Part 4

In saying good-by I must add that I think you have all done very well so far in our good work. The year will not be up until next month, and we have passed "the place in the mountains where we can look back and see one-third of our journey accomplished."

So to our helpers, Great and small, Thanks we send For one and all.

AUNT EDNA. NEW YORK, _June_, 1882.

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ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

As this is one of the large cities in the Union, I thought if no one else would sustain its credit I would. On the 5th of May we had a big hail-storm. In 1872 we had a hall-storm when the hail was about the size of a hazel-nut; but in this one the smallest stones I saw were that size. Most of them, however, were about the size of walnuts. I saw quite a number as large as a section of an egg, and one or two almost as large as my fist. Now I am afraid you will think that I have exaggerated, but it is true. I have heard a number of persons, including a very old lady, say that they have seen a number of stones frozen together, but never before such large single ones. The storm lasted for a full half-hour, hailing constantly. A great deal of damage was done to churches and public buildings especially. Branches of trees, bushes, and vines were cut off as smoothly as if done with a knife. One man went out to the gutter to pick up an extra large hail-stone, when another one hit him so forcibly on the back of the neck that he fell down on his hands and knees. I would have sent you one of the stones, but as such things can not be telegraphed, I could not do so.

MALCOLM P.

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BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

I have written one letter before, and have not seen it in the paper, so I thought I would write again. I am taking HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for the third year. I like "Toby Tyler" very much, and "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" still better. I saw some real prairie-dogs not long ago. They don't look bigger than a good-sized rat. I am nine years old, but have only been at school a year, as I have always been sick. I am in the second grade, and study arithmetic, reading, language, and spelling. Shall be promoted next term.

I have a little brother named Frankie. He is seven years old. Mamma and he and I live with grandpa, as our papa is dead. Frankie has a cat which had four kittens. They are all sorts of colors. I wish I could send you their pictures. They live in my old baby carriage. I made a little tent, not big enough to get under, that I could take down and put up as many times as I had a mind to, and to-day I broke it. Jumbo, that you have told us about, is coming here in August. I hope I shall see him. When I do, I'll write and tell you what I think of him. I just love him now. I can't think of any more. Good-by.

EDDIE F.

Those little kittens are well off. Living in a baby carriage! Think of such luxury! Do they have an afghan over them when they are chilly?

It is fun to make a tent large enough to accommodate two or three boys. I think, if I were there, I could help you make one with two or three poles, and a couple of old shawls or table-covers. Suppose you ask mamma to help you do this?

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FOREST, TEXAS.

I am a little girl twelve years old, and live in the country. I have a kind uncle who sends me YOUNG PEOPLE. We have had plenty of strawberries this spring. I go to school, and am in Coins and Currency, and at play-time I have fine times playing croquet. We have a mocking-bird building in the garden. It sings all day. We had a fish-fry not long ago, and had as many fish as we wanted. It has been a very rainy season. I have a great many pretty flowers; the gladiolus is opening now. I am so glad when HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE comes. I like the story of "Talking Leaves" better than any other one.

NINA M.

We planted our gladiolus bulbs the morning that Nina's letter arrived; but the season is earlier in her Southern home than it is with us. Have you magnolia-trees and pomegranate-bushes in your garden, Nina? How charming it must be to hear the songs of the mocking-bird all day long!

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NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

I must tell you about my pet which my uncle Frank brought me from California. It was a dear little horned toad. It was very affectionate, and had a soft yellow breast and two horns, one on each side of its head. I kept it in a big box of sand, and uncle called it Cutey, it was so cute. One day it was very cold, and Cutey shivered so I covered him up in the box, and put him on the register; then I went off, and forgot my poor little toad. When I came back my toad was dead, and I cried very hard, for I felt naughty to have forgotten my pet. I have some more pets, and some time I will tell you about them; but I am afraid this is too long.

SUSIE.

What a pity it was, dear, that you forgot your pet! No wonder you cried. I am sure you will never again forget one of the little creatures, which are dependent on you for their comfort.

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BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

I have a very kind cousin who lives in Brooklyn, and sends me YOUNG PEOPLE. I am eight years old. I am very fond of reading the letters of children so many miles away from each other, and of hearing about their pets. I have a green parrot, but he is very spiteful. We have a gray cat, and if we stay upstairs beyond our time in the morning, she comes up and sits outside the door, and keeps mewing until I come out and speak to her. I have two sisters, one five, the other three. I have been learning to play the piano eighteen months; also my sister Lillie. We play several duets, and many pieces. I have to practice every evening, and then I have a good read from YOUNG PEOPLE. I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Tim and Tip," and "All-hallow Eve" very much indeed, and I am very much interested in "The Talking Leaves." My papa I have not seen in nearly four years. He is out in China. He was wrecked last July. He was chief officer of the _Anne S. Hall_, of Boston, which was lost in a typhoon. All hands were saved in a boat. I shall be very glad when I see him. I have been two years at school. I went to a pic-nic party to Lea Woods. We went through Nightingale Valley, and were really tired when we got to the top. The woods looked lovely with bluebells and violets. The primroses seemed to be all picked.

