CHAPTER III.

PHIL HAS A VISITOR.

Phil was alone, as indeed he was always, except on Sundays, or the few half-holidays that came to Lisa. Once in a while Lisa begged off, or paid another woman for doing an extra share of work in her place, if Phil was really too ill for her to leave him. The hot sun was pouring into the garret room, though a green paper shade made it less blinding, and Phil was lying back in a rocking-chair, wrapped in a shawl. On a small table beside him were some loose pictures from a newspaper, a pencil or two, and an old sketch-book, a pitcher of water, and an empty plate.

The boy opened his closed eyes as Joe came in, after knocking, and looked surprised.

"Why, Joe, what is the matter?" he asked. "You do not come twice a day very often."

"No," said Joe, "nor are you always a-sufferin' as you was this mornin'. I've come to know how you are, and to bring you _that_," said he, triumphantly putting the nosegay before the child's eyes.

The boy nearly snatched the flowers out of Joe's hand in his eagerness to get them, and putting them to his face, he kissed them in his delight.

"Oh, Joe dear, I am so much obliged! Oh, you darling, lovely flowers, how sweet you are! how delicious you smell! I never saw anything more beautiful. Where did they come from, Joe?"

"Ah, you can't guess, I reckon."

"No, of course not; they are so sweet, so perfect, they take all my pain away; and I have been nearly smothered with the heat to-day. Just see how cool they look, as if they had just been picked."

"It's a pity the one who sent 'em can't hear ye. Shall I bring her in?"

"Who, Joe--who do you mean?"

"Joe means me," said a soft voice; "I sent them to you, and I am Miss Rachel Schuyler, an old friend of Joe's. I want to know you, Phil, and see if I can not do something for that pain I hear you suffer so much with. Shall I put the flowers in water, so that they will last a little longer? Ah, no, you want to hold them, and breathe their sweet fragrance."

Miss Schuyler had opened the door so gently, and appeared so entirely at home, that Phil took her visit quite as a matter of course, and though astonished, was not at all flurried. He fastened his searching gaze upon her, over the flowers, which he held close to his lips, and made up his mind what to say. At last, after deliberating, he said, simply, "I thank you very much." His thoughts ran this way: "She is a real lady, a kind, lovely woman; she has on a nice dress--nicer than Lisa's; she has little hands, and what a soft, pleasant voice! I wonder if my mother looked like her?"

Miss Schuyler's thoughts were very pitiful. She was much moved by the pale little face and brilliant eyes, the pleased, shy expression, the air of refinement, and the very evident pain and poverty. She could not say much, and to hide her agitation, took up the sketch-book, saying, "May I look in this, please?"

Phil nodded, still over the flowers.

As the leaves were opened, one after the other, Miss Schuyler became still more interested. The sketches were simply rude copies of newspaper pictures, but there was no doubt of the taste and talent that had directed their pencilling.

"Have you ever had any teaching, Phil?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," answered Joe for Phil, thinking he might be bashful. "He hasn't had no larnin' nor teachin' of anythin'; but it is what he wants, poor chile, and he often asks me things I can't answer for want of not knowin' nuthin' myself."

"And what is this?" said Miss Schuyler, touching the box with violin strings across it, which was on a chair beside her.

"Please don't touch it," answered Phil, anxiously; then fearing he had been rude, added: "It is my harp, and I am so afraid, if it is handled, that the fairies will never dance on it again. You ought to hear what lovely music comes out of it when the wind blows."

Phil spoke as if fairies were his particular friends. Miss Schuyler looked at him pitifully, thinking him a little light-headed. Joe nodded, and looked wise, as much as to say, "I told you so."

Just then Phil's pain came on again, and it was as much as he could do not to scream; but Miss Rachel saw the pallor of his face, and turning to Joe, asked:

"Does he have a doctor? Is anything done for him?"

"Nuthin', Miss Rachel, that I knows of. I never knew of his havin' a doctor."

