CHAPTER I.

THE WIND HARP.

"Oh, Lisa, how many stars there are to-night! and how long it takes to count just a few!" said a weak voice from a little bed in a garret room.

"You will tire yourself, dear, if you try to do that; just shut your eyes up tight, and try to sleep."

"Will you put my harp in the window? there may be a breeze after a while, and I want to know very much if there is any music in those strings."

"Where did you get them, my darling?"

"From Joe."

"Joe, the fiddler?"

"Yes, he brought me a handful of old catgut; he says he does not play any more at dances; he is so old and lame that they like a younger darky who knows more fancy figures, and can be livelier. He _is_ very black, Lisa, and I am almost afraid of him; but he is so kind, and he tells me stories about his young days, and all the gay people he used to see. Hark! that is my harp; oh, Lisa, is it not heavenly?"

"I don't know," said poor tired Lisa, half asleep, after her long day's work of standing in a shop.

Phil's harp was a shallow box, across which he had fastened some violin strings rather loosely; and Phil himself was an invalid boy who had never known what it was to be strong and hardy, able to romp and run, or leap and shout. He had neither father nor mother, but no one could have loved him more or have been any gentler or more considerate than was Lisa--poor, plain Lisa--who worked early and late to pay for Phil's lodging in the top of the old house where they lived, and whose whole earthly happiness consisted in making Phil happy and comfortable. It was not always easy to do this, for Phil was a strange child: aside from the pain that he suffered, he had odd fancies and strange likings, the result of his illness, and being so much alone. And Lisa could not always understand him, for she lived amongst other people; rough, plain, careless people, for whom she toiled, and who had no such thoughts as Phil had.

From the large closet that served as her bedroom, Lisa often heard Phil talking, talking, talking, now to this thing, now to that, as if it were real, and had a personality; sometimes his words were addressed to a rose-bush she had brought him, or the pictures of an old volume she had found on a stall of cheap books at a street corner, or the little plaster cast that an image-seller had coaxed her to purchase. Then, again, he would converse with his knife and fork or plate, ask them where they came from, how they were made, and of what material. No answer coming, he would invent all sorts of answers, making them reply in his own words.

Lisa was so used to these imaginary conversations that they did not seem strange to her.

Phil had, too, a passion for music, and would listen intently to the commonest strains of a hand-organ, and Lisa had given him a little toy harmonica, from which he would draw long, sweet tones and chords with much satisfaction.

Old Joe, who blackened boots for some of the lodgers, had heard the child's attempts at music, and had brought his violin, and played for him. One day, happening to leave it for a while on the window-ledge, Phil's quick ear had detected a low vibration from the instrument. This circumstance, and something he had read about a wind harp, had given him the wish to make one--with what success he was anxious to find out, when Lisa laid it in the open window for him.

A soft south wind was blowing, and as Phil spoke, it had stirred the loose strings of the rude ├ćolian harp, and a slight melodious sound had arisen, which Phil had thought so beautiful. He drew his breath even more softly, lest he should lose the least tone, and finding that Lisa was really asleep, propped himself up higher on his pillows, and gazed out at the star-lit heavens.

He often talked to the stars, but very softly and wonderingly, and somehow he could never find any answers that suited him; but to-night, as the breeze made a low soft music come from his wind harp, filling him with delight, it seemed to him that a voice was accompanying the melody, and that the stars had something to do with it; for, as he gazed, he saw a troop of little beings with gauzy wings fluttering over the window-ledge, and upon the brow of each twinkled a tiny star, and the leading one of all this bevy of wee people sang:

"Come from afar, Here we are! here we are! From yon Silver Star, Fays of the Wind, To children kind."

"How lovely they are!" thought Phil; "and so these really are fairies. I never saw any before. They have wings like little white butterflies, and how tiny their hands and feet, and what graceful motions they have as they dance over my harp! They seem to be examining it to find out where the music comes from; but no, of course they know all about it. I wonder if they would talk to me?"

"Of course we will be very glad to," said a soft little voice in reply to his thoughts.

"I was afraid I would frighten you away if I spoke," said Phil, gently.

