Part 4

Unless the squirrels are made captives when they are very young, they are very wretched in confinement. We once knew about a squirrel which really fretted itself to death in its cage, and we wondered how the boy who owned it could ever be happy afterward. He gave it quite a little funeral, and erected its monument in the garden, with an inscription; but that did not make up for its unhappy days, nor restore its life. A squirrel's cage should be large enough for a boy of twelve to stand up and take several steps in, and it should be dressed with green boughs, to make it seem as much like a bit of the woods as possible. Children who have such pets should not chain them unnecessarily, and they should be careful to keep their homes clean, and give them plenty of food and fresh water.

* * * * *

ETNA, CALIFORNIA.

I have just been reading some of your interesting letters, and I thought that I would sit down and write to your nice paper, which we all enjoy reading. We live in Northern California, among the mines, ninety-two miles from the railroad. Papa kept store for a while, and the miners changed gold for money; and once a man brought a piece of gold, that he had just dug out of his mine, in the shape of a horseshoe.

My sister is thirteen years of age, and I am eleven. We both take music lessons. We have a nice day-school and Sunday-school. There are fourteen little girls in my class in the latter. We are building a new church. My sister is secretary of the Sunday-school.

NELLIE J. F.

* * * * *

AUGUSTA, MAINE.

I have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE almost a year, and I like it ever so much. I just loved Toby Tyler, and wasn't the big, fat woman good? I like such _big_ folks, because they are so kind always. I live away down in Maine, on the beautiful Kennebec River. Augusta is the capital, and is the head of navigation. We have large schooners which come up here, but no ships. The schooners bring coal, and carry away ice. Papa says the Kennebec produces the best ice in the world, and our ice crop last year brought into the State over $1,000,000. I like the letters from all the boys and girls, and hope mine is not too long to be put in with others.

CHARLIE F. P.

We always wonder why Maine people say "away _down_ in Maine." It is quite far up on the map. Yours is a nice letter, and the information about the ice is very pleasant in this sultry weather.

* * * * *

HOPE, INDIANA.

I love to read the children's letters in your nice little paper. I have two sisters, one eight and the other fifteen years old, and one brother who is twenty years old. For pets I have a little dog named Trippy and a little bird named Ruby. They are both very cute. I am thirteen years old.

We have a piano, and I spend a good deal of my time playing. I can not do much work, as I am crippled, and have to walk with crutches. I have been sick a long time. I was taken ill last November a year ago, but I am again able to go to school. I have been attending the young ladies' seminary this spring. It has just closed, and we had a musical entertainment, in which I was able to take part. My papa is postmaster in this place.

Please print this, as I have not seen any letters from this place.

GERTRUDE E. M.

It is very pleasant to play well. It is a real resource to yourself, and music enables you to entertain your friends agreeably. I am sure papa likes to hear his little daughter's piano. Girls who play should not grow tired of scales and finger exercises, but practice them faithfully, and they will be repaid by becoming fine performers.

* * * * *

DAYTON, OHIO.

This is my first letter to YOUNG PEOPLE, and I hope to see it printed before long. I write to congratulate the young naturalists on beginning, and hope the society will prove a success. I would like very much to join a society of this kind; but it is impossible, as there are no boys and girls old enough in our neighborhood to join.

ADDIE E. C.

You may be an independent member, and whenever you discover anything interesting, report to the Post-office Box.

* * * * *

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

This is the first letter I ever wrote to a paper, though my brother and I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE since before Christmas. We live in Philadelphia in winter, but in summer we stay at Cape May. We feel very sorry for President Garfield, and I run to the bulletin-board to see how he is as often as a new bulletin appears.

We have a splendid large Newfoundland dog. He was too large and too curly to get an honor at the dog show, but we would not part with him for anything.

FRANCIS R. P.

* * * * *

HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

I regard the Natural History Society as a very important arrangement, and agree with Madison C., Jun., in all but one thing, and that is that there should be no limited number.

GEORGE C. MCI.

* * * * *

AUBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost'" so much that I wish it would never end. I live in Germantown, but am spending my vacation here. Before I came here I went to West Newton, and saw a steam road roller which came from England. I think it is great fun to make the wiggles.

W. S. N.

* * * * *

SAN AUGUSTINE, NEW MEXICO.

I have not been to school in my life. Mamma is going to get a teacher. I am writing this myself. I have a sister twelve years old; her name is Jessie. We have a pet pony, and his name is Billy. We live on a ranch. Papa keeps the Post-office. I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE since the first number.

EFFIE D.

* * * * *

SYRACUSE, N. Y.

I have a canary-bird named Dick, which I want to tell you about. When he was a young bird, he was so small that he could get through the bars of his cage, and one day, when he was hung out-of-doors, he flew away, and staid all night. Early in the morning my mother looked out of a window, and saw Dick on the porch, and she put the cage out, and he flew into it. He is very tame, and will come on my shoulder, and drink out of my mouth. I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE very much.

