and its hind-legs are short. This odd formation gives it an awkward
shambling manner of walking, which is both ludicrous and hideous.

This creature rarely shows itself by day, but when the shadows of night
fall on the plains and forests, it comes out from its home among the
rocks and caverns in search of food. African travellers are much annoyed
by it. When the camp is silent, and all are sleeping, the hyena comes
prowling round, uttering hoarse human cries; and should it fail to find
sufficient camp refuse to satisfy its hunger, some poor donkey is sure
to be torn in pieces by its terribly strong jaws.

Few animals have been the subject of so much superstition. In ancient
times it was believed that a dog went mad if a hyena turned its evil-eye
upon it, and the beast was believed by many to be a wicked sorcerer who
went about in human form by day, and at night assumed the shape of a
hyena. The poor and ignorant peasantry of Arabia, even at the present
day, believe in the evil-eye of this beast, and are afraid to shoot it
lest they should incur the wrath of the wicked spirit which they imagine
walks the earth in this ugly form.

The poor hyena, however, far from being an evil spirit, is a real
blessing to the regions it inhabits, as it is a natural scavenger,
provided by the kind wisdom of nature to clear the ground of much
loathsome and decaying matter, thereby rendering the air sweeter and
purer and more healthful.

CHATTER-BOX AND CHATTER-BAG.

BY A. P. C.

Doubtless you all know what a _chatter-box_ is, but are any of you
acquainted with a _chatter-bag_? I do not think the word is in the
dictionary, and yet the article exists. Perhaps you would like to hear
how it came to be invented.

Once upon a time a young lady, whom we will call Miss Matilda, entered
upon her duties as teacher in a large school. There were about fifty
girls in her department, and she had to be somewhat of a disciplinarian
to keep them all in order. But things, on the whole, went quietly, until
one morning a pleasant-faced old lady appeared, and introduced as a new
pupil her granddaughter Anna Maria Spilkins.

Anna Maria S. was eleven years of age. She was a graceful little person,
with large round blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and a quantity of short, curly,
golden hair. Her face was very bright; she had the appearance of being
uncommonly clever. But she was eminently a _chatter-box_.

This fact soon made itself felt. Miss Matilda