The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-25

"Well, I'll forgive you," laughed
Mr. Earnest, "seeing l guess l don't
know, either, But I'll tell you some
things | do know about it, if you like"
Please" said Johnny. And Jimmy
leaned, to listen, against a piece of old
fence that threatened to give way and
tumble him into the brook.
&C don't know why q magnet attracts
other metals, but it does" said Mr..
Earnest. "They call it magnet be-
cause natural magnets were first found
IN Magnesia, province in Asia Minor.
Where is Asia Minoro''
Western part of ASIA said Jim
my, why was ahead of Johnny in geog-
raphy.
The oxide of iron is the natural
magnet, but they make a great deal
stronger magnets out of steel now.
This is steel, [ suppose?'
81 don't know; it draws first rate"
said Johnny, looking at his shoes.
81 should think it did,, remarked
Mr.. Earnest, with twinkle in his eve.
"Ihe steel magnets are the strongest,
but there is a funny thing about them.
If you tie string around the middle of
two magnets, one end of one will draw
one end of the other, but it will not
draw both ends of the other. Did YOU
ever see those little toy ducks that hold
magnets?"
"No-oh no, | wish | did!n cried
both the boys. They had always lived
IN the country and knew little of the
Playthings so well known to city chill
dren.
"Well, they make little toy ducks
with little magnetic bar in each. The
tail of one duck will draw the head of
the other, but if you try to put the two
heads together they will fly apart. That
is because one end of each bar will at
tract only one end of the other.''
The boys looked puzzled.
why, it Is like this" said Mr..
Earnest, taking two lead pencils out Of
his pocket: :" If these two pencils were
magnetic bars the point of each would
attract the blunt end of the other. Then
we would call the point the positive
pole, and the blunt end the negative
pole. Say those words, boys"
possible and neckable," said John
ny.
" Positive and negative, Johnny.
When 10 you mean to learn the Kings
English?'
"They don't look like poles" said
Johnny.
mot bean poles or fish poles-but
if you walk along with me | will tell
you why they are called poles. If YOU
hang magnetic bar on little pivot,
so it will swing around easily, one end
OF the bar will always point toward the
North Pole of the earth, and one to-
ward the South Pole. That is why
they call the ends poles. The sailors
use such magnet, a needle they call
it, to tell them which way the North
Pole is, when they are at sea-
go yes, we know! Capt. Ben's got
one of Them" cried the boys. Now
we know why his needle points north"
"Do you? Well, then, you know
more than do. Hullo! what's this?'
They had reached the road and found
the picnic procession.
"Why, it's the picnickers, and I'm 90
ing said Johnny; 1" but l can't"
"Why?"
81 haven't any lunch. l went to get
my HShlng rod, to take along, so If L
caught any fish,
I'm! where We're you going?" said
Mr.. Earnest.
"To Beech's woods
''No water within mile of Beech's
woods"
Johnnie's mouth had an ominous
quicker.
Boys" said Mr.. Earnest, eff John
ny goes, will You each give him little
of your lunch?"
"Yes. Yes, sir. We willr' shouted
the boys.
But he didn't 90, after all, and why
he didn't l told you the very first thing.
christian Union.