Frank J. M.

No doubt the little truant was very glad indeed to find himself at home. Once upon a time, a long while ago, we took care of a friend's bird while she went away on a visit. The very day we expected her home, the cage door was left ajar, and Fluff flew away over the trees, and the garden wall, and out of sight. Imagine our despair. What to do we did not know. Finally, we borrowed a neighbor's bird, a very sweet singer, and set his cage and the deserted one, with its door open, side by side on the window-sill. The little girl of the family sat in the shadow of the curtain to watch, and two hours after our little fly-away came home, allured, we thought, by the songs of our borrowed bird, and perhaps by a thought of the nice fresh seed and cool water in his little house.

* * * * *

MARKESAN, WISCONSIN.

I am a little boy twelve years old, and live in Green Lake Co., Wis. I would like to tell the little readers of YOUNG PEOPLE about the swarms of locusts we have here this summer. About half a mile west of our village there is a high hill covered with large oak-trees, and they are swarming with locusts, and they make a roaring noise which sounds like machinery; we can hear them very plainly down in the village. They have stripped some of the trees quite bare of leaves. They are harmless little creatures, only eating leaves of the oak.

I have a pure water-spaniel dog that will bring ducks out of the water, and anything else that I wish. I take him to the post-office and give him the mail, and tell him to take it home; he will take it in his mouth and run home, and wait on the veranda until mamma opens the door, and then he will wag his tail and seem so pleased.

Now I do so hope this will not go into the waste basket, as this is the second time I have tried to get a letter printed.

EDDIE ATKINSON.

Why did you not tell us your dog's name? He must be a splendid little fellow. What a pity the locusts should need so many leaves for their dinners! We should be sorry to see the oak-trees stripped, and glad that the locusts do not come every summer.

* * * * *

The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:

I live at Beverly, New Jersey, and am ten years old. I am making a "Zoo" garden on a small scale, and will exchange a dried balloon-fish or star-fish, or a spike from a wreck at Atlantic City, for a small live snake, lizard, or gold-fish. "First come, first served."

W. H. E., 238 S. Third St., Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

ALBANY, NEW YORK.

This is my first letter to the Post-office Box. I am going away soon. I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE very much. "The Brave Swiss Boy," "Toby Tyler," and "The Cruise of the 'Ghost'" are about the best stories. I will give a collection of one hundred and eleven (all foreign) stamps--as Finland, Russia, Japan, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, Newfoundland, Hong-Kong, etc.--for a good collection of shells. Correspondents will please write before sending. My address is

A. S., JUN., 258 Clinton Avenue.

* * * * *

Foreign stamps from Europe, East Indies, Bahamas, Cuba, and United States, for stamps from Asia, Africa, South America, Oceanica, Mexico, and Central America.

CHARLES L. MILLER, Lock Box 108, Bristol, R. I.

* * * * *

Stamps from Denmark, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Bavaria, for stamps from Mexico, Central America, Cape of Good Hope, Japan, New Zealand, and Nova Scotia. No duplicates given or taken.

L. B. CRANE, 229 East Nineteenth St., New York City.

* * * * *

Blue gum, cactus, orange, lemon, Spanish-bayonet, California moss, and a stone from California, for Indian relics or other curiosities.

R. H. DOWSE, P. O. Box 144, Riverside, San Bernardino, Cal.

* * * * *

Five foreign stamps (no duplicates), for one Chinese or African stamp.

MORISON C. MANCHESTER, 40 Lawrence St., Lowell, Mass.

* * * * *

One of Scott's albums containing 350 stamps, 300 very rare, including 12 unused stamps, for a $2 printing-press.

G. B. DONNELLY, 331 Hicks St., Brooklyn, L. I.

* * * * *

Leaves of the oak and hickory trees near here, for leaves from other places; or tree tulips, for foreign coins, or leaves from the large trees of California or other famous trees. Label specimens.

J. B., P. O. Box 1179, Canton, Ohio.

* * * * *

Seeds, mosses, flint glass, ferns, wood, and leaves, for fairy stories or a second-hand toy magic lantern.

E. A. SMITH, Conover, N. C.

* * * * *

Some French, German, and English stamps, for stamps from any other country, or stamps for coins if more desirable.

WILLIAM F. SEALY, 811 Second Avenue, New York City.

* * * * *

Pieces of bark from the white cedar of Canada, for foreign stamps and postmarks.

LIBBY AND ADELE TITUS, P. O. Box I., Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co., N. Y.

