A Winter Artist

A Winter Artist
by Clara R. Bete

Winter time has come again.
Jack Frost, on the windowpane,
With the greatest care will trace
Patterns finer than old lace;
Fairies, flowers, and ferns he'll etch,
Or perhaps will make a sketch
Of a castle with a wall,
Or a maiden straight and tall.

O Jack Frost, it seems to me
Kind and skillful you must be-
You draw things that give delight,
And do it all in just one night!

Kites On High!

 Kites On High!
by Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass.
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all.
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you, that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child then me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Animal Alphabet, U through Z

The UNICORN
Had but one horn
To jab his foeman with;
It would not do
To search the zoo
For him, for he's a myth.

The toughest bird

Of which I've heard

Without doubt is the VULTURE.

He steals and slays,

And all his ways

Proclaim he has no culture.

The WILDCAT'S name

Shows he's not tame;

He's anything but mild.

His friends are few;

He knows it, too,

And that's what makes him wild.

Let's not discuss

The XIPHIAS,

I'm sure you would be bored.

the only thing

Interesting

About him is his sword.

It's well to stay

Quite far away

From YELLOW-JACKET'S nest.

For he can sting

Like anything;

That's what he does the best.

The old ZEBU

Would hardly do

To ride upon the street.

Though he knows how

To pull a plow,

He's anything but fleet.

Ross F. Taylor

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, N through T

 Some call the NEWT 
A savage brute,
And say we should avoid him.
But I've not seen
Him very mean,
Unless some one annoyed him.

 

The OYSTER'S brain
Weighs but a grain;
He's ignorant, and yet
He's very kind,
And you will find
He makes a lovely pet.

I would suggest

You don't molest

The prickly PORCUPINE.

His quills might be

Quite nice to see -

They do not feel so fine.

The mountain QUAIL

Likes snow and hail

And chilly weather most.

He's very good

Out in the wood;

He's better upon toast.

RHINOCEROS

Looks cross to us,

And rather loose and lumpy;

But I suppose

A horny nose

Would make us grim and grumpy.

The SNAIL, you know,

Is very slow;

He doesn't dare to roam

Without his shack

Upon his back,

So he'll always be at home.

The TIGER knows

A lot of foes;

'Most all the creatures fear him.

I you should meet

Him in the street,

You'd best not linger near him.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, G through M

 The billy GOAT
Can't sing a note;
He has no education.
But it is said
He'll use his head
And cause great consternation.

 

The HIPPOPOT-

AMUS is not

The handsomest of creatures.

But then it would 

Be very rude

To criticize his features.

It's foolish, quite

To quake with fright

At the harmless, tame ICHNEUMON.

I must admit

I'm scared of it;

But then, I'm only human.

The JELLYFISH

Has no ambish;

He drifts around the sea;

He's satisfied 

To ride the tide;

He's wretched company.

The KANGAROO

Feels very blue

Because his legs don't mate.

Unless he trims

His long hind limbs,

He can't improve his gait.

Nobody thinks

Much of the LYNX;

In fact, he much berated.

He's very sly,

and that is why

He's not domesticated.

The MASTODON

Is dead and gone;

Quite naturally, I think

He made his home

Way up 'round Nome;

No wonder he's extinct.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

Animal Alphabet, A through F

 A New Animal Alphabet by John Martin
 

The ALBATROSS Can fly across
The sea in ninety days.
It is agreed
That such a great speed
Entitles him to praise.

 

The BEAVER'S bite

Must be a fright

If properly inflicted.

If he bites me

I hope to see

Him speedily convicted.

 

The sand-hill CRANE

Is very vain

Of his ability

To stand a week 

Out in the creek

On one extremity.

The first of four sheets for the illustrated Animal Alphabet.

A fearful beast, 
To say the least,
Was the ancient DINOSAURUS.
He was so great,
We're fortunate
He died long years before us. 

The slippery EEL

Would doubtless feel

Sincere humiliation,

Should you mistake

Him for a snake;

They're really no relation.

It seems to me

The little FLEA

Is very justly hated.

I know that I'd

Be satisfied

Had he not been created.

1rst and 2nd and 3rd and 4th pages

The Oryx

The Oryx defends itself with deadly, beautiful horns.