"Poor child!" said Miss Rachel, smoothing his forehead, and fanning him. Then she tucked a pillow behind him, and did all so gently that Phil took her hand and kissed it--it eased his pain so to have just these little things done for him. Then she poured a little of her cordial in a glass with some water, and he thought he had never tasted anything so refreshing. She sent Joe after some ice, and spreading her napkins out on Phil's table, set all her little store of dainties before him, tempting the child to eat in spite of his pain.

Phil thought it was all the fairies' doing and not Joe's--poor pleased Joe--who looked on with a radiant face of delight. Phil would not eat unless Joe took one of his cakes, so the old fellow munched one to please him.

Meanwhile Miss Schuyler gazed at the boy with more and more interest; a something she could hardly define attracted her. At first it had been his suffering and poverty, for her heart was tender, and she was always doing kind deeds; but now as she looked at him she saw in his face a likeness to some one she had loved, the look of an old and familiar friend, a look also of thought and ability which only needed fostering to make of Phil a person of great use in the world--one who might be a leader rather than a follower in the path of industry and usefulness. The grateful little kiss on her hand had gone deeply into her heart. Phil must no longer be left alone: he must have good food and medical care and fresh air, and Lisa must be consulted as to how these things should be gained. So while Phil nibbled at the good things, and Joe chuckled and talked, half to himself and half to Phil, Miss Schuyler wrote a note to Lisa, asking her to come and see her that evening, if convenient, explaining how her interest had been aroused in Phil, and that she wanted to know more about him, and wanted to help him, and was sure she could make his life more comfortable, and that Lisa must take her interference kindly, for it was offered in a loving spirit. Then she folded the note, and gave it to Phil for Lisa, and arranging all his little comforts about him, bade him good-by.

Phil thought her face like that of an angel's when she stooped to kiss him; and after Joe, too, had hobbled off, promising to come again soon with his violin, he took up his pencil, and tried to sketch Miss Schuyler. Face after face was drawn, but none to his taste: first the nose was crooked, then the eyes were too small, then the mouth would be twisted, and just as Lisa came in, with a tired and flushed face, he threw his pencil away, and began to sob.

"Why, my dear Phil," said Lisa, in surprise, "are you so very miserable to-night?"

"No, I am not miserable at all," said Phil, between his tears; "that is, I have had pain enough, but I have had such a lovely visitor!--Joe brought her--and I wanted to make a little picture of her, so that you could see what she looked like; and I can not. Oh dear! I wish I could ever do anything!"

"Ah, you are tired; drink this nice milk, and you will be better."

"I have had delicious things to eat, and I saved some for you, Lisa. Look;" and he showed her the little parcel of cakes Miss Schuyler had left. "And see the big piece of ice in my glass."

"Some one has been kind to my boy."

"Yes; and here is a note for you; and you must dress up, Lisa, when you go to see our new friend."

Lisa looked down at her shabby garments; they were all she had, but she did not tell Phil that her only black silk had been sold long ago. She read the note, and her face brightened. There seemed a chance of better things for Phil.

"I will go to-night, if you can spare me."

"Not till you have rested, Lisa; and you must drink all that milk your own self. Did you ever hear of Miss Schuyler?"

"I don't know," said Lisa, meditating; "the name is not strange to me. But there used to be so many visitors at your father's house, Phil dear, that I can not be sure."

"She is so nice and tender and kind-- Have you had a tiresome day, Lisa?" added Phil, quickly, fearing Lisa might think herself neglected in his eager praise of the new friend.

"Yes, rather; but I can go. So Joe brought her here?"

"Yes; and see these flowers--yes, you must have some. Put them in your belt, Lisa."

"Oh, flowers don't suit my old clothes, child; keep them yourself, dear. Well, it is a long lane that has no turning," she said, half to herself and half to Phil. "Perhaps God has sent us Miss Schuyler to do for you what I have not been able to; but I have tried--he knows I have."

"And I know it too, dear Lisa," said Phil, pulling her down to him, and throwing both arms around her. "No one could be kinder, Lisa; and I love this old garret room, just because it is your home and mine. Now get me my harp, and when you have put it in the window, you can go; and I will try not to have any pain, so that you won't have to rub me to-night."