"Oh no," replied the fairy who had addressed him; "we are in the habit of talking to children, though they do not always know it."

"And what do you tell them?" asked Phil, eagerly.

"All sorts of nice things."

"Do you tell them all they want to know?"

"Oh no," laughed the fairy, with a silvery little voice like a canary-bird's. "We can not do that, for we do not know enough to be able to: some children are much wiser than we. I dare say you are."

"Indeed I am not," said Phil, a little sadly; "there are so many things that puzzle me. I thought that perhaps, as you came from the stars, you knew something of astronomy."

"What a long, long word that is!" laughed the fairy again. "But we are wind fairies; and yet the Father of the Winds is called Astr├Žus--that sounds something like your long word, does it not?"

"It sounds more like Astrea, and that means a star."

"Why, where did you learn so much?"

"I saw it in a big book called a dictionary."

"Another long word. Doesn't your head ache?"

"Sometimes, not now. I have not any books now, except picture-books."

"Did you ever have?"

"Oh yes; when papa was living we had books, and pictures, and many beautiful things; but there was a great fire, and all sorts of trouble, and now I have only Lisa. But Lisa does not understand as papa did; it was he showed me that word in the dictionary."

"Oh, don't say that great ugly word again! Shall I tell my friends to make some more music?"

"Yes, please."

The wind fairy struck her little hands together, and waved her wings. In a moment the little white troop danced over the strings of the harp, and brought out sweet, wild strains, that made Phil nearly cry for joy. They seemed to be dancing as they did it, for they would join hands and sway to and fro; then, parting, they wound in and out in graceful, wreath-like motions, and the tiny stars on their foreheads flashed like diamonds. Up and down they went, the length of the strings, then across, then back again; and all the time the sweet wild music kept vibrating. "How lovely! how lovely!" said Phil, when there was a pause.

"I am so glad you like it!--we often make music for people, and they hardly hear it," said the fairy.

"I do not see how they can help hearing," said Phil.

"Why, I'll tell you how: we frequently are in the tree-tops, or whirling about low bushes; every soft breeze that blows has some of our music in it, for there are many of us: and yet very few people pay any attention to these sounds."

"When the wind screams and roars in winter, is it you, then, who does that too?" asked Phil.

"Oh no," said the fairy, rustling her wings in some displeasure. "We are of the South Wind only, and have no such rude doings: I hope I may never have any work to do for the North Wind, he is so blustery. Now it is time you went to sleep, and we can not stay longer, for if the moon rises we can not see our star-beams, and might lose our way. We will just fan you a little, and you will soon be in dreamland."

As she spoke, Phil saw her beckon to her troupe, and they all flocked about him, dazzling him so with their starry coronets that he was forced to shut his eyes, and, as he closed them, he felt a gentle wafting as of a hundred little wings about his forehead, and in another moment he was asleep.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

ROUND LAKE, HALIBURTON.

I and my brother used to have such good times fishing on these lakes in our canoes, and hunting deer in the woods, but now I am so lonely, for my only brother is dead. He went out in the woods to hunt deer, and got lost, and froze to death. He was sixteen years old, two years older than I am. It has been a very cold winter here, and he froze to death on the 19th of November. As our neighbors all live many miles away, there were only father and I to hunt for him, and I found him dead the third day. He forgot to take matches, and it snowed so much he could not see his tracks to get back. It seems very hard for me to live here without my brother.

My sisters and I have received a good many requests for loons' and gulls' eggs and for moss, and we will attend to them all, next summer, as soon as we can gather them, for there is any amount of those things here.

I received some pretty Christmas and New-Year's cards and books, and my sister has received some presents and a doll from some readers of YOUNG PEOPLE, and we have sent a set of deer horns and what eggs we had in return, and in the spring we will be sure to send other eggs we have been asked for.

ERASTUS W. LOCKMAN, Dorset P. O., Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada.

* * * * *

JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

I am going to write, so that some little girl may see what a nice time a friend of mine and myself have been having. We dressed two dolls, and saved up our money until, with what was given to us and what we had saved ourselves, we had five dollars. Then we carried the dolls and the money to the Children's Hospital, and gave them to some sick children. It made the children very happy.

