The Leisure Hour. MAUDE AND HER FRIENDS. BY MAUDE MURRAY. CHAPTER III. CARRIE'S CABINET. spend my time rambling around picking up "A compliment from such a source would in my estimation more than counterbalance the NEVER knew anyone so bewitched satirical comments of a dozen such men as after curiosities as Carrie Merton. Frank Foster and Will Wilson, and if their Always peering into the most un- observations were intended for Carrie's benefit heard of places for the ugliest I am glad she appreciated their insignificance. things imaginable. I expect she She is always ready to impart information, and will break her neck some day and that will be does it so unostentatiously that one can not the end of her." help admiring her, though feeling their own mental inferiority. I should call oftener if my time was not so entirely taken up with my writing. She has just received some fine "Not the end, Fannie dear, you forget it is not all of life to live, or all of death to die." am very anxious to examine them I've decided to take a half holiday to-morrow and visit her. Will you go with me, Fannie?" "Pshaw! Maude, don't preach, you know I did not mean that. But she passed our house additions to her cabinet, from abroad, and as I before five this morning, looking like a 'figure of fun,' with her short dress, high boots, and an immense hammer in her hand. Her brother carried his gun, game bag and I don't know how many other things to contain the spoils captured in a day's tramp among the hills. The idea of a young lady being so infatuated with geology, that she must spend half her time pounding up bits of rock, like any day laborer, is perfectly preposterous. I'm glad my tastes don't run in that direction," and pretty Fannie Williams tossed her head disdainfully. "Thank you, Maude, I would like to see what she has new; but my bump of self esteem is so depressed after being in her society five minutes, that should I spend half a day with her, it would require more than a month to recover my equilibrium. There she is now; did you ever see such a fright? I declare she is carrying the game bag, and what a load Charlie has! they must have been very successful. I do "It takes all kinds of people to make a believe she is coming here; if she does I'm off. world," said I, "Only think how terribly She would annihilate me in a moment, and I stupid it would be if we were all fac similes of want to be particularly brilliant this evening. each other. I am sure if you should meet at Earnest Wallace has invited me to ride, and every turn an exact counterpart of yourself, you you know we are having a splendid flirtation." would soon weary of the sameness, and perhaps Oh, Fannie, Fannie! haven't I told you sigh for the very characteristics you now con- fifty times how naughty it is to flirt. I'm demn. Carrie is a splendid scholar. Rather afraid you'll be very sorry some day." masculine in her pursuits; but that is not sur- Nonsense, Maude, you are so old maidish. prising when you remember, that from child-But seriously I am going to turn over a new hood she has been passionately fond of the leaf' after I've 'sown all my wild oats,' and you beautiful and strange in nature, devoting every will see how prim and stiff I shall be. Papa spare moment to procuring specimens for her says every one can't be good like Kitty, for she museum. When her brother is at college she must find them herself or do without; but she is so independent that scarcely a week passes in which she does not add something to her treasury." "I should do without forever, before I'd is about perfect, and as long as he don't expect it of me now, it would be a pity to raise any false hopes. Carrie is at the door, so I'll just run out the back way. Good bye, dear." Carrie only stopped a moment to inquire for mamma, who had been quite ill, and invite me to spend the next day with her. Left alone I human spine; this supports its cup-like body; fell into a reverie of which she was the subject, from the margin proceeds five jointed arms, and decided for the twentieth time that she was divided into tentaculated fingers, surrounding certainly a very remarkable girl. Tall and com- the mouth; these are used for seizing or touchmanding in form, her every feature bore the ing. The animal remains stationary and only impress of intellectual superiority. I was not moves its flexible stem, which is expressly fitted surprised at the slighting tones adopted by the for that purpose. Prof. H-estimates the gentlemen Fannie mentioned, as I had more nember of bones composing the head alone, of than once seen them completely silenced by a this species, at twenty-six thousand.” few words from her when they were pedantically descanting on subjects with which Carrie was perfectly familiar, and they, unfortunately for themselves, knew little or nothing. She was not a general favorite, for few cared to converse at any length