the whole day.

"'The Kite is getting beautifully dry and tight,' said Uncle George, as
he took the place left for him; 'I peeped into the school-room as I came
down, and I see it is drying fast and nicely. And what shall we make it?
A flying dragon, like the Chinese flags and lanterns?'

"'O yes! Uncle Gee,' cried Dora, with his eyes as round as cricket
balls; 'do make it a dragon--a green dragon, with a fiery tail!'

"'Or a likeness--warranted genuine--of old Bogey himself,' laughed Bob.

"'A fairy with wings,' suggested Mary, 'with a star on her forehead, and
a girdle round her waist.'

"'Or a ship,' said Jeanie, her dark face glowing; 'a ship with masts and
sails painted for her, because you know she _does_ sail through the air,
Uncle Gee!'

"'Paint it like a daisy,' said Baby, 'or make buttercups all over it!'

"'Well, we'll see,' said Uncle Gee; 'when dinner is over we'll have a
solemn council on the matter, and the most votes shall carry the day.'

"'Can anyone tell me anything particular about a Kite?' enquired Papa;
'I think there ought to be a story somewhere; does anyone know it?'

"'I do,' cried Tom, eagerly; 'Dr. Franklin found out about lightning
with a Kite, didn't he?'

"'Yes,' replied Papa, 'you are right Tom; but what did he find out by
it, and how? Do you know?'

"'No,' said Tom, frankly; 'I only remember he made a Kite to find out
something he wanted to know about lightning, and there was something
about a key, but I don't remember, Papa.'

"'I am glad you recollected a little about it,' said Papa, 'and I will
tell you what the story was. Franklin, as you know, had long studied the
effect of storms, and what is called Electricity. He was busied with
setting some plans to work, which would enable him to try some
experiments on the subject. But one day, while he was thinking over the
matter, it flashed across his mind that a kite, such as he had seen his
boys playing with, might help him to solve the puzzle. So he made one,
not like yours, but out of a silk handkerchief, and fixed an iron point
to the end of his stick, and where his string ended he hung a key.
During the next thunderstorm that happened he went out and flew his
kite; and by these simple means found out what he had wanted to know.
You would hardly understand what the question was, or how it was
explained to him in this way, until you are rather older, and are able
to understand a little more of all the curious phenomena of