PERCY T.

Well, Percy, I wish I were so near that I could tell whether you and your little sister keep time in your duets. You must practice very diligently, so that your music will delight your papa when he comes home again. How much you must love him, all the more fondly because he was in such peril on the ocean! I hope he will reach his children in safety.

Nightingale Valley is a beautiful name for a wood.

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BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

I want to tell you about our cat, whose name is Miss Moll; my little brother named her, and he is three years old. Miss Moll trots all over the house, and when she wants to go out, she stands by the door and mews. When she wants to come in, she scratches at the door. She will lie down on her back, and play with any one's hand, although she is a middle-aged cat.

We also have a dog, but he does not amount to much, except that he is a good watch-dog, and he belonged to my brother, who is now dead.

I go to the public school, where I received a prize for writing and composition. (They don't give prizes as a general thing.) This is my first letter.

GRACE I. T.

I am glad you were the fortunate little winner of a prize.

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FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND.

As I have seen no letter from here, I thought I would write, and maybe you would publish it. I am a little girl eleven years old. I live in the country near Frederick city. I have a dear little brother; his name is Charley. He is a little naughty sometimes, though. Charley has three dogs--their names are Sport, Jack, and Butty--and he has a very pretty Alderney calf, also ducks and chickens. He is very kind to them. My aunt Kate gave me YOUNG PEOPLE for a Christmas gift. I like it very much. I have twelve little cousins; we go to school together, and have very nice times. I send my love to you, Mrs. Postmistress, and to all the little girls and boys.

E. K. H.

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Exchanges are inserted without charge, but they must be brief. First name what you have, and then state what you wish in return. Give your address plainly, and in full, town, county, and State. Please write with black ink.

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C. Y. P. R. U.

THE RAINBOW.--When the summer shower is passing away, and while the thunder is still rolling among the hills, we have often seen the rainbow. Every one admires the beautiful arch which spans the sky. It is caused by the striking of the sun's rays upon the drops of water as they fall from the clouds. These rays are twice refracted and once reflected as they meet the transparent drops. If you look in the dictionary, you will find that refracted means bent suddenly, and reflected means thrown back. The colors of the rainbow are seven in number, and appear in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The tints are most vivid when the background of clouds is darkest and the drops of rain fall closest. The continual falling of the rain while the sun shines produces a new rainbow every moment; and a curious thing is that as each spectator sees it from a particular point of view, strictly speaking no two persons see precisely the same rainbow. A peculiar sacredness is attached to our thoughts of the rainbow on account of the mention made of it in Genesis, when, after the deluge, Noah saw its arch in the sky. How glad he must have been to view the sun once more! Then God said, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." The story of the rainbow, as the Bible tells it, is to be found in Genesis, ninth chapter, from the eighth to the seventeenth verses.

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HATTIE C.--You are needlessly distressed at what you call your lack of conversational powers. It is true that some people have the gift of talking with ease, and that they are not embarrassed in the presence of others. But any person of ordinary intelligence may learn to talk brightly and pleasingly by simply taking pains to learn how. In the first place, try to forget yourself. Do not fancy when you open your lips that the lady opposite you on the sofa, or your neighbor at the dinner table, is criticising or making fun of you. Well-bred and kindly mannered people never do so. Have, in the second place, an idea of what you wish to say. In the third and last place, be sure to tell your story or give your opinion in the simplest language you can command. Never use slang. To be a good listener is as great an accomplishment as to be a bright talker. A young lady who listens intelligently, and with sympathy in her looks, giving now and then a brief reply or a turn to the talk, but not trying to lead it, or to be at all conspicuous, is sure of being popular. Find out what your friends are interested in, and help them to talk on their special subjects. Do not worry about the impression you are making when in society, but let your great aim be to make the place where you are as cheerful as possible.

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We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week to Mr. Charles Barnard's article, "Wave and Sand," and to "The Boyhood of William Chambers." The girls will be pleased with Mrs. Dewing's pretty and artistic design for "A Kettle-Holder."

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YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT.

