PART II.

Weeks and months went by, and each week found Mercy better and brighter and stronger, until her tongue used to go like a mill clapper, and a continual stream of chatter overflowed from the Daisy Cot.

One bright day Sister Theresa and the Doctor were in close consultation as they walked from the boys' ward to the girls'.

"You see," the Sister was saying, "little Mercy is nearly well now; indeed, she ought to go into the country for change of air, and we really ought not to keep the cot from some other patient who may need to come in."

"Humph!" said the Doctor. "That's true enough, and I quite agree; but where's the poor baby to go?"

"Oh, I don't know;" and she looked very sorrowful. "That's just the trouble. There's no one to take her: and, poor wee pet, I don't want to sound as if I wanted to get rid of her. I don't know how we can bear to let her go; but--"

"Humph!" growled the Doctor, very crossly; and he turned sharply on his heel, and entered the open door. The happy little voice was singing some nursery song, and Mercy was sitting bolt-upright in the cot, and watching with all her eyes and all her attention Sister Agnes, as she was filling the vases in the ward with violets. There had been a great basket of flowers sent to the hospital that very morning, and everybody was rejoicing over the lovely blossoms.

"Why, Mousie," was the Doctor's greeting, "you're as bright as a young butterfly."

"See! see!" and she held up a bunch of daisies, which had come among the other flowers, and had been voted, by universal consent to the Daisy Cot; "dey _is_ so pitty!" and then--no one knows how the happy thought struck her, but a quick gleam came into her merry face, and she put out her hands eagerly toward him. "Take dem to my lady," she said.

For one moment the Doctor was too much surprised even to say "Humph!" Then, "By the bones of Æsculapius, I'll chance it!" was his remarkable reply, as he dropped the daisies into his great pocket, and crushing his hat down on his head, turned and bolted out of the hospital. He went through the streets at the same rapid rate, and never stopped until he rang the bell of a big house in a distant square. The sunshine was so bright that for the first moment after he was ushered into a shaded drawing-room he could see nothing at all, but stood blinking and winking like a great owl that had been awakened in broad daylight.

It was a very pretty room, all furnished in the newest high-art style of mouldy greens and bilious-looking browns, but looking like a room which people used to sit and read and work in--a home-like-looking room. There were a few choice pictures on the green walls, among them a copy of Mercy's Good Shepherd, and the air was heavy with the soft breath of the flowers in a conservatory which opened out at the back; but the windows were shaded and darkened until there was hardly a ray of light that had the audacity to venture through. The Doctor's first act was to march across to the nearest blind and draw it up.

There was a smothered cry from a soft faded green chair by the tiled fire-place, where a lady was sitting, half hidden by the heavy folds of the black robes that seemed to throw into relief her white hands and pale sad face. It was "E. M. B.," Mercy's "_tind_ lady."

She covered her face with her hands, with a little cry of protest, as the blessed sun streamed in; but the Doctor never left things half done; so up went another blind, and the window-sash too, before he came over and stood beside her, looking down at her with a compassionate expression that would have surprised more than one lady if she had seen it on "that old bear's" face.

"Oh, Doctor, how could you?" murmured Mrs. Braithwaite, reproachfully. "It is so bright."

"Well, madam," said the eccentric Doctor, "the world _is_ bright. I can't help it, as I didn't make it; but as it was made so, I suppose it wasn't meant to be wasted;" which made the lady smile, though it was a smile that soon faded.

Then came a little professional talk, and feeling of pulse, over which the Doctor looked grave.

"I'll tell you what it is, madam," he said at length, "you're out of tone and tune. You just go on getting weaker and weaker, and if you don't mind, you'll die from sheer indifference."

"I wish I could," she answered, with a sigh. "Oh no, I didn't mean to be so wicked. I know we must live; but, oh dear! life is so empty!"

"My patience, madam! do you find it so? I always thought it overcrowded," was on the tip of the Doctor's tongue; but he stopped himself, and said, instead, quite gently, "Life's pretty much what we make it ourselves, I fancy."

