Part 4

I am a little boy eight years old. I take YOUNG PEOPLE. My sister takes _St Nicholas_. I was twelve miles out in the country the other day. The cars pass our door. We have a type-writer, and I write on it instead of with a pen. My papa is a lawyer, and I copy testimony sometimes. We have a little baby, and we call him Mr. Google, but his right name is Herbert.

NORMAN F.

Your beautiful type-writing made us feel like congratulating your father that he has so intelligent and skillful a copyist.

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WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.

Can any one beat Woodbury for late dandelions? The one inclosed was found on our lawn this morning, January 10.

H.

And a little beauty it must have been, as we can testify, who received it pressed.

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BEULAH, KANSAS.

I read before our lyceum the story of Jimmy Brown and his monkey; it made everybody laugh. My uncle sent me a pair of Italian Leghorn chickens. They are beauties. We call the rooster John, and the hen Biddy. Biddy lays an egg every day. I think it pays to keep a hen. We live in Southeastern Kansas; this is the great coal, lead, and zinc region. We have had a very mild winter so far. This country is thickly settled. There has been a large immigration during the last two years. We have school nine months out of the year. I am eight years old, and read in the Fifth Reader, and study geography, grammar, arithmetic, spelling, and writing.

WILLIAM PITT A.

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I am a little girl just six years old, and my name is Joe. I read all the letters in YOUNG PEOPLE. I have a cat named Cutty; but her whole name is Connecticut, because she came from there in a box by express. She is very smart, and can do a great many tricks. She can lie down as if she were dead; can stand on her hind-legs; says her prayers, gives her paw to shake hands, sits upon the piano-stool with her paws on the keys, and her head thrown back, as if she were singing a song. She sits at the table in a high chair, with a napkin around her neck, and laps milk from a saucer without putting her paws on the table. Now have any of the Young People got a smarter cat than mine? I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE very much, and when I have finished reading it, I send it to a little boy who lives on a farm in the country, where I spent last summer. I have no brothers or sisters. But I am going to be a doctor when I am big.

J. W. K.

We would like to know where this little girl lives, as she forgot to tell us. Perhaps she will write again.

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SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA.

As I have seen only one letter from here, and that from my friend Edith D., I thought I would write and tell you about my doll Martha Washington. She is very large, and a perfect beauty. She has a nice dress, and my mother is going to make me a nice hat for her. My doll has brown eyes and white hair. We have two dogs and two cats at our house, and each of the children has a fine bow and a set of arrows, and we have a target to shoot at.

JESSIE N. D.

When you have learned to sew so well that you can make Madam Martha Washington a dress and a hat with your own skillful fingers, you must write and tell us how much you enjoy working for the darling yourself. Little girls often learn to sew very beautifully by making clothes for their dolls, and we think it is a great accomplishment to sew neatly by hand as well as on the machine. What does your mother think?

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CROSS VILLAGE, MICHIGAN.

I live on the shore of Lake Michigan, about twenty-five miles from old Fort Mackinaw. It is lovely in the summer season to see the vessels pass. Many of them land at the dock. We can also see two light-houses. I think "Talking Leaves" is splendid. I have two brothers and one sister. Ernest, Henry, and Olla are their names. My grandma sent YOUNG PEOPLE to me last year. Isn't she a dear good grandma? I am eleven years old.

M. EFFA G.

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Be sure to try your skill at unravelling our puzzle column, little readers. You will find it a charming occupation for winter evenings. Try to send us some puzzles of your own invention, inclosing the answer invariably with the puzzle. We wish to print a long list of successful solvers next week. If you can not untangle every enigma and arrange every word square, never mind, but send us the answers of those which you can puzzle out, and do not be discouraged by a little trouble at the outset. The fun of making out a puzzle is in conquering it.

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C. Y. P. R. U.

A lady writes to us that she has found great satisfaction in reading HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE to a number of boys, whom she invites to meet at her house every Wednesday evening. She says she finds the stories and articles excellent and charming. Besides reading aloud to the boys, she lends them books, and, we presume, assists them in other womanly and Christian ways to grow up to a useful and intelligent manhood. We desire to thank Miss E. J. Y. for her kind letter, and we are not without the hope that our allusion to it may indicate to other friends an easy and beautiful method for doing good.

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ANGIE.--To make nice sago gruel for your invalid sister, wash an ounce of sago very carefully, and then soak it for two hours in a pint of tepid water; simmer it in the same water about fifteen minutes, stirring it gently. Sweeten and flavor it, and serve it at once.--Your milk toast will be delicious if you brown your toast very evenly, dip it for an instant into boiling water, and then spread it with a very little butter. Lay it in a deep hot plate; a soup plate will do. Boil a tea-cupful of milk, which you must thicken with a tea-spoonful of corn starch mixed with a pinch of salt in a little cold water. Pour this over your toast.