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

Henry and John Goeltz, $2; Kerfoot W. Daly, Gibsonton, $1; Mamie Tilton, Fort Riley, Kan., $1; Easter gifts from Charles Frederick Fletcher, $1, Theodora Carter, $1, Maud Metcalf, 75c., Ruth Metcalf, 75c., and Mary Aiken Metcalf, 50c., Auburndale, Mass., total, $4; Dora's Easter Offering, New York, $1; Lucy, Frank, and Willie Green, Upper Alton, Ill., 25c.; "Little Margaret," June 4, In Memoriam, $100; Teddie and Willie McVickar, New York, $20; Ethel Hurst, New York, 75c.; Virgie McLain, Nassau, N. P., $1.25; Annie and Edith Van Kuran, Clinton, Iowa, 50c.; Lena Matthews, Olean, N. Y., $1: Oliver T. Clough, Junction, Iowa, $1; In Memoriam, Herbert Stockwell Day, $50; Ethel Ransom, 25c.; Elise Hurst, New York, 25c.; Teddie McVickar, New York, 25c.; Lulu Lyon, $1; Frank M. Hartshorn, in memory of two little brothers, $1; Emily Chauncey, 30c.; Isabelle Lacey, $10; Teddie McVickar, New York, 50c.; proceeds of a fair held in Zion Church Chapel, Madison Avenue, New York, April 22, the Lenten work of a club of four little girls--Helen Manice, Madeline Satterlee, Gertrude Parsons, and Mamie W. Aldrich--New York, $550; total, $747.30; previously acknowledged, $406.84; grand total, May 15, 1882, $1154.14.

E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New St.

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CLINTON, IOWA.

We saved fifty cents out of our pocket-money for the Cot, and we hope it will help a little toward the support of some poor child.

ANNIE and EDITH VAN KURAN.

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I have saved these two dollars with my brother. My brother saved fifty cents, and I saved one dollar and fifty cents. My brother is seven years old, and I am fourteen. I sent these few pictures because I think they will please the little ones. My brother and I will try to send two more dollars.

HENRY and JOHN GOELTZ.

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I send you $1 I earned myself feeding chickens and getting up early in the morning. Mamma said I might do whatever I chose with it. I am not a very big boy.

KERFOOT W. DALY.

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UPPER ALTON, ILLINOIS.

I have been intending to write to YOUNG PEOPLE for some time. We all like it so very much. I am so glad Mr. Otis has begun another story about Toby Tyler. I know it will be splendid. My brother Frank and I send twenty cents for Young People's Cot, and hope the Cot will prosper. I am so sorry the trailing arbutus does not grow here. I have never seen it. But we do have lots of other lovely wild flowers. We have white, blue, and yellow violets and bluebells all growing in our yard. I wish I could see the boys and girls that write to Our Post-office Box. I wish I was able to give some of our flowers to the poor sick children in the hospitals.

LUCY L. GREEN.

P. S.--My brother Willie adds a nickel to our contribution.

L. L. G.

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NASSAU, NEW PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS.

Inclosed you will find $1.25 for Young People's Cot. Once before I sent you 35 cents. I had a beautiful parrot which died, and to console me papa gave me $5, so I now send $1.25 out of it.

VIRGIE MCLAIN.

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SCHUYLER, NEBRASKA.

We have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for only a month, but papa sent and got us all from the January number down. We felt sorry for the homeless little children, and so we sent them some papers. We have been saving them up from 1879. There are five of us children, and I am the next to the oldest. We live in Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska. We have a good many pets, but I will have to wait until next time to tell you about them. I will have to close now, as it is about time for school. Good-by.

MATTIE CLARKSON.

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OLEAN, NEW YORK.

I am a little girl nine years old. I send you a dollar for Young People's Cot, which I earned by helping my mamma. The only pet I have is a little baby brother. I have got the mumps on both sides. I go to school, and study geography, grammar, spelling, reading, writing, drawing, and arithmetic. I must close. Good-by. From

LENA MATTHEWS.

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

BEHEADINGS.

1. Here is a group of boys. Behead the name of No. 1, and you have an ancient vessel; of No. 2, and you have something unpleasant; of No. 3, and you have a nickname; of No. 4, and you see a vehicle; of No. 5, and you have a useful article of furniture; of No. 6, and you have an organ of the human body; of No. 7, a beautiful bird; of No. 8, a disfigurement.

2. Here are four pretty girls, with very sweet names. Behead the first name, and you have what the robin did to the cherries; the second, and you have the name of the earliest martyr; the third, and you have what bees and butterflies are in summer; the fourth, and you have an exciting chase.

SAM WELLER, JUN.

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No. 2.

ENIGMA.

My first is in apple, but not in prune. My second in May, but not in June. My third in seek, but not in find. My fourth in cross, but not in kind. My fifth in mice, but not in rat. My sixth in cape, and also in cap. My seventh in chair, but not in stool. My whole is a country you'll learn of in school.