       The  Oryx  is  famous  for  its  beautiful  horns.  These  weapons  have  a  graceful curl  to  them  and  are  often  three  feet  long.  They  are  covered  with  rings, while  the  ends  are  smooth  and  very sharp.  It  is  fairly  common  all  over  South Africa,  living,  like  the  gazelle,  in  bands.  It  is  not  nearly  so  timid  as  the  former, and  when  wounded  shows  considerable  spirit.  It  is  apt  to  lie  quite  still  until the  hunter  comes  near,  then  suddenly  charges  with  lowered  head  and  horns well  out.     These  wounds  usually  prove  fatal.
       In  the  early  days  of  South  Africa  the  oryx  used  to  wander  over  the  land in  huge  herds.  So  many  thousands  traveled  together  that  everything  green was  eaten  till  the  country  looked  as though  it  had  been  swept  by  locusts. 

The White-Bearded Diana Monkey

Diana monkeys have white beards.

       Who  has  visited  any  zoological  collection  and  failed  to  see  the  beautiful white-bearded  Diana  Monkey?  This  spotless,  fussy  little  creature  is  the most  beautiful  of  all  the  monkey  tribes. Although  the  Diana  monkey  is  a tropical  animal,  it  lives  well  in  captivity,  and,  from  the cleanliness  of  its  habits, makes  a  good  pet.     A  proof  of  its  fussy  habits  is  shown  in  the  following:
      A  Diana  monkey  was  once  given  a  peach  through  the  bars  of  its  cage,  and on  account  of  the angry  mutterings  of  the  monkeys  around  it,  the  little  creature feared  it  would  be  stolen  from  it.  After  the  peach  was  eaten,  the  stone  had been  cracked  and  the  kernel  extracted  and  finished,  the  white  beard  under  its chin  was  stained  with  peach-juice.  The  monkey  was  much  disturbed,  and went  to  work  and  cleaned  it  until  every  speck  of  dirt  and  stain  had  gone,  and its  fur  stood  out  as  fluffy  as  before.

• See how to make monkey hands using a human handprint or cut-out and funny monkey faces.

Billy's Whiskers

 

Billy's Whiskers

Billy Goat had whizzy whiskers

Underneath his chin and where
All the merry little breezes
Might just toss it here and there.

Billy loved his whizzy whiskers,

But he truly loved them best

When they covered up his bosom

Better than a fancy vest.

''Why wear vests when I have whiskers?

Wherefore even wear a coat,

When my whiskers serve the purpose?

Proudly whispered Billy Goat.

But one day a cross tornado

Whisked his whiskers off, I'm told;

Thus divesting Bill of whiskers.

Now he shivers with the cold.

The Yak, Or Grunting Ox

Yak also called the Grunting Ox.

        The  Yak,  or  grunting  ox,  gets  its  name  from  the  peculiar  noise  it  makes. This  magnificent  creature  lives  in  the  Pamirs,  or  high  country  between  the Himalayas,  Russia,  and  China.  These  vast  plains  reach  for  many  miles,  and are  more  elevated  than  the  European  snow-line.  That  is  why  the  Pamirs  are called  the  roof  of  the  world.  Over  the  immense  tracks  of  Thibet  the  yak  wanders, either  in  small  companies  or  just  by  itself.  It  feeds  upon  the  grasses which  are  found  in  summer,  and  in  winter  digs  them  up  out  of  the  snow.  Its nose  is  strongly  built,  so  that  it  can  push  away  the  snow  which  covers  its  food. Its  sense  of  smell  is  also  very  keen,  and  enables  it  not  only  to  detect  its  food when  covered,  but  also  to  scent  enemies  at  a  great  distance.
       In  the  early  spring  the  female  gives  birth  to  a  single  calf,  which,  when young,  is  said  to  resemble  a  Newfoundland  dog.  At  this  early  age  the  calf  is in  great  danger  from  the  hungry  packs  of  wolves,  which  would  not  hesitate  to attack  the  old  bull  yaks  themselves.  The  people  of  Thibet  have  managed  to tame  this  great  creature  and  turn  it  into  a  beast  of  burden.  For  the  country  it lives  in  it  is  very  useful,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  Europeans  would  put  up  with its  whims  and  temper.  Its  skin  is  beautiful,  the  fur  growing  to  a  great  length on  the  sides,  while  its  bushy  white  tail  was  largely  sought  after  for  cap  decorations  and  fans  for  the  Chinese long ago.  There  is  a  species  called  the  "plough"  yak, which  is  not  as  line  an  animal  as  the  true  yak.  It  is  a  poor,  ill-used  beast,  and is  generally  without  a  tail,  which  its  cruel  master  has  cut  off  and  sold.

