HIDING HENS' EGGS;

OR, A CHAPTER ON SIGNS AND OMENS.

M

JW.OR

If

Y eye has just fallen upon an article entitled, "Hunting Hens' Nests." You have seen it,

doubtless. It is from the pen of "Uncle Frank," who has done a good deal to amuse and instruct the young. The perusal of this story reminds me of an incident of my boyhood, which I will give you.

you will turn to the article named, you will find a very accurate description of my father's barn. There was the barn floor, with the bay and the scaffold on either side, and the high, very high beams overhead, with the loose poles extending from one to the other, to sustain the rye, or the oats, or the straw, after the grain was thrashed out. There, too, the hens were accustomed sometimes to make their nests; and there, on a certain occasion, a roguish boy conceived the notion of secreting a quantity of eggs which he had gathered from different nests. There was no interdict imposed against his going on to the great beams, as they were familiarly called, as the poles were well covered with straw, and therefore no danger apprehended of sliding through; nor is there at this time a distinct recollection of the motive which prompted the hiding of the eggs. This much I can say, that I was ever treated by my parents in a very kind and frank manner, and every reasonable want supplied, without recourse on my part to any sly and wicked manoeuvres to deceive them and accomplish my own unauthorized projects. Were it demanded of me to name the motive, I should say it was nothing more than the desire to secure the pleasure of presenting at one time a large number, and thus create an agreeable surprise. Be that as it may, the eggs were secreted, and the quantity increased by daily additions until they amounted to quite a "heap."

In those days, as in these, there were signs by which it was pretended certain future events were indicated. I think there was much more talk about signs, and lucky and unlucky days, then than now. At least, children hear less about them now. There were then few, very few books adapted to the instruction and amusement of children; and the few that were in existence, many of them, certainly, were calculated to foster superstition and encourage a belief in signs and prodigies, rather than to enlighten the mind, and elevate it to a cheerful contemplation of the Being who controls all events, and a delightful confidence in his paternal care. Many an hour have I spent in listening to or reciting tales of ghosts and hobgoblins-which were calculated to dwarf the mind and pervert the heart-simply because there was access then to no other more rational and more profitable method of passing a leisure hour. The Sabbath-school book-the youth's miscellany-these are a boon, for the slighting of which the children of my boyhood are not accountable. They are the product of a later period. They are a privilege, for the right improvement of which the children and youth of the present and succeeding ages must give account.

Among other foolish notions with which my head was lumbered, was this—that the occurrences of the following month take their shape and coloring from the position of the body when the new moon first greets the eye. If the new moon is seen first over the right shoulder, it is an omen for good; if over the left, an omen for evil; if directly before the face, a fall is predicted before Madam Luna has completed her monthly circuit, and again presents her sharp-pointed horns. She at this time presented herself directly before me, and looked me square in the face. A fall now awaited me. The question arose, How shall I dislodge my treasure of eggs from their perilous position, before the sad catastrophe befal me? In a half-jocose and half-serious manner, I proposed to a sister that I would at least anticipate the fall by making sure of my eggs. Thus there was a good deal of pleasant bantering between us on the probability of the fulfilment of the omen, in the very act of accomplishing this now hazardous exploit. At my sportive sug. gestion, she ran to summon a younger sister to enjoy with her the sight of my rapid descent; while I, hat on head, mounted the

ladder, crept very cautiously on hands and knees to the place of deposit, filled my hat with the hid treasures, and turned in the same cautious manner to reach the ladder, when suddenly my support yielded under me, and in an instant, by the simple force of gravitation, I was resting, eggs and all, on the solid foundation of the barn floor. A kind Providence had ordered that, though the floor was lumbered with various articles—which, had I fallen upon them, must sadly have bruised my flesh-I should avoid them, and strike upon my feet. The fall jarred me exceedingly, and fixed my previously erect form for a moment in a very crooked position. I was able to walk, however, and, bent almost double, started for the house. When about half-way on my journey, I met the two sisters, not a little surprised at my bent-up appearance, and yet more than half-inclined to the belief that I was practicing upon them a pleasant joke. A sudden, involuntary motion relaxed the ligament, whatever it was, which held me bound down. I at once assumed an erect posture, returned to the scene of the disaster to ascertain the fate of my hat and eggs, and went about my duties or my sports, experiencing no serious inconvenience from the fulfilment of the sign.

