Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-23
GOOD MANNERS.

country. He had pony and many
other pets, and wore fine clothes.
John was very proud of all the very
fine things his fathers money bought.
He began to think that being rich was
better than being good. He grew very
rude, and was very cross to the SER
wants. Once he kicked Towser; but
the dog growled, and John was afraid
to kick him again.
One day when John was playing in
the yard he saw a boy standing by
the gate. He was ragged and dirty,
his hat was torn, and his feet were
bare. But he had pleasant face. In
one hand he carried pail half full Of
blacltberries.
Go away from here" said John,
running to the gate. I'VE are rich
and we don't want ragged boys
around"
please give me a drink" said the
boy. "If you are rich, you can spare
me a dipper of water"
I'VE can't spare you anything" said
John. IF you don't go away will
set the dogs on you"
! The boy walked away, swinging the
tin pail in his hand.
81 think will get some blackber-
ries, too" said John to himself He
went out of the gate into lane lead
Ing to meadow where there were
| plenty of berries. There he saw some
large ones, growing just over ditch.
He thought he could leap over it very
easily. He gave run and very big
jump. The ditch was wider than he
had thought, and instead of going
over 1t, he came down in the mitdle
Of it.
The mud was very soft and thick,
and John sank in 1t to his waist.
He was very much frightened and
screamed loudly for help. But he had
not much hope that help would come,
for he was long way from any
| house.
He screamed until he was tired,
amid began to think he would have to
| spend the night in the ditch. Sud
denly he heard steps on the grass.
Looking up he saw the ragged boy he
had driven from the gate.
| please help me OUT said John,
crying, "and l will give you dollar
Il don't want the dollar" said the
boy, lying down fiat on the grass
Holding out both hands he drew him
out of the ditch.
| 4,
John was covered with mud, his hat
gone, and one shoe was lost in the
ditch. He looked very miserable.
who is dirty now?" asked the boy.
81 am" said poor John; 'but thank
You very much for helping me out of
the mire. And 1 am sorry sent you
from the gate" ..,.-l4,ss.-.-sss s
THE next time come perhaps you
will treat me BETTER" said the boy. 81
am not rich, but / think have bet.
ter manners"
u think so, too said John.
The next day when John saw the
boy, going by the gate, he called him
in, showed him his rabbits and the
little ducks and then gave him a ride
on his pony.
You have good manners, now" said
the boy.
yes" exclaimed John "I found
them in a ditch. Our Little Ones.
A QUEER OYSTER STORY. !.
Nature study tells us that oysters
see their food without eyes, catch it
without mouth, and digest 1t with.
out stomach.
As they live in their little shells SO
tightly closed, they are no more like
living creatures than stones are; yet
they are active enough not only to
feed themselves, but also to suspect
when danger is near, and protect
themselves from it.
Have you ever heard an oyster make
a noise? 1t makes one, though not
as loud as the bark of dog, nor as
sweet as the song of a canary.
Marjory, a little girl whose grand
father lives in old Virginia, near the
seashore, can tell you all about it. I'm
der her grandpa's house is a dark eel
lar, watertight, where they keep oys
tiers, just from the sea, and fatter
them.
Marjory's grandpa spread pals OF
oysters on the cellar floor, and pour
ed seawater on them, then sprinkled
a large quantity of corn-meal on the
water. Oysters fatten very quickly on
corn-meal, and feed themselves, but
not until everybody has gone out and
the door is shut. They are cute enough
to know when any one is in the Gel
lar.
This little girl often amused her
self by opening the door quickly, sc
she would hear the snap" the oysters
made shutting their shells. THAI
snap" is the only sound they make
but when a few pailfuls of then
snap" at once, the noise is quite
loud. When no one is near they lie
with their shells open, for that is the
way they get their food. The corn
meal floats into their shells with the
water, and becomes absorbed into
those strange little bodies.
On one visit to grandpa's, Marjory
was told that oysters often catcl
mice. This was rather more than sh,
could believe, but 1t was true.
One day she found this out with he
own eyes, that an oyster is as good
mouse trap as was ever invented. |
catches and kills them instantly. Sh
f holA r,,ipl