"Dear child!" was all Lisa could say, as she did what he asked her to do, and then left him alone.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

THE END OF MY MONKEY.

BY JIMMY BROWN.

I haven't any monkey now, and I don't care what becomes of me. His loss was an awful blow, and I never expect to recover from it. I am a crushed boy, and when the grown folks find what their conduct has done to me, they will wish they had done differently.

It was on a Tuesday that I got the monkey, and by Thursday everybody began to treat him coldly. It began with my littlest sister. Jocko took her doll away, and climbed up to the top of the door with it, where he sat and pulled it to pieces, and tried its clothes on, only they wouldn't fit him, while sister, who is nothing but a little girl, stood and howled as if she was being killed. This made mother begin to dislike the monkey, and she said that if his conduct was such, he couldn't stay in her house. I call this unkind, for the monkey was invited into the house, and I've been told we must bear with visitors.

A little while afterward, while mother was talking to Susan on the front piazza, she heard the sewing-machine up stairs, and said, "Well I never that cook has the impudence to be sewing on my machine without ever asking leave." So she ran up stairs, and found that Jocko was working the machine like mad. He'd taken Sue's nightgown and father's black coat and a lot of stockings, and shoved them all under the needle, and was sewing them all together. Mother boxed his ears, and then she and Sue sat down and worked all the morning trying to unsew the things with the scissors.

They had to give it up after a while, and the things are sewed together yet, like a man and wife, which no man can put asunder. All this made my mother more cool toward the monkey than ever, and I heard her call him a nasty little beast.

The next day was Sunday, and as Sue was sitting in the hall waiting for mother to go to church with her, Jocko gets up on her chair, and pulls the feathers out of her bonnet. He thought he was doing right, for he had seen the cook pulling the feathers off of the chickens, but Sue called him dreadful names, and said that when father came home, either she or that monkey would leave the house.

Father came home early Monday, and seemed quite pleased with the monkey. He said it was an interesting study, and he told Susan that he hoped that she would be contented with fewer beaux, now that there was a monkey constantly in the house. In a little while father caught Jocko lathering himself with the mucilage brush, and with a kitchen knife all ready to shave himself. He just laughed at the monkey, and told me to take good care of him, and not let him hurt himself. Of course I was dreadfully pleased to find that father liked Jocko, and I knew it was because he was a man, and had more sense than girls. But I was only deceiving myself and leaning on a broken weed. That very evening when father went into his study after supper he found Jocko on his desk. He had torn all his papers to pieces, except a splendid new map, and that he was covering with ink, and making believe that he was writing a President's Message about the Panama Canal. Father was just raging. He took Jocko by the scruff of the neck, locked him in the closet, and sent him away by express the next morning to a man in the city, with orders to sell him.

The express-man afterward told Mr. Travers that the monkey pretty nearly killed everybody on the train, for he got hold of the signal cord and pulled it, and the engineer thought it was the conductor, and stopped the train, and another train just behind it came within an inch of running into it and smashing it to pieces. Jocko did the same thing three times before they found out what was the matter, and tied him up so that he couldn't reach the cord. Oh, he was just beautiful! But I shall never see him again, and Mr. Travers says that it's all right, and that I'm monkey enough for one house. That's because Sue has been saying things against the monkey to him; but never mind.

First my dog went, and now my monkey has gone. It seems as if everything that is beautiful must disappear. Very likely I shall go next, and when I am gone, let them find the dog and the monkey, and bury us together.

OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.

ROMA, ON THE RIO GRANDE, TEXAS, _December_ 31, 1880.

Early this morning, just as we were all dressed, a great noise was heard on the stairs; it was Morton, who was shouting, "Oh, papa, the ground is all over white, and the orange-tree has a great white cap on its head!"

We all knew at once that it was snow, which we children had heard and read so much about, but had never seen.