[_For other exchanges, see third page of cover._]

* * * * *

C. W. T., FLORIDA.--Florida was first visited in 1512 by Ponce de Leon, who went there to look for the fountain of youth. In 1565, the Spaniards built a fort at St. Augustine, and most of the country was held by Spain until 1763, when Spain gave it to Great Britain for Cuba, which the English had taken. The British kept Florida until 1781, when the Spaniards drove them out. After the Revolution, the country belonged to Spain until 1821, when it was sold to the United States. In 1845, Florida became a State of the Union.

* * * * *

GEORGE C. McI.--The supply of bound volumes of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for 1880 is exhausted.

* * * * *

We do not care to so much as mention the initials of one correspondent who sent a very dictatorial letter to the Post-office Box the other day, complaining because we had not published his exchange. Exchangers usually understand that the convenience we give them in YOUNG PEOPLE is a favor, and not a right; and if occasionally they are overlooked or obliged to wait a while, they must remember what we have often told them, that we print their offers as soon after receiving them as we can, and as nearly as may be in the order we receive them. We are quite sure the correspondent to whom we refer will regret his manner of writing when he thinks the whole affair over calmly and coolly.

* * * * *

JACQUELINE.--There is but a limited demand for French translations, and even experienced translators have great difficulty in finding publishers to look at their work. It would be excellent practice for you to translate the book you mention, but we do not think you would be successful in procuring anybody to print it for you. Translation should be literal, and elegant as well, and there is no better way of becoming familiar with the idioms of French or any other foreign tongue than by studying its literature, and rendering it into your own language.

* * * * *

ROBERT H. R.--Read article on "The Young Tin-Typers," HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 63, Vol. II.; and if that does not aid you, go to some obliging carpenter for help.

* * * * *

"SILVER SAUL," JOHNNIE T. P., AND OTHERS.--You may send your puzzles for examination if you wish. Birds' eggs are not allowed as exchanges.

* * * * *

FRED H. W.--We can not give addresses, nor arrange for private correspondence.

* * * * *

William Shattuck, H. S. Buffum, Marion S. Hare, B. P. Craig, William H. Paine, Joe S. McKnight, and Edward W. Smith withdraw from our exchange list, their supplies being exhausted.

* * * * *

L. L. B.--The best authorities give _dec_-orative, which is the common pronunciation. The present æsthetic whim is, however, to say de-_cor_-ative. This usage is not yet general.

* * * * *

We can not adjust differences of opinion as to the worth of specimens and articles exchanged. It would be well in most cases for exchangers to have a brief correspondence by postal cards before sending their wares. Thus trouble would be avoided in the end.

* * * * *

J. C.--Frederick William Nicholas Charles is the Crown Prince of Prussia, and on the death of his father, the Emperor William, will succeed him on the throne of Germany.

* * * * *

"CANOE."--The price of a Racine canoe is $75. Address E. G. Durant, Racine Manufacturing Co., Racine, Wis., for circular.

* * * * *

"INQUIRER."--The size of a bicycle is the diameter of the front wheel. On a 36-inch machine the "spools," or pedals, when the cranks are horizontal, should be 22 inches from the saddle, or seat.

* * * * *

"IN EXPECTATION."--You can probably ride a 44-inch bicycle.

* * * * *

ED S. BECK.--Send to the Pope Manufacturing Co., 597 Washington St., Boston, Mass., for a book called _The American Bicycler_.

* * * * *

E. J. HATCH AND H. J. WHEELER.--See HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 26 for directions, with working plans, for building a canvas canoe. The fine workmanship necessary in a cedar canoe could only be performed by an experienced and skillful builder. The best and safest sails for canoes are the triangular sails known as "leg-of-mutton," made of unbleached muslin, having a hoist of eight feet, and the foot laced to a boom of such a length that it will swing clear of the "dandy," or after mast. The "dandy," or "mizzen-sail," as it is sometimes called, should have a hoist of four feet, and a boom of the same length.

* * * * *

Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Mary H. Denny, Charles H. Brooks, Enos H. Dyer, Charlie Trimble, Robert N. McMynn, "_Lord Glenalvon_," _Percy L. McDermott_, "School-Boy," Frank S. Davis, George Washington, "King Billy," "Vi O. Let," Lizzie C. Carnochan, "Pickwick," "North Star," "Phil I. Pene," "Clem A. Tis," "Pepper," K. E. Brown, _Maud M. Chambers_, F. Trafford, Mamie and Josie, Charlie Trimble, Leo Marks.

* * * * *

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

EASY NUMERICAL CHARADE.

I am composed of 11 letters, and am one of the United States. My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is to unite. My 8 is one of the vowels, and perhaps the most important. My 9, 10, 11 is to sever.

MURRAY C. B.

* * * * *

No. 2.

ENIGMA.