The Graceful Antelopes

A large herd of antelope.

       The  Antelopes  represent  a  large  and  important  group  of  animals  which are  more  or  less  common  in  all  tropical  parts  of  the  earth.  The  antelope comes  nearest  to  the  goat.
       Perhaps  the  best-known  member  of  this  family  is  the  pretty  and  graceful Gazelle.  The  gazelle  relies  wholly  for  its  safety  upon  its  great  speed.  They are  usually  found  in  large  bands,  protecting  each  other  from  the  attacks  of hyenas  and  jackals,  and  the  smaller  animals.  Against  the  lion,  the  leopard, and  man,  their  three  greatest  enemies,  they  are  almost  helpless.  In  spite  of the  wary  sentinel,  which  always  keeps  watch,  the  cunning  lion  works  its  way toward  the  gazelles  until  it  can  spring  upon  one  or.  at  any  rate,  reach  it  with a  couple  of  bounds.  The  lion  knows  perfectly  well  that  it  must  creep  up  within striking  distance,  for  should  it  be  seen,  the  gazelles  will  gallop  oft"  at"  a  pace which  the  great  cat  could  not  keep  up  for  fifty  yards.
       In  parts  of  Syria  and  Araoia  a  species  called  the  "aerial"  gazelle  is  held in  great  favor  as  a  household  pet.  It  is  a  pretty  little  creature,  with  large,  lustrous eyes,  docile  and  good-tempered.

Kids can learn to draw antelopes at Thrifty Scissors.

 

Kids can learn to draw gazelle too at our Thrifty Scissors blog.

Mr. Rooster's Pals...

        Walter Wellman says that hidden on Mr. Rooster are the names of many of his bird friends, each name containing five letters. Start with any letter and see if you can spell a word by using the letters connected with its direct paths. You can move in any direction but must not jump over any letters. Many of the letters must be used move than once. When you have all the words that can be made, all the letters will have been used. How many can you find? 

Find Mr. Rooster's friends...

The Famous Chamois

The chamois rest among the rocks.

       The    Chamois   is perhaps  the  most  famous member  of  the  antelope family.  It  is  quite  wrong to  class  this  little  animal among  the  goats,  although it  is  like  them  in appearance.The  home of  the  chamois  is  in  the highest Alps, where  it feeds  upon  the  grass  that grows    near  the   snowline.  Everyone  has heard  of  the  speed  and  jumping  power  of  the  chamois,  and last,  but  not  least,  its  wonderful  sense  of  smell. It  will  scent a  man  at  a  distance  which  one  would  hardly  believe  possible. When  the  wary  creature  is  alarmed,  it  will  stand  like  a  statue and   stare   in  the  direction  in  which  it  smells  danger. The instant  it  sees  anything  move,  it  rushes  up  the mountain-side. The  rate  at  which  it  disappears  is  something  astonishing.  The chamois  is  just  as  clever  at  getting  down  hill  as  it  is  going  up. Hunters  sometimes  chase  the  animal   until   they  think  they have   it  cornered,  and   then   it  will   escape  being  caught  by sliding  down  what  seems  to  be  a  perpendicular  precipice.
       The  affection  of  the  doe  chamois  for  her  young  is  well shown  by  the  story  of  a  hunter  who chased  a  chamois  and  her  young  toward  the  end  of  a  rock  which  was  separated  from  its surroundings  by  a  deep  chasm.    The  hunter  wanted,  of  course,  to  catch  the  young  ones  alive.  To his  surprise,  he  saw  the mother  spread   her  legs  across  the  chasm  between  the  two rocks,  and then  make  a  sign  to  the  young  ones  to  climb  on  her  back.     The youngsters   soon  made  a  bridge of  their  mother,  and  were  quickly  out  of harm's  way.
       The  chamois,  like  all  antelopes,  are  found  in  small  bands,  which  are  always guarded  by  a sentinel.  Its  height  is  about  two  feet,  and  its  skin  is  a  brownish black,  streaked  with  white around  the  face.  Its  horns,  which  are  about  six  or eight  inches  long,  are  turned  back  in  two  sharp hooks.  They  are  jet  black  and beautifully  polished.     In  the  spring-time  there  are  sharp  battles  among  the chamois  before  they  pair  off  for  the  season,  but  once  summer  comes  they  all live  happily together.  There  have  been  many  attempts  to  tame  the  chamois, but  they  have  only  been  partly successful.  It  is  so  shy  that  it  will  not  allow anyone  to  touch  it;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  like  a true  antelope,  it  is  consumed with  curiosity,  peeping  and  prying  into  everything. 

