Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-23
Written for THE STAB.
EOI8SH ADVENTURES.
By EMMA LEIGH.


Did you ever know boy who was not sasci-
hated with adventures by land or sea- 1t
delights them to read of terrible fight between
q man and a lion or some other ferOcious and
powerful animal, especially when the man
escapes by the startling and ingenious strata
gems that such an encounter would develop, for
a. the Bible says: What will not a man give in
exchange for HIS life
Twas much amused with the story in late ST.
Nichotas of the man with the pot of green paint
VINO was besieged by the elephant and who
made such an original use of the paint. that he
eseaped.-the elephant being unable to distin-
guish him from the foliage of the ferns and
forest trees
How the vivid Imagination of a child would
make him long TO be the hero in such stirring
drama, He would delight to tell the story of his
peril. his fear. hope. despair and WEAKNESS. and
how graphically would he describe the various
fOrlorn hopes and schemes planned to escape
from such powerful and savage foe.
In onr serene and civilized localities 1t would
be impossible for boy TO have such an exper-
fence Our boys and girls can only fancy what
they would do in such a case: or how they
would relish frontier life with its Indian sur
prises and hand to hand conflicts with the griZ-
lilies OF our western wilderness. We all recall
with horror the thrilling and hlood-curdlng
massacre OF Wyoming. and the terrible conflicts
between the Indians and our fOre-fathers-the
early settlers OF these Row peaceful regions; and
we can hardly realize that on the shores of this
beautiful Potomac. the Indians chased the bear
and panther. and that any little boy or girl who
had strayed away from home and was lost in
the dark forests that lined its banks would have
been made into niiEce meat By the cruel and ra-
paeiOus wolves that roamed through those wild
regions,
The boys of our day have nothing more thrill
Ing to relate than their escape from the vigi-
liant policemen. who are charged not to spare
The bean-shOOter and the stone throWer. Boys
will be boys" have heard my dear old grand
father remark and though did not understand
the significance of his sententiOus phrase now.
that am grOwn-up women with a little flock
OF children twittering about my knee and note
the FRANKS of MY twelve year-old Jamie. ap-
precate its meaning: that after We have admon-
lShed and advised boys TO refrain from this and
TO do that, they are sure to take their own way,
and tumble into all sorts of mischief and trouble
and though we cannot exactly shut our eyes to
their faults. do not feel that il is wise to OBJ
serve too closely every slight delinquency and
while deplorng their frequent lapses from duty
We incline to be lenient, because Boys will be
boys"
How it went to nv heart. the other dav. to
come across Jamie and a little group of boys ac-
lively engaged in the cruel but exciting sport of
Ringing stones at the pigeons of poor old col
Ored man. whose clean and white-washed shanty
Is not Tar from our home. Every time pigeon
popped its head out of its house. whiz went stone
straight at its beautiful sleek neck and by the
time another ventured furtive and hasty peep.
Whack. went another missile. / am happy to
say that the glossy and pretty creatures were so
quick and adroit in their movements that when
stopped the exciting sport not one had fallen
victim to the intent and fell purpose of the
young marksmen. Of course l tried to make
the boys ashamed of their cruelty and of the an
noyaGee they were causing Uncle Handy and
Aunt Chloe. and they promised that they would
Gin in that direction no more. 1t was well that
appeared on the spot at that precise moment
or our young friends would have been crest
fallen and their parents much annoyed. as |
learned from the old couple that they had gath
cred ali tie pebbles the boys had thrown on their
premises for the past six MONTHS and as they
made considerable pile they were about to
apply to the police for protection. The stones
were To cry out as testimony against the young
marauders. A few words of sincere sympathy
and my word that / would dissuade the boys
from any future attacks upon their feathered
pets. prevented their arrest and much annoyance
TO their parents.
like boys to have good time they have so
much responsibility and such grave duties as
men. let them enjoy their youth. l mean let
them rcaln the woods. swim, row and sail a
boat. fish, play ball and all merry games. when
school is over. there is SO much life and fun i'm
them that it is wrong to restrict them or dis
cpliDe them too much! Very dear to me are
my recOllections of my brothers early
sports of handy. leap-frog, base ball, etc,
tired. hair thrown about in all directions.
and garments that show that he is fond of Ibis
mother Earth" have mild reproaches though
j Confess to feeling of despair. as / think of
the ordeal before me in the preparation of those
clothes for to-mOrrOw's duty. Mothers with
short purses and growing boys do not keep very
extensive wardrobes ON hand
When began this talk to-day + meant to
convey that though We live in time and
country where there is little opportunity for
pynlOitg ypt pf hraip
strong imagination will take a deal OF trouble
to place themselves in a position apparently sur
rounded by difficulties they like to enjoy feel
ing OF self-reliance; to think and act for
themselves, and. accustomed as they may be to
obey their elders, they naturally put forth the
tendriiS of adventure, and the desire to enjoy
that fascinating experience, which We remeni-
Der In the fairy tales. as 1.-The time when Jack
went forth to seek his fortune
1t was some such idea as this that induced
that active young individual. my son James
and another equally daring boy from Boston To
cOncoct plan by which they could. in some
sense: realize that they were cut off from home
and friends, and We're dependent upon their
own resources for comfort and enjoyment.
Ii Vas ia summer. and We're staying at
Craig Cottage, East Gloucester, What a Para
disc for boys. They could battle, row, sail.
fish, Chamber over the cliffs or wade into the
clear pools. between the rocks. to gather the
brilliant varieties of sea-weeds' How north
ern and southern mothers used to enjoy hear
ing of their tun. perils and successes. and when
the dear. tired, sun-burned little fellows were
snugly tucked in bed how happy we were to
think OF the Joyous. innocent life they were
leading Then the boys were glad and proud
of their treasures Of sea-weed. which mama and
sisters ard the lovely Boston ladies whom We
met used TO press in their albums How I'M
pOrtant too. they felt when supper was an-
nOunced. to hear the guests ask for some of the
. fish or holsters which the boys had caught and
as the supply was soon exhausted. the boys
would reply with gravity that they expected
ito have better luck Tomorrow"
Opposite Craig cottage. in Gloucester harbor.
there is small rocky island called Ten Pound
Island, because that Was the sum our govern
ment paid for it, On it is built the light house.
called Ten Pound Light. The proprietor of our
cottage was keeper of the light. and q more
faithful and diligent guardian of this beacon to
light the pathway Of the sea never existed than
Father Merrill. The only habitaton on the
island was his little house and the only living
thing his cow. Yes. believe there were few
chickens straying about, but ! often thought
how poor Bossy. the COW. must have looked
longingly across the dark waves to the green
fields that lined the opposite shore.