



Produced by David Widger from page images generously
provided by the Internet Archive









MY PRETTY SCRAP-BOOK;

Or,

Picture Pages And Pleasant Stories For Little Readers.

By Mrs. George Cupples,

London:

T. Nelson And Sons

1874

[Illustration: 0001]

[Illustration: 0006]

[Illustration: 0007]




MY PRETTY SCRAP-BOOK.

[Illustration: 0013]

|It is Dick's birth-day, and his mamma has very wisely bought "My Pretty
Scrap-Book" for him as a present. Should you like to see what is in
it? Very well, then; stand by my side while I turn over the leaves
carefully.




FUNNY UNCLE TOBY.

[Illustration: 0014]

|Ha! ha! ha! do wait till I hold my sides! What a funny fellow! Are they
pulling out his teeth, or his tongue? It is a shame to tickle his poor
nose all the time, and to play such pranks with his fine wig. But he is
watching, slyly, to catch one between his finger and thumb.




NAUGHTY JUDY.

[Illustration: 0015]

|Oh, how naughty of Judy, to take advantage of her mistress being
asleep. She is trying on some of Miss Eva's fine clothes; and see, she
has found her best fan, and as it has a neat little looking-glass in the
handle, she can see her black face in it. What a start she would get if
her mistress were to open her eyes suddenly! But cunning Judy knows that
as long as the heat is so great, Miss Eva will sleep on; that is to say,
if a mosquito do not alight on her cheek.




THE LITTLE GLEANER.

[Illustration: 0016]

|Here is a scene in our own country,--a little girl gleaning. It is a
very warm day, too; but no doubt her parents are poor, and she is
forced to work, no matter how warm it is. She must be well known to the
reapers; for few people are allowed to glean till after the corn has
been all housed.




CAUGHT IN THE RAIN.

[Illustration: 00117]

|No wonder they are in a hurry. The rain coming down very fast; and
the clouds are so black, they are afraid there may be thunder. I rather
think they must have heard one distant peal already, they look so
frightened--especially the boy. Theirs is certainly a very funny
umbrella; but not a bad way to do if you are caught in a shower, and
wish to save your fine feathers, if you have any. Perhaps the little boy
has put his cap into his pocket, because he hasn't got one on his head.
But I can't help wishing he had been on the outside, so that his sister
might have been more sheltered. He should have been more polite.




IN THE BAY OF BISCAY.

[Illustration: 0018]

|You will be thinking already that I have a variety of pictures in my
Scrap-Book; and so I have. Here is one of a ship in the Bay of Biscay.
It is a fine ship, and it is doing its best to make its way through the
heavy sea. I fear there has been a wreck, for you see there is a
piece of a mast standing out of the water, and a barrel and a hen-coop
floating beside it. If the people see it from the ship, it must make
them shudder.




A FRIGHTENED KING.

[Illustration: 0019]

|Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross." The idea of a king being afraid!
Just look at him! Would you be afraid if you had a rocking-horse like
this, with such a splendid tail, too? No, of course not. A king ought
never to be frightened at anything, especially when he has his crown on,
and his pig-tail tied up so nicely. The horse seems to be quite ashamed
of him.




THE RUINED TOWER.

[Illustration: 0020]

|I have put this picture in that you may make a drawing of it. It would
be a nice present to give to mamma, you know, especially if you 
it. If you do, I hope you will be particular with the cow, she is such a
sleek, pretty, dun-<DW52> one.




WATCHING CRABS.

[Illustration: 0021]

|Out at the sea-side! Here are two young folk out on the rocks looking
for shells and sea-weeds. The girl must be lame, for you can see she has
a crutch with her. That must be her brother; and I feel sure she loves
him very much indeed, for see how she is laying her hand on his head.
I am certain he helps her very tenderly over the rough and wet places;
very likely he carries her on his back. I do hope they notice that the
tide is rising, because it would be a sad thing for them to be caught by
the water. They do look rather sleepy about it, and are too intent upon
watching a funny crab.




"UP IN A BALLOON, BOYS."

[Illustration: 0022]

|Up in a balloon, boys, up in a balloon!" Well, I don't think it has
been the donkey's fault that he is here; and he looks very much as if he
were saying, "I'm quite willing to gallop along, but I should just very
much like to know where I'm to gallop to; and as for the clouds, no
doubt they are very pretty in their way, but how can I eat them? I'd
much rather have an old stunted thistle--I really should indeed."
It would serve the rider right if the donkey were to jump out of the
balloon. I don't think he'd be so merry then with his "Gee up, Teddy!"




OUR PRETTY BABY

[Illustration: 0023]

|Now, I do call this a pretty picture. Here is an honest farmer's-man.
He has come home from his hard day's work in the fields; and, after his
supper, he takes his seat by the door to play with his baby.




AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

[Illustration: 0024]

|Here is a picture of a lake among the mountains, and a very pretty
place it seems to be. How nice it would be to have a sail in that little
boat! The wind is sending it along in fine style. I think you would
rather be there than among the people who are toiling up the steep
mountain-path with the baskets on their backs. Yet I must say the girls
seem content and happy, even though their work is hard and humble.




GENEROUS TOMMY.

[Illustration: 0025]

|Ah, here is a generous fellow. That is what you do, isn't it, when
anything nice has been given to you? What large pieces he is cutting
off, too! I hope he will have enough of cake left to go over them all
and leave a portion for himself. No wonder his companions are waving
their caps and shouting "Hurrah!"




"HOLD FIRM, PLEASE."

[Illustration: 0026]

|They have got a pretty pair of pigeons in that basket, I feel certain.
Mary is taking very great care of the cage, holding it as firmly as she
possibly can till Henry gets down from among the rafters of the shed.




HUNTING KANGAROOS.

[Illustration: 0027]

|What funny animals! Yes; they are kangaroos. Do you notice that their
fore feet are much shorter than their hind ones? Poor things, they
cannot run like the dog. And yet they are not to be pitied exactly,
because they can jump ever so far, and by this means they get along at
a great speed. The mamma kangaroo has a pouch, and she puts her little
young one into it, and jumps away with it hidden quite snugly.




NAUGHTY FOX.

[Illustration: 0028]

|Here is rather a sad picture. Two poor men have been wrecked on a
desert island. They have managed, however, to put up a tent, and to
hoist an old tattered flag for a signal to passing vessels. They have
certainly been making the most of it, and trying to be as content
as possible; but when they were least expecting it, a sly fox comes
stealing along and runs off with the only chicken they were able to
save. It is really too bad of Reynard, for he might have been content
with the sea-birds. Oh, but look! one of the men is getting ready his
gun, and I rather think that the sly fox will be shot.




IN THE VINEYARDS

[Illustration: 0029]

|What lovely ripe grapes! These young folk are carrying them away to
make wine of them. It is rather a pity to think the great presses will
squeeze them into a mash; but then we couldn't get any wine to drink if
they weren't squeezed. The girls don't seem to be eating any of them;
but perhaps they have been told not to do so.




THE LIFE-BOAT.

[Illustration: 0030]

|Here has been a wreck in real earnest; but the crew seem to have been
all saved by the gallant life-boat. One might think, to look at the
heaving sea, that the poor boat would never be able to reach the ship.
The man on board is doing his best to direct them, by pointing out how
to steer; and he has a rope ready to fling to them.




MASTER CROSSPATCH.

[Illustration: 0031]

|Now, did you ever see such a sulky face? It is quite shocking! I think
we ought to call him Master Crosspatch. He surely must be the very
husband of Crosspatch, to whom we say, "Draw the latch, sit at your door
and spin and whom we advise to "Take a cup, and drink it up, and call
your neighbours in!" If poor Crosspatch's husband is like this, perhaps
that is why she cannot be so kind as she would like, and why her temper
has been soured; for I am sure such a face is quite enough to turn the
sweetest cream into a curd.




AT THE CLEAR SPRING.

[Illustration: 0032]

|Oh, how pretty and how cool the water is! The dog is thinking so, at
any rate, and is cooling his hot tongue in the clear stream. He would
like to get into it altogether, I daresay, but it is not deep enough.
His mistress is pouring all the water out again; perhaps because she
fancies her dog's tongue has dirtied it. Well, it certainly would have
been better if he had gone to the other side; only he couldn't know,
being a dog.




FORSAKEN DOLLIE.

[Illustration: 0033]

|How do you like this picture? These girls seem to be enjoying
themselves very much indeed. Not all of them, though; for poor Miss
Dollie is sitting all alone, no one taking any notice of her, and so she
feels very lonely indeed. Poor Dollie! what does she care for the fine
new-fairy-tale book, or the story Clara is reading aloud?




THE GOOD-NATURED FALCON.

[Illustration: 0034]

|This is a falcon, and he seems to be a very tame one. That is the
falconer's little daughter, and she is talking to the great bird. He
appears to be listening very attentively to what she is saying. What
can she be saying? Perhaps she is asking him not to touch any of her
pet birds; because she has ever so many robins and wrens and finches she
likes to feed every morning; and she is asking the falcon not to do
them any harm. I don't think she has much to fear; he seems to be such
a good-natured bird. I only hope the boys in the village will be half as
kind.




MEDDLESOME MATTY.