"And how is the hospital? how is the cot?" asked Mrs. Braithwaite, willing to change the subject.

"Oh, going on all right. By-the-way, I'd like you to see the last young one in it. A small monkey that's won all our hearts somehow. And I'm rather bothered about her just now. She's well enough to go out, but not quite well yet either; and the plague is, what's to be done with her. Her parents were respectable people--artists, or such like--but they're both dead, and she hasn't kith nor kin. Where's she to go?"

A sudden stiffness came over Mrs. Braithwaite. "I dare say she can go to an orphan asylum," she said; "I think I can get her into one."

"Oh, botheration!" broke out the Doctor. "I beg your pardon; but as to that, we at the hospital could raise enough to keep her somewhere. But that's not what I want. That poor little chick in a great bare asylum! No; what I want for her is a home." And he looked narrowly at her, but she avoided his gaze.

"There's a children's home in Wainwright Street," she began, uneasily.

"No, no; she wants change of air."

"Oh, as to that, I am going out of town next week myself, and I can take her with me to the sea for a month if you like."

"By all means; it will do you both good." He pushed back his chair, and stared at a distant corner of the frescoed ceiling. "But what's to become of her when the month's up?" and he tried to speak innocently.

Mrs. Braithwaite faced round upon him indignantly. "I know what you mean; I understand you perfectly well," she cried. "You want me to adopt this child. How can you be so cruel? But I won't. Don't ask it. I never will do it."

"Why not?" asked the Doctor, unmoved.

"What! put another child in my own precious darling's place? I couldn't."

"I don't see the need of that. There are such things as sisters."

"And to see her about the house, and to hear her voice, just as I used to hear Daisy's! And perhaps there'd be something about her like my treasure. What color is her hair?--black?"

"Red," said the Doctor, grimly.

"_Red hair!_" with a sort of gasp. "Oh no, you must not ask me. I can't do it. I'll pay anything you like to get her a home--you know I always feel as if the Daisy Cot children had an especial claim on me--but I can not take her for my own."

"As you please," said the Doctor, gruffly; rising to his feet. "Only you needn't trouble yourself to pay anything for her. We're not over-rich at the hospital, but I rather think we can raise enough ourselves for our little girl. It wasn't money I asked you for, but love."

"What is her name, Doctor?" she asked, more quietly.

"Mercy. (Hallo!" thought the Doctor, "I almost said Daisy, and that would have ended the last chance, and no mistake.) 'The quality of mercy is not strained,' you know; 'it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,' and all that sort of thing. Well, madam, I'm disappointed, I confess; but saying so won't mend matters. Keep on taking that quinine." And he moved toward the door. "By-the-way," he said, coming back again, "I nearly forgot. What put it into the baby's head no mortal knows; but just as I was coming out of the hospital this morning she gave me these, and asked me to give 'em to you from her;" and he laid the little bunch of daisies on her lap.

There was a sound between a sob and a cry, as she caught the poor faded little flowers to her lips; then both hands went up to hide the sudden storm of tears.

"I thought you'd take 'em as a message, or a what-you-may-call-'em," said the Doctor, clearing his throat; "they seemed so to me." He turned to the door again, but paused before the Good Shepherd picture. "Did you ever notice," he said, "that the Good Shepherd's arms here are full, and yet there's a wretched, sickly, lame little beast that's coming on behind? I rather think it's about as good a job as any one can do to lend that little animal a hand." And this time he really went.

Two hours later, as he reached the hospital on his afternoon round, a well-known carriage stood before the door. He smiled as his eye fell upon it, and stole on tip-toe up the stone staircase. Outside the girls' ward he stopped to take an observation.

There by the Daisy Cot sat a lady in a black dress. Her back was toward the door, but a white hand was smoothing back the red-gold rings of Mercy's hair, and a gentle voice said, just as the Doctor came within ear-shot, "And what do they call you, dear?"