M. LOULOU C.

* * * * *

WINDSOR, VERMONT.

I have three Cotswold lambs, named Fanny, Nora, and Cora. They are very tame, and will eat out of my hand.

I am eleven years old. I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE all myself. Last summer I had a very fine sage bed. I cut the green leaves, and dried them, and when they were sold, they brought more than enough to pay for my YOUNG PEOPLE.

We have a piano. I have taken fourteen lessons, and can play a few pieces.

NELLIE J. J.

* * * * *

SARANAC, MICHIGAN.

I am eight years old. I have a brother ten years old and a sister two years old. My brother takes YOUNG PEOPLE, and he lets me read it sometimes. I think it is very nice. My brother said he was going to write a letter to the Post-office Box, but I am going to surprise him, and send one first.

ALLIE S.

* * * * *

DAYTON, OHIO.

I am a subscriber to YOUNG PEOPLE, and although I am not one of the "little folks," I find the Post-office Box very interesting, as I am very fond of children and of pets. I have a bright, intelligent pony, a Mexican dog four years old that does not weigh more than two pounds, a mocking-bird, canaries, and a lot of fancy pigeons, and two aquaria filled with fish. I must add my cat also, although it is a poor stray waif that came to the house only a short time ago. I had it carried away several times in the evening, as I had determined it must go, on account of my birds. But as soon as the door was opened in the morning, Cattie would be there, and after giving one glad little mew, she would begin rubbing around my feet and purring in such a cunning way, as though asking if she might not stay. One day I heard Cattie calling in such a peculiar way that I opened the door. There she was, with a mouse in her mouth, and she began purring and rubbing around me. I stooped down and petted her, and she seemed very proud, and ran away to eat her mouse, casting a backward glance, as much as to say, That settles it; I shall stay. And so she shall and welcome, if she will be contented to make her home in the stable, with only an occasional visit to the house.

Will Mary R., of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, please oblige me by giving her method of cultivating heliotrope, as it is one of my favorites, and I can never succeed in raising it. I have over two hundred plants in my parlor and sitting-room windows, and not one heliotrope.

SALLIE E. L.

* * * * *

NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

There are four of us little folks here. Mamma or papa reads YOUNG PEOPLE to us every week. We have all the numbers from the first. Papa is having them bound in a book, and we expect it every day. We all like the Post-office Box very much, and the stories too, although some of them are too old for us; but we will have the book, and will understand them better when we are older.

We have a big dog, Rover. When he stands up on his hind-legs, he can put his fore-paws on papa's shoulder. He is awfully afraid of a gun, and runs and hides when one is fired off. We have five Seabright bantams; they are no larger than quails, and are very pretty.

I was eight years old Christmas-day. Walter is six and a half, Ollie is three and a half, and Robbie is four months.

Papa writes this for me, because it is my first letter to YOUNG PEOPLE, but Walter and I go to school, and will soon be able to write for ourselves. We both go to Sunday-school at nine o'clock every Sunday morning.

ELLA R. W.

* * * * *

LANSINGBURG, NEW YORK.

I have a beautiful black goat named Dan, and a complete set of silver-plated harness. I have a wagon; I drive out with it in summer; and for winter I have an elegant red box cutter, and a string of silver bells, and a beautiful robe. I have a nice house for my goat, and in one corner of it I have a harness box. Dan will not allow any boy to come near him, but he loves me dearly, and I love him. I am eleven years old. I have no brother or sister, but I have a cat that I think the world of, and a pet turtle about as large as a silver dollar.

HARRY C. H.

* * * * *

SAGINAW CITY, MICHIGAN.

I am eleven years old, and I have always lived in Saginaw. A year ago last Christmas my papa gave me a pony, and on my last birthday I had a present of a saddle.

We have a club called the Saginaw City Horse Guards. There are about ten boys belonging to it. Last summer we used to go to the woods to play "follow my leader," and we had lots of fun. And we went to the fair dressed in uniform.

