, 1875-05-02
RAcK-VVtNDOW STUDIES.

Tho lAndacapo i8 always the saue. MARROW
yard, with plank walk down the contre, high
board fence, and several ittIe coops Of yards or
tho right hand, and wall covered with scarlet
creeper on tho left; but tho creeper is not scar
1e. now. 4 stable and woodshed serve for back
ground for many OF tho VARYING scenes have
observed. Early 10 tho morning hear exclamar
lions Of *' It's my turn /" Tn going to take
mine over :" 81 There, now, you've missed it ! II
etc., and know the children are playing their
matutiaal game OF croquet. look out the vim
dow, and see three little girls, with hair in vari-
GUS stages OF confusion, and tied wth ribbons
Of many colors, aud cali them, from their reg
ular morning costumes, the little "blus girl,
the midd1e-sized "plAid girl" and tho large
"navy-blue girl"
When the last-named comes On ths ground,
she "bosses the game, for it il regarded as =
condesoension On her part to be willing to play,
and tho whole game, hgura.lyely speaking, is
laid At her feet. When abe departs, the little
"blue girl " assumes the reins Of government
Then. as Systematically As il they had taken
lessons of Tammany, do the :" blue girl" and tho
''plaid girl" carry on syRtem OF cheating, ln-
tersperBod with occasional 81. ats, followed by
emilea that are "chldhke and bland to the last
degree. ! shake my lead ruefully, aud ask.
" Huat Ii tae Couut1y cotu4u6 Aot HaeA sAo very
babes In their cradles learn corruptioo!" Then
the brrakfast-beA rings, and the coun-
try, if We must regard the coi!dren as its repre-
gentat1ves. is coming to breakfast.
During the day. there are several periods Mt
whlch am accustomed to regard the backyard
1itu interest,"
One is when the !" blue girl and the '' drao
boy" rhom l hare not mentioned before, come
homo from schuol lnvarlauiy followed By tho
Little neiehbor-giri, with or without invitation.
as tho case may be. The first thing on the
boards is . game OF crouqaot, in which tae
:" blue-girl aud ths Deaghbor-girl quarrel con-
stansly, and the j" "drab buy kicks the balls out
ut position. Finally, the - blue girl Is left to
the enjoyment Of solitary game, w1Ie the
:" d. au boy and the nesehbor-g girl amuse them
selves, at the peril ct their lives. by Walking the
high fence and cutting capers On the woodshed-
loft. After au hour SO spent, an urgent sum
mons cones for she nsighbor-girl to appear a.
uer fa.ner's dinner-table, aud she goes reluctant
~, followed BY the polite but unnecessary invl-
txtiona Of The host and hostess to come again
soon.
Toward o'clock couple OF incipient lords
Of crc4saor appsar on tie sceue. just let loose
from duraz,co-y1le II the shape OF the pubic
school II their mission Is 10 prepare the way
for tho reign Of tyranny which they are shortly
to sci up, it il certainly well inAuguraEed. Ihe
way in which the elder 10y imposes On the
credutsy OF the little "drab boy and the
younger lad teasea the "blus gir4," would be
la1rJxlu to heart OF stoue. They seem to
del8ht N knocking down the. superannuated
wickets, separating tho malltts from their
handles, aod accidentally ~ stopping the balls
in their nav over tho fad Even nv usually
dignited position Ut neut. al becomes Disgrace
full, and in,erfers in behan OF the poor chill
dren, and persuade their tor1nentors to turn to
something el,o fur pastlm.~
Once or twice day somebody Starts CRY Ct
" Here, Zipl Here, Lip!" Aud they all look
around eagerly to see shaggy. yellow pup, with
big bacK eyes, standing in the ssaols-door,
Dnlv awaiting more pressing invitation to be-
come lone Of u.s." He always receives it. and
then there is general habbuo, in nhcn the
thfee g.rls stand OF at respectful distance and
excla1m, "Isu't ao sweet2" "WLat loyel; eyes /"
etc., while tie three boys and the dug are ln-
iu&ug in '.scrinmage-" When ZIP makes
sally from the immediate centre of affairs, there
Il l. stampede, much 10 the deilght Of the bors,
who point IN deIison to the fleeing members OF
Lhe fair sex. After awhile Zip's master, across
he alley, calls him, aud he goes with rs much
as hs came, leaving hls entel tainors
amenting.
About tea-tlms look out and soc one solitary
form knocking tall4 aoour in the va1d but It IL
70 near dusk that | cannot tell Hho 1t is, aud
put down the cu,taln and cease my onaervatlona
until the 1eturn OF daylight. II. ". P.