a little after the Pilgrims came in the Mayflower. They settled a short distance from Plymouth Rock and there founded a home and a family, the members of which were more or less prominent in local affairs for several generations. Thomas Cary, the first of the family who settled in America, was well educated. He taught the first Latin class in Plymouth, and held offices of trust in the colony. Among these early Carys' there were scholars and eminent professional men. We are, however, most interested in the grandfather of the women we are studying, Christopher Cary, who fought in the War for Independence, and when it was done, being unable to get pay for his services in money, he accepted a tract of land in the Miami Valley in Ohio. A part of this tract Alice Cary has made famous as the Clovernook of her stories and sketches, for Robert, her father, came west with his father at the age of fifteen. Thus early began the toil which was so unremit ting that it left little time to cultivate the fine nature that was naturally his. His heart seemed overflowing with poetry and with love for the dumb animals, as well as for his family and friends. From him Alice inherited not only her dark hair and eyes, but much of her genius and temperament as well. The mother of the Cary Sisters was blue-eyed and beautiful, and of superior intellect. Here is her portrait drawn by "A lady the loveliest ever the sun This would seem to give ample time for story-telling but these sisters often loitered after the house appeared in sight to finish the career of some imaginary hero or heroine whose fate Alice was too anxious to hear. From this school and from a dozen books or so at home these women obtained the school education that lighted them through life. They loved out door life, however, and so their education did not stop here; there was inspiration to them in the song of a bird, ALICE CARY. She was a hard worker, for she did the work of her household with its nine children with her own hands, except the little they could help her. No wonder her health failed and she left her young family just when they needed her most, especially the girls who pined so for the sympathy and encouragement which only a mother can give. Alice was fourth of this family and she says the greatest joys of her life were the companionship of her elder sister, Rhoda, and the care of her youngest sister Lucy. She was only fourteen when they both died within a month of each other. Alice always claimed that Rhoda was the most gifted of the family. Lucy, though only three when she died, was throughout life a great influence to Alice-she was indeed her "deathless little one." To her last hours Alice recalled with delight the stories Rhoda used to tell her on their way home from school. The school-house was a mile and a quarter away and the children walked to and from it. in the blush of a rose, of the pallor of a lily, in the odor of the clover, in the gurgling of a stream, in the ripple of great fields of waving grain in the morning sun, in all these things there was inspiration which produced song so sweet in their thought, and so rythmical in their versification that we read and re-read in our vain effort to lengthen out the exquisite music. Shortly after the death of the sisters referred to above the mother too, sickened, and died. For two years Alice and Phoebe kept house for their father, and then he married again. The woman was about his own age and a widowa person who seemed adapted to the place she was to occupy in this household. But while she cared for the physical wants of those under her care and kept a tidy house, she lacked that cast of mind which would have enabled her to sympathize with these sisters in their literary pursuits. She looked upon time spent in reading as utterly lost, and even begrudged the candles consumed, so the girls resorted to a saucer of lard with a rag in it, as a substitute. The point calls to mind another girl, an English girl of the last century also destined to become famous, who likewise wasted precious candles in writing nonsense, so said the economical step-mother, when Fanny Burney was writing on the sly, the chapters of her matchless society novel, "Evelina." What strange thoughts must these over careful mothers have had when the so-called nonsense of their girls brought not only fame, but money as well! In spite of difficulties, however, the sisters wrote on though their productions found no other medium than the papers of the Universalist faith, the doctrines of which denomination had early attracted the father and mother of this family. Alice adhered to this faith through life though with a catholicity that admitted dear friends of other and diverse forms of belief. They wrote for years asking no other recompense than to be read. Horace Greeley refers to this as good preparation for their New York work, for, while little or no money had been paid them for their work, when they made their way to the city in 1850, they had made themselves known, and there was money value in that. The first money Alice Cary ever received for her verses was from the National Era, a Washington paper, for