Part 4

This is a very small place, though it is very pleasant. I have never seen any letters from this place, so mine will be the first. I have a pet sheep named Nig; like "Mary's lamb," it followed me to school one day. It was a warm day, and I had gone to school in the afternoon. Mamma was home alone, and she heard Nig bleating as though something were the matter, and she went out and found him panting as if he were very warm; so she let him through into the yard (never thinking that the gate was open), and he began to eat, so she did not watch him. But the first she knew he was gone. One of the girls at school saw him, and knew he was mine, and began to laugh. The teacher asked her what she was laughing at, and she said, "Lula's lamb is here." I went out, and found him walking around, trying to find me. I took him home then. I have two other sheep and two lambs. I am taking up a great deal of room, but I want to tell you about thirteen chickens I had last summer. Papa gave them to me for taking care of the other hens. I soon got them tame, and I could take corn and shell it over myself, and they would scramble over me, sometimes pecking at my teeth. I sold them for twelve shillings. I have a brother De Witt who is fifteen. I am twelve.

LULA H. P.

So Lula's lamb was like Mary's, and "it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school." Why did you not give him a prettier name, dear? You are very kind to your pets, and that makes them so gentle. You must have been as pretty as a picture, with the little chicks scrambling over you for the kernels of corn.

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OMEGA P. O., MADISON PARISH, LOUISIANA.

I'm a little boy six years old, and I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. I'm more interested in Jimmy Brown's stories and the little letters than in anything else, though I like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother." My papa is on the railroad in Arkansas, and will be home to see us soon. He says there are ever so many ticks in the pine woods. I feed and water the chickens, and sweep the hall and gallery every day. I will tell you of the overflow in my next letter. I've got a buddie George; he lives with his auntie May, and I live with my aunt Leila, as my own mamma is dead, and my papa married my aunt. With many good wishes to Toby Tyler, your little friend,

JAMES HOWARD R.

I hope none of those annoying little pests called ticks will fasten on those of my children who live in the Southern pine regions. I know all about them, and they are really "horrid," to borrow a word which is used sometimes when it ought not to be.

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JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

I am eleven years old. I have just been reading HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and think the letter that Ninetta wrote is very nice. I have no pets except a darling little brother three years old, and he says he is going to write you a letter. I have just learned how to make feather-edge, and I have made half a yard to-day. I have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE ever since it was published, and I think it is the nicest paper I ever read, or ever expect to read. I hope this letter is not too long, and will be printed, as I would like to surprise some of my friends who take the paper. On the following page you will see my brother's letter.

Do you know, dear child, that you forgot to sign your name, and so I do not know who my little correspondent is, although she is much brighter than I, for I have tried in vain to learn to make that puzzling trimming called feather-edge. Please kiss little brother for his letter.

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OXFORD, OHIO.

I am a little girl eight years old. I have two little kittens, one black and one white. I have a dog, and his name is Fido. We have a dove, and she has two little doves in the nest in the cedar-tree. We have every HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE that has been printed. I play with my brother Sam, who is seven now, and we have two velocipedes.

LIVY R.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

My mamma writes this for me, because I can not write very well, and I would not like to trouble you to read a letter from me. I have been going to Kindergarten for three or four years, and am just learning to write now. We have been taking HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE a long time, and we have it complete, excepting the first seventeen numbers, and No. 33. Now we want to know if we can get those numbers, in order to have them bound, and as we have tried unsuccessfully to procure them in Philadelphia, we know of no other way to find out about it than by applying to you; and if you will kindly answer through the Post-office Box, we will be very greatly indebted to you.

I have a pug dog and two kittens, and they are like the "Happy Family." We think a great deal of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and I read it to my little sister.

JOHN M. F.

No. 33 can be furnished by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, but not the earlier numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE. Possibly some little reader may have duplicates; and if so, will he or she notify the Postmistress on John's behalf?

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WINDHAM, NEW YORK.

I thought I would write you a little letter to put in Our Post-office Box. I have a little candy store in my papa's office all my own. I pay for the candy, and have all the profits. It is vacation now, but I study at home. This village (Windham) is situated on an elevation of over one thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. Papa has one hundred and fifty-five hives of bees, and I am going to help him take care of them. We carefully take the comb out of the hives, put it in a revolving cylinder, turn the crank, and the honey flies out of the comb against the side of the cylinder; then it is strained, and is ready for use. Then we replace the comb for the bees to refill again. This we do several times in a season.

DORVILLE C.

