The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-11-05
OUR BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE.
INSTRUCTIVE SUBJECTS FOR
4 LLlGENTYOUNG PEOPLE.
Sailors Pets--The Wind and the
lOak-Tree--The Reason--N Novel
Plums--N Natural lnfer-
ence. aa#
Sailors Pet 8.

general thing, dull and mOnOtOnOus.
When the weather is fine, or when the
ship is at anchor in some harbor, the
sailors often find the time hang
heavily on their hands. 1t is natural,
therefore, that they are glad OF any
thing that will help them to pass the
time. That is why they enjoy telling
stories, or Spinning yarns" as they
call it; and it also explains their fond
ness for pets, as thus described by the
New York Morning Journal:
"Where's Jim?'
"On the spar deck, I suppose. Hey,
jim, Jim?"
A sleek black cat leaped from the
top of one OF one of the ten FOUNDERS
on the United States corvette Rear
SARGE and scampered below in ans
wer to the call Of a grizzled old sailor.
"Jim" is the ships pet. Every
man of-war has it's pet, and for two
years big black cat has filled the
place in the affections of the sailors on
the "Kearsage." Jim went to South
America with the ship.
That cat," said Capt. Horace Elmer
before the ship left the dock, "will do
more to keep the men contented than
anything | can do. The mere fact
that Jim, as the men call him, is given
permission to have the run of the
ship delights the men. They have
trained him, and during leisure, mo-
ments they watch his antics with
pleasure"
The peton the cruiser yorktown"
is a monkey. He is a frisky y oungster
and an expert climber. He can get to
the top of the mainmast in less than
twenty seconds, if he is feeling first
rate. The monkey has been trained
to play tricks on the crew. He has
funny way Of tickling the ear OF a
sleeping sailor with the end of his tail.
If any one loses his plug of tobacco it
can generally be found hidden in the
rigging. When the hiding place is dis
covered the monkey breaks out in a
chatter that shows how he appreciates
the fun.
"BiIly," the goat: was the pet OF
the "Galena" for nearly two years.
During the period he never left the
ship. When the ship was in port the
sailors would take turns getting grass
and clover for the goat, and they al
ways got goodly supply ahead when
it was known that the ship would
soon sail. Some time ago, through
the strategy of certain members OF
the crew who had been detailed to the
Baltimore" Billy was struggled
away from the "Galena' to the "Bal-
timore."
A pair OF white rats have the run OF
the "Monongahela." They have been
aboard ship for nearly a year. For
some reason the smaller of the two
rats stood in wholesome fear of
Lieutenant Commander Gibson.
Whenever the Officer appeared the
rat would crouch in a dark corner in
terror. Both of the. rats were on
very friendly terms with Lieutenant
BolIes.
"You ought to see the rats run a
race on the main deck,'' said an old
sailor. We get them in trim for a
race by Offering them small piece OF
cheese, and taking a larger piece for
ward. Two Of the boys hold the
rats, and at the word go they get
under way and 60 scampering down.
The first rat to reach the cheese gets
it," ..,- #@
A cock was the pet of the boys on
the "Char]eston' until recently. It
was trained to crow every time the
ships bell struck, and did it most
Justify.
The Enterprise has a black cat
aboard: 1t is the best fighter Of any
cat in the service, so the trainer says.
There is a parrot on the Chicago"
that can rattle off the vernacular of
the sailor-man without making q
break. He shouts "Go b'low!" when
ever the sky is overcast and the sea
heavy. Snatches from "Pinafore"
have been picked up by hesbird, and
he can sing three lines Of the sCumber-
lands Crew"
The Wind and the Oak Tree.
Helen was a little girl, who loved the
fields and the woods, the flowers and
the birds, and everything seemed to
love her. The birds sang their sweet
est songs to her, and the summer
breezes whispered pretty tales in her
ear.
One day she was lying in the shade
OF an oak tree, near a field of waving
wheat: The bearded wheat heads
were 50 bright and yellow that Helen
thought Of a field OF gold.
She looked SO long at the golden
heads that they began to nod and to
talk to her; and presently the oak-tree
drew long sigh, SO deep that it stir
red all the leaves, and shook off seye-
raj acorns.
why do you sigh on this fine day?,'
asked Helen kindly.
II am thinking answered the tree
"of that beautiful wheat, standing SO
proudly in the sunshine, and Of what
is to befall it. have seen so MANY
fields OF wheat grow up, thatI know
too well what is to happen. I saw
the farmer when he came to SOW this
field. | saw the little seeds drop into
the ground. have seen them grow
ing up to the glory Of green and cold.
and how often wavedtmy branches to
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