with her, lest as in the case of my little friend, their self love should be wounded. She only needed the "wisdom that cometh from above, more precious than rubies," to become in the words of the poet, "A perfect woman nobly planned To warn, to counsel and command." Her parents were very proud of her acquirements, and spared no expense to gratify her tastes. "Is it not wonderful, Carrie? How manifold are the works of God." "Yes indeed, and careless as I generally am, I sometimes stand lost in admiration and awe at the magnitude and beauty of His creations. Look at this exquisite piece of brain coral; it came from the Feejee islands, and takes its name from its resemblance to the brain. Is it not strange that such minute creatures can raise stupendous structures like the coral reefs in the tropical seas; extending as they sometimes do hundreds of miles. These little insects or animals have power to secrete carbonate of lime, and their deposits are now ranked among the limestones. Thousands of them unite in buildThe rain was falling heavily next morning, ing a single dwelling, and work in such perfect but I hailed it with delight, assured that it unison that when completed the whole rises in would at least secure us from interruption, and the most symmetrical proportions imaginable. If at an early hour I started for Mr. Merton's. one of the polyparia is divided, each of the Jennie, the pet and plaything of the family, met parts being instinct with life,. in time produces me with a kiss and informed me that "sister a whole animal. They multiply by buds which Tarrie wanted me to do yite up 'tairs to her grow like those of plants from the parent, these tabinet room, and she'd do too, only sister at length fall off and thus become distinct didn't want her, 'tause she touldn't be dood and individuals." let sings alone." Much as I wished to gratify the little darling, after that honest confession, it was impossible; so with another kiss I dismissed her to her play. Running up stairs, I knocked twice at Carrie's door before attracting her attention, and as I entered, her characteristic salutation was, Oh, Maude, I have some of the loveliest fossils and petrifactions here you ever saw. I wish you were as interested in such things as I am." "Perhaps I should be, dear, if I knew as much about them as you; but I have come over expressly to-day to learn all you have time to teach me.' "When we think of their size, the work they perform seems almost incredible. Yet this only proves that nothing is made in vain, and even creatures seemingly the least important have their mission as well as we. Let us strive, then, dear Carrie, to accomplish ours as acceptably in our Heavenly Father's sight as these industrious little dwellers of the sea. "I am trying, Maude. My mission is to fill my cabinet and acquire all the information I can about the contents, and everything else that is useful. I am succeeding admirably, don't you think so?" "Yes, dear, and if you use this knowledge 'Did you? I'm so glad. Where shall we for God, what an influence for good you may commence? wield. I am sure you would be ever so much I'm not particular. What is that you have in happier." your hand, Carrie?" "Perhaps I should. But I have not a "A very pretty specimen of encrinite stems moment to spare from my studies; there is so from Louisville, Ky. The encrinites belong to much I want to learn, it seems almost a waste the star fish family, and have attracted much of time to sleep. You have no idea how busy attention from the quantity found in some lime- I am, Maude; I could not think of attempting stones. There are only two living species now, anything more at present," and without waiting the others have passed away. Here is the Lily a reply she quickly added, "Look at this piece Encrinite. It fixes itself at the bottom of the of carboniferous limestone. ocean and consists of numbers of little bones, other day on our hillside. forming a column somewhat resembling the of petrifactions it contains. Papa found it the See what a variety Those are encrinite stems; these ammonites, a variety of chambered a solid rock. The cities, Herculaneum, Pompeii shells which, with but few exceptions, have and Stabiae, which were buried by the eruption entirely disappeared from the earth. The bi- of Mt. Vesuvius, A. D. 79, were almost entirely valve shells are mostly extinct; but here are covered with lapilli or volcanic ashes, mixed three distinct species. The terebratula, pro- with globular concretions, sand and stones, so ducta, and spirifer, beside several tiny fossils that nearly everything entombed in those cities that I will not stop to specify. Here is a bit of remains in perfect preservation to this day. syenite which takes its name from Syene in Here is a tiny scroll, made of papyrus. an Egypt, though this came from Mt. Vesuvius. Egyptian plant, from which the ancients preIt is