SCOTT'S (HARPER'S) SMALLER SCHOOL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. A Smaller School History of the United States. By DAVID B. SCOTT. With Maps and Illustrations. 16mo, Half Leather, 60 cents. DICKENS'S CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. A Child's History of England. By CHARLES DICKENS. Illustrated. 2 vols, in one, l6mo, Half Leather, 80 cents. HARPER'S INTRODUCTORY GEOGRAPHY. Harper's Introductory Geography. With Maps and Illustrations, prepared expressly for this Work by eminent American Artists. Half Leather, Small 4to, 60 cents. BONNER'S CHILD'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. A Child's History of the United States. By JOHN BONNER. A New Edition, Revised and Enlarged, and brought down to the Close of the Rebellion and the Inauguration of President Johnson. Illustrated. 3 vols., 16mo, Cloth, $3.75. BONNER'S CHILD'S HISTORY OF ROME. A Child's History of Rome. By JOHN BONNER. Illustrated. 2 vols., 16mo, Cloth, $2.50. BONNER'S CHILD'S HISTORY OF GREECE. A Child's History of Greece. By JOHN BONNER. Illustrated. 2 vols., 16mo, Cloth, $2.50. * * * * * Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. _Sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of the price._ THE MANES LIFE-BOAT. BY FRANK BELLEW. [Illustration: THE MANES LIFE-BOAT.] A very ingenious invention for the preservation of life at sea has recently been patented in Washington, and approved by the United States government. It is called the Manes Life-Boat, and consists of a hollow ball of copper, with a hollow mast for ventilation, a trap-door for ingress and egress, and other contrivances for the convenience of passengers. These hollow balls are to be carried on board ocean vessels, and if a wreck occurs, passengers step inside, and are lowered into the sea, where they can float about, protected from the wind, rain, and waves till they are picked up by some passing vessel. I will not give you a long account of this queer boat, as you can probably form a pretty good idea of what it is by looking at the accompanying picture, which, as you will see, represents the inside, with its cargo of passengers. [Illustration: Fig. 1.] My present object is to show you how to construct a similar toy boat out of an egg-shell. To do this you require the following materials: one egg, as round as possible, half a tea-spoonful of shot, a piece of bees-wax about as big as a small hickory-nut, some black paint or varnish, some vinegar, a little stick of pine, a cork, and a sharp knife. Now with regard to the knife, let me recommend you to buy one such as is represented in Fig. 1. It is one of a kind that shoe-makers use, and can be bought at most hardware stores for ten or twelve cents. It is a very useful knife for all kinds of fine work. [Illustration: Fig. 2.] [Illustration: Fig. 3]