We all rushed out, and found the air full of little feathers, and everything dazzling white. We went wild over it. Papa chased our two little brothers, washed their faces with snow, and showed them how to make snow-balls, and after doing so, got pelted by his boys, and girls too, for that matter, for we all took part. Two inches of snow had fallen. The air was still and calm. And at last we thought of the snow crystals we had read about in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and asked papa to show them to us. He got a piece of black cloth, and we spread it on the top of a box in the yard, and recognized nearly all of the forms we had seen in the illustration. Little Northern readers will say, "Why such a fuss about two inches of snow?" But they must remember we had never seen it before, and I do not believe they ever saw an orange-tree loaded with snow, and its golden fruit shining out from a setting of frosted silver and deep green leaves. I know they never saw anything so beautiful in their lives.

But I forgot--I must tell you who I am, or rather who we are. We are seven sisters and brothers. Our two elder sisters are married, and have homes of their own. I am the youngest of the girls, and the two boys are the youngest of the family. My mother is a Mexican lady, and father is an American from Ohio. He has lived in this country thirty years. One sister, one brother, and myself were born in Mexico, and Spanish is our mother-tongue, but we read and understand YOUNG PEOPLE.

CLOTILDE C.

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THYATIRA, MISSISSIPPI.

I have six goats. Two of them I work in a little wagon. When I can get some little boys to help me, it is royal fun to drive them.

I do not go to school, as we have none near by, and I have no one to go with me. I had three sweet little sisters and one little brother, but they all died. I would love to tell you a great deal about them, but this is my first letter to the Post-office Box, and I am afraid it will be too long, and go into that much-dreaded waste basket. I will be nine years old the 17th of February.

It is awfully cold here this winter.

JACK C.

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HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

I thought I would write to say how much I like the stories of "Toby Tyler" and "Mildred's Bargain." They are so nice I can not help writing to tell you.

I am glad to hear from so many little girls who have seen blossoms and fruit as late in the season as I have.

REBA H.

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SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

I want to tell the boys and girls what we do away out here in Sheboygan. This winter has been very cold, and it has been thirty degrees below zero part of the time. A good deal of snow has fallen, and yesterday the pupils of my school took a sleigh-ride. We were in a large sleigh drawn by four horses. We went to Sheboygan Falls, and on the way we saw farm-houses, forests, and fields all covered with deep snow.

Sheboygan is a nice place in summer. It is on the western shore of Lake Michigan, about sixty miles north of Milwaukee. I am eleven years old.

ERWIN B.

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BRIDGEWATER, NEW YORK.

My brother takes YOUNG PEOPLE, and we like it ever so much.

We have the dearest little three-year-old colt. Papa broke him to the harness last fall, and he seems to enjoy taking us out to ride. Papa is going to have him trained to the saddle for my use.

I have to walk three-quarters of a mile to school. The snow has drifted nearly level with the fences, and now the crust has formed, so that we enjoy skimming over it.

MAY R.

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WASHINGTON, D. C.

I think YOUNG PEOPLE is just splendid, and only wish it would come every day. I could never get tired of reading it. Toby Tyler's life with the circus is delightful. I would like to have such a friend as "Mr. Stubbs."

We are having the coldest winter known in this city for years. My little sister, my brother, and myself have elegant times coasting down the streets.

EMMA H. T.

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GILROY, CALIFORNIA.

I have received so many answers to my request for exchange, which was printed in YOUNG PEOPLE, that my stock of duplicate eggs is exhausted. I will keep the addresses, and in the spring, when I can get a new supply of eggs, will try to answer all letters which I can not answer now.

FANNIE W. ROGERS.

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Owing to the severe weather, I have been unable to collect enough arrow-heads to supply all my correspondents, but I will send them as soon as possible. If those who have offered me coins and other things in exchange will wait until I can get some more arrow-heads, which will be before long, I will be very glad.

ISOBEL L. JACOBS, Darlington Heights, Prince Edward County, Va.

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I am very much interested in the Post-office Box. I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much.

I live beside the beautiful Geneva Lake, which is a great summer resort. In warm weather we have great sport fishing, but now it is all ice-boating and skating.