In serving sick people with food please be sure not to offer them too much at a time. Do not bother them by saying, "Would you like this?" and "Will you have that?" They do not know what they wish, and they think they want nothing. They have to be coaxed to eat, not in words, but by offering them dainty things daintily and prettily prepared. The finest, cleanest napkin, the thinnest, loveliest cup and saucer, and the brightest silver should be taken when you are arranging the meals of invalids. Sometimes, after all your trouble, they will scarcely taste what you have prepared, and perhaps they may be a little cross and petulant. Remember then that suffering has made them weak and tired, and do not be discouraged, but try again, for on good and patient nursing the doctor depends for success in treating the sick as much us he does on his medicines and his skill.

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D. C. H.--There is a real Jimmy Brown. The Postmistress has seen him several times.

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J. B.--It is easy to make a tennis net if you have any one to show you how, but it is almost impossible to describe the manner of making it so as to be understood. If you live near the sea-shore, you can get some fisherman to teach you. If not, perhaps your mother or her seamstress can show you how to make it. If you can not learn before next summer, and yet want the net very badly, you may buy one for three dollars.

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RITA.--You will probably obtain the information you desire about the care of silk-worms by addressing the Ladies' Silk-culture Association, 1028 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (over Keystone National Bank). This association, which is doing much to stimulate this branch of industry, has recently given an exhibition at St. George's Hall in Philadelphia. It was formally opened by Governor Hoyt, ex-Governor Pollock, and other distinguished gentlemen. It was designed to illustrate the various branches of the silk industry from the forming of cocoons to the perfected fabric.

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It would seem as if the variety of the articles to which we would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week was extensive enough to please readers of all tastes and ages. Mr. George Cary Eggleston carries us back to those terrible days of religious persecution when differences in creed bathed the soil of France with blood; Mr. Ralph Watson tells us of the curious "Collocalia," whose nests supply the Chinese with the principal ingredient of one of their most highly esteemed soups; Mr. Charles Barnard gives us full information how to while away our leisure hours with the interesting and inexpensive and at the same time instructive pastime of taking photographs; and Mr. B. Hardwicke tells the boys and girls how to supersede the pleasures of coasting by the more exciting sport to be had with the toboggan.

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YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT.

We publish this week the January report of Miss E. Augusta Fanshawe, and repeat that the contributions for Young People's Cot should be sent to the treasurer of the Cot Fund, and not to Messrs. Harper & Brothers. Please read Aunt Edna's letter, children.

NEW YORK CITY.

In my last letter I told you I would soon let you know something from _our_ hospital. Well, the other day I went there, and such a chatter of little voices as met my ear when the door opened! I could hardly believe I was going to a place where there was sickness and pain. I went up stairs to Holy Innocent's Ward--_our_ ward, you know--and how bright and sunny it looked! Sister Miriam, the kind Sister who has charge of it, and who I wish you all knew, as she is sunshine itself, was putting the finishing touches to the morning dressing of the little ones. Every bed had its occupant, though many of the children were not then in bed, but were running about the room; and I was quickly surrounded by several little "tots," who wanted to rub my muff, and see some cards I had that a kind lady had sent them. But just now I am only going to speak of two children and one cot, though I could easily tell you interesting things of many more if I did not feel afraid the Postmistress would shake her head.

Sister Miriam is much pleased with your efforts, and thinks you will certainly raise the whole amount if you will only keep on trying, and to encourage you all she has selected a cot that will be ours just as soon as we raise the money, but not before, remember. It is the first cot in the south end of the room, right in the sunshine, near a big window, where our child can look down on Thirty-fourth Street. When I was there the occupant of that cot was a funny little colored boy named Willie Stanward. He had been very sick with something called by a very long name--pneumonia--but was a great deal better, and when I saw him he was sitting in a little chair near the window playing with something--looking very much like a doll. He was only a wee boy, you know. He was going home very soon, well, and Sister Miriam thought she would put in his place a little white boy named Robert McGee, who, she said, made very queer speeches, and was ever so funny. The doctor had been making his legs straight, which before were crooked, and though it was pretty hard to bear, he was getting on very nicely. He also was a very little boy. I took up a "mite chest" and put it over that cot, and think when we open it we will find something to help on our work.

Now good-by, but don't forget that we have not got the cot yet, but must all try hard and raise the money, and then think how glad we will all feel when we can say _that_ is the Young People's Cot.

AUNT EDNA.

