Part 4

We have a pair of goats. When the weather is good, they draw us in a wagon, but now they draw a sled, which they do not like as well. Our cow has a great deal of sense; the goats stay in the stable with her, and when we take them out, she misses them, and moos until they go back. Papa takes an apple to the goats, cow, and horse nearly every morning. Sometimes when he has only one, he gives it to the horse, for we all love that best; then you ought to hear the old cow scold. When the weather was warm, she learned to know that she always got an apple when she came to the library window, so she came for one every day. When it got too cold for the window to be raised, she stood rubbing her nose on the window glass, and would not leave until she received her apple. One day she came with five other cows; I think she wanted all of them to get an apple. She would not go away until mamma threw some to a distance, and then the procession went after them. Nelly, our horse, eats out of our hands, and we are sure no other horse was ever so gentle.

We have twelve canaries. Mamma raised them all, besides a great many others she has given away. Some are light, some dark; some have crests, or top-knots. One of them looks as if her feathers were "banged" like a little girl's hair, they fall so prettily over her eyes. She flies to us to eat sugar from our fingers. There are five females, who live together in one cage. We also have on the place four dogs; two of them belong to us, the others to the farmer. One of ours is a setter named Ring. He is very fond of the farmer's dogs, especially of the puppy. A few days ago we called him to the house. He brought all the other dogs with him. The older ones followed him up the stairs, but the little pup did not know what to make of the steps; he stood in the lower hall whining. Ring went back to him, licked him on the face, ran up the steps again, the little pup still whining. Ring went back to him several times. At last he got out of patience; he made mamma open the door and let the puppy out. The way he tells mamma he wants the door opened is by biting the toes of her slippers, and he will not stop until she lets him out.

There is a very high hill back of our house, where we have a fine coasting place. We have also built a snow fort, with port-holes through which we can see our enemies coming, and pelt them with snow-balls.

WILLIE H.

* * * * *

We are much obliged to the lady who sent us this pleasant letter from an absent niece, and we regret that the Wiggles arrived too late for publication in YOUNG PEOPLE:

MILAN, ITALY.

The HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE containing the new Wiggle arrived safely, dear Aunt L., and created quite a sensation. I think it is meant for a monkey's head, and would have tried to make it so, but my animals do not, as a general thing, succeed very well. I showed the paper to Ida Borzino, and she drew a Wiggle, which I inclose; and which she signed "Roland." I don't suppose it makes much difference what it is signed, but I signed mine with my own initials. I hope we will not be too late.

The other day I came across an Italian coin, a mezzo-soldo, worth two centimes and a half, and bearing the date of 1777. As soon as I have an opportunity I mean to send it to Lulu for her collection, which, I am very glad to hear, is progressing.

Ellie says that in the HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE she noticed that one of the correspondents writes that his cat will eat pea-nuts, and she would like you to be told that our cat will not only eat them, but is fonder of them than of anything else; but as they are rather a delicacy in this part of the globe, he does not often get an opportunity of indulging his fancy.

The Borzinos' first party comes off to-morrow, and we are looking forward to it very much. This year they have very few, only about six. However, I suppose that is enough dissipation for one year. Their parties are so nice, because they are so informal, and we all know each other so well that we always enjoy ourselves.

Our drawing-class has commenced its winter season. We have called our studio the "Temple of Art," and all the members have taken the names of celebrated Italian painters, and we have painted our cards with our names on to put on the studio door, and we receive on Thursday, other days being devoted to work, and not to amusement.

JULIET L. T.

* * * * *

FORGE, NEW YORK.

I have a kind friend who sends me YOUNG PEOPLE, and I take much pleasure in reading it, and love to read the letters as well as any part of the paper. I live among the Catskills, and have few pastimes during the winter except coasting, and thus far this winter we have not had much snow.

This is a very pleasant village, and during the summer months is crowded with boarders. If Mr. Editor or any of the young people should come here, I would be glad to show them a very nice cat. We call him Chub, and he will roll over when I tell him to, and knock at the door to come in.

I have a pet canary that is very tame. Mamma thinks my letter is not worth your notice, but I hope you will have some room for it. I think "Work for Little Fingers" will be a help for something new for me to make for our country fair, which is held near us every year. I have had the first premium on everything I have taken there since I was five years old, and I am now ten.

EL. LOUISE. D.

* * * * *

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I am a little boy eight years old. I have one little sister named Grace. We live in Philadelphia, and we often wish it was the country which some of the little girls and boys write about, so that we could have pets as they do.

We take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and love the stories and letters. My mamma don't know I am writing this letter. I want to surprise her by showing it to her in the Post-office Box of the book. Don't you think it would be splendid for me to have a little horse? Then I could ride to our beautiful Park every day. My fingers are so tired I must say good-by.