It is very cold weather here. The other day we boys flooded the back part of our yard, and made a skating rink twenty-seven feet wide and forty-one feet long, and now we have a nice place to skate. It is very good sleighing here, and I am having a splendid time sleigh-riding.

FRED H. J.

* * * * *

MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

I am eight years old. Papa gave me YOUNG PEOPLE for my Christmas present.

In September we visited Le Grand, where the Iowa marble quarries are, and I saw the men getting marble, and I brought home some pretty specimens.

There are two tribes of Indians not far from us, and some of them are in town almost every day. They are lazy and dirty, and the ladies here will not let the squaws into their houses; for if they do, the squaws will not go away again until they are made to.

LUTIE B. R.

* * * * *

KEYESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

I began taking YOUNG PEOPLE in November, and I am very much interested in "Toby Tyler" and "Mildred's Bargain."

We have a missionary society in the village, called "The Children's Baptist Missionary Society." We meet once every month, and at each meeting two of the members are required to read something. I had to read at our first meeting, and I read "Out of the Woods," from YOUNG PEOPLE No. 53, which pleased everybody very much.

I am eleven years old, and I have three sisters. I came here in May to stay with my grandpapa and grandmamma, but I am going to Brooklyn in February.

We have an old horse here that is nearly twenty-six years old. His name is Joe, and every one thinks there is no horse like him.

JULIA M. C.

* * * * *

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

My uncle sends me YOUNG PEOPLE, and I enjoy it very much. Santa Claus brought me a knife, a football, a book, and a pair of gold cuff buttons. I have a little sister named Lizzie. She can talk and walk.

CHARLIE H. R.

* * * * *

COLFAX, CALIFORNIA.

We have read with interest and pleasure the entertaining stories in YOUNG PEOPLE, and we think the children in the United States ought to give a vote of thanks to this nice little paper, which provides such pleasant reading for them.

Colfax, where we live, is a pleasant place, and the climate here is delightful. Some time ago we had a small snow-storm, but now (January 5) the green grass is springing up all about.

We have a wiggle club here, and send you a few which we have made. We wish all possible success to YOUNG PEOPLE.

GRACE and JEANNIE.

The wiggles from this California club came too late to be printed with the others, but we acknowledge them with thanks. The same acknowledgments are due to George Arthur, Helen A. Searing, and other correspondents whose wiggles arrived behind time.

* * * * *

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I have three pet turtles, but they all buried themselves under the flower bed before the ground was frozen.

I spent one summer at Cape May, and there I found a turtle that was so tame it would eat out of my hand, and drink out of a tea-spoon. I fed it on raw meat, soaked bread, and worms, but it ran away. I am twelve years old.

ELSIE B.

* * * * *

I wish to exchange postage stamps with readers of YOUNG PEOPLE. I have also a large piece of wood, full of worm-holes, that came out of the bottom of a large vessel that went over three thousand miles on her first voyage, and was eaten by worms. If any boy would like a piece of this wood, I will send it in return for some good foreign stamps.

GEORGE H. ELDER, Care of Kelsey & Suydam, 99 Broadway, Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.

* * * * *

I am nine years old. I would like to exchange postage stamps or iron ore, for minerals, ocean curiosities, or Indian relics, with any readers of YOUNG PEOPLE.

G. C. WARNER, Salisbury, Litchfield County, Conn.

* * * * *

I have a collection of birds' eggs, and would like to exchange with other collectors. I have also a collection of postmarks, and I will give twenty (all different) for any egg not already in my collection.

DE WITT AYRES, Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

I want to tell you what mamma gave me for my Christmas present. A little while before Christmas she said she was tired of moving my HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE round from one place to another, so she gathered them all up and put them away, as I thought. But Christmas-eve they came back to me handsomely bound, and I find them a great deal nicer to read. In looking through the book I find a great many pieces I never noticed before. Mamma says I can take it until I am fifteen, and have it bound every year. I am eleven years old now, so then I will have five nice volumes.

I am beginning a collection of curiosities, and would like to exchange small sea-shells or stones with any little boy or girl for any curiosity, or for different kinds of moss.

JESSA PEARSON, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio.