"And did not this experience confirm you in the belief of signs?" Not at all: the opposite of this. It relaxed its hold on me. It roused the mind to reflection. It led me to see and feel the utter

folly and danger of yielding one's self up to the control of such a senseless notion. I believed then, and believe now, that my bondage to this idle whim was the cause of my calamity. My fear overpowered my resolution. It clouded my reason. Had I not been under its influence, but gone boldly and resolutely forward, as in many instances previously, I should, in all reasonable probability, have escaped the hazard to my limbs and the entire loss of my eggs. The fact is, Madam Luna thinks little and cares less about the movements of the busy multitudes who burden the mistress on whom she is appointed to dance attendance. Though she is beautiful to look upon, when she peers forth in her full dress, without any frowns on her face, and a great convenience at times to those whose duties require them to go forth in the absence of the "greater light,” I confidently believe she is wholly unconscious of the delight and

benefit she administers, and enjoys not a particle of the pleasure which is the result of well-doing in conscious mortals.

But though the moon, in any and all her aspects and positions, has little to do with the safety or danger of those who contemplate her movements, there is a Star-the Star of Bethlehem, who is intensely interested in the concerns of our world, and whose influence for weal or for woe, upon the present and eternal destiny of every child and youth, is all-powerful. His aspect toward us it becomes all to study. His monitions it becomes all to heed. His foot-prints it becomes all to copy.

H. D.

THE FIRST-BORN.

THE first-born is a fairy child,

A wondrous emanation!

A tameless creature, fond and wild-
A moving exultation!

Beside the hearth, upon the stair,

Its footstep laughs with lightness;
And cradled, all its features fair
Are touched with mystic brightness.

First pledge of their betrothed love—
O, happy they that claim it!
First gift direct from heaven above-
O, happy they that name it!
It tunes the household with its voice,
And, with quick laughter ringing,
Makes the inanimate rooms rejoice,
A hidden rapture bringing.

Its beauty all the beauteous things
By kindred light resembles;
But, evermore with fluttering wings,
On fairy confines trembles.

So much of those that gave it birth,
Of father and of mother;

So much of this world built on earth,
And so much of another!

MY YOUNGER SISTER.

WHEN I was a little girl, my mother, one pleasant May-day, permitted my little sister Alice and myself to visit a cousin, who lived nearly a mile distant. We were in high glee, and were very soon prepared to start. I was in such haste to see cousin Harriet, that I walked as fast as possible, and Alice was obliged to run to keep pace with me. Still we proceeded very well, until we entered a piece of woods, where the path was very uneven. But, inconsiderate as I was, I hurried her along, and, becoming impatient, would every few moments give her a jerk, and tell her, "Come along faster; I'll not stay out all the afternoon for you. I'll leave you in the woods, and the bears will get you." Though I knew very well that there were no bears there, and did not think of leaving her, yet I unkindly wished to excite her fears, and thereby make her come more rapidly. Sometimes I would even run on before, until I was lost to her view; and when, by a fresh exertion of her almost exhausted strength, she would overtake me, I would say, "You had better hurry;" and at any noise, I would tell her to listen, and see if the bears were not coming. When we reached our uncle's, Alice seemed much exhausted, and did not join in play with her usual vivacity; but I thought but little of it at the time. When evening came, we rode home with our uncle, who was going to our house on business. When we alighted from the carriage, we ran in, and I began to tell mother what fine times we had had; but Alice lay down on the sofa, and soon fell asleep. When mother undressed and put her in bed, she noticed that she was slightly feverish, and remarked, "I think Alice has played too hard." "I guess not, mamma," I said; "I believe she did not play quite as hard as usual, this afternoon;" and here the conversation ended. About midnight, I was awak