HORACE P. F.

* * * * *

NEW YORK CITY.

I am going to tell you about a little bird which my sister found one day she was coming from a visit. It was a very snowy day, and the snow was very deep. My sister Elvira found it in front of a large gray house. The bird was nearly covered with snow, and Elvira could just see its little wing, which was a little above the snow. Elvira took it up in her arms very fondly, and put it under her warm cloak. When she brought it home to me, I was very happy to see the little bird safe in a home. We gave it crumbs of bread to eat. But oh! it would not eat nor drink, and it did not look happy. Mamma told Elvira to let the bird fly out, and it would be much happier. As soon as it was out in the free, fresh air, it clapped its wings together with joy, and flew to a large maple-tree.

I took two days to make this letter. I do not know English very beautifully, but I can speak Spanish, and read nicely. I will soon learn English.

ALFREDO U.

* * * * *

EAST BETHLEHEM, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

I live in the country, and have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for two or three months, and I like it ever so much, and always read the letters in it every week. I walk a mile and a quarter to school every morning, and back home again in the evening. We have a large shepherd dog named Romeo. He is real playful, and he always goes out in the fields with me to take walks; and one time when I was out playing I found three dandelions out in bloom, on the 8th of January, 1882, and just as bright and fresh-looking as if it were spring. I have two dolls, named Bertha and Gertrude. I think Jimmy Brown's stories are real funny, and I hope he will write some more soon.

This is the first time I have written to HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, so please publish it, and oblige

CORA C. W.

* * * * *

GOLD HILL, COLORADO.

I am a little girl twelve years old. I live in the Rocky Mountains, and weigh 115 pounds. I have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE from the first number, and like it very much. I began eight years ago to save the pennies and dimes that were given me by the miners, and bought a heifer with them, and now I have a cow, a two-year-old, and a yearling. I call my cow Lillie, my two-year-old Minnie, and my yearling Duke. I also have a pet cat and hen. I call the cat Tiger, and the hen Daisy. If this letter is printed, I will write again, and tell you about a four-footed thief who stole the fried cakes in our cellar.

MIRA S.

* * * * *

THE STORY OF A RABBIT.

I am going to relate a true story of a boy and his rabbit. It was on Staten Island, in the year 1879.

I once had a middle-sized rabbit, and one day I saw a boy that I knew passing by my house. I asked him to come and see what a nice rabbit I had. He liked it so much that he offered me twenty-six cents; so I sold the rabbit to him, and some bran too. The next time that I saw him I asked him how his rabbit was, and he told me that the very day he bought the rabbit a dog saw it, and bit its throat so that it died instantly.

JOSEPH FRANCIS W.

What a shame!

* * * * *

We think our wee readers will like this story of two little girls who gave up something they loved, to please their mamma. Of course they had a reward:

BIRDIE AND JENNIE.

Birdie and Jennie are two sweet little children.

Birdie has long light curls and soft hazel eyes, pale oval face, and slender form. She is seven years old. Jennie, the little sister, is chubby in face and form, has dark curls, and dark bright eyes. Her cheeks are almost always red. She is five years old.

These two little sisters are very sweet singers, and once, when they sang to entertain company, they were presented with a pair of white mice.

These pets delighted the children, and for a time they enjoyed them to their hearts' content; but mamma did not like white mice, and longed to have them out of the house. Accordingly she talked to the children, and urged them to let the treasures be sold.

This was a hard request, and the little ones were reluctant to comply.

Mamma understood this, and to help them make the sacrifice she promised to try to procure them something else in their place.

Birdie and Jennie loved their mice, but they loved mamma better, and to please her they consented to let the mice go, and tried to do it cheerfully.

It was on a Friday that the mice were taken away, and when Saturday night came round, what should pop into the house but a cunning little gray squirrel? This visitor made himself quite at home.

The delighted children knew not how to express their joy, and firmly believed that God sent the squirrel to them so soon, because they had parted pleasantly with their mice.

It was found that the squirrel belonged to a gentleman who lived near by, and who said he was glad to be rid of the charge, and the children were equally glad to have it. It is still living--a dear little interesting pet.

As Birdie and Jennie live in the city, the squirrel's coming to them so unexpectedly was even more strange than if their home had been in the country.

ANNA D. W.

* * * * *

MASON, TEXAS.

