Connecticut western news., 1877-07-13
YOUTHS COLUMN.

as2 4 StOCktfsg 4keVaU0L.---AU s60FOuRn Gn0 last winter and spring there seems to have been a great stir among the stock ings. They have come out in all sorts of colors and almost all sorts of pat terms. Here, many time this past spring, the dead meadows have looked as if they were full of flowers by req son of the children skipping around with their red and blue striped legs. Even the little boys made me think of scarlet-runners, and the Johnny jump ups were out in great variety.
 Whether it was on this account or not, l do not know, but the other day to the children about stockings, telling them that in the old, old time the people wore them made of cloth. Up to the days of Hepry VIII.. she said, they were made out of ordinary cloth. The kings own were formed of yard wide taffeta, and it was only by chance that he might obtain a silk hose from Spain. Then she read something from an old book, which, perhaps, you may like to hear. In fact, the children were so delighted with it that they begged the dear Little Schoolma'am to send it | to St. NichOlds; and, if she had done so, will thank. the editors to put it in right here.
 ''* Henry WILLS son, Edward VI., received as a present from Sir Thomas Gresham a pair of long Spanish silk stockings.' For some years longer, silk stockings continued to be great rarity. Tn the second year of Queen Elizabeth,' says Stow in his Chronicle, 'her silk woman, Mistress Montague, presented her majesty with pair of black knit-siik stockings for 8 New Years gift; the which, after few days' wearing, pleased her highness so 1 we'll that she sent for Mistress Monta- que and asked her where she had them, and if she could help her to any more, | who answered, saying: "I made them very carefully of purpose only for your majesty, and seeing these please you well. I will presently set more in hand. |" | "DO sO," quOth the queen, "fOr indeed like silk stockings so well, because they are pleasant. fine and de,ica, @, that hencefOrth twill wear no more cloth stockings"
 And from that time to her death the queen wore no more cloth hose, but only silk stockings. ."-St. Nicholas. Watching tor Rauems.-Mrs. Rogers was 8 poor widow woman who had four little children; the eldest W as about eight years old. One evening in midst of winter her children were hungry, and she had no food to give them. But she loved and served God; and trusting in him to provide for their daily bread, she kneeled. down to. tell him their wants and ask him to supply them.
 At the close of the prayer, the eldest said to her. "Mother. doesen't the Bible say that God once sent some ravens with bread to man who was send us some ravens with bread now, just as we'll as he did then9 Pm going to open the door, or they can't get in." A flow minutes after, the village magistrate passed, and glancing through the open door, said to Mrs. Rogers, My good friend, how does it happen that your door is standing open this cold winters night!'
 'It was my little boy who opened the door a moment ago, in order, as he said, that the ravens might come in and bring us some bread.'"
 Now it so happened that the this gentleman was actually dressed in black from head to foot.
 "Ah, indeed!" said he, laughing; Richard is right. The raven has come, and he is pretty big one, too. Come with me, my little man, and I will show where the bread is."
 Fighting for c Home.-A woodpecker's hole is such very convenient place for nest, that many birds are glad to find one unOccupied. Sometimes pair of wrens will watch the motions of the woodpeckers while they are at work, nntil an unfinished hole is left un- guarded, when they will take posses: sion of it. As soon as the lawful owners return, the thieves are driven Otf, but they are 80 persistent and troublesome that, although a wood becker IS larger and stronger than twenty wrens, tine owners sometimes abandon the place, and make 8 new nest. Still the wrens are not always allowed to keep the house they have stolen, for the blue birds are equally cOvetOus of it, and sometimes fight tielc3ly with the wrens in their at. tempts to gain possessions of it.. Oc- casiOnally, both wrens and blue birds are driven away by the martins, fol these birds also prize woodpeckers holes very highly. The fierce battles between the various birds over an abandoned hole are very amusing, and often last several days; for they all are obstinate birds, and as each one is determined not to give up, the matter is not very easily settled.-St. NichOIas.
 The Deacon'S COnundrum.-"Boy SalO beacon Green GO group Of red checked fellows the other day, "I never see healthy, go-ahead crowd of young folks like you, that 1 don't say myself, here's chance for practical religion. I Do you know the reasOnP
 "'Is it couundrumW asked three of the boys in breath.
 "Yes," said the Deacon, with the air of man who had intended to make a speech, but had suddenly decided to himself. 'It is a conundrum."
 Then the Deacon gave pleasant nod, and walked off.
 "Now what dad he mean by that7' said one of the fellows.
 q know" cried Bob King. "He meant that some folks think religion is intended only for Sundays and for sick people, and the Deacon would like to see more we'll people trying it on week days-that's all"
 "Humph" said John Salters. "You know 8 heap-yOu dol"
 "rhe Deacon does, anyhow" an swered Bob. meekly. "YOu can't get around that,"- St. Nicholas.
 4 Child, while walking through an art gallery with her mother, was at is that7" said she. s"My child that is Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom.' "Why don't they make her husband tool" Because she has none, my child "Ihat was because she was wise waSn' I