Part 4

While we were away, Pete's older children grew up very wild. We feared we could not reach them, but we are very glad that now the oldest son has come to Sunday-school. There is one more, off on the railroad; but as Fayette has come, he will follow when he comes home. Fayette does not know his letters, but comes in the evening during the week to my little son; so he will soon get up with the others. I do not know how to thank you for your kind and generous help. Without it we could not have taught these children, much as we desired to do so. I think they too are very grateful to you all.

We are keeping back the best books and prettiest cards, for we want, if we can, to make a feast and have a tree for them at Christmas, and make them all supremely happy for one day. They have never seen a Christmas tree, and have never had any Christmas presents, except Pete's children, who always have a gift from us. I am not sure that we can do it, but hope we can. Truly your grateful friend,

MRS. RICHARDSON.

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SYKESVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

In No. 93 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE Mr. Eggleston says the baby elephant cracks pea-nuts with its feet, and that it did not learn this from the grown-up elephants, "for they eat nuts without cracking them." This is a mistake, for I have seen the large elephants at the Zoological Garden in Philadelphia crack nuts with their feet, as Mr. Eggleston says the baby elephant did.

SAMUEL B.

Perhaps the elephants you saw learned their cute way of cracking nuts when they were baby elephants, and never forgot it.

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CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

I have seen a good many letters in the Post-office Box, but none from Carlisle. We live about half a mile from the Indian school, so I thought I would tell you about it. The boys all wear blue uniforms, and the girls bright dresses and ribbons. They make many useful articles, and also moccasins and bows and arrows, which they sell very cheaply. I am twelve years old.

A. DUNCAN Y.

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BOWMANSVILLE, NEW YORK.

My mamma takes you for us, dear YOUNG PEOPLE, and we like you so much! I am going to send this, my first letter, to you. I am eight years old. I have one brother and three little sisters. We have nice times watching cows in papa's orchards. Our Sunday-school had a picnic at Buffalo Park last week; rowed on the lake, and saw the swans. We are Disciples, like our poor President. Our district is building the nicest school-house in the country. We think your stories all splendid, and could not do without you.

ALICE Y. B.

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LOGAN'S FERRY, PENNSYLVANIA.

My home is on the banks of the Alleghany River, and on the farm on which my great-grandfather lived when these woods were the home of the savage Indians. When my grandfather was a little boy, his mother used to take him, with her other children, into Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, for safety. I have two little sisters, one five years and the other four months old. I had a nice old dog named Shep. He died. Then we had none until my aunt came from Tennessee, and brought a cunning little dog with her. She thinks a great deal of him, for one night, when she was all alone, her house took fire and burned down, and Prince, who was sleeping in her room, barked and barked, and jumped on her bed, to awaken her. But for him she might have been burned with the house. He is in my care, and is faithful and obedient.

I would like very much to see Mrs. Richardson's school, and old Pete.

HUGH L. S., Jun.

Prince was a very good watch-dog, and you ought to be proud of him. Fidelity and obedience are splendid qualities in a dog's character, and in a boy's too.

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The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:

Red scallop shells, Indian money from Buzzard's Bay, and stones from the Bay of Fundy, for a stone from any Territory.

LAWRENCE BROOKS, 7 Arlington St., Boston, Mass.

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Postmarks, for anything suitable for a museum; or thirty-five postmarks, for an Indian arrow-head.

ARTHUR R. WILLYOUNG, 147 Park St., Detroit, Mich.

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Rare coins, postmarks, and rare stamps, especially from South and Central America, China, etc., for other rare stamps, foreign and U. S. Higher values of the 1869 issue of U. S. America especially desired.

SIDNEY ARENHEIM, 127 East Sixty-ninth St., New York City.

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A set of Paraguay stamps, for the 24, 30, and 90 cent issue of U. S. stamps for 1869. One Paraguay stamp, for any one of those. A Nova Scotia and an Egypt official stamp, for the 7 or 90 cent War Department, or any stamp from the Executive Department.

ARTHUR COPP, 4 Washington Avenue, Madison, Wis.

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A very beautiful topaz Stone from Pike's Peak, for coins and curiosities.

HARRY WALLACE, Winterset, Madison Co., Iowa.

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An autograph note of nine lines signed with the initials of Longfellow, one of seven lines signed with the initials of J. R. Lowell, one of nine lines signed O. W. Holmes, one of thirteen lines signed R. W. Emerson, and a signature of Louis Agassiz, for a signed note or document of Abraham Lincoln or John Brown; or any one of them, for a signed note or document of U. S. Grant, General Sherman, General Sheridan, General Thomas, or Admiral Farragut.

RICHARD NORTON, Ashfield, Mass.

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Postmarks, for postmarks. Minerals, for red and brown hematite and black magnetic iron ores, tin and nickel ores and cinnabar, sea-shells (rare only), ocean curiosities, especially a horseshoe-crab and a sea-horse. Send postal to arrange exchange.