* * * * *

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

I have received so many letters in answer to my request for exchange that I can not possibly supply all demands immediately, but will do so as soon as possible. I hope those who have been so kind as to write to me will not think I have forgotten them.

ANNIE P. CARRIER.

* * * * *

I wish to inform correspondents who desire to exchange with me that I have changed my address from New York to Brooklyn, as given below. I will now exchange foreign and United States revenue stamps and postmarks, for Indian curiosities.

GEORGE B. DONNELLY, 331 Hicks Street, Corner of Atlantic Av., Brooklyn, L. I.

* * * * *

I have about one thousand postmarks, and a large collection of minerals, coins, stamps, and curiosities, which I will exchange for birds' eggs. All eggs must be in good condition and unbroken, as I use fine steel borers to make the holes. I wish nothing but eggs in exchange.

J. N. KRIEGSHABER, 490 Fifth Street, Between Breckinridge and Kentucky, Louisville, Ky.

* * * * *

In my letter printed in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 62 I intended to say that I would exchange postmarks, not for other postmarks, but for stamps and minerals. I regret that I made the mistake.

TEDDY SMITH, 641 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Mich.

* * * * *

JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

I am a little girl ten years old. I have never been to school, but I can read, and I could write till I got too nervous. I have been sick for six years, and can not run around like other little girls, but I am very happy, because everybody is very good to me. My uncle John sends me YOUNG PEOPLE, and I have had it since the first number.

I have three canary-birds, and two of them that are in one cage are trying to build a nest. I have a lot of books and dolls. I did have a kitten, but it had fits, and we sent it away. My papa wrote this for me, because I have to lie in bed, and can not guide a pen.

MAGGIE B.

* * * * *

The following exchanges are also offered by correspondents:

Postage and revenue stamps.

J. E. JOHNSON, JUN., Longdale, Alleghany County, Va.

* * * * *

Stones of Maryland, for stones of any other State.

T. MORRIS BROWN, 199 Hoffman Street, Baltimore, Md.

* * * * *

Indian arrow-heads, flint rock, and petrified wood, for postage stamps and silver ore.

WALTER BUCHANAN, Butteville, Marion County, Oregon.

* * * * *

A specimen of petrified cedar, for one of zinc ore.

WILLIAM E. CHASE, Franklin, Essex County, N. J.

* * * * *

Foreign and rare United States postage stamps.

LEWIS G. PARK, 24 Arlington Street, Cambridge, Mass.

* * * * *

Peacock coal, for minerals, shells, or curiosities.

ANNA C. BRASTOW, Wilkesbarre, Penn.

* * * * *

Postmarks, for foreign and United States postage stamps (except one, two, and three cent United States stamps), coins, birds' eggs, or minerals.

LOUIS A. OSBORNE, 237 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York City.

* * * * *

Norwegian postage stamps, for other foreign stamps.

ANTON HIRSTENDAHL, Stoughton, Dane County, Wis.

* * * * *

Ocean curiosities, stones from Ireland, or Indian arrow-heads, for foreign coins.

WINTER D. HUBER, Westminster, Carroll County, Md.

* * * * *

Foreign stamps and curiosities, for the same or for autographs.

FRANK OSBORN, Care of Mrs. C. L. Osborn, 471 East Toun Street, Columbus, Ohio.

* * * * *

Stamps for shells, or for autographs of renowned men and women.

S. D. G., P. O. Box 1221, Plainfield, N. J.

* * * * *

Foreign and United States postage stamps.

WILLIE S. SMITH, P. O. Box 50, Westminster, Carroll County, Md.

* * * * *

Soil from Massachusetts, for soil of New York or Pennsylvania.

Camilla W. Mansur, 74 Columbia Street, Cambridgeport, Mass.

* * * * *

Twenty-five postmarks (no duplicates), for five foreign stamps. Those of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island especially desired.

KITTY REED, 3024 Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wis.

* * * * *

Birds collected in Vermont, for foreign or old issues of United States postage stamps.

CLAYTON J. KINSLEY, P. O. Box 225, Burlington, Vt.