which she regularly wrote poetry. There was, however, some recompense even when no money came, for Phoebe tells us that when she first saw her lines in print there was a thrill of delight never since occasioned by the sight of money. Others might be rich and beautifully clad, learned, and surrounded by friends, but she could write words that men and women were glad to read that was joy enough for her! women. As the family was more or less disturbed, they separated the three girls, Alice, Phoebe, and Elmina occupied the old house and the father built a new one for the remainder of the family. Here began that home life which is such a characteristic part of these In 1849 the sisters gathered their poems together and had them published by a Philadelphia house. For this little volume they received one hundred dollars, but more than the money was the encouragement that was extended them by distant friends. The next year they set out to meet face to face those who had sent their kindly greeting to them. Among the first they visited was Whittier, whom they sought out at his home in Amesbury. They were kindly received by the "Quaker Poet." Who has not read his sweet poem "The Singer" which records his impressions of these women, especially of Alice ? Lasting impressions they must have been for they were not put on paper for twenty years, when Alice's death gave occasion for writing this beautiful poem. They were now writing quite steadily for papers and magazines, and now and then some interested reader found his way to their western home. Such a one was Horace Greeley, who sought them out and began an intimacy which lasted as long as these women lived, and was prolonged, so to speak, by and lovingly by her before she really decided to make it a part of their home. Here are beautiful vases, and the rooms are filled with pictures, all good, and many recalling the hallowed sights and sounds of rural life. No wonder that this was considered the sunniest drawing-room by day or night in the whole city! Who that ever took a cup of tea with them can forget the delicacy of the china or of the viands served therefrom? The library, too, was just such a nook as one would expect, filled with the books long PHOEBE CARY. the delightful memories which "our later Franklin" carried with him when they were no more. Elmina's marriage to a Cincinnati merchant decided the other two girls to seek their fortunes in New York City. It was a great risk for these two women alone, and one of them, at least, much broken in health, to venture into this great city to earn a living by the pen. They were, however, industrious, economical, full of common sense and with the hatred of debt rooted deep in their natures. They had accumulated a little money, and had above all made for themselves a name, so that their productions sold well. When they reached New York, instead of settling into the oblivion and gloom of a city boarding-house, they started a home - plain, to be sure, and up two flights of stairs, but neat and comfortable, pervaded by the spirit of those who presided over it. Here they so n gathered about them a large circle of writers, artists, and men and women interested in the stirring events of those stormy times. Their work prospered and they were soon able to move into the pleasant home on Twentieth Street, where for more than fifteen years they lived, and wrote, and entertained their friends. The taste displayed in this home and the beautiful things here gathered together were delightful to contemplate, and helped to compensate for the dreariness and lack of beauty in their early years. Alice, especially, was always on the alert for opportunities to buy such rare things as came within her means. That exquisite inlaid table there in the drawing-room with its border of Pansies so perfect in form and color, the work of a life-time almost, was watched long coveted by these aspiring women. If we go to the rooms these women more particularly called their own, we find the most womanly taste displayed. The exquisite lace of the pillow cases, the dresses in perfect order and in harmony with those who used them, the orderly writing desks, though it must be confessed Phoebe's carried off the palm in this regard covered with papers indicating the ever busy life of the owners; everything about them tended to show the woman even more than the genius of those to whom all this was due. In this home Alice was the leader and manager, though Phoebe was equally valuable in her place. It was Alice who did the marketing, who managed the servants, and planned the meals. Over the needle Phoebe was absolute master and nothing brought Alice sooner to a place of supplication than some little bit of sewing which she wished done as Phoebe's skilled fingers only could do it; then the young sister reigned supreme enjoying the helplessness of Alice, usually her superior. This supervision of the household Alice continued until her health gave way entirely, when the task fell to Phoebe. They were both inveterate workers and yet Phoebe would fly away once in a while and enjoy her distant friends. Not so with Alice. If she did consent