"Don't you ever shoot them when they're sitting still, Jim?"
"No; and you won't when you're used to it. There's one coming for me. I'll take him as he goes by."
Nap was entirely safe this time. Indeed, he seemed inclined all the rest of that morning to do his rabbit-hunting at a somewhat unsociable distance from his friends.
There were plenty of rabbits in the swamp, and the boys were more than a little proud of their success, especially Charley; but when the time came for going home, it was curious how ready they both were to go. So was Napoleon Bonaparte. Truth to tell, it had been hard work, and the boys declared the rabbit a remarkably heavy beast, for his size, by the time they reached home with their game.
Down all the rugged mountain-slopes, Through all the mossy dells, There comes a gentle purling sound, Like peals of fairy bells.
A tinkling, rippling, gurgling song Is borne on every breeze; Mysterious whispers seem to stir The grim old forest trees.
The tiny grasses wave their hands And gayly nod their heads To lazy buds, still half asleep In cozy winter beds.
And now the riotous sunbeams come; They draw the curtains wide; Nor leave untouched the smallest nook Where sleepy buds may hide.
"Awake! awake!" the whole Earth cries: "King Winter's reign is past; His crown he yields to his fairest child, And Spring is Queen at last."
All our young readers know the value of that familiar and useful substance, salt, which enters so largely into our daily wants, and is so essential to our existence. Formerly prisoners in Holland were kept from the use of salt; but this deprivation produced such terrible diseases that this practice was abolished. The Mexicans, in old times, in cases of rebellion, deprived entire provinces of this indispensable commodity, and thus left innocent and guilty alike to rot to death.
This mineral is frequently mentioned in the Bible. The sacrifices of the Jews were all seasoned with salt, and we read of a _covenant_ of salt. Salt was procured by the Hebrews from the hills of salt which lie about the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, and from the waters of that sea, which overflow the banks yearly, and leave a deposit of salt both abundant and good.