[Illustration: 0035]

|Oh, fie, fie for shame, Miss Meddlesome Matty! We all know _you_ the
moment we see you; and we know about how you "lift the tea-pot lid, to
peep at what is in it," the moment your grandmother turns her back. Ah!
you often get into disgrace with your naughty tricks.




GARDENING.

[Illustration: 0036]

|Are you fond of gardening? If so, you will like to see this picture in
my Scrap-Book. See how very industrious the little girl and boy are; and
how attentive they are to the wants of the flowers, watering them after
the sun is down.




A NARROW ESCAPE.

[Illustration: 0037]

|Oh dear! what is this? A poor man has been bathing, and here is a great
shark trying to swallow him. Oh, what a good thing his companions were
close at hand, and that they are so brave! See! one of them is striking
his long spear right into the shark's back; while another has got hold
of their poor ship-mate, and is dragging him out of the shark's very
mouth! The man must be very much hurt. If he has any children, how sorry
they will be to hear of it.




MISS DOLLIE'S VILLAGE.

[Illustration: 0038]

|Ah! I thought you would all like to see this. Here is a whole
doll-village, church and all. Perhaps the boys don't care about seeing
it; but then we must always be polite, and put in pictures to suit the
girls. Well, I am sure the dolls who own all these fine houses must be
very happy dolls indeed; and the little girl who owns the dolls, and, of
course, the houses and the trees and the church into the bargain, must
be the very happiest little girl in the world. She surely never cries,
and is always good, and is a pattern to all her friends. Shouldn't you
like to know her, and be invited, along with your own dolls, to pay her
a visit?




THE SLY KING.

[Illustration: 0039]

|I suppose the boys will like this one better. Here is the king once
more, so glad to find himself on a chair instead of on horseback. He is
telling the master of the doll-house all about it, and of how nobly he
rode the animal, though it tried its best to throw him off. Oh, what a
sly fellow! when we know what a coward he really is. The doll, who is
the master of the doll-house, seems to be listening most attentively,
and is glad to hear that the king has made such a lucky escape.




A HIGHLAND SOLDIER.

[Illustration: 0040]

|Here is the picture of a Highland soldier. He is bidding farewell
to his wife and little baby, because he is going away to the wars. No
wonder his wife is sorry, for she may never see him again.




A POOR LITTLE ORPHAN.

[Illustration: 0041]

|Here is a picture of a little girl whose mother is a widow. She is
looking round at the other children, and longing to be allowed to join
them in their sports; but her mother is so sad that she can think of
nothing else but her sorrow. Poor little orphan girl.




TWO WILD PARROTS.

[Illustration: 0042]

|Here are a pair of parrots. They are out in the woods in their native
state, and how they do screech and chatter. One has a green breast, with
a mottled green and black back, with lovely blue feathers in its wings,
and two long red ones in its tail; the other has a red breast and a red
head, and, though very different, is quite as pretty. Of course, when
they are at home in the woods, they cannot say, "Pretty Polly," or speak
at all; it is only when they are caught and tamed that they become so
clever. Only, I think they like being wild best. They can search for the
food they like, and are free as the air.




MAMMA AND BABY.

[Illustration: 0043]

|Here is a picture of mamma and baby. Mamma is sitting in the arbour.
Baby is sound asleep; which is a good thing, for mamma can now rest and
sit quietly thinking about what she should do for her little darling.




PEARL FISHERS.

[Illustration: 0044]

|Here is a picture of two pearl-fishers. They are offering some pearls
for sale to an officer; but perhaps he is too poor to buy them, or he
does not require such fine things; because he seems to be refusing to
have them.




MRS. TAFFY.

[Illustration: 0045]

|This is Mrs. Taffy, and it is plain she has just heard that her son has
stolen the leg of beef. Oh, how stern she does look, to be sure! Taffy
will surely never be so foolish and naughty again, and will turn his
eyes away the moment he sees a leg of beef or a marrow bone. I know, if
my mother looked like that at me, I should be ready to sink down with
terror and dismay.




A CHRISTMAS TREE.

[Illustration: 0046]

|Oh, what a lovely Christmas tree! Do not you wish you were of the
company? or that Christmas would bring you just such another? How it
must sparkle and shine with so many candles and  balls! This
tree is in Germany; and do you notice all the toys and pretty presents?




SHOOTING THE RAPIDS.

[Illustration: 0047]

|Here is a little boat, or a canoe rather, shooting the rapids. The
people don't seem to be the least afraid; for, see! there is a man in
the front waving his handkerchief to some of their friends on the shore.
The men behind are looking a little anxious, I think,--and well they
may.




FUNCHAL.

[Illustration: 0048]

|This place is called Funchal, in the island of Madeira. When you are
