There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren, And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den, And the wilding bee hums merrily by. 5 The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green vale, And here they stretch to the frolic chase, 10 There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower, 15 There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles wilding wild. -azure: the clear blue of the sky. CURING BULLDOG IAN MACLAREN IAN MACLAREN is the pen name of Rev. Dr. John Watson. Dr. Watson was born in Manningtree, Essex County, England, in 1850. He received his education at the universities of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Tübingen, Germany. In 1874 he was admitted to the ministry by the Free Church 5 of Scotland, and was elected assistant pastor of Barclay Church, Edinburgh. He has just closed a long pastorate at Liverpool. His ministerial duties have allowed him time for much reading, and in later years for much writing. His Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush first showed his gifts as a story-teller. This was pub- 10 lished in 1894. His Young Barbarians, with its admirably drawn picture of Scotch schoolboy life, has raised up for him a host of youthful admirers. 66 NOTE. This selection is taken from The Young Barbarians. Mr. MacKinnon, master of the academy in the Scotch town of 15 Muirtown, was nicknamed " Bulldog "by his pupils. In spite of his sternness he was so just and right-minded that his pupils, whether wild lads like Peter ("Speug") or gentle ones like Nestie, the master's ward, all honored and respected him. To make the story easier for American readers, the editors have 20 translated some of the dialect. When Dr. Manley came out from the master's garden door that evening he stumbled upon Speug, who was looking very miserable, but began to whistle violently the moment he was detected, and 25 denied that he had come to ask for news. "You did, you young limmer, and you need n't tell me lies, for I know you, Speug, and your father before you. I wish I'd good news to give you, but I haven't. I fear you've had your last thrashing 5 from Bulldog." For a moment Speug kicked at a stone on the road and thrust his hands deep into his pockets; then the corners of his mouth began to twitch and, turning round, he hid his face upon the wall, while ic his tough little body that had stood many a fight shook all over. Dr. Manley was the first person that had seen Speug cry, and he stood over him to protect him from the gaze of any wandering message boys who might come along the lane. By and 15 by Speug began to speak between his sobs. 20 66 "It was a lie, Doctor, for I did come up to ask, but I did n't like to let on.... I heard you say that you could n't rouse Bulldog to take an interest in anything, and I thought of something." "What was it, Speug?" And the doctor laid his hands on the boy's shoulder and encouraged him to proceed. "I'll never tell; you may trust me.' "Nothing pleased Bulldog so well as giving us a licking; if he just had a cane in his hands and a 25 laddie before him, Bulldog would soon be himself again, and there's not a laddie in school he's licked as often as me. And I came up And Speug stuck. "To offer yourself for a thrashing, you mean. You've mentioned the medicine. Upon my word, I believe it's the very thing that will do the trick. 5 Confound you, Speug! if you haven't found out what I was seeking after, and I've been doctoring those Muirtown sinners for more than thirty years! Come along, laddie; we've had our consultation and we'll go to the patient." And Manley hurried 10 Speug through the garden and into the house. "Wait a minute here," said the doctor, "and I'll come back to you." And in a little while Nestie came downstairs and found his friend in the lobby, confused and frightened for the first time 15 in his life, and Nestie saw the marks of distress upon his face. "Dr. M-Manley told me, Speug,' stammered Nestie, with an arm round Speug's neck, "and you're the g-goodest chap in Muirtown. It's awfully d-decent of you, and it'll p-please Bully 20 tremendous." And then Speug went up as consulting physician to visit Bulldog. Nestie brought him forward to the bedside, and at last he had courage to look, and it took him all his time to play the man when he saw Bulldog so thin, so 25 quiet, so gentle, with his face almost as white as the pillow, and his hands upon the bedclothes wasted like the hands of a skeleton. The master smiled faintly, and seemed to be glad to see the worst of his scholars, but he did not say anything. 5 Dr. Manley kept in the background and allowed the boys to manage their own business, being the wisest of men as well as the kindliest. Although Nestie made signs of encouragement to Speug, Peter could not find a word, but stood helpless, bit10 ing his lip and looking the picture of abject misery. "Peter has come, sir," said Nestie, "to ask for you. He is very sorry that you are ill, and so are all the boys. Peter thought you might be wearying to-to use the c-cane, and Peter is wearying, too. 15 Just a little one, sir, to p-please Speug." And Nestie laid an old cane he had hunted up, a cane retired from service, upon the bed within reach of Bulldog's hand. A twinkle of amusement came into the master's eye, the first expression of interest he had 20 shown during his illness. He turned his head and looked at Peter, the figure of chastened mischief. The remembrance of the past- the mathematical class room, the blackboard with its figures, the tricks of the boys, the scratching of the pens-came 25 up to him, and his soul was stirred within him. His hand closed again upon the scepter of authority, |