Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-17

of one boy, while his elder brother held fast
to "Robinson Crusoe," 'The Hedge An
chor," much from 'Froissart's Chronicles"
and knew, literally by heart, the "Ancient
Mariner" and Longfellow's Building of
the Ship"
From to 10 years of age these were inev-
liable to US, "sister" and myself-readers in
ordinary to Their Majesties, the little boys.
Beloved of them both were Hans Ander-
sens "Fairv Tales and 1.-THE Arabian
Nights" Lanes scholarly version admira-
bly, illustrated made this an attractive
course of instruction in Oriental usages,
climate, religion and geography, and my
father had through its medium taught these
to us in our childhood.
The Difference in Tastes.
One bov loved the positive, and required
results, direct thought and action combined,
and motion. "Skip that" was his sure in
terruption to episodes dealing with emo
tions; while the other boy was born ana
lyzer and casuist. Dangers averted or over
come through mental force charmed one,
whether it were the fox in Grimm's 'tFairy
Tales" or the Oriental subtleties of the
"Arabian Nights" while the others saw
first and most acceptable the resort to
strength of arm. The younger was becom-
ing an expert fencer in his sixth year while
the other took kindly to boxing. Their
books were naturally on these lines, even
their games.
Circumstances had kept us much in re-
mote places while they were very young
and they could have no other children as as
societes, for only grown men were in our
mountain mining country. But the book
of nature was open wide to them at some of
its most beautiful and suggestive pages; and
Master knowledge interpreted these to tie
plastic young minds. When we were leav-
ing the East for California for an indefinite
stay Git was only interrupted by the war;
Mr.. Beecher thought it pity to take the
boys where there were no schools. I said
they would have US for first teachers, and
they would have what boys need for health
and happiness-real country life, and horse,
dog and gun. 'T never had horse, a dog
or gun, and know was a happy boy"
he said. But our Southern habits made
these seem inseparable from boy life, and
the old Persian training "to ride, to shoot,
to speak the truth was their fathers care,
while "sister" and put in . mild infusion
of the elementary "three RS" and on
rainy days gave them unlimited reading
aloud.
True Stories of the War.
With the war opened q new life. On the
long journey by way of the Isthmus the in
dispensable "Robinson Crusoe," 'Haroun
the Just and "Hans Andersen" held the
boys as captive as ever.
In the Gulf of Mexico we were pursued
by Admiral Semmes for our steamer was a
rich prize with its 81, 900 in California
gold: the little boys felt the seriousness of
the precautions to avoid capture. They
saw no lights at all allowed, while the pas
sengers, unable to read or play cards in the
dark, talked in subdued voices of the not
far back time when the Pirate Laftte was
the terror of the gulf Our captain went
nearly 100 miles out of his course and so
escaped the Sumter, but as we passed Hat
teras we were chased by a fine sailing ves-
sci, the JEFF Davis.
1t was bright, cold day of gustv winds,
which fortunately died out entirely as the
day progressed, and we left the privateer
becalmed. Just as in the pirate stories, we
got away and came safely to port, where the !
twin lights of Neyersink flashed their well |
come like glad eyes. After such expert |
ence whose but Cooper's and Marryatt's |
sea stories could satify them?
Caring for a Wounded Son.
We were soon in the midst of actual war |
and carried along on the stream of great /
events, while the sad undertone of hospitals ,
and sorrowful women left neither time nor
thought for usual home life, until Jack laid |
q mine in the stable yard, and, stopping
over to make sure the fuse was doing its
work, caught the explosion in his face. He
was brought In blinded and dazed, with
skin and hair scorched off.
"His eyes?" was the first shocked ques-
ion of his father
On the staff was young Prussian surgeon.
He had helped bring in the fainting child,
md now said, "Leave him to me, General;
ipE he ha
And they were saved. Not even weak
ness has ever followed, and eyebrows and
ashes grew in beauty again, while not
race of powder was left under the healthy
new skin. After the first weeks of the
close care all had to depend on
Eatchful nursing, and amusing restless
,hild, whose closely bandaged head must
De kept from fatigue or chilling. Schere-
;ade never told more tales to her Sultan
han did now, and the same old stories
we're read by us with the same charm to
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