 

Kids can draw the alert chamois. See how they stand at attention and listen?

Kids can also draw chamois as they graze in the pastures.

The Tailless Gibbon

The tailless gibbon lives in the trees.

        The  Gibbons  are  the  ''fairy-monkeys''  of  the  trees,  spending  almost as  much  time  in  the  air  as among  the  branches.  The  gibbon forms  a  link  between  the  great  apes, the  baboons,  and  lesser  monkeys. Like  the  other  apes,  they  are  tailless, and  have  an  enormous  development of  arm-power.  The  gigantic gorilla  and  chimpanzee  are  both tree-dwellers,  but  neither  of  them  would  attempt  feats  like  the  gibbon, which  is  able  to  spring  through  space  in  traveling  from  tree  to  tree.  Owing to  this  wonderful  power,  it  has  been  given  by  the  naturalists  the  name  of "hylobate,"  meaning  "tree  traverser."
       The  Silvery  Gibbon  derives  its  name  from  the  silver-gray  color  of  its  fur. On  some  parts  of  the  body  there is  a  trace  of  brown,  while  the hands  are  dark-colored.  The eyes  of  all  the  gibbon  family  are large  and  deeply  sunk  in  the  head.  The  gibbon's  size  is  about thirty  inches.  The Malaccas  are the  home  of  the  gibbons,  where they  live  their  playful  life  amid  the high  trees  and  cane-fields.

To A Child, About a Dog...

 To A Child
About a Dog

 

The truest of unselfish friends;
The pal whose loving never ends.
In times of want or of increase
His selfless loving will not cease.

Through all his life (a little span)
He has no hope and makes no plan
Save giving all his love to man.

So honor, cherish and defend
The love and life of our dog friend.

J.M.

The Pekinese

The Pekinese

A-R-IS-TO-CRAT-IC,
I am, yes,
Mark well my look
Of haughtiness. 

With half a glance

It's plain to see

The high degree

Of my most royal 

Pedigree.

By Emperor and Mandarin,

By pampered ladies

Of the court

I am always sought.

Long and drooping

Silken hair;

Tail a plume of

Beauty rare.

Beauty, softness,

Wisdom, class;

All of these

Are qualities 

Of me, a Pekinese.

But let us see-

Yes, after all

A child will call

Me just a doggie

Like the others-

My own blood brothers.

Tiger, Tiger

 Tiger, Tiger 
by William Blake and
The last verse interpolated by J. M.

Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Shaped thy fearful symmetry?

 

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And, when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Who can say? Which of us can

Comprehend His mighty plan?

Therefore let us rest content

Knowing Good is God's intent.

The Thieving Green Monkey

       The  Green  Monkeys  are  natives  of  Senegal,  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa. They  are  often  seen  in  Europe  and  America,  owing  to  their  being  well adapted  to  our  rigorous  climate.  They  are  famous  for  the  beauty  of  their silky  fur.  They  are  not  liked  by  the  natives,  owing  to  their  thieving  habits. One  green  monkey  is  not  a  serious  thing,  but  a  number  will  work  fearful havoc  in  a  very  short  time.  They  destroy  ruthlessly,  tearing  down  more  than they  can  eat  or  carry  away. 

