains of Glenbotich, 
by the great beech tree, with Ihe withered boughs, my 
little lad Yonkois keeping my while-footed mule. I,ct 
him know that he is to come down with It ns fast ns ho 
can ” linmedinlely some living culiu luok up ids words. 
repeating them exactly ; and so the message went until 
it reached tlie boy, and the mule was soon brought to liim. 
Beacon fires were the ancient mode of telegraphy in 
Great Britain, and in an act of the Scottish Parliament, 
of HIS, it is directed that “One bale or faggot sliall be 
tl e warning of the approach of Ihe English in any man¬ 
ner, two bales that they arc coming ititlred, and four bales 
lilazing beside each other, that Ihe enemy are in great 
force.” Subsequently there was introiluccd a system of 
telegraphing by signals made with an apparatus liaving 
large arms somevvluat like a windmill, called a sen a- 
phore. The diflerent positions of the arms represented 
letters of Ihe alphabet and words. Numbers of these 
were erected on elevations as far apart as could be scon 
with a telescope, anddhus news could be sent from Do¬ 
ver to London, in ten minutes. The semaphore was of 
use only in clear weather. Occasionally curious inci¬ 
dents occurred, owing to tlie sudden stoppage of its 
working. Wlien tlie Duke of Wellington was fighting 
the French, in Spain, every body was anxiously looking 
for news. One day the semaphore transmitted to Lon¬ 
don,the alarming message, “ Wellington defeated.” At 
once there was great commotion ; rumors spread that 
there had been great losses of men and artillery ; stocks 
went down rapidly, and tlie Government were quite be¬ 
wildered. It turned out liowever. that just as the word 
“defeated” had passed along, a sudden mist had come 
on at some part of the line, and prevented sending the 
remainder of the message—wlien it cleared, the whole 
news read, “ AVellington defeated the French.” 
Other similar methods have been used in different 
countries. On ship-board flags are used to make signals 
for comniuniciiling with distant vessels. At another time 
wc ipay speak of signals u-sed in the anny duiipg the wav, 