We raised five Bramah chickens last summer. They were very tame. One went to sleep with its head on my aunt's shoulder, and they were capital pickpockets. They were in such demand that we had to part with all but one. She is named Pulleta, and is so tame I can pick her up anywhere.

I would like to exchange postmarks, for foreign stamps, or shells from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic coast.

HUBERT C. SCOFIELD, P. O. Box 207, Geneva, Wis.

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I would like to exchange pieces of bass-wood, red and white oak, bird's-eye and hard and soft maple, iron-wood, red and yellow birch, elm, ash, and butternut, for specimens of other kinds of woods. Correspondents will please mark specimens.

GEORGE EMPEY, Hersey, St. Croix County, Wis.

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I would like to exchange postmarks, for sea-shells. I am nine years old.

REYNOLDS WHITE, 132 East Forty-fifth Street, New York City.

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I will exchange postmarks, for stamps, with any little boy or girl. I am nine years old.

PERCY G. LAPEY, 62 Clinton Street, Buffalo, N. Y.

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I would like to exchange postage stamps. I have a Swedish, a Canadian, and a New South Wales stamp, two Italian, some French, English, and old issues of United States stamps, which I will give for others.

A SUBSCRIBER TO "YOUNG PEOPLE," 141 Fifth Avenue, New York City.

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I wish to notify correspondents that I do not wish to exchange for postage stamps any longer, but I will exchange stamps, curiosities, shells, and minerals, for curiosities, shells, and minerals.

V. L. KELLOGG, P. O. Box 411, Emporia, Kansas.

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I would like to exchange shells and pressed sea-weeds, for other shells, Lake Superior agates, ore, or other small specimens of minerals. I would like everything sent me to be clearly marked, and I, in return, will name and classify the shells.

MISS MAY HART, Soquel, Santa Cruz County, Cal.

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I live only eighteen miles from King's Mountain, where a great battle of the Revolutionary war was fought.

I have a little rat terrier I have named Rip Van Winkle, because he sleeps so much. I would like to exchange birds' eggs with readers of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. I am twelve years old.

WILLIE F. ROBERTSON, Yorkville, S. C.

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I have a collection of about fifteen hundred stamps, and I have about five hundred duplicates, which I would like to exchange for others. Correspondents will please send a list of those they desire.

HIRAM H. BICE, 39 Second Street, Utica, N. Y.

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The following exchanges are also offered by correspondents:

Coins or specimens of woods, for Indian relics, curiosities, fossils, or minerals.

ALFRED S. KELLOGG, P. O. Box 103, Westport, Fairfield County, Conn.

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Postage stamps.

J. CLARKE BURRELL, 307 East Eighty-sixth Street, New York City.

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Postage stamps, for Indian relics, or anything suitable for a museum.

GEORGE LUNHAM, 147 Skillman Street, Brooklyn, L. I.

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Foreign postage stamps.

LIONEL W. CROMPTON, Care of Mr. Clifton, 104 Sixth St., Hoboken, N. J.

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Foreign postage stamps, for old issues of United States postage stamps, or for any Department stamps.

FRANK BANG, 271 Avenue B, New York City.

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Postmarks, for stamps.

JAY HOLLIS GIBSON, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

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A silver Japanese coin and a piece of prehistoric pottery, for a genuine Indian bow and arrow.

DAVID M. GREGG, 404 Penn Street, Reading, Penn.

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Ocean curiosities, for a guinea-hen's egg or other eggs; or twenty-five postmarks, for a Chinese stamp and nine other foreign stamps.

HELEN S. LOVEJOY, 39 Munjoy Street, Portland, Maine.

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Cotton and rice as they grow, Spanish moss, arrow-heads, Southern insects, or pressed flowers, for stamps.

JOHN J. HAWKINS, Prosperity, S. C.

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An ancient Spanish coin to exchange for some curiosity.

THOMAS EWING, Osceola, Clark County, Iowa.

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Persian, Japanese, and other stamps, for Turkish or South American stamps or minerals.

THEODORE MORRISON, 3262 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Penn.

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Teasels, which are pretty for bouquets and decorating, for coins, curiosities, or minerals.