to leave her tasks it was only for a few days then to hurry back to unfinished work. Indeed she came to feel that the burning summer time, filling all the streets with a stifling heat, was her time to work. When her friends were out of town enjoying their vacations, she sat behind closed blinds, guiding the pen which delighted so many and which kept up this sweet home. Alas! that what formerly had been a necessity now became a habit. How precious to herself, to her friends, to that dear sister, indeed to all of us would have been a few years more of her woman's life. She felt it when it was too late, and who can read her "Invalid's Plea" and not shed a bitter tear for one "With all things to take and nothing to give ", begging so hard to live and enjoy the freshness and beauty she had neglected too long. Though the sisters always showed each other their writings, read them over together and cried or laughed over them in concert, they never worked together. Phoebe would trip off to her room, and, shortly returning, read to Alice a match'ess parody or a touching ballad from her neat manuscript. Alice with tears lingering in her eyes, and the quiver hardly gone from her lip would in turn read one of her moving poems recalling scenes from their childhood, or perhaps fathoming the mystery of the coming life. A picture well worth cherishing is the one of this sweet womanly intercourse. No wonder when the elder had entered the spirit land, the younger had no motive to live, and, though she tried to be brave as that elder one would wish her to be, was drawn by an invisible chord until she, too, departed within a few months of her sister's death. In this home there had been joy and sorrow, too. To the former must belong those rare Sunday evenings when the Cary drawingroom was thrown open for the informal reception of friends and kindred spirits who came together to discuss the latest news in literature, art or music. Many who are known among famous people frequented these gatherings Horace Greeley, Bayard Taylor, Edwin Whipple, the Stoddards, and numerous others came and went away gladdened. In these assemblies Phoebe's wit sparkled and the magnetism of Ålice always furnished a drawing centre. These rooms where had gathered brilliant people in happy converse had resounded to the hurried feet of anxious watchers at the side of Elmina's sick bed, and where later on everything was hushed as the gloomy concourse formed and she was borne to her place in beautiful Greenwood where she was to be followed by those who had so lovingly watched her declining years. Consumption was the blight of this family, and in the long years it did its deadly work completely. Alice says that for thirty years their house was never free from that dreadful cough. The works of these women were as diverse as were their temperaments. Alice wrote more and better than her sister though the latter had a vein of humor almost foreign to Alice. Her sparkling wit was the delight of the tea table, as it was of those who read her humorous poems. Her hymns, too, rank very high. Who does not know and enjoy the one beginning "One sweetly solemn thought, Comes to me o'er and o'er"? This hymn has brought happiness to many souls all over the world and we glow to day as its sweet notes rise from the worshiping congregation. Phoebe Cary's hymns were like herself-fervent, devoted, and they find an echo in the religious soul. 66 In Alice's poems there is always an undertone of sadness, born of her own sorrows. For this she was often criticised, and yet she rose high above it in many of her works. So simple, forceful, direct is she as a ballad writer that she ranks first among those Americans who have produced ballads. Some of her poems, such as Pictures from Memory" will last as long as the language in which they are written, for they speak to the heart of the people. Edgar Allan Poe pronounced this one of the most musically perfect poems in the language. Alice not only wrote poetry, but after coming to New York she produced her "Clovernook Papers" in two series which were widely read in England and America. "Clovernook Children" followed and were equally successful among younger readers. This reminds us to speak of the fondness of both these women for children and of the poems they wrote for their amusement. Many were the happy parties of little folks who cheered from time to time their quiet home, and a great gathering would it be indeed could all the children be drawn together who have enjoyed the verses of these good women. It was in the winter of 1869 and '70 that Alice Cary had to give up most of her wonted duties and became a confirmed invalid, seldom leaving her room and never save on crutches. She still received her friends, and talked with them of their plans of life even when the pain that was killing her was at its height. Still the Sunday evenings were enjoyed, though she who made all that enjoyment possible was unable to mingle in that pleasant company save in thought, as she listened from her invalid's room above. Brave she was, but often those who loved her best found the tears undried on her cheeks at the close