The Doctor felt a cold chill go all over him. "Now if the baby says 'Daisy,' it's all up," he gasped.

But surely the same wonderful instinct which made Mercy send the flowers prompted her now; for she looked up with her pretty smile, and the sweet clear voice laughed out, "I's Mousie."

"And would you like to come home with me, and be my little girl, and have pretty toys, and learn to love me?"

"I do love oo," said the little voice again; and the Doctor, who was new to the business of eavesdropping, turned away so abruptly that he ran up against Sister Theresa, and nearly knocked her flat on her back.

"Beg pardon, I'm sure," he said, recovering his balance; "but I know you won't mind, under the circumstances. Mousie has found a home at last, and the Daisy Cot is ready for an incised wound or a compound fracture as soon as you like to put one into it. That's all."

THE END.

TERRY'S LANDING, MONTANA TERRITORY.

I want to tell YOUNG PEOPLE an adventure I met with. I was crossing the Yellowstone River in an ambulance on a ferry-boat, with mamma and papa, when a sudden gust of wind blew my hat into the river. I thought it was gone for good, but a little Piegan Indian boy jumped in after it. He swam a mile before he caught it, and when he brought it back you would hardly have known it had been wet. Papa gave the boy a silver dollar, and I think he deserved it.

We are in the Yellowstone Valley, and the river runs right by our camp. The boats land here in the summer when they can not get up to Fort Custer, and each summer an officer is sent down here to take charge of the government stores which the boats bring. This summer it was papa's turn to come, and although our quarters are not so handsome as at the fort, still we were all glad to have a change. We have large cottonwood-trees here, and beautiful green grass running down to the river, which is very pretty. The water is clear, and we have nice fish.

My sister Nan and I have fun hunting flowers, and moss-agates and other stones. We are going East on the first boat, and I expect to have lots of fun with Nannie, as she has never been away from Custer, and she will see so many wonderful things. When she saw the first "Mackinaw," she clapped her hands, and said, "Oh, here is the boat to take us away!" and she cried when it went past.

E. M. G.

* * * * *

GARDINER, NEW YORK.

I am almost nine years old, but I have never been to school. My mamma has taught me at home. I have no brothers or sisters, but Jessie, my cat, is a nice playmate. She sleeps up stairs in papa's store, and this morning she did not come down to breakfast as usual, so I thought I would go and see what was the matter. I hunted for her, and at last I looked into a barrel, and what do you think I saw? Three lovely little kittens! Oh, how proud their mamma was! I excused her from coming down to breakfast, and carried her up a cup of milk. Now what puzzles me is to find names for my kittens. I have a family of thirteen dolls, and they have each a name, and there does not seem to be any pretty names left.

EMMA M. DUB.

* * * * *

LONDON, ENGLAND.

The first thing to interest me after we arrived in London was the Zoological Gardens, where we saw many monkeys. One was very funny, and swung himself by his tail to a branch that was fastened into his cage. I think he was handsomer than any monkey I ever saw. He had long black fur, and did not look so horribly like a shrivelled old man as most monkeys do. We afterward went into the antelope house, and saw some large and some small ones; the small ones were the prettiest, and had slender legs, and gentle brown eyes. We saw sea-lions, bears, lions, and tigers, pretty little birds, and more animals than I can tell you about.

We went to Westminster Abbey, and saw the coronation chair, and the old stone on which the Scottish monarchs were crowned. Edward I. brought the stone from Scotland, after he had conquered that country. We also saw the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots, and Shakspeare's tomb, and a statue of him above it. Then we went to see Queen Elizabeth's tomb, which has a statue of her lying down; in her left hand she holds a globe, and in her right hand a sceptre; she was very ugly in comparison with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Then we visited Madame Tussaud's wax-works. There were wax men put there for guides, and some of us thought they were real, and asked one of them to tell us the way to go. We saw figures of the royal family and Martin Luther, and Napoleon's cup that he used two or three years in St. Helena, that lonely, dreary little isle in the ocean.