A BOY OF TEN.

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No. 3.

TWO DIAMONDS.

1.--1. A letter. 2. A domestic pet. 3. A city in France. 4. A metal. 5. A letter.

2.--1. A letter. 2. A nickname. 3. A heavenly wanderer. 4. Human beings. 5. A letter.

EUREKA.

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No. 4.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

My whole is a noted battle-field, and I contain 11 letters. My 1, 2, 6, 4 means to speak familiarly. My 7, 3, 10 is a horse. My 1, 8, 9, 5 is a water-fowl. My 11, 2, 6 is an exclamation.

EMPIRE CITY.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 133.

No. 1.

L U N A R R A S P U S A G E A C M E N A S A L S M U T A G A T E P E T S R E L E T

F I G V A N I C E A C E G E T N E T

No. 2.

F irin G I odid E C heru B H awai I E ndin G L oung E

No. 3.

S D I C E D D U E I D E A S A R T D U C K S S C E P T I C D R O O P E K E E A T E R T O E S S I R P C

T B E T I P T E A E N D T I G E R B E T S Y E N D O W P E T A S P D O T R Y W

No. 4.

Excelsior.

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Answer to Enigma on page 134--Handcuff.

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Correct answers to puzzles have been sent by "Eureka," Annetta D. Jackson, Pansy V. R., "I. Scycle," Harold S. Chambers, Florence, Mabel, and Annie Knight, Douglas Fay, Alex Ketchum, John B. Todd, Alice Bolton, Emma Grace, Fanny and Fleda Cary, Viola, S. T. C.

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

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GAS BALLOONS.

Small gas balloons are made of thin sheet India rubber, or gutta percha, or tissue-paper; larger ones are made of oiled silk. Cut gores of the material to be used, sufficient in number when fastened together, the sides of each gore overlapping the gore fastened to it, to form a globe of the desired size, with pear-shaped ends. Join the gores together so as to make them completely air-tight. When the heavier materials are used, they should be sewn together, and then covered with glue or thin varnish. At the lower end of the balloon insert a tube, and tie all the narrow tips of the gores firmly round it. Cover all with a solution made of India rubber dissolved in naphtha and turpentine, and over the balloon place a net bag that has been previously made of the proper size and shape.

The gas with which the balloon is to be filled is made in the following manner: Put a pound of granulated zinc or iron filings into two quarts of water in a stone jar, and add gradually a pint of sulphuric acid. Have a tube of glass or metal run through the bung with which the jar is corked, and after taking the materials out-of-doors, fill the balloon by connecting this tube with the tube already placed at its mouth. When the balloon is filled, tie its neck very tightly, and it will rise into the air. Common coal gas may be used when it can be obtained. A small car made of some light material may be attached to the netting which goes over the balloon.

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A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

An exciting balloon adventure was that of Mr. Pendarves Vivian, an English member of Parliament. With two skilled aeronauts he recently made an ascent from Southwest London, the start being delayed by unfavorable weather until 10 P.M.

They found themselves in a strong current, which in ten minutes had placed them over North London, the lights below presenting a fairy scene of indescribable beauty. Though over 1000 feet high, street cries were distinctly audible. Ascending rapidly to 8000 feet, in an hour they found themselves passing at a tremendous rate over a flat country suitable for descending, and they resolved to come down. Gas was let out, and grappling-irons dropped, when there was a sharp check and violent jerks, and suddenly they commenced soaring upward at a frightful pace.

The rope of the grappling-irons had broken. The danger of so helpless a position, especially at night, was instantly apparent, and shortly afterward a renewed descent was made, hoping to run the balloon against some branches of trees. When this was done, one got out, and the two, relieved of his weight, were carried upward with extreme velocity to a height of three miles.

Half stunned by the shock, some time elapsed before the adventurous occupants of the balloon again attempted to descend, when, to their horror, they heard the roaring of the sea immediately below them. Fortunately they landed upon the beach, and not in the water. They were eventually rescued unhurt; but Mr. Vivian's experience convinces him that ballooning can never be of practical utility as a means of travelling.

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MAGICAL MUSIC.

This is a game in which music is made to take a prominent part. On one of the company volunteering to leave the room, some particular article agreed upon is hidden. On being recalled, the person, ignorant of the hiding-place, must commence a diligent search, taking the piano as his guide. The loud tones will mean that he is very near the object of his search, and the soft tones that he is far from it. Another method of playing the same game is for the person who has been out of the room to try to discover on his return what the remainder of the company desire him to do. It may be to pick up something from the floor, to take off his coat, to look at himself in the glass, or anything else as absurd. The only clew afforded him of solving the riddle must be the loud or soft tones of the music.

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, June 6, 1882, by Various