=Sweet Scents.=--Perfumes were used in the early times of the Chinese Empire, when ladies had a habit of rubbing in their hands a round ball made of a mixture of amber, musk, and sweet-scented flowers. The Jews, who were also devoted to sweet scents, used them in their sacrifices, and also to anoint themselves before their repasts. The Scythian ladies went a step farther, and after pounding on a stone cedar, cypress, and incense, made up the ingredients thus obtained into a thick paste, with which they smeared their faces and limbs. The composition emitted for a long time a pleasing odor, and on the following day gave to the skin a soft and shining appearance. The Greeks carried sachets of scent in their dresses, and filled their dining-rooms with fumes and incense.

Even their wines were often impregnated with decoctions of flowers. The Athenians anointed pigeons with liquid perfume, and let them fly loose about a room, scattering the drops over the guests.

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THE MOTHER SINGS SOFTLY TO HERSELF:

Play, baby, in thy cradle play-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; And quick goes time, quick, quick!

Grow, baby, grow, with every day-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; And babyhood will pa.s.s away, For quick goes time, quick, quick!

Not long can mother watch thee so-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; And quick goes time, quick, quick!

To pretty girlhood thou wilt grow-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; To womanhood, before we know, For quick goes time, quick, quick!

Play, baby, in thy cradle play-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; And quick goes time, quick, quick!

And some brave lad will come some day-- Tick goes the clock, tick-tick, tick-tick; And steal my baby's heart away: Ah, quick goes time, quick, quick!

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Charley Bangs is a nice boy, but it was not right of him to take his big dog Towser to school when he heard the teacher was going to give him a flogging-- And then to say he was afraid to send the dog home because it was so vicious, and might turn on him, and bite him!

_TO THE READERS OF_ HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

A CHRISTMAS GREETING.

The publishers of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE congratulate their readers on the approach of the merry holiday season, and take pleasure in announcing the enlargement of this journal to sixteen pages, beginning with the Christmas number, which will be published December 23.

This change will enable the publishers to give their young readers every week an increased variety of stories, poems, sketches, and other attractive reading, from the best writers that can be secured. The publishers will also avail themselves of this occasion to present HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE to their subscribers in new and enlarged type, which will greatly add to the beauty and attractiveness of its appearance.

No pains or expense will be spared to make HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE the most entertaining, instructive, high-toned, and popular weekly paper for the youthful readers of America.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE will be issued every Tuesday, and may be had at the following rates:

_Single Copies_ $0.04 ONE _Subscription, one year_ 1.50 FIVE _Subscriptions,_ " 7.00

_Payable in advance. Postage free._

Subscriptions may begin with any number. When no time is specified, it will be understood that the subscriber desires to commence with the number issued after the receipt of order.

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Address

HARPER & BROTHERS, Franklin Square, New York.

A LIBERAL OFFER FOR 1880 ONLY.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE _and_ HARPER'S WEEKLY _will be sent to any address for one year, commencing with the first number of_ HARPER'S WEEKLY _for January, 1880, on receipt of $5.00 for the two Periodicals_.