FLYING THE KITE.


Flying the kite is a pleasant amusement for boys, and when we see the

kites flying high in the air, we are always reminded of a kite whose

history we heard when a little child, and which we give our readers.

Shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, there was a little

boy whose parents had left their home and friends in England, on

account of their sympathy with the struggle of freedom for their

rights in Ameri
a. Their first home was in Norfolk, Va.



This little boy was very much delighted with the American eagle, and

he determined to make a kite as much like his favorite bird as he

could. He had a friend who was a painter and gilder, and a person

of great ingenuity. Together they contrived a beautiful kite

representing an eagle of gigantic size. It was painted and gilded in

the most beautiful manner, and a small but very brilliant lantern was

attached to it just below the breast.



They kept their secret very carefully, never suffering any one to

enter the room while it was making.



On a dark, cloudy, windy night, the kite was flown. Its mechanism was

so perfect that it sailed very beautifully. The lantern illuminated

every part, and it made a very brilliant appearance. Crowds of people

thronged the streets, wondering what the strange visitor was. Some

were alarmed, and thought it was an omen of fearful events.



Great was their admiration when they discovered that the wonderful

bird was the ingenious contrivance of a little boy; and they could

scarcely be convinced that what looked so much like a real bird was

only an ingenious combination of sticks and painted paper.



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