I am in drink, but not in eat; Also in pea, but not in sweet. You find me in ink, and not in pen, In some little birds, but not in the wren; Always in idle, and never in smart; Likewise in sweet, and never in tart; Also in lungs, and not in heart. My whole are flowers which even a bride Has been known to wear with grace and pride.

F. T.

* * * * *

No. 3.

EASY CONCEALMENTS.

Did you hear Leo pardon John? James ate a pear. Is Isaac at work in the barn? Did you see Rob at the gate to-night? Do you know bad Gertrude? I saw fish in the river as I came by. The Arab bit a sour apple. Her ring was set with a diamond surrounded by pearls. Did Henry pass here to-day?

REBA H.

* * * * *

No. 4.

MALTESE CROSS.

Central Letter.--In choose. Top.--Free. Establish. Generation. A letter. Right.--Generous. Certain. An animal. A letter. Left.--Patient. Placed. An insect. A letter. Down.--Leave. Thickened. Tar. A small animal. A letter. Centrals read downward.--A deputy. Across.--A word signifying to contract.

WILL A. METTE.

* * * * *

No. 5.

WORD SQUARE.

1. A tall growing plant. 2. A gulf in Russia. 3. Easter morning food. 4. Very comfortable.

S. T. McK.

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 88.

No. 1.

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime; And, departing, leave behind us Foot-prints on the sands of time.

--HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW.

No. 2.

Cloves.

No. 3.

A T L A S T O U C H L U C R E A C R I D S H E D S

No. 4.

T R A P P E A R R A N E A T A N A T P R

No. 5.

P P E E L S E T P E C A N P E D A L L A D T A P N L

* * * * *

A personation, on page 592--Beethoven.

* * * * *

OUR NEW SERIAL.

In No. 92 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, issued August 2, will appear the first chapter of a new serial story entitled

TIM AND TIP;

OR,

THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY AND A DOG.

By JAMES OTIS, author of "Toby Tyler."

The story of "Tim and Tip" is that of a homeless boy and his faithful dog, who follows him in all his wanderings, and shares in all his adventures. It is full of incident on land and water, and those readers who followed with such kindly interest the fortunes of Toby Tyler and Mr. Stubbs, the monkey, will, we feel sure, sympathize equally with our new hero and his four-footed companion.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

SINGLE COPIES, 4 cents; ONE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $1.50; FIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS, 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.

A RAILROAD PUZZLE.

BY THE DOCTOR

Dear "YOUNG PEOPLE,"--Not many days ago I was travelling on a railroad, and here is what happened. The train on which I was riding came to a stand-still out in the country, away from any dépôt. On looking out to ascertain why we had stopped, I saw a long freight train just ahead of us on the _same_ track, standing still, but headed toward us. In other words, we were going _down_ the track, and they were coming _up_. Between these two trains there was a switch, on which stood a "gravel train." The engine of the "gravel train" was off the track, and so could not back up on the switch, and give room enough for our train to get on and let the freight train go by. In fact, there was only room enough on the switch to accommodate half of our train. The question was, How were we to get past each other?

Of course one of the trains could be backed up to a switch at the nearest dépôt, and let the other by, but that was some miles away. Neither did we wish to wait until the engine of the "gravel train" could be put upon the track, and then back up to give us room on the switch at hand. One or the other of these things would have to be done if some method were not known by means of which--and the little piece of unoccupied switch--we could accomplish our desire.

We did get past each other, occupying only twelve minutes, _leaving the cars of each train in the same order in which they stood when we met_. I give this to you for a puzzle. If any of you have fathers who are railroad men, they must not tell you how until you have tried a long time yourself. I give a little sketch, which you may use if it will make things any plainer. The freight train was about three times as long as the passenger train. From the beginning of the switch to the engine D there is room for _not more than half_ of the passenger train; so if you think that will help you any, you are at liberty to use it.

A GAME OF BALL AS PLAYED IN JAPAN.

There is a Japanese ball game which is very popular in its native land, and which might well receive some attention in this country. It is known as "Temari." The "Temari" is a ball about two inches in diameter, and made generally of cotton wound round with thread, so that it keeps its roundness and is elastic. Its outside is often ornamented with figures made of threads of different colors. A number of girls stand in a circle, and one of them--say, for example, our friend Jessie--takes the ball and throws it perpendicularly on the ground, and when it rebounds, she strikes it back toward the ground with her open hand. If it rebounds again toward her, she continues doing just as before. But if it flies away, the one toward whom the ball flies, or who is nearest to the direction of the flying ball, strikes it toward the ground, as Jessie has done, and the game continues until one of the players misses her stroke or fails to make the ball rebound. She then steps out of the circle, and the others play again in the same way as before until another girl fails and is obliged to step out. The same process continues until there is only one girl left, to whom belongs the honor of victory.

LULU TAKES CARE OF KITTY.

BY M. E.