* * * * *

Ohio and other Western postmarks, for postmarks from the South; or Italian and Bavarian stamps, for other foreign stamps.

MAURICE A. MCMILLAN, Washington C. H., Fayette County, Ohio.

* * * * *

Postage stamps, for curiosities.

EDWARD H. DILLON, 217 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, L. I.

* * * * *

Birds' eggs, stamps, or minerals, for birds' eggs, sea-shells, or curiosities, especially with correspondents in the Southern States or west of the Mississippi. Lists of curiosities exchanged.

HARRY SPAULDING, Albion, Orleans County, N. Y.

* * * * *

Five varieties of Turkish postage stamps, for any other rare stamps.

NED PRATT, 2431 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill.

* * * * *

Specimens of wood from Ohio, showing the bark of the tree, for similar specimens from any other State.

EDDIE WILLIAMS, P. O. Box 135, Loveland, Clermont County, Ohio.

* * * * *

Postage stamps, for pieces of rare wood. Specimens should be three-fourths of an inch thick, two inches wide, and two inches long.

L. H. NELSON, 3804 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

* * * * *

Postage stamps and postmarks, for insects or curiosities.

EDDIE A. JONES, 29 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn.

* * * * *

Indian arrow-heads, for cotton or rice as taken from the field, or other curiosities.

WILLIE WILLIAMS, Economy, Wayne County, Indiana.

* * * * *

Postmarks from the eastern portion of the United States, for others from the West.

WILLIE F. DIX, 444 High Street, Newark, New Jersey.

* * * * *

A small specimen of copper ore, for an Indian arrow-head, or some other Indian relic.

HARRY E. DIXON, 111 East Fifty-first Street, New York City.

* * * * *

A self-inking printing-press and one font of type, for a collection of birds' eggs.

FRED CHENEY, 51 Fort Avenue, Boston Highlands, Boston, Mass.

* * * * *

A triangular Cape of Good Hope stamp and other rare stamps, for stamps, Indian relics, or minerals.

RUFUS L. SEWALL, 26 Brimmer Street, Boston, Mass.

* * * * *

Twenty-five postmarks of New Jersey and New York, for twenty-five of any other State.

A. M. WOODRUFF, 645 High Street, Newark, N. J.

* * * * *

Stones and curiosities from Hot Springs, Arkansas, for Indian relics, sea-weeds, or shells, stones from any State except Tennessee and Arkansas, or curiosities of any kind.

WILLIAM H. HOWLAND, 140 Adams Street, Memphis, Tenn.

* * * * *

A piece of pure white coral, for minerals, ocean curiosities, lava from a volcano, or choice shells; or some yellow and white sand arranged in bottles, for a star-fish or a sea-horse.

SALLIE KELLEY, Kleine St., East Walnut Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.

* * * * *

Postage stamps and postmarks, for Indian relics, minerals, fossils, or California curiosities.

JOE F. FOLSOM, Bloomfield, Essex County, N. J.

* * * * *

Ten Michigan postmarks, for ten postmarks from other States.

HARRY W. QUIMBY, 777 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Mich.

* * * * *

Postage stamps. Jamaica stamps a specialty.

CHARLES H. ISRAELS, Irving Institute, Tarrytown, N. Y.

* * * * *

Stamps and postmarks.

FRANK B. MYERS, Ishpeming, Mich.

* * * * *

Minerals, for good foreign postage stamps.

CLINTON C. ANDREWS, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.

* * * * *

HARRY J.--Any mineral or any package containing minerals, shells, or similar matter, not exceeding four pounds in weight, may be sent by mail at the rate of one cent for each ounce. In exchanging stones from different States, it would always be better to send some specimen of interest in itself, and one which represents the character of some mine or of celebrated ledges or quarries within the State limits. For example, it would be much more interesting to have a specimen in your collection labelled, "Marble from Vermont" or "Iron Ore from Connecticut," than to have the same specimen simply labelled a stone from either of those States. From Iowa, where you live, a specimen of galenite from the lead mines would be interesting, or any mineral found in abundance near your home.

