St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, No 10, August 1878: Scribner's Illustrated

In Short

This volume serves as a time capsule of late Victorian American youth culture. It functions as a monthly miscellany, blending moral guidance, travelogues, and serialized fiction into a cohesive package designed to educate and entertain. The magazine remains a significant historical document because it reveals how children in the 1870s were encouraged to view the world: with curiosity, patriotism, and a firm sense of civic duty. Its enduring charm lies in the earnest, intimate voice it maintains, treating its young readership as intelligent participants in a wider intellectual life.

The Story

The magazine unfolds through a variety of narratives, beginning with a whimsical poem about the Swiss town of Nulle, where the citizens gather in a solemn convocation to decide what product will best represent their nation at the Universal Fair in Paris. After much deliberation and an amendment for a "Royal Big Cheese," the town commits to its patriotic mission. From this European fantasy, the focus shifts to the domestic sphere in America, where a group of siblings and friends are on an outing. John, a hungry boy, experiences an amusing internal struggle with his cravings for pound-cake and fried chicken, leading to an impromptu picnic that charms his companions.

The narrative scope then widens to include practical instruction for young travelers, offering precise advice on everything from managing train tickets to social conduct in public spaces. This shifts into a darker, more somber tone with the retelling of a colonial-era tragedy. Miss Celia, an older figure, recounts the story of young Matty, who was hidden in a hollow tree by her father during a frontier conflict. The father is captured and returns years later to find only Matty’s bones and her shoe buckles, a revelation that leaves her listeners both horrified and fascinated. This transitions into a lighter domestic drama involving a boy named Ben, who is being bullied by other boys. Miss Celia and her brother Thorny intervene, aiming to teach the bullies a lesson and build Ben’s confidence through a planned birthday celebration.

The magazine’s reach expands further into the fantastical and the instructive. We encounter the story of Jules, a man who fails to act with kindness toward a shivering fairy-dwarf, contrasted with the young Selma, who demonstrates the compassion Jules lacked. This leads to a magical sequence where Selma becomes a caretaker for a young gnome prince. Parallel to these tales, we follow Dab Kinzer, a young boy who displays true grit and maritime skill. During a dangerous fog, he and his crew rescue a passenger, Frank Harley, from a steamer that has run aground. The volume concludes with a poignant, tear-filled look at the life and death of a young girl named Gerty, whose suffering ends peacefully in the summer sun, leaving a deep impression on her devoted friend, Dick.

How It Unfolds

The Swiss proposal The burghers of Nulle gather in their town hall to determine the most prestigious item to send to the Paris Fair. After a series of increasingly grandiose suggestions, they unanimously agree to produce a giant cheese to honor their nation.

The picnic and the traveler's guide John’s insistence on eating his picnic snacks immediately provides a moment of comedic relief during a day out with his friends. This is followed by a sober, detailed list of instructions for young travelers, emphasizing punctuality, safety, and proper decorum on trains.

Frontier tragedy and moral lessons Miss Celia recounts the haunting story of Matty, a pioneer girl left hidden in a hollow tree who never survived to be rescued. This serves as a pivot to a contemporary story about Ben, a boy whose social standing is secured through the mentorship and protection of his friends.

Fairy encounters and maritime rescue The narrative enters the realm of the supernatural when Selma is tasked with raising a young gnome prince. Simultaneously, the story of Dab Kinzer takes a dramatic turn as he navigates the "Swallow" through a dangerous fog to rescue a stranded passenger.

The final farewell The volume moves toward a somber conclusion with the story of Gerty, whose physical decline and eventual death emphasize themes of endurance and grace. The magazine closes with a section of reader correspondence that reinforces the sense of a connected, inquisitive community of young subscribers.

The People

Dab Kinzer is the embodiment of the capable, courageous youth; he is a natural leader whose maturity is proven when he captains the Swallow through a treacherous fog to save a life. Ford Foster, his friend, acts as a foil—enthusiastic and talkative, he brings a city-bred energy to the adventures. Miss Celia functions as the moral and social compass of her community, organizing celebrations for Ben and guiding the children through both difficult stories and everyday conflicts. Ben, the boy who undergoes the most growth, evolves from a lonely, bullied child into a confident young man who learns the value of being treated with respect. Finally, Gerty and her devoted friend Dick represent a deeper emotional current; Gerty’s quiet, terminal illness is balanced by Dick’s unwavering, selfless service, showcasing a profound loyalty that transcends their young ages.

In Its Own Voice

"If there is anything I love better than father and mother, brother and sister, it's pound-cake."

John makes this dramatic declaration during a picnic to justify his intense hunger.

"A great while afterward the poor man came back, having escaped and made his way through the wilderness to his old home."

This sentence introduces the tragic conclusion of the pioneer story about Matty, found years later in a hollow tree.

"I should have just snatched the little fellow up, and rubbed his feet and wrapped them in my shawl until they were warm."

Selma suggests this compassionate action after hearing of a man who failed to help a shivering dwarf.

What It's Really About

At its core, the magazine explores the tension between duty and pleasure. The stories consistently argue that true worth is found in acts of service, whether that involves a boy navigating a boat through a storm or a young girl sharing her lunch with a classmate who has less. It posits that children are capable of profound moral reasoning and that their development is best nurtured through a combination of structured guidance and the freedom to perform small, selfless acts. The text suggests that the "best life-story" is one where play and responsibility are woven together into a tapestry of character-building experiences.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find this volume a fascinating, if sometimes challenging, window into the nineteenth-century mindset. Those interested in the history of children's literature will love the blend of moralistic storytelling and genuine adventure. The writing is precise and often quite lyrical, though the reader must be prepared for the stiff, period-appropriate dialogue and the occasional sentimentality—particularly in the depiction of childhood illness. While the attitudes toward "proper" conduct and the stark, often grim nature of the lessons taught to children may strike a modern reader as severe, there is a warmth and sincerity here that is rare. The magazine succeeds because it takes the concerns of its young audience seriously, treating their disputes, curiosities, and dreams as worthy of careful consideration. It provides a quiet, reflective reading experience that stands in stark contrast to the rapid, digital pace of contemporary children's media, offering a glimpse of a time when a well-told story or a letter to an editor felt like a major event in a young person's life.