"Well, well, what a great thing for the children of America, and of other countries too, is HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE!" Such was the exclamation uppermost in my mind after spending two or three days in reading back numbers of this gem of a paper. Yes, two or three days, and up some nights till twelve o'clock, reading YOUNG PEOPLE, and here I will soon be a quarter of a century old! I dropped Carlyle, Dickens, Macaulay, and Goethe, to read this juvenile paper, and read it not only with pleasure but _profit_. I enjoy Jimmy Brown's letters, which are the most mirth-provoking articles I have ever read. And here I want to give my thanks to "Jimmy" for the many hearty laughs he has afforded me. The "Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table" says that he "purrs very loud over a good honest letter that says pretty things" to him; so Jimmy may "purr very loud" now. Then, too, I like the war stories of Dr. Lossing, and the scientific articles of Mrs. Herrick, whom I remember in _Southern Review_ times, and the good advice of Aunt Marjorie, who gives it so wisely and kindly. And the pictures--my! Every number is just full of good things, like a shop window. How blest are the boys and girls of to-day! Are we grateful, boys? are you thankful, girls? I can hear you all say, "Yes, yes."

I am going to get up a collection of rare curiosities from this Western country, and when they are ready, I will mention them among the Exchanges. I have a little friend here, Josie B., who takes YOUNG PEOPLE, and I will invite her to help me. Mason is away out in Western Texas, and is a little frontier town. It has a delightful climate, and the weather Christmas week was as beautiful as any that ever graced summer. On this January day I have had the door open and window up, while the day without has been full of spring. Just to show you what a charming country this is for health and climate, I will quote from the Meteorological Report of the United States Signal Officer of this place for the past year: "The highest temperature during the year was on June 22, July 1, and August 10--100° each day; the lowest temperature was on January 9, 1881--9°; yearly range of temperature, 91°. The highest wind occurred on September 6, blowing thirty-four miles per hour from the southeast. The total rain-fall of the year was 22.08 inches; the greatest monthly rain-fall was during May--5.29 inches; the least monthly rain-fall was during June--none. The prevailing wind was from the south. There were 195 clear days, 77 fair, and 90 cloudy. There were only twenty days when the temperature was below freezing, and no days when it remained below all day. There were ninety days when the temperature was above 90°. Only one bad storm occurred during the year, on September 30, when rain fell in torrents for thirty minutes, flooding the town." I doubt whether any other portion of the whole country can make a better showing in the weather record than that.

DAN M.

The beginning of this sprightly letter from our Texas correspondent was so very complimentary that we half hesitated about publishing it. Still, it is only fair to the authors whose graceful pens are making YOUNG PEOPLE so attractive, to let them know what a generous measure of appreciation they are winning from some "grown-ups" as well as from a host of little folks. So, hoping to do still better in future, we let the world see how much one of our friends thinks of our paper, including the Post-office Box, to which he has contributed so agreeably.

* * * * *

C. Y. P. R. U.

ROBERT, A. C. F., AND OTHERS.--The common white pigeon is the offspring of the common pigeon, which is of various colors and markings. By selecting only the pure white birds for breeding, and rejecting those of other colors, a strain of blood is established in course of time, so that the birds will breed true to color.

All taxidermists make use of white pigeons, and the demand is often greater than the supply. They are used, when set up in various positions, as emblems of purity and hope at church fairs, Sunday-school festivals, and by florists. For a large handler of white pigeons, address Taxidermist, No. 199 William Street, New York city. White pigeons are obtainable of all dealers in fancy poultry throughout the country.

Dealers complain about careless packing, and state that much higher prices might be obtained if the game, fish, animals, and birds were taken better care of after being caught, and not over-crowded in the boxes, so that when exposed for sale they would look clean, fresh, and smooth, as if just caught. Some of the largest dealers in dead game are at Washington Market, New York city. A very excellent book on breeding and taking care of pet stock is published by Cassell, Petter, & Galpin, No. 596 Broadway, New York city. Much interesting and valuable information can be found in Gibson's _Camp Life in the Woods; and the Tricks of Trapping and Trap Making_. By W. HAMILTON GIBSON, Author of _Pastoral Days_. Illustrated by the Author. 12mo, cloth, $1. Published by Harper & Brothers. This is a perfect manual for youthful hunters, and contains hints on life out-doors in all its aspects. Shelter, food, trapping, boat-building, bait, and, in fact, everything a boy needs to know about the woods and their inhabitants, are considered in this book.

For information about purchasing and disposing of live rabbits, squirrels, and all cage birds, etc., etc., address Aquarium Stock, 76 Fulton Street, New York city.

* * * * *

The topaz occupies some distinction among gems. The finest varieties are found in the Brazils, Ceylon, and the Ural Mountains, either crystallized or in small rolled masses in the alluvium of granitic rocks, about the size of a large nut. In color they are commonly white, bluish or yellowish white, much water-worn, and perfect crystals are rare. The common kinds are found in many parts of the world. A crystal nineteen ounces in weight was discovered in the Cairngorm Mountains, in Aberdeenshire, and some have been obtained in Cornwall and Ireland. The topaz is rendered very electric by heat and friction; and by this property it may be readily distinguished from a diamond or ruby, for which otherwise, when cut and set, it might easily be mistaken.

