The Story of Phaeton. EAR Mr. Merry, Ipus, (their capital) in a frock coat. have been reading Still, Phaeton thought as much of his Hawthorne's "Won- well-formed limbs, agile motions, and der Book," and skill in manly sports, as the modern "Tanglewood Tales." dandy thinks of his appendages. In They are stories from the old the customary games of that period, Classical Mythology, sometimes few of his companions could rival him; necessarily altered. I tried to and this, adding to his vanity, made him make some like them, one of feel great confidence in himself, and as which I send to you. If you if he could do any thing. One day, think it worth putting in your "Mu- after he had vanquished several of his seum," I should feel much flattered. It companions, he could not refrain from may incite others to a similar attempt, loudly boasting of his success. and thus make them more familiar with Mythological literature. "I believe that I can cope with any one," said he. "You mean in those particular games, I suppose," said his companion, Epaphus. "I mean, that in anything I determine upon I can conquer if I choose," replied Phaeton, loftily. "I wonder, then, that you haven't before this asked to drive your father's chariot; judging by your talk, you are well able to do so," said Epaphus, smiling at his vanity. "You think I boast," asked Phaeton, fiercely. "It really looks like it," replied Epaphus, as he walked away. Phaeton was the son of Phoebus, who drove the chariot of the Sun. He was a handsome young man, and his gay spirits made him generally a favorite with his companions, but he had been too much flattered and indulged, and consequently he was quite self-willed. At the time our story begins, he was about the age, when in our day, young men get into long-tailed coats, carry their hats on the side of the head, smoke cigars, and cultivate moustaches. the period, though, in which Phaeton lived, moustaches, cigars, and tipped hats had not come into fashion, and the assembled gods and goddesses would have been astounded if our hero had "Oh," said he, "if I could but have made his appearance at Mount Olym- the command of the Sun for one day, In Phaeton was very angry. He had spoken foolishly, on the feeling of the moment. If he had now let the subject drop, it would soon have been forgotten. But, silly boy! he had far different intentions. "I ask to drive your chariot for one day," said Phaeton. just to triumph over Epaphus! How I suppose. It is granted, sir beggar." he and my companions would envy me !" Then as Phaeton thought of the difficulty of that which he would undertake, he felt discouraged; but his pride and vanity came to his aid. "Why should I fear? My companions might fear, but am I not superior to them? With my genius, I needn't fail. I don't doubt that soon I could drive even better than Phoebus himself. Yes, I must, and will do it." Such were the thoughts of Phaeton, though perhaps, expressed in more elegant phrase in the pure language which the immortals were wont to use. He determined to go immediately to his father, who lived far off in the eastern heavens. Every morning Phoebus drove his swift horses over the heavens, from the East, where he started, to the West. Only think! What swift creatures they must have been to accomplish that distance in a day! Phaeton found his father with a friend, named Bacchus. They were laughing, and having a merry time. "Ha! young madcap, what brings you here?" asked Phoebus, merrily. "My legs; and I come to ask a boon of you," replied Phaeton, in the same strain. "Have you taken leave of your senses," exclaimed Phoebus. "Not yet, and remember you have promised, even if I had,” replied Phaeton. Yes, Phœbus had promised, and must keep it. He reasoned with his son upon the impropriety of his request, but Phaeton would have his will. felt piqued at Bacchus doubting his ability. He "I'm not a child," said he, "why can't I drive as well as father ?" "Since you think yourself capable," said his father, "at least do me the honor to attend to my cautions ;" and he proceeded to caution him minutely about his driving. "You must be careful not to drive too high, for fear of burning the heavens; nor too low, lest you scorch the earth. You must keep a firm, steady hold of the reins, not jerking or pulling them, lest you irritate the fiery horses." This, and a great deal more, Phoebus said to him, but the silly boy, wishing to appear manly and knowing before Bacchus, assumed an indifferent manner, occasionally interrupting his father with careless questions. At last the wished ready. Such fierce looking creatures. "Name it," cried Phoebus. "Will you promise to grant it before for moment came--the horses were hand ?" "Modest, certainly, isn't he, Bac- you have no idea of. As struggling chus ?" and foaming with impatience to be "But will you ?" asked Phaeton, gone, with streams of fire coming from eagerly. their mouths, they reared and plunged, "Well, it can't be very important, even Phaeton felt fear. THE STORY OF PHAETON.