* * * * *

A. J. GIBBS.--The first canal in the United States is supposed to have been built in the Connecticut Valley to allow boats to pass around the falls at South Hadley and around Turner's Falls at Montague. In February, 1792, the Massachusetts Legislature passed an act incorporating a company for the building of this canal, and operations were soon after commenced at South Hadley. The engineer was Benjamin Prescott, of Northampton. The Middlesex Canal, from Boston to Lowell, was built a few years later, and also a portion of the Mohawk Valley Canal. In 1797 six miles of the latter were completed, making a passage around rapids on the Mohawk River for boats of fifteen tons.

The first canals were built by the ancients for purposes of irrigation, but at a very early period they were also used as navigable channels. The royal canal of Babylon, built about 600 B.C., is one of the earliest mentioned in history. The Grand Canal of China, which is about 650 miles long, was built during the eighth century. At the changes of level the boats were dragged up inclined planes, and it was not until about 1480 that locks were invented by two Italian engineers. After this invention, by which one of the greatest impediments to canal navigation was removed, the construction of canals became general throughout Europe. One of the largest enterprises of the kind was that undertaken by Peter the Great during the first years of the eighteenth century: 1434 miles of canals were built, connecting St. Petersburg with the Caspian Sea and with inland districts.

The first canal was built in England in 1760, and at the present time there are about 47,000 miles of canals in Great Britain.

* * * * *

Favors are acknowledged from Frankie L. Garbutt, F. M. Elliot, Albert H. Hopkins, Josie Chesley, N. D. Sugden, A. H. Patterson, Gracie Mathews, May Arnold, Willie Derr, Florence E. Lewis, Calvin Colton W., Henry J. Nuhn.

* * * * *

Correct answers to puzzles have been sent by Harry H. Dickinson, Rebecca Hedges, Martie H., Thomas M. Armstrong, Allie Maxwell, Hugh Pitcairn, Will B. Shober, Grace B., William Harris, Walter P. Hiles, C. Wieland.

* * * * *

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

GEOGRAPHICAL HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.

A lake in Louisiana. A city in Northern Europe. A river in Mexico. A city in Japan. A city in Germany. In Montreal. A river in Europe. A river in Italy. A capital of one of the United States. A river in the western part of North America. A river near the east coast of British America. Centrals read downward spell the name of one of the divisions of Germany.

FANNIE E. S.

* * * * *

No. 2.

ENIGMA.

First in ham, not in beef. Second in rock, not in reef. Third in fortune, not in fate. Fourth in fish, not in bait. Fifth in bed, not in cot. The whole an animal never shot.

F. V.

* * * * *

No. 3.

NUMERICAL CHARADES.

1. I am composed of 12 letters. My 1, 2, 3 is part of the body. My 4, 5 is a river in Europe. My 6, 7, 8 is a cooking utensil. My 9 is a vowel. My 10, 11, 12 is the generic name of certain animals. My whole is an animal.

WILLIE L. K.

2. I am composed of 6 letters. My 1, 2, 3 is a part of the head. My 4,5,6 is something John Gilpin lost. My whole is an insect.

3. I am composed of 9 letters. I am an English bird, and may often be seen in the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seeking my simple 6, 7, 8, 9.

4. I am composed of 7 letters. My 1, 2, 3, 4 is part of a shoe. My 5, 6, 7 is wrath. My whole is a creature found in South America.

BEATRICE.

* * * * *

No. 4.

WORD SQUARES.

1. First, a beautiful mineral. Second, a tree. Third, a girl's name. Fourth, a metal.

FRANK.

2. First, a girl's name. Second, to rend. Third, to accept. Fourth, a character in mythology.

HALLA.

* * * * *

No. 5.

ENIGMA.

In corn, not in ear. In horse, not in deer. In stay, not in go. In spry, not in slow. In inn, not in house. In rat, not in mouse. In fly, not in dove. My whole the synonym of love.

JAMES E. H.

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 63.

No. 1.

P E T A R D P E S T E R E L I N O R E N E R V E T I N G L E S E Q U I N A N G O L A T R U A N T R O L L E R E V I N C E D R E A R Y R E N T E D

No. 2.