The topaz of the ancients had a green color, and is supposed to have been our chrysolite. It was found in the island of Topazios, in the Red Sea. "This place," says Diodorus Siculus, "was ten miles long, and called the Island of Serpents, from the number of reptiles formerly infesting it. The topazion here found was a transparent gem, agreeable in aspect, resembling glass. No one was allowed to land there under pain of death, and no boat was allowed to be kept on the island. Provisions for the few soldiers on guard there were brought at intervals from the continent. The gem was not discernible by day, its lustre being then overpowered by the sun's rays, but at night it was conspicuous by its brightness. The guards who divided the island among their patrols then ran up, and covered the luminous spot with a vase of equal size. Next day they would go their rounds, cut out the patch of rock thus indicated, and deliver it to the proper person to be polished."

* * * * *

We have five articles in this number to recommend to the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. Every little pair of hands that opens YOUNG PEOPLE, the Postmistress hopes and fancies, has two corresponding little feet nicely incased in woven stockings without the suspicion of a hole in them. How did the world ever come to have woven stockings? Look at the article on our fourth page and see. Three centuries ago William Lee's observation of the labor performed by four knitting-needles in the hands of his patient, hard-working wife resulted in the invention of the stocking-loom. There is no use in telling the boys to read the rest of Mr. Payn's story. We know they have been waiting breathlessly for a week to find out what became of Philip Ashton. They are going to take a great interest, too, in the boy hero of the great floods, "Dad" Little. After these good things have been read and digested, we want them to pay particular attention to "Something about Sonatas," by Mrs. John Lillie, and see how much it will help them in the study and appreciation of music.

* * * * *

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:

Lizzie Champion, Warrenville, 25c.; Amelia Frink, Marshall, Mich., 25c.; Dudley A. Williams, Hackensack, N. J., 50c.; John Wilson, Still Pond, Md., 25c.; Lizzie Treadway, Cleveland, Ohio, 50c.; H. L. Ireland, Coventryville, N. Y., 50c.; Louie Bryant, Schuyler, Neb., 25c.; Eric Holt, New York, $1; Lillie Bahten, Piute Mountain, Cal., $1; Fannie K. Sowall, San Antonio, Texas, 50c.; A. N. P., 25c.; Raymond Buck, 152d St., N. Y., $1; Madge Vail, Sag Harbor, L. I., 50c.; Marshall and Harold Wawick, Plainwell, Mich., 30c.; Louis A., Howard B., and Baby Boy, Madison, N. J., 30c.; Bertie and Rex Dalmolen, Verona, Italy, $2: Florence and Frankie Ward, New York, $1; Willie S., Elizabeth, N. J., $1; total, $11.35. Previously acknowledged, $246.69; grand-total, $258.04.

E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New St. _February 15_.

Can our little folks do no better than this for Young People's Cot? The sum needed to endow the cot is $3000. There are many little suffering children who need to be cared for in St. Mary's Free Hospital. The subscription, you see, is growing very, very slowly. We wonder whether some of you will not try to send an Easter offering to be reported in this list? Could not you have a little box in the sitting-room or nursery, and drop your pennies in it from time to time? You see, dears, we must raise almost fifteen times what we now have before we shall really have Young People's Cot, in St. Mary's Hospital.

* * * * *

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

TWO DROP-LETTER PUZZLES.

1. --t-- --n--l-- -- --n--t-- --t-- --o--s-- --b-- --y-- -- --d.

2. -- --n-- --a-- --s--a--e-- -- --h-- --o-- --.

NELL.

* * * * *

No. 2.

GEOGRAPHICAL PUZZLE.

One morning I was awakened by the (county of Illinois) telling me that my cousin (a river of Virginia) was waiting for me at the gate. I rose, dressed, went out, and met my cousin with a (city of Arkansas) in his hand, which he was about to hurl at what he thought was a (lake in North America). Just as he threw it I saw Mr. (a city in Indiana) with a (river in Dakota) gun. The (lake in North America) turned out to be a (river in Dakota) cow. After this adventure we went to our homes, which are on (a celebrated philosopher) street, in (a small town of Illinois).

L. WHITLOCK.

* * * * *

No. 3.

A CONCEALED WORD SQUARE.

We were striving to believe Robert when he said the Muse refused to hold forth her sceptre every time.

WILLIAM A. LEWIS.

* * * * *

No. 4.

A RIDDLE.