composed of felspar, quartz and horn- pared a material for writing, called papyri. blende; it differs from granite in containing This was found on a table in Pompeii, from hornblende instead of mica. When the latter which the writer appeared to have hastily risen, is also present it is called syenitic granite. The as he was discovered not far from it, still red is very rare. This from Alexandria, in grasping the pen. That section of fruit also Egypt, is the same as the obelisk, one of the Cæsars brought from Heliopolis, hundreds of years ago, which now stands alone to mark the site of the magnificant palace it once decorated. The principal lines in our granite are white and flesh color, but in this from Scotland red prevails. See what a fine grain, and for durability nothing equals it. Susceptible of the most elegant polish, it is now extensively used in our cemeteries for monuments which time can not deface. This from Gloucester, Mass., is coarser grained, and the crystalline fragments predominate. Here are several other specimens, but you will not care to examine them all." "What is this, Carrie?" "That is hornblende and carbonate of lime from the Fichtelberg mountains in Germany." What a peculiarly soft glittering look it has." came from there." "Why how much it resembles a peach. I can plainly distinguish the peel from the pulp, can not you, Carrie?" "Yes perfectly; I almost always call it my Pompeiian peach." "Please let me see that scroll again. How legible the characters are. I should consider it one of my greatest treasures." "I do prize it very much. Uncle Charlie knowing my passion for antiquities paid a large price for it. That alabaster came from Nineveh, and this lovely rose colored was excavated recently at Rome. Is it not pretty?" "Very, it is so delicately tinted. But what a horrid little image of baked clay that is. Where did it come from?" "It was found with many others by M. Botta in a secret cavity under the floor of one "Yes I prize it particularly because I have of the palaces in Herculaneum; his guide conseen nothing perfectly resembling it in this cealed it, and sold it to Uncle for a considerable country. This other piece of Germanic horn- sum. I was reading not long since an interestblende is quite different. That which you have ing account of a coffin discovered in Nineveh in your hand, Maude, is porphyry, from one of containing the remains of a lady belonging to the New England States. The name signifies the royal house. The gold studs fastening her purple, which was the most common color of dress, and many of her garments were untouched antiquity, but in ours we find almost every by time, and what was still more singular, a shade. It is exceedingly hard, and when polished is one of the most enduring rocks we have. But like most Americans I presume you are more interested in curiosities from other lands, and as Uncle Charlie has just brought me "How I should enjoy visiting all these intermany very valuable ones from abroad I shall esting places. I almost envy Mr. Merton his not find it difficult to gratify you. Mt. Etna extensive travels. You are such a favorite, contributed this lava. It is so rough in its Carrie, I wonder he does not invite you to natural state one can scarcely realize that this accompany him." exquisitly carved pin is a portion of it. Uncle had it made for me at Rome. Is it not beautiful?" "Yes indeed, how strange that such a delicate little bijou could be cut from a coarse mass like that." mask of thin gold, pressed upon her face, had assumed and still retained the impress of her features, though they had for many years been mouldering into dust." "I am going; he has promised to take me next year. Won't it be delightful? But you have no idea, Maude, how much one can learn from conversation with him. His descriptions are so vivid it is almost like being there oneself." "This is traychetic lava from the same vol- "I do not doubt it, Carrie, still I think I cano. Having been cooled in the air it is should prefer to go. What have you in that fibrous, porous and light enough to swim on water; but when cooled by pressure it becomes phial?" 66 Some water from the river Jordon. See how dark and yellow it is. Uncle Charlie says "Then tell me when you are weary, dear, or I it is a deep, narrow, swift, and winding stream, shall talk all day. I have not shown you half He took a bath in it, and on emerging felt he my treasures yet. Look at this from the temple could realize, in some degree, what was meant of Segesta in Sicily. It is common limestone, by the cold swellings of Jordon.' I have some of a bright yellow, interspersed with veins, and pebbles, but you will not care for them. This thickly encrusted with shells. The columns bit of stone the face of which is so completely from a distance appear like marble. Its style of covered with hieroglyphics, he broke from one architecture is neither