-COUNSEL FROM THE STARS. 121 "You can't control them," cried | the powerful will of Jupiter, returned to Phœbus s; "shall I ?" heaven. Phaeton fell into the river Po, and escaped death. When he saw all the misery he had caused he felt heartily ashamed of his presumption and folly. He tried hard and long to overcome his faults, and at last succeeded. Phaeton hesitated a moment, but then said, "what desist now? What will be thought of me? No, I will proceed," and he sprang into the chariot. He was out of sight in a moment. He now had attained his utmost wish. But he was not so happy as he had expected. No, his steeds, unaccustomed to his hand, flew along with the speed of the wind. He dragged upon the reins with all his strength, but it only increased their fury. He tried to control them with his voice, but they would only obey the voice of Phoebus. Still they swept onwards across the heavens, bearing the pale and terrified Phaeton, powerless to arrest or check them. His head was dizzy with the wildness of the motionhis hands blistered with trying to restrain them. He was entirely in the power of the excited animals. And now they plunged from the straight way, and flew downwards at fearful speed. Nearer and nearer they came to the earth, and, though still thousands of miles from it, the high mountains began to smoke. As they still came nearer, cities, towns, and villages were burned up; and the whole earth was scorched with the terrible heat. Still the great ball of fire descended; the earth was like a great furnace. What must have been Phaeton's thoughts, as he was whirled downwards and saw all this destruction, the consequences of his pride and self will? Dizzy and bewildered, he at last fell from the chariot down to the earth. The horses of the Sun, at Kind reader, though you will not be tempted to do exactly the same thing as Phaeton did, yet know that any one who cherishes a spirit of vanity and self-will, has no defence against a like failure and mortification. Counsel from the Stars. WRITTEN WHEN EIGHT YEARS OLD. GENTLE stars so brightly shining, Look ye down upon my wo; I have lost my darling sister; She my lily was, and rose-bud, And my chief companion dear; Then the stars so brightly shining, He it was that took thy sister, Merry's Monthly Chat with his friends. Our Magic Square. THE battle goes bravely on. We have a large number of able competitors for the prize. The nearest approximation yet made to a complete answer, is that which gives twenty-three of the twenty-five squares correct, thus beating young Hatchet by two squares. The remaining two squares count seventy-three and seventy-five, literally "coming within one" of perfection. We begin to think it can be done, and if it can, the Merry Boys will do it. We are sure of that. You have one month more to try. The decision will be given in the May number. Should another be sent as good as that above referred to, we think the one first received should have the precedence. W. S. L. will please place his problem in a square and send it on. We do not understand the arrangement. It is not sufficient that two columns should make two hundred and twenty-two, or eight squares one hundred and forty-eight. Each separate column must make a hundred and eleven; and each four squares seventy-four, the diagonals also being a hundred and eleven. You cannot place the figures in any order, that they will not average a hundred and eleven to every six squares, and seventy-four to every four. BOSTON, March 2d, 1856. MR. MERRY, I salute you! For the sky clouds quickly over, I'm delighted that your rebus Unto Willie Coleman, greeting! But the fleeting hours fly onward; Miss Laura, allow me the pleasure to introduce to your acquaintance, my very modest, aboriginal, down-east nephew, "Bay State," and to express the fatherly hope that you will be able to keep him at bay, while I read over this basket-full of letters, and reduce him to a state of civilization and sanity before I get through. HIRAM. UNION SQUARE, March 13, 1856. DEAR UNCLE HIRAM: It is a fine day. The sun shines warm, and it would look very much like spring if there were not so much snow on the ground. It is one vast snow drift for miles around. We can just see the tops of the highest fences around here. I take two papers besides the Museum. One of them is the Little Pilgrim, and I think that he is a fine little fellow. I find plenty of fun in the Museum, and that is just what I like. I have solved a few of the | for a prize, but, like many others, failed in winquestions in the last number. From your affectionate name-sake, HIRAM W. S. MCCONNELSVILLE, O., March 14, 1856. MR. ROBERT MERRY, NEW YORK.