of one of those evenings, for no one can express the desire she had to live. The last summer she consented to leave the city to spend some time at Northampton. Here she wrote her "Invalid's Plea " and here she discovered too late what change and recreation might have done for her. She returned to the New York home to suffer yet more and then to die before the birds and flowers of another spring should appear. Her suffering had turned her dark hair gray and had stolen the rose from her cheek, but her wonderful eyes were the same to the last - dark, lustrous, far-seeing the eyes of a poet. The faithful hand, too, held the pen almost to the very end, recording the sweet religious spirit that had controlled her through life. Her last stanza tells the story of what she sought and, may we have faith to believe, found:"As the poor panting hart to the water-brook runs, As the water-brook runs to the sea, So earth's fainting daughters and famishing sons, O Fountain of Love, run to Thee!" It was February when she died, and the day they buried her one of those softly-sliding heavy snow storms hushed the city from morn till night, as if nature would silence the sounds of men while a great soul was passing. After an impressive service including the singing of Phoebe Cary's hymn, "Nearer Home," they laid her to rest beside her sister, in Greenwood. Our hearts go out in deepest sympathy to that lone sister left in the home on Twentieth Street. She went back and did what she felt Alice would have had her do- she threw open the windows to let in the sunshine, she put flowers on the mantels, and spoke a cheerful word to the anxious friends who called. There was no use, however, a part of her life had gone out and she could not stay without it. In less than six months she died almost alone, for few knew of her illness until it was too late. One of her last utterances made to her servant is pathetic enough, "You and I are all alone, Maria. After all, I have nobody left but you." She died at Newport but she was brought home to rest beside those other two in that beautiful cemetery with the roaring city on one side and the sounding sea on the other. Office-Holding in the School-room. Young America is a born office seeker, and this propensity may be turned to good account in the school-room; especially if the mode of election be sometimes by the popular vote of the children, instead of by the teacher's appointment. Monitors can be chosen in this way, without arousing any illfeeling. Indeed the children regard it as a great honor to be elected; and sometimes a mischievous but popular boy, when thus elected, shows good qualities hitherto unknown to his teacher; nor do they end when his term of office expires. His friends who have elected him are more careful about their own conduct, because he is in honor bound to report anything wrong, and they do not wish to impose such disagreeable duties upon him. Besides, the children are encouraged to vote for someone whose conduct has been good for the week; and although it may seem strange, most of them wish to be his successor. It is surprising, too, to see what good judgment they generally show in their elections. Sometimes a child is appointed by special qualifications. The one who performs the greatest number of examples correctly for a week is allowed to collect and give out the slates and papers of the others; the child who is not absent for a month makes out a daily list of absentees for the teacher; those whose spelling is correct are allowed to help examine the papers of the others, etc. Of course, all such work needs the careful supervision of the teacher, still it is a help in more ways than one. The more offices a teacher can contrive, the easier will be her government, for the children like to think they are controlling themselves, and a little republican freedom in the matter of choosing those to whom responsibility is given, is just as gratifying to them as to their elders. Short terms of office serve to keep up the interest in these schoolroom elections. -A. H. PITTS. METHOS The Editors will be pleased to receive contributions for this Depart. ment. HR More "Some Arithmetic." By J. K. ELLWOOD. OW to teach division is a question that perplexes many good teachers, and, it must be confessed, the arithmetics usually fail to give them satisfactory assistance in arriving at a proper conclusion. Indeed, the teacher with sufficient enterprise to examine more than one text-book on the subject is likely to become more confused by the comparison. One book tells her the dividend and divisor must be like numbers, and the quotient always an abstract number. She turns to another to find that "when dividend and divisor are unlike numbers, the quotient is concrete." Hence, since the "doctors disagree," she must decide for herself. Having concluded that dividend and divisor must be like numbers, she gets on very well until division of denominate numbers is reached. Here she finds that her favorite author, who in simple numbers said the quotient must be abstract, contradicts himself and calls bushels, pecks, etc, a quotient. So she must again investigate and