So you are a merchant, dear, and carry on a business all alone. Well, I hope you keep your accounts with care, and that you will put your earnings to some good use. Your description of the bees, and the way their honey is extracted from the comb, is very interesting.

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Where the blackbird sings the latest, Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest, Where the nestlings chirp and flee, That's the way for Willie and me.

Where the mowers mow the cleanest, Where the hay lies thick and greenest, There to track the homeward bee, That's the way for Willie and me.

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EUREKA, MISSOURI.

I am a little boy seven years old. My name is Early. My mamma, my sister Hattie (who is eight years old), and I spend our summers out here on grandpa's farm. I have a pony to ride; his name is Brigham. I made $1.45 carrying water for grandpa's hands in harvest; had two demijohns slung across the pony in front of the saddle. I have a goat and wagon, but Billy is so big and strong that he runs away, and dumps me in the ditch. I have two dogs, Nip and Aleck. Aleck is a shepherd dog; Nip is a little fellow, but he runs awful fast when he gets after a rabbit. I have lots of fun out here--so many peaches and apples, and lots of young ducks and chickens. Papa comes out every Saturday evening, and we go to the train to meet him. We have such a nice Sunday-school in the little district school-house right at the corner of our orchard. We go up there to Sunday-school in the afternoon, and have such nice songs to sing. Hattie picked two gallons of dewberries, sold them for forty cents, and gave the money to help pay for the organ. I want papa to let me be a farmer and stay in the country all the time, but we will go back to the city in September, when the schools open. We had a nice picnic and "fish-fry" on the Fourth at the Maramec River, near here; waded in the cool clear water, and gathered so many mussel shells; rowed in the boat, made pawpaw whistles, and had lots of fun.

EARLY D.

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ELK CITY, KANSAS.

This is the second time we have written to your paper together; the first letter was not published. We like the stories very much, especially "Mr. Stubbs's Brother"; we always read that first. It rained very hard last night, and this morning the banks of the rivers are nearly overflowed. We have one dog; his name is Carlo; he will be four months old next Sunday. He is so full of mischief. One day we went in the bedroom and found him playing with mamma's bonnet; he tore the ribbon, and came pretty near spoiling the feather. We will look in every number for this until it is published.

MARY and CORA W.

I had a little dog once who used to play just such tricks, and oh! how angry he sometimes made people by his funny antics and his mischief! I am glad mamma's feather escaped Carlo's teeth. Well, never mind; if he lives long enough, he will become a sober and dignified dog.

Little Evelyn G., who also has a dog named Carlo, can shake hands with Mary and Cora W.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

I do love you so much! How good it seems to see your dear little bright green face every week. I have an auntie in New Bedford, grown up and married, who sees you and reads you all through before you come to me. I go to New Brunswick and Martha's Vineyard every summer, and with my cousin Dolly have great fun bathing in the salt-water. Dollie is one week younger than myself. I am twelve years old; my name is Gertie. I learned to swim last summer. We always take our pets with us. Last summer I had two bantam chicks. I loved Toney best, and he grew to be a beautiful rooster, and then died. It is very hard to lose things we love. Mamma says things we prize are first to vanish. I hope my dear YOUNG PEOPLE will never leave me.

GERTIE S.

P. S.--I heard my auntie say you were "cute." I guess, from the way she said it, she meant splendid.

Thanks, dear, for your good opinion. I am very glad you have learned to swim. I wish all my young friends who live near the water would do the same.

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DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

I write to reproach you for cruelty to an unfortunate boy. Poor Toby Tyler ran away with the circus, and had on a very old hat. Months have passed, and still you have not given him a new hat. I think Abner might cut off some of the brim of his, and let Aunt Olive mend Toby's with it. But as Abner is sick, I suppose when he recovers he will need all of his own hat to keep the sun off. I send a nickel to get Toby a new hat. What if the boys do call them "Nickel Katies"? It will be better than the thing Toby wears now.

A sympathizer with Toby, FANNIE G.

Jolly Toby Tyler does not care for a new hat, and so I will send your money, dear, if you please, to help along the Young People's Cot Fund.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Aunt Bessie subscribed for YOUNG PEOPLE; she always calls me Effie, but my name is Evelyn. I have a little dog; his name is Carlo. He is a comical little thing, and he wants to tear everything to pieces, and loves to play with me. I have a pet bird; her name is Cherry. The bottom of her cage came half off the other day while papa was in the yard and mamma in town, but she did not get away. I have a cat whose name is Neddie. He does not like Carlo. When Neddie spits at Carlo I scold him, but that does not do any good. Mamma wrote this for me, as I do not write plain enough.