J. E. GARBUTT, Garbutt, Monroe County, N. Y.

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A stone from Delaware or Pennsylvania, for one from any other State; or shells, postmarks, or June beetles, for ore of any kind, or for curiosities.

S. STINSON, 1705 Oxford Street, Philadelphia, Penn.

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Sea-shells or minerals, for minerals.

JOHN D. BROWN, P. O. Box 171, Newton Centre, Mass.

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Pressed sea-weeds from Santa Cruz, on Monterey Bay, for ferns or sea-weeds from other localities.

NELLIE HYDE, 162 Third Street, Oakland, Cal.

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Postmarks.

HENRY F. STEELE, 63 East Fifty-fifth Street, New York City.

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Soil from Illinois, for that of any other State.

ARTHUR DAVENPORT, 34 Ogden Avenue, Chicago, Ill.

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An Italian stamp, for one of any other foreign country.

GIORGINO CHAPMAN, Everett House, Union Square, New York City.

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A ten-cent United States stamp, War Department stamps, or a Cuban, Spanish, or Netherlands stamp, for a Brazilian ten-reis.

FRED MCGAHIE, 78 Second Place, Brooklyn, L. I.

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Twenty-five postmarks, for a Japanese, Chinese, or East Indian stamp, or twelve other foreign stamps.

ANNIE DRYDEN, Care of John Dryden, Brooklin, Ontario, Canada.

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Buttons, or California postmarks, for postage stamps.

FLOY MOODY, Care of Charles Moody, San José, Santa Clara County, Cal.

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Postmarks and postage stamps, for Indian relics and ocean curiosities.

CHARLES B. BARTLETT, 92 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Postage stamps, minerals, fossils, coins, ocean curiosities, and Indian relics.

S. G. GUERRIER, Emporia, Kansas.

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Stamps from Peru, United States official stamps, and others, in exchange for rare stamps.

ALLEN R. BAKER, P. O. Box 1275, Bay City, Mich.

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Copper ore from the Eli Copper Mines, New Hampshire, specimens of meteoric rock, and stone from the Hoosac Tunnel, for Indian relics, ocean curiosities, fossils, or minerals.

FRED W. GLASIER, P. O. Box 235, Adams, Berkshire County, Mass.

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Ocean curiosities, for turtles not more than three inches long, newts, or lizards. Correspondents will please write before sending any of these creatures.

DANIEL D. LEE, 14 Myrtle Street, Jamaica Plains, Suffolk County, Mass.

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Postmarks, for postmarks; or twice the number of postmarks, for any number of postage stamps.

RALPH D. CLEARWATER, Care of A. T. Clearwater, Kingston, N. Y.

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EDMUND S. H., AND R. D. BRITTON.--The disastrous war between Peru and Chili originated in a dispute about certain privileges to mine copper and nitrate of soda in the desert region of Atacama, the strip of sea-coast on the Pacific, belonging to Bolivia, which separates Peru from Chili. In 1875, the nitrate grounds were ceded by the Bolivian government to a Peruvian business house, which transferred a portion of its rights to some Chilian merchants. A heavy export duty was immediately laid on the nitrate by Bolivia, which step was considered by the Chilian government as a direct insult to its merchants, and also to be in contradiction to earlier concessions made by Bolivia to Chili. The Peruvians, fearing the ruin of their mining interest, took up the cause of Bolivia, and much secret diplomacy was going on, when suddenly, on April 6, 1879, Chili made a declaration of war against Peru, and prepared to support its claims by arms. The naval combat of Iquique took place in May of the same year, in which both Chili and Peru lost valuable war vessels. For several months Chili maintained the blockade of Iquique, and meanwhile the Peruvian iron-clad _Huascar_ was harassing Chilian ports, until, in October, 1879, she was captured by two Chilian men-of-war. The Chilian army and the united forces of Peru and Bolivia met in numerous engagements, but since the capture of the _Huascar_ the war has been one prolonged success for Chili. After the battle of Chorillos, on January 14, 1881, in which the Peruvian forces were completely overthrown, the Chilian armies marched triumphantly into Lima, on the 17th of the same month. An armistice is now asked for by the diplomatic body at Lima, and it is to be hoped that this foolish devastation of a beautiful country will soon come to an end.