-Dear Sir: I have but very recently become a reader of your interesting Museum (my little brother C. C. C, having lately entrusted his cherished dollar to your fatherly charge), but shall henceforth prove a constant and attentive one. C. C. Cis now engaged, heart and soul, in solving the magic square problem. Eating and sleeping have been quite out of the question for the last day or two, so anxious is he to compete for the prize. He has, thus far, the diagonals, the perpendiculars, and horizontals, all correct, and 16 small squares right; and his release from school this evening will find him hard at work, for he is confident of success. I sincerely hope, dear Mr. Merry, that you may not find in my brother and self, an unwelcome or troublesome addition to the bright and happy Merry family; and, though we may not prove active and valued members, like Willie H. Coleman, R. W. R., Black-eyed Mary, and a host of others, whose names we have already learned to love, still we trust to your proverbial kindness of heart not to vote us incorrigible bores, if we should sometimes dare address you. I trust you will not long demand a "suspension of hostilities" between the mathematical geniuses of the numerous Merrys, but, now that Black-eyed Mary's "vexed question" is for ever at rest, not long delay the advent of "Mary T's" eagerly anticipated " seventy-four pounder," which, it is to be hoped, will not blow Willie H. Coleman so emphatically as did hers of the "black-eyes." And if it does not turn out too heavy a fire, for such a novice as I to brave, I will gladly enlist. up Yours truly, ALICE B. C. Right welcome, Alice dear. You will find all the Merrys fond, very fond of their A.B. C's, and disposed to do them all possible honor. As for your little brother, we wish him all possible success with his magic square, but he will have to see, SEE, SEE, mighty sharp into its mysteries to get ahead of all his competitors. The family compliments to you, and hope to see you often at our table. DEAR UNCLE HIRAM:-As you give all an opportunity, I also claim the privilege of writing, and of being one of the Merry family. I almost envy your happiness of having so many precious letters from enterprising northerners, and ambitious southerners, with compliments to your venerated self, and jovial Mr. Merry, which must be very flattering indeed. I was one that tried ning it, probably owing to the fact, that when I first began writing letters, I would stretch out my sentences, so as to make them extend as far as possible to fill up the paper, a fault from which I have not yet fully recovered. If I should send you some subscriptions for the Museum, would the books all have to be sent to one address? Please tell me in your next. Could not there be some other plan devised than throwing worthless epistles into that great basket under the table, which has been the terror of so many, and of me particularly? I should like very much to hear of the Sugar and May parties. The next time you have any such parties, please have all Hope Hannah will thaw out soon. the Merry family there, if you have a house large enough. With much love to all the little folks, I remain yours. MINNIE. Envy our compliments! do you, Minnie? Perhaps you would not like the kicks and cuffs, that come in by way of spice. It is a great Art, Minnie, to say what you want in a few words. It won't do to put too much water in your milk, nor too many words to an idea.-Books subscribed for, or obtained as premiums, will be sent to any address you name, and each to a separate address, if you wish it.-Would the fire be more comfortable than the basket?-Hannah has actually thawed out, and given signs of life. The May Party will appear in the May number, where it properly belongs. The whole family shall be invited next time. It was not our fault, that all were not there before. ACROSTIC. My little Museum is greeted Many a head in thought is bent, We always take a commission for the transfers we make. Aunt Sue may have the bal ance. |