Greek nor Roman. It of the written rocks of Sinai. For miles is attributed to the companions of Æneas, and around they are covered with unknown charac- must, therefore, have been built more than three ters; with here and there rude pictures repre- thousand years. Has it not been wonderfully senting different animals or men in various preserved? Antiquarians were fearful towards attitudes of devotion. In the Wady Mokatteb the close of the last century that decay would or Written Valley, they are numbered by rob them of this splendid monument of the thousands. They were first discovered in the past; but without being disfigured by modern year 535 and even then were so extremely repairs it has been sufficiently protected to ancient that the characters and language had secure its safety, it is hoped, for ages to come." been forgotten. It is supposed that the Israelites, in their journey through the wilderness, 'Did Mr. Merton visit the pyramids?" "Only those about five miles from Gizeh, a must have left these inscriptions to commem- little village on the Nile, opposite Cairo the orate some wonderful providence or signal ancient. He entered the largest with a party of deliverance. A rock was pointed out to him as friends, and after being dragged by their guides the one from which Moses miraculously sup- down steep inclines, on which they could plied the children of Israel with water. It is scarcely retain their footing, up narrow passages a beautiful red granite about seventy-five feet where they were obliged to crawl one at a time, long, ten wide, and twelve high. It seems to and a fall would have precipitated them down be part of a cliff from Mt. Sinai and lies loose unknown depths, they at length emerged from the near the middle of the valley. There are frightful galleries, into the chambers where the several crevices, one above another, on the sur- dead had slumbered hundreds of years. Apface, each apparently a foot and a half long; these do not run downward but crossways, and are more than twelve inches apart. A channel caused by the flowing of the water is worn between them. The Arabs and Bedouins value this rock Meribah so highly, that uncle came very near being stoned by his guards for trying to chip off a fragment for me. He was quite chagrined at his want of success." "I wish he could have brought a little piece. Were you not disappointed, Carrie?" proaching the sarcophagus of the royal builder Cheops, his guide commenced hammering the corner of the granite coffin, and proposed chipping off a bit as a souvenir; a proposition to which Uncle gladly acceded, and here is the tiny morsel he procured." "If charcoal was anything of a curiosity I should say that was a piece you have in your hand, Carrie." "You are right, dear, it is nothing more nor less; and now, I presume, you are anxious to "Yes, a trifle; but he had so many other hear what there is remarkable about it. You relics of almost equal value that I did not mind know charcoal is one of the most indestructible .it much. This sandstone with its elegantly substances in nature. The ancients understood sculptured hieroglyphics was taken from the this, and the timbers used in founding the temgateway of the temple of Isis in Deudera, an ple of Diana at Ephesus, more than two thouArabian village, on the west bank of the Nile, sand years ago, were so prepared, that when reabout sixty miles from Thebes. The gateway moved some time since, they were still undefurnishes a striking example of the magnificent stroyed. This bit of wood was taken from architecture the Egyptians lavished upon their there, charred as you see it. Here are some fine places of worship, and Uncle Charlie says these specimens from the long lost quarries of the red oharacters are executed with a richness, preci- and green antique marbles. It is only recently sion and elegance of form that far surpasses they have again been discovered. The red is similar edifices in other ancient cities. This found in the southern part of the chain of Taysandstone, so beautifully streaked with red, came gete, and the green on the northern side of the from the ruined temple of Soleb. Its rich island of Tinos." ooloring gives the pillars from a distance a glowing tint, contrasting delightfully with the dark shades of the desert mountains, and clear blue horizon. Are you tired, Maude?" "What a lovely, heart-shaped pin that is; the stone is so peculiar. Where did you get it? I never saw one like it." "Uncle Charlie brought it from the cata"No, indeed! I'm only too glad to learn all combs. It fell from the folds of a mummy's wrappings. At first it was so soft he easily cut and after forcing open their mouths insert a it as you see with his penknife; but from expo- copper plate a quarter or three-quarters of an sure to the air or some other cause it has be- inch in diameter; this bears a stamped imprescome as hard as a rock; it is almost