EVELYN G.

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C. Y. P. R. U.

SOME FAMILIAR WORDS, AND WHERE THEY COME FROM.

Every young reader has heard puss called Tabby, but all do not know that tabby cat was named after Atab, a famous street in the old city of Bagdad. On this street the merchants sold a beautiful watered silk called atabi. In modern days this silk has been styled taffeta. The wavy markings of the silk were thought to resemble pussy's coat of fur.

Jet derives its name from a river in Lycia--the Gagates--in the bed of which were found smooth black stones called gaet, of which jewelry was made.

A pamphlet is a book bound in paper. A long, long time ago a learned Greek lady wrote the history of the world in thirty-five little books, which, after her, were called Pamphylia.

Humbug is a bit of fun aimed at Hamburg, in Germany, which city was once rather famous for getting up sensations which turned out to be nothing very wonderful after all. Hamburg news was humbug.

Dollar is from the German thaler, named from Thal, in Bohemia, where were located the silver-works which made this coin.

Money traces its history to a remote period, when the coinage of the Romans was struck at the temple of the goddess Juno Monieta.

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PANSY.--The Postmistress will find out what you wish to know if she can. Please send her your own full name and address.

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TO PUZZLERS.--Clever little people who send puzzles will please remember that enigmas must rhyme, and that the answers must always be sent with the puzzles. Do not make enigmas upon your own Christian or surname, or the name of a friend, as it is almost impossible for our great circle of readers to guess such puzzles.

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GAZETTA.--Wiggles, puzzles, answers to puzzles, exchanges, and all letters for Our Post-office Box should be sent to the Editor of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, Franklin Square, New York.

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LILY F.--"Margie's Adventure" is a very pretty story indeed for a girl of your age to have written. It is rather too long for Our Post-office Box, but the Postmistress read it with pleasure, and thanks you for sending it.

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We would call the attention of the C.Y.P.R.U. this week to "Historical Trees of Mexico," by Mrs. Helen S. Conant, and to "How a Boy was Hired Out, and What Came of It," by Mr. George Gary Eggleston. The boys will be interested in Mr. C. W. Fisher's directions "How to Make a Toy Canoe."

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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Jan. U. Ary," Hartley Bishop, Elsie Grey, J. Hanse Gebley, Effie W. Rhind, Emma and Andrew Campbell, Harry Johnston, Charlie and Willie Lloyd, Edgar Seeman, Edward and Gustav Metz, Fannie Grimes, M. Portener, Alice Bartlett, John Todd, Frank Groves, "Fuss and Feathers," Daisy Dean, Lewie Andrews, Augusta Schultz, Ethel Raymond, "Eureka," Rosa M. Benedict, "North Star," A. E. Thorp, "Jack and Jill," B. B. A., Mary M. Livingston, Robin Dykes, Hermann Miller, Lucy Campbell, Louise G., Fred Goodenough, Sydney Heinemann, "Old Putnam's Pet," Rosa Deffaa, Emma Roehm, and Frank Allan Ives.

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

FOUR DIAMONDS.

1.--1. A letter. 2. A human being. 3. Something for the table. 4. A light sleep. 5. A letter.

2.--1. A letter. 2. An animal. 3. A weapon. 4. Part of the head. 5. A letter.

3.--1. A letter. 2. Very angry. 3. A title given to a lady. 4. An obstruction. 5. A letter.

4.--1. A letter. 2. A fluid. 3. A sign of contempt. 4. View. 5. A letter.

COUNT NO ACCOUNT.

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No. 2.

ANAGRAM.

Your page help person.

EDGAR SEEMAN.

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No. 3.

A HALF-SQUARE.--(_To Benny Fishel_).

1. The mulberry. 2. A nautical term. 3. A mark made by folding. 4. To accommodate. 5. The fruit of the oak or beech. 6. Resentment. 7. An abbreviation. 8. A letter.

I. SCYCLE.

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No. 4.

INVERTED PYRAMID.

Across.--1. A white stone. 2. Narcotics. 3. Furnished with ears. 4. An animal. 5. A letter.

Down.--1. A letter. 2. An interjection. 3. An animal. 4. Inclination. 5. A man's name. 6. Confusion. 7. To spread abroad new-mown grass. 8. An abbreviation. 9. A letter.

I. SCYCLE.

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No. 5.

ENIGMA.

From that half-dozen, miss, take nine, And from that nine take half of twenty. 'Tis easy done so far; but now You must from forty borrow fifty, Then you will see it is quite plain Just half a dozen still remain.