Then we took "hansoms" and drove to St Paul's Cathedral. There were little boys dressed in white robes, like priests, and the singing was perfectly lovely. St Paul's Cathedral is built on the same spot where once stood a temple to Diana.

We visited the Royal Academy, and I liked two pictures very much--one, of a stream with trees on its banks, and black crows flying near; and the other, of some sheep in a snow-storm. In the afternoon we drove in Hyde Park, and saw fine carriages and horses, but none of the royal family, as it was very early in the London season.

We had a present of some lovely wild flowers from an English gentleman in Essex. There were daisies, cowslips, primroses, bluebells, and ferns.

The next day we went by rail to Portsmouth; there we were met by a steamboat for Ryde; on the Isle of Wight. Then again we had a short rail ride to Ventnor, where we stopped at a hotel called "Crab and Lobster."

HARRY G.

* * * * *

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

I think YOUNG PEOPLE is the paper every child in the world ought to have. I like "Toby Tyler," and all the Jimmie Brown stories. My papa is an editor, and I can set nearly a column of type. I am ten years old. I tried the recipe for making yellow ink, which was given in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 77, and I was very successful.

JOHN C. B.

* * * * *

BIG BEND, WISCONSIN.

I live out in Wisconsin, on the Fox River. I have a little sister three years old. We call her Nellie Bly. I want to tell you of a funny thing she said. One day a large bumble-bee came into the house, and she told me to catch it and take away its honey. I told her bumble-bees kept their honey in their nests. "Yes," she said, "I have found bumble-bees' nests." "No," I said, "you never did." "Yes, I have, too." "Then," said I, "why didn't you get the honey?" "'Cause," said she, "the old bumble-bee was on!"

H. H. C.

* * * * *

I am making a log-cabin quilt, and I have not half enough pieces. When this quilt is finished, it will be sold, and the money taken to buy a tombstone for my dear boy, who, as many of the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE will remember, was frozen to death in the woods at Muskoka last winter. It is hard to leave him buried there, for his is a solitary grave all alone on the shore of the lake; but we trust that he is happy in heaven.

I thought that perhaps some of the mothers of the little readers of YOUNG PEOPLE would kindly send me a bundle of pieces of silk, cashmere, or merino to help in finishing my quilt. Any such favor would be thankfully received, and, as far as we can, we will send in return deer horn's and any other curiosities we can obtain.

MRS. ELLEN A. LOCKMAN, Scotland P. O., Ontario, Canada.

* * * * *

I wish to inform my correspondents to whom I am indebted that, owing to the fact that exchanges arrived in such quantities, I disposed of my stock of agates and amethysts in a much shorter time than I anticipated. I am making every effort to procure some more, and I beg their kind indulgence, for, should I not succeed in obtaining the article desired, I will do all in my power to recompense the favors I have received.

WILLIAM J. MORRIS, Manistee, Mich.

* * * * *

I have no more sulphate of iron or gold ore. I would like now to exchange stones from two States, for an Indian arrow-head.

R. C. ORR, 1715 North Sixteenth St., Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

We live on the Mississippi River. We are taking the names of boats as they pass. We have the names of sixty-four boats that have passed this year. There are lots of wild flowers here.

We will give ten postmarks, for two stamps from Canada, except the 1 and 3 cent, and the half-cent, for two South American stamps, and a stamp from Japan and China.

WILLIE COLBURN and CHARLIE GRANT, P. O. Box 90, Lansing, Allamakee Co., Iowa.

* * * * *

I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since the Christmas number, and I think it is a lovely paper. "Toby Tyler" and "Susie Kingman's Decision" are the prettiest, stories.

I go to school, and I try to study pretty hard, and be a good girl. I am going to the country this summer, and I expect to have a nice time. I have a little black kitty, and it has a little red collar with bells on it. Its name is Jetta, and I hope it will not die, for I have no brothers or sisters, and I call my kitty my sister. I am ten years old.