J C U P C A B I N J U B I L E E P I L O T N E T E

No. 3.

F la G A lonz O M arve L E nde D

Fame, Gold.

No. 4.

Vulture.

No. 5.

I llinois N ebraska D elaware I owa A labama N ew York A rizona

NOTICE.

HARPER & BROTHERS _beg leave to state, in answer to numerous inquiries, that the Bound Volume of_ HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE _for 1880 is entirely out of stock, and will not be reprinted at present_.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

SINGLE COPIES, 4 cents; ONE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $1.50; FIVE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $7.00--_payable in advance, postage free_.

The Volumes of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE commence with the first Number in November of each year.

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 the order.

Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY-ORDER OR DRAFT, to avoid risk of loss.

HARPER & BROTHERS, Franklin Square, N. Y.

THE TUMBLER TRICK.

This trick consists in balancing a match on the edge of a tumbler containing water, in the position represented in our picture, and then drinking the water without dropping the match.

Solution in our next.

IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES.

"To sleep! to sleep!" called December, To the cheery young strawberry vines. "Not a green leaf is left on the maple, Nor the creeper that round it entwines; And the song-birds have gone to the South-land, And the last of the flowers is dead, And it's time that all good little strawberry plants Were fast, fast asleep in their bed."

"Who cares?" said they, saucily; "we don't, Though all that you tell us be true. We're as wide, wide awake as we can be, And we won't go to bed, sir, for you." "Oh, you won't!" and he summoned a snow-storm, While he laughed with a merry "Ho! ho!" And in spite of themselves soon those saucy young plants Were under a blanket of snow.

MIRTHFUL MAGIC

BY G. B. BARTLETT

HOW TO PLACE AN EGG SO IT CAN NOT BE BROKEN WITH A TIN PAN.

Show a large, tin pan and a common egg, and allow the spectators to handle and examine both to see that there is no deception about either. Then let any one take the pan, and be ready to strike with all his might. When he has tried in vain to guess how you can place the egg where it can not be broken with the pan, stand it up in the corner of the room, and of course it will be impossible for any one to hit it.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITHOUT WORK.

Draw several lines radiating from a central point, and let each player choose a line and be sure to remember which it is. Each then places a piece of money on his line, and you say, "Take particular notice of your line and money, so that you will not forget either." Then move the pieces of money about, taking care that not one piece remains on its original line. Ask each one in turn, "Is that your line?" and of course every one will say, "Yes." Afterward say to each, in the same order, "Is that your money?" touching the piece that is now on the line belonging to the person addressed. When all have answered these questions in the negative, you calmly collect and pretend to pocket all the money, with the quiet remark, "As you have all said that that was not _your_ money, I think it must be mine."

* * * * *

Say to any person, "I will lay a wager to any amount that I have more money in my pocket than you have." After an animated debate, and exhibition of the contents of pockets, you say, "I have more money in my pocket than any one, for none of you have any money in my pocket."

* * * * *

Say to the ladies, "A man can marry any woman he pleases." After the long and indignant protest, calmly reply, "A man may marry any woman he pleases, but the trouble is to find the woman that he does please."

* * * * *

=The Point of a Diamond.=--Some time ago a Mr. Tarrants executed some writing on a small piece of glass with a diamond the point of which had been ground a million times finer than that of a pin. This writing was the Lord's Prayer, and the lines were so fine that they were quite invisible to the naked eye. If the whole of the Old Testament were written the same size, it would only occupy a space equal to that of a thumb-nail. The magnifying power of the microscope necessary to enable us to read this minute writing is so great that if it were possible to put a small boy under the glass, he would look ten times taller than Bunker Hill Monument, and his head would be the size of the dome of the Capitol at Washington.

PUSSY AND THE SNOW.

Pussy:--born last summer-- Never saw the snow Till this winter morning Just an hour ago. "Oh! what pretty lamb's-wool!" Said she; when it began To fall; "I'll go and play with it." And out-of-doors she ran. But back again, astonished, In greatest haste came she. "That is the queerest, coldest wool That ever I did see!"

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, February 1, 1881, by Various