• Green monkey facts you'll never forget by Kidadl

Large troop of Green Monkeys.

Kids can learn to draw a cute little monkey portrait...

The Burrowing Chipmunk

A chipmunk cracks acorns for it's dinner.

        The  bright  little  Chipmunk  is another  burrowing  rodent.  It  is  very common  near  the  woods,  where  it  can be  seen  scampering  along  through the  undergrowth,  making  the  curious, chirping  noise  from  which  it  gets  its name.  It  is  almost  defenseless,  while its  coat  is  so  bright  and  pretty,  just the  sort  to  attract  prowling  enemies. All  the  summer  long  it  is  busy  storing up  food  in  the shape  of  nuts  and haws  for  the  winter.  The  chipmunk nearly  always  carries  four  nuts  in  its mouth  at  a  time,  which,  considering the  size  of  the  animal,  is  a  huge  load. When  out  looking  for  food  it  must leave  its  shelter,  and  is  thus  laid  open to  attacks  from  the  polecat  and  hawk. Nevertheless,  there  is  hardly  any  little  animal  which,  to  human  eyes,  seems  so completely  happy.  It  is  never  seen  except  it  is  whisking  its  tail  about  in  the liveliest  manner. 

• Chipmunks - a brief documentary by Abbott Productions
  
• Chipmunks are ferocious snake killers? by Animalogic

 

Kids can learn to draw a chipmunk eating an acorn.

The Gorilla is The Largest Ape

The angry gorilla misunderstood in the past.

Below is an account of the first meeting between a French-American zoologist, Paul Du Chaillu, and gorilla.  His biography.

       ''The  largest  and  most  formidable  of  the  ape  tribe  is  the  Gorilla.  The animal  is  black,  with  dark  gray  eyes.  For  many years  the  reports  of  these  terrible  beasts  had  reached  Europe,  giving  the  impression that  it  was  a  myth  or  legend  of  the  slave-traders.  Travelers  who returned  to  Europe  brought  news  of  a  gigantic  race  of  hairy  savages  living  on the  west  coast  of  Africa.  Then  Paul  Du  Chaillu,  the  great  explorer,  brought home  a  true  account  of  the  huge  ape,  which  evidently  some imaginative  natives  had taken  to  be  a  race  of  men;  but  even  then  the  truth  was  doubted.  At  last Du  Chaillu  brought  home  the  skin  and  skeleton  of  a  gorilla.  This  set  all suspicions  at  rest.  The  specimen  was  found  to  stand  nearly  six  feet  high,  with shoulders  three  feet  wide,  and  arms  that  reached  almost  to  the  ground ;  but, above  all  things,  stood  out  the  unsurpassed  strength  of  these  apes.

      In  the  hunting-ground  Dr.  Chaillu  was  surprised  to  find  complete  silence over  everything.  Calling  to  mind  the  sayings  of  the  natives,  that  nothing could  live  near  the  gorilla,  he  found  no  birds  in  the  forest,  and  even  the  noisy tree-frogs  were  silent.  The  hunters  assured  him  that  these  signs  meant  that the  game  must  be  near.  After  walking  in  single  file  through  the  forest  for awhile,  they  stopped  to  consult,  and  noticed  that  the  gun-carrier,  who  was  the last  man  of  the  party,  was  missing.  Before  any  questions  could  be  asked,  the man's  dead  body  suddenly  fell  from  the  branches  far  above  them.  They  had passed  right  under  where  a  gorilla  was  sitting,  and  with  its  hind  foot  it  had gripped  up  the  last  man  and  killed  him.  This  proved  to  be  a  favorite  trick that  the  gorilla  plays  on  the  natives,  who  always  held  that  the  great  ape  was more  to  be  feared  than  the  lion.

      The  gorilla  in  this  instance  broke  cover  with  a  roar,  and  made  off  through the  branches  with  astonishing  speed,  in  spite  of  its  great  bulk  and  weight.