I have some pretty shells I gathered on the sea-shore, which I would like to exchange with some little girl, for stamps.

JULIA M. P., 2403 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

Louie E. Almy, Newport, Rhode Island, and F. R. Satterlee, New York city, withdraw their names from our exchange list.

* * * * *

V. Moger, Morrisania, New York, and more than a dozen others, are anxiously inquiring for addresses of careless correspondents. We have no farther comments to make upon this constantly recurring trouble.

* * * * *

The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:

Two hundred and fifty rare stamps, for a good young Newfoundland puppy.

D. T. A., 336 North Eden St., Baltimore, Md.

* * * * *

A foot-power scroll-saw and saws, for a self-inking printing-press and furniture in good working order.

MATT AUBREY, JUN., 128 Washington St, Chicago, Ill.

* * * * *

United States and foreign stamps, for all sorts of curiosities. A stone and soil from New York, for the same from any other State.

JOHN H. ACKERMAN, 162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Any number of United States due and revenue stamps, and old issues, and foreign stamps, for the same number from Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, Oceanica, Asia, Denmark, Holland, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Canada (excepting the common 3-cent), or any department stamps. No duplicates.

JAMES W. BOLLINGER, 718 Western Avenue, Davenport, Iowa.

* * * * *

Minerals, relics, and curiosities.

C. L. BROWN, 900 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Foreign postage stamps, for maps. From five to twenty stamps, for one map of any State, according to condition and size.

CHARLES F. BAILEY, San José, Cal.

* * * * *

United States silver and copper coins, stamps, Indian implements and relics, and curiosities suitable for a cabinet. Correspondents will please write to arrange exchange.

P. O. Box 75, Chesterville, Me.

* * * * *

Ten postmarks, for three stamps of any country except the United States. No duplicates given, or taken.

GEORGE L. BROCKMAN, Mount Sterling, Brown Co., Ill.

* * * * *

Internal revenue and foreign stamps, for stamps from any country except Europe.

GEORGE BARBOUR, 42 Avery St., Alleghany, Penn.

* * * * *

Minerals, for minerals or any other thing suitable for a cabinet. A stone from Vermont, for one from any other State or Territory.

FRANK H. BROOKS, P. O. Box 167, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

* * * * *

Three Mexican stamps (no duplicates), for one Indian arrow-head.

THOMAS BARRON, Tarrytown, Westchester Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

A "Centennial" printing-press in good order, with two fonts of type, leads, furniture, etc., for a pair of No. 10 roller skates and a pair of fencing foils. Please write before sending package.

C. E. BURY, 6 Whipple St., Fall River, Mass.

* * * * *

Curiosities, for foreign stamps.

BERTIE BARNETT, 406 Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Pressed ferns, for the same. Pressed leaves, for foreign postage stamps.

LENA S. BURROWS, Yreka, Siskiyou Co., Cal.

* * * * *

Twenty-five arrow-heads, petrified shells, and other fossils, and specimens of quartz and ores, for a small stationary engine with cylinder about eight inches long, which can be used for a little boat.

LOUIS K. BRITTING, River Road, West Covington, Ky.

* * * * *

Gypsum, limestone, cement-stone, French and Bermuda stamps, and postmarks, for minerals, petrifactions, or relics.

H. BROWN and W. BOICE, 299 Broad St, Newark, N. J.

* * * * *

A Japanese stamp, for a 90-cent stamp of 1870 or 1871. A Hong-Kong stamp, for a 12-cent of the same issue.

SEVERANCE BURRAGE, P. O. Box 388, West Newton, Mass.

* * * * *

A miniature yacht, thirty inches long, including bowsprit, and mast eighteen inches high, for a self-inking printing-press and outfit.

F. E. BACON, 155 Rutledge St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Choice foreign stamps, for stamps from South America. Ten different postmarks, for five varieties of monograms.