decide for herself. What is division? It is the process of finding how often one number is contained in another of the same kind. As, how many $5 in $10? It is expressed thus: $10 $52. That is, $5 is contained in and can be taken from -$10 twice. This is division nothing else is "Partition" is but another name for division, or one of its uses. It is true that division is used in finding one or more of the equal parts of a number, but this is a special use of division, and is as truly division as the process of finding how often one number is contained in another. To divide 6 by 3, is to take of 6; and, conversely, to take of 6, is to divide 6 by 3. There is a change of language, but no change of idea or of operation. To find how many 3s in 6, we have 632 (3s). To find of 6, we have 632 (units). These operations are the same, but the quotients express different things. The reasoning is in the I wish to divide $10 equally between 2 boys, How much will each boy get? Each boy will get as many dollars as there are 2 in 10, or 5. Hence, each boy will get $5. Dividend and divisor are like numbers, and the quotient abstract. abstract, and the result is applied to the requirement of the problem. This is similar to the following: I have as many apples as you have pears, which is 5 (pears). Therefore, I have 5 apples, Divide .8 of a pie equally among 8 boys. Here .88 ? means what part of 8 is .8? Of course each boy will get of .8 of a pie; but to find of .8 we must divide 8 by 8. It takes but little practice to enable a child to see at a glance that of .8 is .1; but how would either child or teacher find the value of 377 of 478976435? By dividing. There is no other possible way. The dividend above is .8, not .8 of a pie, and the divisor is 8, not 8 boys. The abstract quotient is applied to the concrete requirement of the problem. .88.1, hence each boy will get .1 of a pie. If 88 = 1, which it does, then .88.1. What change in idea or principle has been wrought by placing the decimal point before the dividend, pray? Certainly none. The first expression means that 8 is contained in 8 once, or that there is one 8 in 8; the second, that there is .1 of one 8 in .8. In att mp.ing to explain what the two expressions mean one may juggle langurge to make the second appear absurd, but the mathematical fact remains that the latter expression is as correct and legitimate as the former. To ask how many eights in eight tenths is just as legitimate and sensible a question as to ask how many dollars I have in my pocket, when I have only 10 cent. In either case the answer is. The difficulty in these points arises from the fact that the language us d when we deal with integers is frequently inappropriate when we attempt to explain the same operations with fractions. Mathematical principles are fixed and unchangeable, and language must be kept subservient to them. But some try to twist the mathematical operations to suit the language, thus misleading the pupil and creating unhealthful doubt and confusion. In either use of division the quotient is an abstract number, but in dividing a concrete number into equal parts the quotient is not the answer sought, but must be applied to the concrete requirement of the probl m. To teach division and its uses in this manner is not only theoretically correct, but is simple and consistent, and avoids confusing the child. Fig. 2 is the same in proportions and serves to show that the walls of the room may be measured as an oblong. It may be made and creased at the dotted lines and opened before the class to prove that the perimeter of the room, i. e., the length of the oblong is multiplied by the height of the room, i, e., the width of the oblong. The models may be made on the scale of in. to the foot and actually measured and the cost of plastering or of papering computed, after the deductions for windows, etc, are made. My plan has been to give complete instructions with the model. Asking for cost of plastering at some price per sq. yd. or, for papering at a price per roll-giving the size of the rolls, When the problems of the book are required, the class seem to understand the whole process as readily as if we had reached it by innumerable examples However: Don't be discouraged if some one does not understand after the first explanation, just commence at the starting point and repeat as if it were being given for the first time. Te only new term is perimeter, which corresponds to the length T ceiling. 560+ 192 752 sq. ft. 6749 = 748 sq. yds. 8. Find area of rolls 18 in. x 8 yds. 18 in. = yd. × 84 sq. yd. 748÷4 = 9. Find no of rolls needed. 18 or 19 rolls. 10. Find cost @ $.75 per roll. $.75 × 19 = $14.25 Ans. Class Lessons in History and Geography. A. B GUILFORD, Jersey City. 