      A  female  and  young  one  were  found,  and  a  great  battle  began.  One hunter  had  his  gun  snatched  from  him  by  the  brute,  and  Du  Chaillu  was  astounded to  see  it  bent  and  twisted  in  the  creature's  hand  like  a  cane.  The female  showed  an  immense  store  of  vitality,  for  after being  shot  several  times she  still  fought.  When  at  last  she  could  not  rise,  the  young  one  threw  itself upon  its  mother's  breast  with  a  strangely  human  cry.     This  baby  gorilla  was brought  to England  and  caged  with  a  bull  terrier,  with  whom  it  made  great friends ;  but  in  spite  of  all  the  care  and  attention  it  died.

      Another  illustration  of  the  enormous  strength  of  the  gorilla  is  the  escape of  a  specimen  which  had  been  shipped  to  England,  and  placed  in  the  Zoological Gardens.  The  keeper  had  closed  up  for  the  night,  never  doubting  but  that his  charge  was  safe.  The  next  morning  he  was  astonished  to  find  that  the extra  strong  steel-bars  of  the  cage  had  been  wrenched  apart,  and  the  occupant was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  When  the  news  leaked  out  a  panic  ensued  in  the Garden; but  the  gorilla  was  found  in  the  tunnel  under  the  roadway.  The strong  cage  that  it  had  been  brought  in  was  still  handy,  and  the  huge  beast was  coaxed  into  it  once  more.''

We understand the gorilla so much more today because of the detailed accounts of Dian Fossey.

• ''Gorilla's In The Mist'' film
• Who murdered Dian Fossey?
• Biography of Dian Fossey
• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
• International Primate Protection League

The ''King Of The Prairies''

"King" of the Western Prairies.

       The  Buffalo,  or  Bison,  has  been  called  the  "  King  of  the  Prairies,"  but, alas!  it  is  king  no  longer.  The  march  of  man  across  the  plains  has  driven  the buffalo  out  of  existence.  It  is  a  dull  and  stupid  animal,  which  accounts  for allowing  itself  to  be  so  easily  tracked ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  has  immense strength  and  great  speed.  The  Indian  found  that  the  buffalo  supplied  him with  almost  everything  he  needed :  hide,  wool,  fat,  and  meat.  Armed  only with  a  bow  and  arrow,  he  killed  but  few  of  the  vast  herds  which  roamed  the plains  north  of  the  Platte  River.  Then came  the  white  man  with  the  rifle,  and the  result  is  that  the  buffalo  has  vanished.  Not  a  single  wild  specimen  lives today.  In  a  few  shows,  notably  Buffalo  Bill's,  in  private  collections  both  in this  country  and  in  England,  and  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  the  buffalo  still lives,  guarded  jealously  from  harm.  Thirty  years  ago  it  was  a  common  sight to  see  countless  thousands  of  these  mighty  creatures  together.  The  huge  collection of  skulls  and  bones  testify  to  what  their  numbers  must have  been. Many  methods  were  used  to  kill  the  buffalo  wholesale,  and  one  was  to  take advantage  of  the  large  ravines  through  which  the  western  rivers  run.  The herds  were  surrounded  on  three  sides,  leaving  the  only  avenue  of  escape  over the  precipice.  At  a  given  signal,  all  the  men  would  rush  in,  yelling  and waving  hats.  The  herd  would  promptly  rush  off.  As  soon  as  the  leaders reached  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  they  would  try  to  back  away,  but  the  numbers behind  would  force  them  on,  and  thus  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  wipe  out a  whole  herd.
       The  white  man  usually  hunted  the  buffalo  from  horseback.  This  method is  much  more  successful.  It  takes  pluck  to  enter  a  herd  and  separate  a  member and  shoot  it  down  while  going  at  full  speed.  In  spite  of  its  timid  nature, the  buffalo  is  a  terrible  foe  when  brought  to  bay. 

• The Story of A Buffalo

 

Kids can learn to draw an American Buffalo at Thrifty Scissors.

Fairyland Index

Fairies dance in the moonlight.