J. R. BEDFORD, 77 Christopher St., New York City.

* * * * *

Iron ore from Pennsylvania, for other minerals, or for sea-shells.

WALTER C. BOULT, P. O. Box 1002, Altoona, Blair Co., Penn.

* * * * *

A 1-penny English stamp, for a stamp from Holland.

DAVID CLARKSON, 165 East Forty-ninth St., New York City.

* * * * *

Specimens of corundum, for sea-shells. Corundum is a rare mineral. These specimens are from the Unionville mine, and very pure.

EMMA S. CHAMBERS, Unionville, Chester Co., Pa.

* * * * *

Five hundred foreign stamps, twenty postmarks, and a boat eighteen inches long, for a three-wheel velocipede.

CLARENCE E. CARNEY, Sheepscot Bridge, Lincoln Co., Me.

* * * * *

Specimens of orange, olive, pomegranate, red cedar, and eucalyptus wood, for foreign stamps.

EDDIE C. C., P. O. Box 215, Jacksonville, Fla.

* * * * *

Forty stamps, for forty others. No duplicates.

STARR CARLETON, P. O. Box 764, Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis.

* * * * *

One halfpenny, two 1-penny, and one 3-penny English stamp, a 10-cent and a 15-cent Canadian, a 10-centimes Belgian, and a 5-centavos Mexican, for stamps from Siam, China, Liberia, Turkey, and Russia.

W. P. CHESNEY, Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio.

* * * * *

A piece of rose quartz and a stone from New Jersey, for silver ore and a stone from any other State. Please write before sending specimen.

LULU CRAFT, Bergen Point, Hudson Co., N. J.

* * * * *

A postage stamp from Bavaria, Austria, Germany, France, England, Italy, Belgium, or Canada, for one from Turkey, Greece, Egypt, or Mexico.

NOAH T. COLEMAN, Corner Gifford and Niagara Sts., Syracuse, N. Y.

* * * * *

A piece of onyx from South America, a piece of petrified lava from Italy, and a small piece of mosaic from the old palace in Rome, for rare postage stamps.

LOUIS CRONDAL, 361 Garden St., Hoboken, N. J.

* * * * *

Stamps and old coins, for dressed humming-birds and other birds, or for minerals, fossils, and other curiosities suitable for a museum.

A. M. C., 447 West Twenty-second St., New York City.

* * * * *

Stamps, woods, and coins. Stamps from Siam, Japan, and China especially desired.

FRED H. CHRISTY, P. O. Box 1233, Moline, Rock Island Co., Ill.

* * * * *

Baden, Freiburg, Turkish, Roman, and some other seals, for a few rare postage stamps.

H. DUNNELL, 8 Untere Olga Strasse, Stuttgart, Germany.

* * * * *

One hundred and ninety-eight monograms and an album, for a printing-press, or for two hundred foreign stamps. Please write before sending.

MILLIE DREKA, 141 North Nineteenth St., Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

Five coins, dated 1835, '51, '54, '59, and '64, for three genuine Indian arrow-heads. Stamps from England, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Norway, and Cuba, for stamps from the Feejee Islands, or United States locals.

JACK DUFF, Burroughs St., Jamaica Plains, Mass.

* * * * *

Petrified moss or Indian arrow-heads, for specimens of lava or fossilized fern. A flint arrow-head, for one of obsidian. A stone from Ohio, for pipestone from Dakota, or for a stone from any other State. Please write before exchanging; and if not answered, correspondents may know the stock for exchange is exhausted.

EUGENE FLETCHER, P. O. Box 252, Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio.

* * * * *

An ounce of soil from New Jersey, for the same from any other State.

L. D. COHEE, 204 Broad St., Trenton, N. J.

* * * * *

A perfect specimen of a cecropia moth, for a perfect specimen of a luna or a death's-head moth.

WILLIAM HILL, New Brunswick, N. J.

* * * * *

Spear-heads and other Indian curiosities, for South American stamps and Southern and Western postmarks.

