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JACK-O'-LANTERN.
BY MARY E. FOLSOM.
Who is this nabob come to town, After a long vacation? He seems to have a host of friends, And makes a great sensation. He stalks about these frosty nights, While troops of boys run after To welcome him with merry jests And ringing shouts of laughter. 'Tis Mr. Jack-o'-Lantern.
He towers above the noisy group As though he were a grandee, And struts about upon his stilts As agile as a dandy. You might think him an Eastern prince, Because his skin's so yellow; But spite of all his airs, he is A common sort of fellow, This Mr. Jack-o'-Lantern.
All summer long upon the ground He lay forlorn, dejected; No one in all the country round Was quite so much neglected. But see him now! with head aloft, He shines with regal splendor, And loyal subjects by the score Admiring homage render. How proud is Jack-o'-Lantern!
Now give three cheers for Jack, my lads-- Three rousing cheers, and hearty; For is he not the brightest one In all your jolly party? And though his is an empty head, He can with satisfaction Amuse a crowd, and make himself The centre of attraction. Hurrah for Jack-o'-Lantern!
THE BOY-GENERAL.
BY EDWARD CARY.
It was shortly after his reaching Philadelphia that Lafayette met Washington for the first time. "Though surrounded by officers and citizens," writes the young Frenchman, "his majestic face and form could not be mistaken, while his kind and noble manners were not less unmistakable." The veteran commander and the boyish lover of liberty and adventure were instantly drawn to each other. Washington invited Lafayette to join him at a review of the American army--"eleven thousand men, only fairly armed, and worse clothed, their best clothing the gray hunting shirts of the Carolinas." "We can not but feel a little abashed," remarked Washington, "in the presence of an officer who comes to us from the army of France."
"It is to learn, not to teach, that I am here," was the modest reply. "This way of talking," adds Lafayette, "made a good impression, for it was not common among the Europeans."
This little fight had quite important results. It gave Washington time to get his army safely back into the country, and to take up quarters for the winter at Valley Forge. Congress was greatly pleased, and passed a vote asking Washington to give Lafayette command of a division, which was done. Scarcely turned twenty, the young soldier found himself at the head of a body of picked men, mostly Virginians, whom he tried hard to make the flower of the army in activity, discipline, and courage. He shared all the hardships and miseries of the terrible winter at Valley Forge, where the army underwent untold sufferings. From 18,000 men it was reduced to 5000.
The British lay well housed and idle in Philadelphia. There was no fighting going on, and the country simply forgot and neglected its gallant soldiers. These were camped in a wooded hollow among the hills, and during that winter deeper snow than had been seen for many years buried the country.
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