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Contributions received for Young People's Cot in Holy Innocent's Ward, St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York:

Willie and Georgie Campbell, Drummondville, $1; Clare Gardiner, Troy, N. Y., 25c.; In Memoriam M. A., "a dear little one who will never need the cot," $30; Kitty Tutwiler, Flatonia, Texas, 10c.; Nobe Taylor, Flatonia, Texas, 10c.; Charles Roy Bangs, Brooklyn, $3; Mary Dean, 25c.; Jennie Dart, Kingston, N. Y., $1; Ida Allison, Harlem, N. Y., $2; Willie Allison, Harlem, N.Y., $2; T. Robert Palmer, Palatka, Fla., 50c.; Will D. Sayer, Meadville, Penn., $2; Green Clay, Jun., Mexico, Mo., $1; Ellie Earle, Chelten Hills, Penn., $1; Agnes D. Cram, Mechanic Falls, 10c.; Jennie Bolton, New York City, $1--total, $45.30. Previously acknowledged, $201.39; total, January 16, $246.69.

E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New Street, New York City.

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FLATONIA, TEXAS, _December_ 15, 1881.

I send you my _Three Little Kittens_ book for _all_ the children in _that_ room. I send you a dime for that bed you wrote about. Papa read us that letter, and our black boy said he wanted to send a dime too. His name is Nobe Taylor. He has lived with us for nine years, and nursed me when I was a baby. He is big and fat. This is all I've got to send. Aunt Net sent me the book from Alabama last Christmas. Our school-teacher is going to give us a Christmas tree. I can't write good enough, and got papa to write this for me.

KITTY TUTWILER.

P.S.--Nobe incloses his dime too.

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CHELTEN HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

I got a good many china animals for Christmas, and now I have forty-one altogether. Sophie and Horace, two of my school-mates, have one hundred and fifty-one; Sophie has only fifteen of them, though. I got a lovely coaster for Christmas, and I want to use it very much. There is about an inch of snow on the ground now, but not enough for coasting; there has not been deep snow on the ground all winter. In my letter I send a dollar for the Young People's Cot. Our tree was just taken down to-day, and the room where it was looks all bare to me.

ELLIE EARLE.

There are a number of other little letters about the Cot, and they are very bright and sweet, but we have not room to insert any more.

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

ENIGMA.

I am composed of 12 letters, and mean yielding content. My 1, 2, 3 is having placed. My 4, 5 is a verb. My 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 is a manufactory.

EMMA A.

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No. 2.

A WORD SQUARE.

1. To surrender. 2. A sluggard. 3. A funeral dirge. 4. Lawful. 5. Sarcastically spoken.

EMPIRE CITY.

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No. 3.

HISTORICAL ACROSTIC.

1. A battle of the Revolution. 2. A President. 3. An inventor. 4. An island. 5. A river in Asia. 6. One of the great lakes. 7. A battle of the French and Indian war. 8. One of the United States. 9. A country in Africa. The primals form the name of a distinguished French general.

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No. 4.

PI.

Ti asw het meit ehnw seliil lobw. Dan doulcs rea gihhset pu ni rai. Rold noladr gouhtbr a yill heitw oed Ot iveg sih sioune dyal lerac.

Straighten out, and form a stanza from Tennyson.

EMMA.

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No. 5.

?

Forward, I am a lady's name. Backward, I stand for something which will make men forget troubles. You will find me in Anglo-Saxon nurseries, and in ancient mythology.

ROBERT.

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No. 6.

DIAMOND.

1. A consonant. 2. A hut. 3. Reeds. 4. Good policy. 5. Fretful. 6. A pen. 7. A letter.

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No. 7.

A DOUBLE SQUARE.

Across.--1. A girl's name. 2. A word used in prayers. 3. A hole. 4. Finishes. Down.--1. A cavern. 2. A sign. 3. To tear. 4. Small insects.

ELOISE.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 116.

No. 1.

The eye.

No. 2.

S S S H E R O T S H A L L S O L A R E L M T A R L R

No. 3.

Adder. Cobra.

No. 4.

C al M A nemon E M attres S E dific E L audanu M L am B I dle R A bundantl Y J erbo A A mazo N P in T O stric H N ightingal E I ce-crea M C hapea U A lar M

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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Eva Brown, Annie Brown, Ambrose Elting, F. M. S., "Jack Frost," Artie Secor, John Phelan, J. and H. Bates, Hetty R., J. C., Alice E. Garretson, "Prince," Henry Berlan, Jun., "Bud," R. H. L., Maggie Dutto, Meredith Knapp, Susie Perkins, "Snap," Alice Emmons.