impossible sion of the image desired. The oysters are then to make any impression on it now. That garnet returned to their native element, where they are in the centre sets it off elegantly, and adds not quietly allowed to remain some twelve or fifteen a little to its beauty. I value it so highly I months. Meanwhile, irritated by the plate, the have never ventured to wear it. I intended poor creatures, in self-defence, form a coating of asking Prof. H. its name and classification, but pearl over the surface, which on removal bears there were so many other things I wanted to the distinct image desired. I was quite surlearn, that it entirely escaped my mind until too prised at their ingenuity, as I never had a very late." exalted opinion of their abilities. Did you, Maude?" "What a pity, yet it could scarcely add to the interest with which we regard it, as having "No, but probably like a great many others, lain hundreds, perhaps thousands of years in they improve on acquaintance." that silent tomb; like its owner, forgotten and Perhaps so. I certainly have a better unknown. How sad it would be, for us to feel opinion of them since I've learned how ingethat we, too, must pass from earth; that those nious they really are. I am not as great an adwho loved us would find new ties, while we who mirer of diamonds as some; but I am never once shared their every joy and sorrow lie all weary watching the shifting lights in this. It is unheeded beneath the flowery turf, were it not one of the first water. Splendid, is it not?" for the blessed assurance we have of life beyond the river. Carrie, darling, do you ever think, while surrounded by so much of beauty here, that a far more beautiful home awaits all who keep themselves unspotted from the world?" "Indeed it is. Diamonds are pure carbon in a crystalline state, I believe." "Yes, and the rarest, hardest and most valuable substances in nature. I noticed a statement in one of the papers the other day, "Please don't sermonize, Maude, you know I that with the exception of the emerald, all the don't like it, and besides, I want to show you my gems in more or less perfection were found in precious stones. I have nearly every variety, the United States. The diamond has been disand some you have probably never seen before. covered among the Rocky Mountains of CaliThis tourmaline, for instance. I have four va-fornia, and along the gold belt which extends rieties. Black is its most usual color, and not from Central Alabama through the Atlantic very pretty. Then here is the indicolite, so States to Maryland. The itacolumite which in named from its indigo hue. The red or rubel- the Urals, Brazil and Hindostan, has been relite, and the green, are most valuable. When garded as the matrix of the diamond, is found large and clear like these they make elegant in extended ledges in Alabama, Georgia and the jewelry. This essonite or cinnamon stone came Carolinas." from Ceylon, and takes its name from its resem- "I never knew that before. How well you blance in color to the cinnamon. I believe remember what you read, Carrie. I wish my jewelers use it occasionally, though it is not stock of information was as extensive." really a very valuable stone. Is not this iolite! pretty? If you look at it in one direction, it appears a lovely violet blue; but if you turn it at right angles, it is a yellowish grey or brown. Here is a precious opal. Did you ever see a more beautiful play of colors. It would make "Yes, it is very hard, and such a beautiful a magnificent setting for a ring In this fire sea-green. It admits of an elegant polish, and opal how distinctly the red and yellow colors of I have heard that pillars made of it are almost flame are marked. It makes the common one, indestructible, having lasted thousands of years, with its milky appearance, scem almost worthless in its plainness. This turquoise came from Persia. It is one of the finest, and has been much admired, it is such a pretty shade of bluish green. The Japanese are celebrated for their electrotype pearls. Here is a very handsome one. It seems strange that they can make the oyster form his pearl exactly as they wish. Shall I tell you how they manage it?" "I am perfectly satisfied with your attainments, Maude; the only difference is that your acquisitions are made in a different direction. Did you ever see an Oriental jasper?" 'I think not. Is that one?" 66 with scarce an impress from the hand of time. These more common specimens are red and yellow, and are all varieties of quartz." "What an exquisite blue that sapphire is, Carrie; it is next in hardness to the diamond, is it not?" "Yes, you see you do know something after all, Maude Uncle Charlie brought me this magnificent carbuncle from Asia. It was a "Yes, please. I am sure it must be interestng." present from an Arab sheik whose life he "They collect a number of oysters or muscles, saved." |