C. S. GOODWIN, P. O. Box 748, Mankato, Minn.

* * * * *

A pair of new roller skates, for either a French five-franc piece, an English crown, or a Mexican dollar.

F. G., care of Dr. A. Flint, 418 Fifth Avenue, New York City.

* * * * *

Pressed flowers, ferns, and leaves, flower seeds, Indian arrow-heads, pine burrs, China berries, soil, pebbles, white clay, and many other curiosities from South Carolina, for stamps and curiosities.

JOSEPH W. HAWKINS, P. O. Box 9, Prosperity, S. C.

* * * * *

Soil and a stone from Connecticut, for the same from any other State.

SUSIE D. HUNTINGTON, Care of Mrs. J. M. Huntington, P. O. Box 256, Norwich, Conn.

* * * * *

A Chinese coin, for some genuine Indian beads.

F. STORRS HANSELL, Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

A collection of three hundred and forty different stamps in one of Scott's albums, for books in good condition. The stamps are mounted on adhesive paper, and can be taken out, if desired, without injury to stamps or album. Please send names of books and author before sending package.

DANIEL F. HICKEY, 93 Leverett St., Boston, Mass.

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

* * * * *

JULIE.--The custom of wearing gloves is very ancient, but their use was not common among all classes until the Middle Ages, when gloves became a necessary part of the costume of both men and women. At that period gloves were often embroidered with gold and silver, and richly ornamented with jewels. They were then used as symbols of many things. A knight would wear a glove, spangled with pearls, fastened on his helmet, at a tournament, as a sign of favor from some fair lady; to throw down the glove at the feet of a rival was considered a challenge to fight a duel; and other significations were familiar to the people of those days. The manufacture of gloves is one of the most important industries of Europe at the present time. It is estimated that no less than two million dozen pairs of gloves are made annually, and in the town of Grenoble, in France, this work alone gives employment to thirty thousand people. The above estimate does not include the vast quantities of ordinary woven gloves of cotton, silk, and other fabrics, but only those made of fine skins.

* * * * *

J. T.--The name of Jew's-harp probably came from the French word _jeu_, which signifies toy; so that toy-harp is undoubtedly the real meaning of the name of that common plaything, which has a home in the pocket of almost every boy and girl.

* * * * *

LIZZIE B.--The rock of Gibraltar, which is one of the strongest fortresses in the world, is connected with Spain by a low sandy isthmus, which is constantly guarded by English and Spanish soldiers. There are many natural caves in the rock, which are the home of large numbers of very small monkeys. It is the only place in Europe where wild monkeys live. The original name of Gibraltar was _Gebel al Tarik_, which signifies Tarik's Mountain, and it is said that in 711 a Saracen warrior named Tarik ben Zeyad landed there, and built a fort, which, after passing several times from the hands of the Saracens, or Moors, to the Spaniards, and back again to the Moors, was at last captured from the Spaniards by the English in 1704, and since that time has remained a British possession.

* * * * *

JIMMIE L.--Tragacanth is an odorless and tasteless gum which exudes from the goat-thorn, a shrub found in large quantities in Asia Minor. A very adhesive paste is made from it, and it is also used extensively to stiffen calicoes and other cotton goods.

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LITTLE HOUSEKEEPER.--The common pea, which is a favorite vegetable at this season, is not a native of the United States, but was brought from Europe by the early settlers. It was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, but was not introduced into England until the beginning of the sixteenth century. It would take too much space to give you directions for preparing this vegetable for the table, but in all good cook-books you will find recipes for several kinds of delicious soups, omelets, and other savory preparations.

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E. A. DE LIMA.--The home of Miss Louisa Alcott is in Concord, Massachusetts.

