| THE TWINS. |
| THE BRAVE SWISS BOY. |
| THE PROFESSOR ON TWINKLING. |
| THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGEN AND NYCTERIS. |
| EMBROIDERED CANVAS RUG. |
| MARGOTTE'S STORY. |
| OUR POST-OFFICE BOX |
| Vol. I.—No. 5. | Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. | Price Four Cents. |
| Tuesday, December 2, 1879. | Copyright, 1879, by Harper & Brothers. | $1.50 per Year, in Advance. |
FEEDING THE TWINS.A QUEER PAIR OF HOUSEHOLD PETS.
THE TWINS.
Young bears have always been great favorites as pets, being playful andaffectionate when kindly treated. They can be trained to perform allkinds of amusing tricks; and their antics when playing together or withchildren are very laughable. They have been taught to execute difficultparts in theatrical displays; among other things, to ring bells, pretendto fall dead when shot at, beat the drum, and go through the manualexercise of the soldier with the musket.
But though playful and harmless when young, they can not be trusted whentheir teeth and claws are full grown. Then their good nature can not becounted on; and many instances have occurred in which they have repaidfriendly confidence with sudden treachery. It must be said in theirfavor, however, that their wildness is often the result of bad treatmentor thoughtless teasing. There is a story in print of a planter inLouisiana who once picked up a young cub that had either been abandonedby its mother, or had run away from the parental den. He carried it homeand threw it down in the yard, where it was immediately adopted by thelittle negroes. It became a great favorite with them, sharing theircorn-bread, and taking part in all their sports. "Billy"—that was thename given to him—thrived and grew large and stout, and learned to boxand wrestle with the boys so well that visitors to the plantation werealways entertained with these