* * * * *

GRACE H.--You will find simple recipes for cream candy in the Post-office Boxes of YOUNG PEOPLE Nos. 35 and 38.

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WILLIE F. W.--It is impossible to trace the superstition concerning Friday to its source. It exists among many different peoples, each assigning to it an origin in accordance with the belief of the country. The Friday superstition is met with even among the Brahmins of India, who hold it unlucky to begin any enterprise on that day. In ancient times, thirty-two days in the year were considered unlucky by the astrologers, and warnings were given against the performance of any work of importance on those days--an advice which was no doubt strictly followed by all lazy people.

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FRED L. C.--Mount Everest is the highest mountain of the earth. It is situated in the northern part of Nepaul, which is an independent state of Hindostan, lying between Thibet and British India. Mount Everest is a part of the eastern range of the Himalayas, and, according to measurements taken in 1856, has an altitude of 29,002 feet, and thousands of cattle and sheep and mountain goats are herded on its broad slopes of pasture-lands.

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J. N. H.--If your puzzles are suitable for our columns, they will be accepted.

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M. I. S.--The double-page pictures in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE are bound by being fastened to a narrow strip of paper, which is called a "guard." Any good book-binder will understand how this should be done.

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A. J.--The line in question appeared in literature, and was often given as a quotation, long before the ballad which you mention was printed.

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LULU DE L.--We can not make room to print your little story.

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KARL C. W., AND OTHERS.--The answers to all puzzles given in our columns are printed in full three weeks after the publication of the puzzles.

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H. D. F.--The directions for tracing a pattern on Russia crash were given in "Embroidery for Girls, No. 2," in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 57, November 30, 1880.

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H. H. C.--Egypt and China are both supposed to be the oldest countries in the world, but it is impossible to tell to which the greatest age may be assigned, as the most learned historians differ upon this point. The earliest development of civilization was probably in Egypt. Damascus, if not the first city in the world, was certainly one of the earliest of consequence. The date of its foundation is unknown, but it was a flourishing place in the time of Abraham, and is mentioned in the book of Genesis.

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MAMIE BROOKE.--If what appears to be sand and dirt will not wash off from your copper ore, we can not tell you how to clean it, without seeing the specimen. What you consider dirt may be a coating of oxide.--Your wiggles were received too late for insertion.

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CONSTANT READER.--A very good mucilage, similar to that used on postage stamps, may be made as follows: acetic acid, one part; gum-dextrine, two parts; water, five parts. Dissolve in a water-bath, which consists of one vessel within another, like a double glue-pot, so that the mixture may be evenly heated. When the gum is well dissolved, add one part of alcohol.

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FALL RIVER.--Make your camera box of quarter-inch black-walnut; or pine of the same thickness will do equally well, and will be more easily worked, and cost less, and if neatly stained will make a pretty box. The expense of your camera, apart from the lenses (see answer to Fred B. and Fred W. in Post-office Box of No. 67), will be very small; and if you are handy with tools, you will have no trouble in the construction, if you follow the directions and drawings given in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 63. Perseverance and ingenuity will have a great deal to do with your success.

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CHARLES A. G.--It is not easy to give you advice in a matter which may affect your whole life, but we venture to suggest the trade of a printer as one by which a boy of your age, if he be industrious, can earn his living in a very pleasant manner after he has conquered the difficulties which meet a beginner in whatever branch of apprenticeship he may select.

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WILLIE LLOYD AND M. D. AUSTIN.--Send your full address, and we will gladly print your requests for exchange.