'HE following lessons outline a plan of study of the New England Section from the time of its earliest settlement up to the beginning of the Revolutionary Period. The method pursued I have found available in the way of exciting interest in the minds of the pupils, and on this interest of course, hinges the permanency of historical and geographical impression. A trial of the plan, with such modifications as different class conditions may suggest, will, I think convince the teacher that the geography and history of a section may be more readily and better learned in conjunction than may either be learned separately. PREPARATORY WORK. A. 1. Secure bond-paper stencil of the boundaries (natural) of the present New England Section. Make this of a convenient size for individual class use-say 8 in. by 6 in. Trace the outline on the bond-paper, reverse, and perforate with fine needle. This stencil is practically indestructible and it will pay you to make it with exact ness. 2. Take a piece of cheese-cloth two feet square and work into its substance some powdered charcoal obtained at any drug store. The cloth will take up readily a table-spoonful of the charcoal. This prepared cloth will last you for a year if you use it every school-day 3. Supply each pupil with uniform sized paper. Let one of the pupils with the stencil and the cheese-cloth dispenser put lightly in dotted outline the boundaries of the section on each paper. Have the pupils with a sharp bright line trace in the outline in ink or pencil. 4. Construct a drainage map of the section using colors to indicate the four drainage areas-St. Lawrence, Atlantic, Hudson River, and Long Island Sound. Indicate mountain ranges, principal mountain peaks, and water areas rivers and lakes. 1. Take up a consideration of the section as it was when the people of the Old World first set foot upon its shores, before the enterprise of generations of men had done so much to change its appearance in the way of cutting down its areas of forests, tilling its fields, damning its rivers, building villages, towns, and cities on its surfaces, and extending a network of railways over its length and breadth. Get the children to make a mental picture of the section in its two extremes. 2. Consider the Aboriginal population occupying the section at the time of the arrival of the white men. Belonged to the Algonquin family, and were represented by numerous tribes among the most important of which were the Narragansetts, Niantics, Mohawks, Pequod, Mohicans, Massachusetts, Pawtuckets, and Abenaquis. Locate on the map (construct new outline for Aboriginal map) the position of these various tribes, and fix the total number of the Aboriginal population at this time in the section at about 50,000. PREPARATory Work. C. I. The home of the Separatists in the north of England. Why they are so called. Their persecution. Their flight to Leyden. Their stay here of a dozen years and their determination to go to America. Reasons for this action-influence of the Holland people on their young people-desire to extend their gospel in new lands. They lay the matter before King James. They inform the King that they expect to profit by fishing in the new land. His reply, and consent to their departure. Their agents go to the Virginia Company and secure a large and generous charter of land. 2. Their departure from, England. The story of the Speed well. The voyage. Incidents of the trip. Their intended landing place near the mouth of the Hudson. The accident of their landing on Cape Cod. The landing. Time of the year. Reception by the natives. Their preparations for spending the winter, and their life for the first six months. Several excellent subjects for composition will be suggested by the topics up to the present time. Among these are, "John Smith and New England." "The Extinction of the Native American." "The Charters of the London and Plymouth Companies." "The Character of the Pilgrims." Supplementary Reading. American History Stories, Vol. I. Extracts from Bradford and Winslow's Journal, Library of American Literature, Vol. I., History of the Plantation of Plymouth, E. Maynard's Classical Series, New York, Stories of Massachusetts, Ed. Pub. Co., Colonial Times in Buzzard's Bay, W. R. Bliss, Boston. History and Geography. By NELLIE DAVISSON, Nira, Iowa. In a recent number, the POPULAR EDUCATOR asks for methods of combining the study of history and geography. The writer has found the following satisfactory, especially in dealing with such complicated subjects as the civil war. Each pupil is required to prepare a map, mount it neatly, and keep it up to the date of the lesson. Colored lines are used to distinguish the movements of different commanders, thus Grant was blue; Hooker, red; Mead, purple. In tracing the Army of the Potomac, red gives place to purple, and blue and purple move on to Richmond together. Union flags mark union victories, and the patriotic child finds his industry rewarded when he draws in the flag at Richmond and Appomatox. In this way unity and simplicity are secured, and the child has a comprehensive view of the situation before him from day to day. The idle pupil finds it hard to shirk, and the teacher is spared the humiliating discovery that she and the bright pupils have done all the work in geography. In review, such topics as the following are assigned: Sherman from Vicksburg to the close of the war. Biography of Farragut. In review, the character of this historic siege may be made still plainer by tinting the recovered territory blue. |