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

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

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Special Inducements to Youthful Agents.

To any boy or girl who shall procure for HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, before April 1, 1882, ten new yearly subscribers, and forward their names and addresses to this office, with the sum of fifteen dollars, Messrs. HARPER & BROTHERS will, on receipt of the same, present any one of the volumes mentioned in the following list which may be selected:

COL. KNOX'S BOOKS OF TRAVEL IN THE FAR EAST.

_The Boy Travellers in the Far East.--Part I.--Adventures of two Youths in a Journal to Japan and China. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $3._

_The Boy Travellers in the Far East.--Part II.--Adventures of two Youths in a Journey to Siam and Java. With Descriptions of Cochin China, Cambodia, Sumatra, and the Malay Archipelago. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $3._

_The Boy Travellers in the Far East.--Part III.--Adventures of two Youths in a Journey to Ceylon and India. With Descriptions of Borneo, the Philippine Islands, and Burmah. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $3._

COFFIN'S HISTORICAL READING FOR THE YOUNG.

_The Story of Liberty.--Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Ornamental Cloth, $3._

_Old Times in the Colonies.--Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $3._

_The Boys of '76.--A History of the Battles of the Revolution. Copiously Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $3._

Messrs. HARPER & BROTHERS further offer to present to the boy or girl from whom they shall receive, before April 1, 1882, the largest number of new yearly subscriptions, with $1.50 for each.

_Harper's Household Edition of Charles Dickens's Works, in Sixteen Volumes, handsomely bound in Cloth, in a box. Price $22._

These prizes will be sent by mail or express, prepaid.

In order that an accurate account may be kept of the number of subscriptions received, it will be necessary for each one, when sending a list of new subscriptions, to refer to these offers, and to state that he or she desires to compete for these valuable prizes.

Cash must accompany each order.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, $1.50 a year.

The extension for one month of the time for sending subscriptions in competition is designed to accommodate boys and girls residing in different parts of the country.

HARPER & BROTHERS,

Franklin Square, New York.

ENIGMA.

Within the compass of my first Are right and wrong, dissected; Bold falsehood there is put to shame, And villainy detected.

Of constant port, with royal parts, Tall, strong, and stately reckoned, But hauled about with tarry coat-- By these marks know my second.

My whole, devoted to one aim, One prize intent on gaining, Expends its life in the pursuit, And dies in the obtaining.

EXPERIMENTS WITH ELECTRICITY.

This mysterious "agent," as people call it for want of a better word, can be produced in the easiest fashion, and some of its ways studied with the simplest kind of apparatus, constructed of articles that lie close at hand.

If we rub a stick of sealing-wax with a piece of cloth, we shall see that it will attract some small fragments of paper placed near it. Nothing is easier than to construct a small pendulum to show with perfect clearness the wonder of electric attraction. A piece of iron is fixed on a wooden pedestal, and holds a thread of silk, to the end of which is fastened a little ball cut out of a piece of cork. The stick of sealing-wax, after being rubbed with the cloth, will attract the ball, as shown in Fig. 1.

We can easily construct other electrical apparatus. Take a lacquered tea-tray about a foot long, and cut out a sheet of thick wrapping paper so that it will lie over all the level portion of the tray. At each side of this sheet of paper fix two bands of paper, as in Fig. 2, so as to serve as handles. The tea-tray should be placed upon two tumblers to support it and to insulate it, glass being a "non-conductor." By a non-conductor is meant a substance that will not convey electricity, or allow it to pass away.

Now rub the thick packing-paper over a hot fire or a stove until it is thoroughly dry, and as hot as possible without charring. When this has been done, place it quickly upon a wooden table, and rub it rapidly with as dry and hard a clothes-brush as can be obtained. Place the paper upon the tray; touch the tray with the knuckle, and draw away the paper by the handles fixed to it (see Fig. 2); a spark will result. Then if the paper be replaced upon the tray, and the hand again presented, the same result will follow. This may be done five or six times, at least, with success.

We have in this tea-tray and its paper covering a real electric machine. How can we manage to provide a Leyden-jar (so named from its inventor, Muschenbrock, of Leyden) to contain our electricity? Nothing is more easy. Let us take a tumbler, and partly fill it with shot; insert into the glass a tea-spoon, and if all the articles are quite dry, we shall possess a Leyden-jar.

To charge the jar we must work our other machine. While one person lifts off the paper as directed, another must hold the glass to the edge of the tray, and touch the corner with the tea-spoon; the spark will then enter the "jar." We can thus charge the jar as we please, and by presenting the finger, as in Fig. 3, we shall obtain a discharge from it.

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, February 7, 1882, by Various