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Favors are acknowledged from Addie B. McEwen, Annie H. Rundlett, Mamie E. S., Charlie Hopper, Charles F. Bailey, Lyman C. S., Ella A., Edward L. Haines, Albert H. F., J. A. M. and A. W. W., Milard B., M. B. W., Istalina B., Jamie Craig, Edith M., Eva D. Aldrich, Joseph T. H., Wilfred J. Wood, George W. Merritt, Howard Coleman, J. D. Pettigrew, E. G. Robinson, Arthur W. French, H. M. Redlein, E. A. Folsom, Percy T. Warner, Helena Pierce, Minnie L., George C. Williams, Ferdinand Travis, Ollie J. McKay, Louie Van A., Lena Burrows, Eudora Bishop, Belle Wallace, S. J. Coatsworth, E. B. G., Jacob S. Kinsely, Josie L. Stone, Frank A. Taylor, Gottfried Steenken.

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Correct answers to puzzles have been sent by Willie F. Robertson, Edwin Nesmith, Bessie Comstock, Cora R. Price, "Lone Star," Dora Neville Taylor, J. M. Haydock, Willie Parkhurst, Willie F. Woolard, Percy L. McDermott, Nellie Brainard, W. I. Trotter, "Jupiter," M. Lila Baker, "Bolus," Ed I. T., Annie De Pfuhl, James W. Downing, Benno Myers, Karl C. Wells, Millie C. B., Blanche Jefferson, Frank Lomas, Andrew De Motte, Fred Wieland, "Starry Flag," Grace A. McE., Jennie and May Ridgway, Charlie Haight, Grace Montgomery, Fanny B. Squire, Willie M. Hargest.

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

HALF-SQUARE.

A poetic foot. To honor. Snug. To endeavor. A pronoun. A letter.

STARRY FLAG.

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No. 2.

HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.

A debate. Permanent. A public carriage. Kindness. A home of wild beasts. In February. Cunning. A fruit. Decoration. An angry speech. Negligent. Centrals--An emblem of peace.

DAME DURDEN.

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No. 3.

ENIGMA.

First in carol, not in song. Second in justice, not in wrong. Third in save, not in keep. Fourth in huddle, not in heap. Fifth in vain, not in proud. Sixth in still, not in loud. Seventh in slave, not in master. Eighth in slow, not in faster. Ninth in grieve, not in cry. An enterprising town am I, And though my site is drear and cold, Men seek me for my hidden gold.

E. B.

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No. 4.

NUMERICAL CHARADE.

My whole is composed of 10 letters, and has been received by many readers of YOUNG PEOPLE. My 4, 8, 5 is a sin. My 6, 10, 7 is used by fishermen. My 2, 1, 9 is the front of an army. My 3, 9, 7 is an insect.

G. T. W.

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No. 5.

ENIGMA.

In smart, not in good. In hat, not in hood. In plant, not in tree. In caged, not in free. In viola, not in flute. The whole a Southern fruit.

BOLUS.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 65.

No. 1.

Bombshell.

No. 2.

1. Never too late to mend. 2. Kalmia. 3. Fire-place.

No. 3.

1. Crane. 2. Owl. 3. Kite. 4. Heron. 5. Wren. 6. Robin. 7. Snow-bird. 8. Linnet.

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Ho! ho! St. Valentine once more Returns, with all his brilliant store Of verses sweet and pictures gay; You pick and choose whate'er you may. Poor Bobby sees one, bright and fine; He wants it for his Valentine. Alas! his pennies all are spent; For candies and for cakes they went. What, Bobby! sobs and tears? O fie! You can do better if you try: Just write her one, in rhyme and metre, And she will think it all the sweeter.

Oh! Kitty dear, See here, see here, Some one a Valentine has sent For "Kitty Lee"; That's you or me-- How can we tell which one is meant?

I think 'tis me; For, don't you see, By dear young Tommy Dodd 'tis written; If 'twas for you, 'Tis surely true, It would have come from Tommy's kitten. (And Pussy said, "Me-you!")

Here sits a maiden all forlorn, Without her Valentine; She's waited there since early morn-- The post brought ne'er a line.

Some love short boys, Some love tall; This little maiden Loves them all.

Whoever passes, Rain or shine, She thinks 'tis sure Her Valentine.

I love my neighbor over the way, And bless the Saint who makes this day; In coming years may her love and mine Date from to-day and my Valentine!