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A GREEN-MOUNTAIN BOY.--Washington is probably the most common name for towns in the United States, and we believe Union to be the next. There are about two hundred and fifty towns and cities bearing the name of Washington, and about two hundred and twenty that of Union, and many States have counties known by those names. Adams, Lincoln, Warren, and many other names are also very common, and are often repeated over and over in the same State. Our young exchangers who read this paragraph will perhaps realize the importance of always adding the county to their address. For example, if your letter was addressed to Washington, Ohio, it might make a very long journey before it reached you, for there are more than forty post-office stations in Ohio named Washington, and if the letter waited at each one until it was discovered that that particular little boy or girl did not live there, it might be many months before the letter reached the town where you were impatiently waiting for it.

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A READER, AND OTHER EXCHANGERS.--We have no rule forbidding any boy or girl from sending an exchange to the Post-office Department more than once. Where the space is limited, the preference is always given to those whose name and address have never been printed before; but if there is room, we print a second exchange from the same correspondent, provided it is for something good and new, and not a mere repetition of his first request. If any one wishes to make a second offer of exchange, he should be considerate enough not to send it too soon after his first has appeared. Some boys send a new one nearly every week, which has but little chance of being printed, as a large number of new names are always waiting their turn, and must have the first place.

If your exchange is neatly written and correctly spelled, it is much more likely to receive attention than if it is on soiled and rumpled paper, and so badly expressed that the editor is doubtful about the meaning. Then, too, if you are so disorderly in your offer of exchange, you are not likely to be neat and punctual and careful when making your exchange with other correspondents. Always remember to mark your specimens, and to give your name and address.

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WIGGLES.--Will the author of the wiggle signed H. E. C. kindly send his or her address to the editor?

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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Ajax," Jemima Beeston, _Bertie A. B._, J. W. Bollinger, Clara Cartereau, Emma DuBois, _Edith E._, Louis Lee Gamble, Edith Hardie, _Marie Louise Hodgson_, Florence Hubbard, "_Lodestar_," "North Star," "_Pepper_," Sylvie E. Rowell, "School-Boy," "Somebody," _Freddie W. Shelley_, Mabel Thompson, "Tel E. Graph," "Will A. Mette."

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

TWO EASY HALF-SQUARES.

1. To intertwine. Destruction. Purpose. A preposition. A letter.

2. A sweet sound. One. A verb. A pronoun. A letter.

T. O. M.

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No. 2.

HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE--(_To Pepper_).

To solace. Certain animals. A circle. A letter. An animal. A girl's name. To arraign. Centrals. A fish.

WILL A. METTE.

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No. 3.

ENIGMA.

In give, but not in keep. In wake, but not in sleep. In cloud, but not in sky. In laugh, but not in cry. In bright, but not in gay. In night, but not in day. In good, but not in best. In friend, but not in guest. My whole is a time of rest.

MARION.

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No. 4.

NUMERICAL CHARADES.

1. I am composed of 9 letters, and am always a large and important edifice. My 1, 7, 2, 6, 9, 5 is an article of household furniture. My 4, 8, 3 is an article of dress.

NORTH STAR.

2. I am composed of 17 letters, and am a celebrated patriot. My 5, 7, 11, 16 is dark. My 15, 2, 3, 5 is a fish. My 12, 10, 4, 6 is a system of laws. My 1, 14, 8, 9 is part of an elephant. My 9, 13, 17, 8, 16 is a Turkish edifice.

LODESTAR.

3. I am composed of 10 letters, and am a range of mountains of Europe. My 1, 2, 3 is a vehicle. My 4, 5, 6, 7 is a road. My 4, 9, 8, 10 is not pleasant.

H. K.

4. I am a lizard composed of 6 letters. My 6, 2, 4, 1, 5 is a second time. My 2, 3, 5 is a weapon.

BABY LIZZIE.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 83.

No. 1.

Chautauqua.

No. 2.

P A I R S I G N A L O E I S L E I O T A G L E E R E A P N E E D

W A R P F A D E A R E A A G E D R E A D D E E D P A D S E D D Y

No. 3.

Sugar, Candy, Honey.

No. 4.

Harebell.

HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

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End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, June 21, 1881, by Various