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No. 6.

WORD SQUARE.

1. Part of the body. 2. To come in. 3. To reconcile. 4. Gaps. 5. A ringlet.

HELEN.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 142.

No. 1.

Michael Angelo.

No. 2.

L C C O T D O T L O V E R C O V E R T E A T E N R R

C S T C U P N E T L E G C U P I D S E V E N T E X A S P I E T E N G A P D N S

No. 3

1. G-old. C-oat. C-up. S-in. P-ink. H-and. F-red-red-ed.

2. C-ore. S-hovel. Y-ear. S-tick. S-hoe. S-pool. T-rick. D-rug.

No. 4.

A dreary place would be this earth, Were there no little people in it; The song of life would lose its mirth, Were there no children to begin it.

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[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]

A NEW SERIAL.

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"THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB,"

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By W. L. ALDEN,

AUTHOR OF "THE MORAL PIRATES," "CRUISE OF THE 'GHOST,'" ETC.

In the next number of YOUNG PEOPLE our readers will have a chance to renew the acquaintance of the four lads whose adventures they followed so eagerly in Mr. Alden's former stories. This time the boys have become the fortunate possessors of four canoes, in which they make a cruise through some of the rivers and lakes of Canada. Just in proportion as a canoe excels a row-boat or a sail-boat in its easy motion, its delightful swiftness, and its liability to capsize, so do the experiences and adventures of the boys on this cruise exceed those of the cruises that have preceded it in excitement, picturesqueness, and general interest. Mr. Alden's stories for young readers are full of the genial wit and clever handling of amusing situations that have won him such a brilliant reputation as a humorist.

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A HORSE WHICH MADE A SENSATION.

Tahiti is one of the Society Islands, a small group in the Southern Pacific, lying many hundreds of miles away from any mainland. The Spaniards claim to have discovered them first, but it was famous Captain Cook who explored them thoroughly, and carried the story of their wonderful tropical fruits and strange inhabitants back to England.

Some years after, the good people of England began to send missionaries to the islands. They were well received, and among their converts was King Pomare.

Now neither King Pomare nor any of his subjects had ever seen a horse, and as they were curious to know something about an animal which the English people described as so noble and willing and useful, it was finally decided that one should be sent him as a present. So among the cargo of a vessel sent to Tahiti from New South Wales was a splendid horse, with a silky coat and flowing mane and tail, for King Pomare.

It was originally intended that the horse should be taken ashore from the vessel in which he had made his voyage, in a large canoe which had been sent alongside for the purpose, but the slings in which he was fastened gave way as he was being lowered, and the poor animal fell into the sea. He at once struck boldly out for the land; but the natives no sooner saw him than they plunged into the waves and swam after him like a shoal of porpoises; they seized his tail and his mane, and nearly pulled him under. The King shouted and the Captain screamed at them in vain, while the terrified horse struggled as hard as he could. As soon as he reached the land the crowd there fled for their lives in every direction, climbing rocks and trees, and hiding behind bushes. One by one, however, they returned when they saw a sailor slip a halter around the creature's neck and lead him along.

Next morning, in the presence of a great number of admiring natives, the Captain put a saddle on the horse, and rode him up and down before the King's tent. As he cantered, galloped, and trotted, obedient to the rein, the people shouted and danced, crying _Buaa-hora-fenna_ and _Buaa-afai-taata_ (land-running pig, and man-carrying pig).

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PARLOR MAGIC.

THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.

The use of this box is as follows: Hand the box round for examination, and allow a marked dime to be put into it. Let one of the company lock the box and keep the key, and also tie a string round it lengthways and crossways, lay it on the table, touch it with your wand, and command the dime to vanish and pass into a tumbler, hat, etc. Tell the person who locked the box to open it and see if he can find the dime within, when, to the astonishment of all, it will be found to have vanished from the box, and be found in the place you indicated.

The secret of this box is as follows: The bottom is divided into three or four panels, one of the end ones of which is on a swivel exactly in the centre, and fixed in its place by a nail at each side, the box being put together with driving nails. The nails being all alike, there is no likelihood of the secret being discovered. The trick is performed as follows: When the box has been tied and locked, hold the box on a slope to the swivel end, slip out the two nails just far enough to allow the panel to move, push up one end, and the dime will fall out at the other into your hand. Shut the slide, and put the nails into their places again, lay the box down on the table, go for your magic wand, and take that opportunity of putting the dime into the hat or elsewhere.

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End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, August 8, 1882, by Various