       In a charming  play  of  Peter  Pan ,  when  Peter  advances  to  the  footlights  and  says  appealingly, ''Do  you  believe  in  fairies?''  grown  people  as well  as  children  cry,  ''Yes!  Yes!''  and  mean  it, too.  For  the  moment  they  do  believe  in  fairies - the  little  beings  are  too  beautiful,  too delightful  not  to  be  real.  To  children  at  certain  stages  of  their  experience  they  are  the most  enticing,  the  most  important  inhabitants of  the  earth.  Every  flower  cup  may  be  a fairy's bedroom;  every  mushroom  is  a  fairy's dining-table.  The  gauzy-winged  butterflies  are the  fairies'  airships,  and  very  often  in  the woods  and  fields  of  a  summer's  morning  may be  seen  the  rings  where  their  tiny  feet  have danced  all  night.  True,  the  most  watchful child  has  never  caught  a  glimpse  of  one,  but almost  every  child  has  felt  many  a  time  that he  might  have  seen  one  had  he  turned  about just  a  little  more  quickly.  As  the  little  girl  in the  song  says:

I  know  whenever  fairies  pass,

Because  they  lightly  bend  the  grass;

I  never  see  them,  so  I  think,

They  must  go  by  just  when  I  wink.

       Fairies  do  not  like  the  cold,  so  they  are  not  to be  found  in  the  fields  in  the  winter,  but  there is  one  place  where  they  can  always  be  found, and  ready  indeed  are  they  at  all  times  to come  out  and  play  with  the  delighted  children. From  between  the  covers  of  the  favorite  fairy tale  book  they  glide,  and  with  a  wave  of  their wands  carry  the  children  with  them  to  wonderful  countries  - that  never  were  on  land  or sea.  There  is  Cinderella's  fairy  godmother; she  does  not  look  much  like  a  fairy,  but  what a  powerful  one  she  is,  with  her  wand  that  can turn  pumpkins  into  chariots!  And  Jack's fairy  that  he  met  at  the  top  of  the  beanstalk; the  beautiful  lady  with  the  star-tipped  wand; what  could  he  ever  have  done  without  her advice?  Sometimes  the  fairies  in  these  wonderful  tales  carry  away  a  child  from  its  wicked selves;  sometimes  they  bear  away  to  their fairy  home  some  man  who  deserves  punishment,  and  there  make  his  life  a  burden  to him;  or  they  make  it  possible  for  a  poor  little girl  who  is  out  tending  the  goats,  and  never has  enough  to  eat,  to  spread  for  herself  each day  a  fairy  table  with  everything  on  it  that she  likes  the  most.  One  thing  may  be  depended  on, the  true  fairies  are  always  found assisting  the  good  people,  and  no  one  who  is cruel  or  cross  or  greedy  ever  need  look  for any  help  from  them.  If  the  moral  of  these tales  be  very  obvious,  the  children  do  not mind;  that  is  the  way,  it  seems  to  them,  that the  world  should  be  managed.

       Fairies  may  be  of  almost  any  size  or  appearance;  indeed,  they  can  look  like  anything they  choose,  changing  between  one  moment and  the  next.  A  favorite  device  of  a  fairy who  wants  to  find  out  about  the  worthiness  or unworthiness  of  a  person  is  to  appear  as  a poor  old  woman  seeking  aid,  and  then,  when she  has  found  out  all  she  wants  to  know,  to throw  off  her  disguise.  The  Irish,  who  seem to  know  the  most  about  fairies,  declare  that they  prefer  to  appear  as  tiny  men  and  women, the  men  in  charming  attire  of: green  jacket,  red  cap and  white  owl's  feather; the  little  ladies  in  gauzy  gowns  and  bonnets made  of  flower  petals.  Long  after  children have  ceased  to  believe  that  there  actually  are fairies  they  love  to  read  of  their  marvelous doings  and  to  satisfy  their  inborn  sense  of justice  by  gloating  over  the  way  the  fairies always  reward  the  good  and  punish  the  evil in  the  end.

       Should  Fairy  Tales  Be  Told?  There  are people  who  do  not  believe  in  telling  fairy stories  to  children,  but  the  weight  of  opinion is  all  in  the  other  direction.  Educators  hold that,  besides  giving  pleasure,  such  stories  perform  a  real  service  in  stimulating  the  imagination.

Fairies For Coloring:

• Snow White coloring pages at our blog here
• Little Red Riding Hood coloring pages here 
• Cinderella coloring pages on this blog
  

Fairies and Fairylands for Crafting:

• 12 Magic Changeling Paper Dolls
• Fairy Fall Feast on this journal lesson
• How to make an enchanted fairy doll...
• Craft a doll' fairy wand for play...
• Foxglove Fairy Caps For Fun!
• Fairy Friends paper cuts

Short Fairy Stories:

• Raggedy Ann and The Fairies' Gift by Johnny Gruelle 
• The Fairy Queen by 9 year old Margaret Matthews

Classic Fairy Tales:

• Cinderella - ''There was once a rich man whose wife lay sick, and when she felt her end drawing near she called to her only daughter to come near her bed, and said...
• The Sleeping Beauty - ''In times past there lived a King and Queen, who said to each other every day of their lives, "Would that we had a child!" and yet they had none...

Fairly Good Fairy Tunes for Kids:

• ''Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo'' from Disney's Cinderella - Also known as ''The Magic Song''
• ''Let Me Be Your Wings'' from Thumbelina
• ''Fly to Your Heart'' Tinkerbell Tribute by Disney

Read Aloud About Fairies for Young Students:

• ''Mister Fairy!'' read aloud at Vooks
• ''Thumbelina'' read aloud at Little Cozy Nook
• ''The Cloud Fairy's Friend'' read aloud at Toadstool and Fairy Dust
• ''A Birthday Fairy Tale'' read aloud by Bedtime Stories with Dessi!
• ''Lola the Lollipop Fairy'' read aloud by ABC Read to ME
• ''Camilla the Cupcake Fairy'' read aloud by The Storytime Channel
• ''How to Trick The Tooth Fairy'' read aloud by KidTimeStoryTime

Fairy Poems:

• Grandmother's Garden by Marjorie Barrows
• The Elf and The Dormouse illustrated poem
• A Winter Artist by Clara R. Bete 
  

September

 September by Frank Dempster

Here's  lyric for September,
Best of all months to remember;
Month when summer breezes tell
What has happened wood and dell,
Of the joy the year has brought,
And the changes she has wrought.
She has turned the verdure red;
In the blue sky overhead,
She the harvest moon has hung,
Like a silver boat among
Shoals of stars, - bright jewels set
In the earth' blue coronet;
She has brought the orchard's fruit
To repay the robin's flute
Which has gladdened half the year
With a music, liquid clear;
And she makes the meadow grass
Catch the sunbeams as they pass,
Till the autumn's floor is rolled
With a fragrant cloth of gold.

Maggie's Meals

       ''There was once a little girl whose name was Maggie,'' said daddy, ''and how she did love meals! Now, one evening when Maggie had gone to bed along came a fine looking creature very handsomely dressed.

       ''Who are you?' asked Maggie.

       ''I'm the Dream King and I'm going to take you to a party.'

       ''So Maggie went with the Dream King and they visited such interesting and hospitable people.

       ''They went to a huge city which seemed to be made of delicious things to eat and which, as soon as people ate from the city, the food grew or was cooked back again!

       ''It was all very marvelous. And to Maggie's surprise she saw Duke Ice Cream take up a spoon and scoop a huge mouthful right off his very arm. And in another few minutes his arm was as before.

       ''The Duke told her he liked the cold weather and that he always lived in the coldest part of the city.

       ''Lady Lettuce was followed everywhere by her pages, the Vinegar and Oil boys. And sometimes she had friends to call on her like the Tomato Twins and the Cucumber Cousins and the Potato Pals. Maggie also met Apple, the queen of all the Pies.

       ''Maggie had the very best time in the world and when the Dream King told her he must be taking her back Maggie said:

       '''And you've not told me I was wrong to enjoy my meals so much.'

       '''I gave you a surprise, in not scolding you, eh?'  asked the Dream King. 'Well, you're never greedy or selfish and if you like your food I think it is fine. Good-night!'''

• Kids Watch ''The Fresh Vegetable Mystery'' from 1939!
• Betty Boop ''Dizzy Dishes'' from 1930

A Pumpkin Shaped Crossword for October

 Teachers, parents and ministers may download and print this October, pumpkin puzzle for kids! 

Fall/Halloween fun crossword for kids.

• Color the pumpkin in the field and practice writing Pp
• Color the farmer harvesting pumpkins here