WALTER S. STILLMAN, C. B. Natural History Club, Box 966, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

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A specimen of genuine lava from Vesuvius, for an Indian arrow-head, or Indian relics of any kind.

JOHN S. WOODRUFF, 310 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Stones from New York, Vermont, or Massachusetts, for stones from any State or Territory except New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

JENNIE J. EDWARDS, Plattsburg, Clinton Co., N. Y.

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A Cape of Good Hope or New Zealand stamp, for an Indian arrow-head.

EDWARD WENDEHACK, Jun., 465 Third Avenue, New York City.

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Two pieces of iron ore, for the same of any other kind of ore; twenty Canadian stamps, for two Mexican agates.

JOHN KELLET, Whitby, Ontario, Canada West.

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Coins and postage stamps from Turkey, Austria, Russia, and Italy, for their value in the same from other countries.

ROGER SYDNEY, Station C, San Francisco, Cal.

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Eight postmarks, for an African or Brazilian stamp.

WALTER DEVELIN, 2039 Camac St., Philadelphia, Penn.

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Minerals and curiosities, granite, marble in the rough, mica, gold, lead, and silver ores, all in the same stone, for other minerals. Iron ore especially wanted. The wing of a flying-fish, caught by myself in the Gulf of Mexico, is also offered.

W. M. VAN DER WEYDE, 236 Duffield St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Stamps from Mauritius, Falkland, Marquesas Islands, Moluccas, Caroline Islands, Spitzbergen, Persia, and Tripoli, for stamps from Turkey, Austria, Portugal, South America, Central America, Heligoland, Feejee Islands, Germany, Sandwich Islands, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Cape of Good Hope. Rare stamps required.

CHARLES STERLING, Station C, San Francisco.

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Peruvian stamps, for U. S. revenues, and postage stamps from China, Prince Edward Island, and Cape of Good Hope.

F. H. LOHSE, Box 466, New York City.

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Stones of public buildings and soil of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, for arrow-heads and postmarks of North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

HARRY M. GLOVER, 1922 South Tenth St., Philadelphia, Penn.

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A piece of elm under which Logan, the celebrated Indian chief, made a treaty with the whites, and shells from islands around Australia, for Indian and other curiosities, type, games, etc. Type especially wanted.

JOHN S. DUFFY, Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio.

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Berries, and cotton in the pod from Cuba, coffee seeds and leaves, and botanic specimens for a museum, for genuine Indian relics. Send postal in advance.

JOSEPH H. FARGIS, 246 East Thirty-fourth St., New York City.

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A box containing eleven different curiosities, for three African, Asiatic, or Australian stamps. A U. S. dime of 1853, for gold ore.

A. A. BEEBE, Box 102, Nahant, Mass.

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Stamps, for stamps from Cape of Good Hope, Holland, Spain, and Russia.

JAMES HESLETINE, 1710 Geary St., San Francisco, Cal.

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One hundred postmarks, all different, including some foreign ones, for rare foreign coins of any country except England.

C. E. DEVELIN, 2039 Camac St., Philadelphia, Penn.

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A magic lantern, with slides, for a printing-press and type.

F. J. HILL, Jun., 122 South Fifth St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Carbonate ores, containing lead, silver, and other minerals, naming the different mines from which they come, for Indian relics and curiosities suitable for a cabinet. Fifty foreign stamps, for a genuine Indian tomahawk. Write before sending articles.

JEROME T. GARDNER, 1324 Tenth Avenue, East Oakland, Cal.

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Forty stamps, for Indian relics. Please write to arrange exchange.

SAMUEL SINCLAIR, Box 59, Winooski, Chittenden Co., Vt.

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Fine specimens of iron pyrites, for any curiosities except stamps.

ARTHUR COWDIN, Delphos, Allen Co., Ohio.

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Three foreign postage stamps, for one from Turkey.

S. J. WEISS, care of J. Kearney, 32 Park Place, New York City.

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Foreign and old U. S. stamps, for stamps from Asia and Africa.

JESSIE NEWTON, Fayville, Worcester Co., Mass.

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Fifty mixed Canadian stamps, for a piece of red coral; twenty-five, for a piece of petrified hickory wood.

JOHN A. JOHNSTON, Whitby, Ontario, Can.

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Norwegian, French, Danish, and old and rare U. S. stamps, for any South American stamps. Stamp for stamp.

HAROLD CHANNING, Care of Wilkes Roper, Princeton, Mass.

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Postmarks from all parts of the world, and very rare foreign stamps, including two varieties of Grenada, for minerals, ores, and Indian curiosities. Several fine garnets, for Iceland spar or gold or silver ore.

F. W. ROE, 108 West 133d St., New York City.

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One hundred postmarks, for an 1856 nickel cent or U. S. copper cents of 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1809, and 1811.

ONY PURDY, 205 Prince St., New York City.

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Shells from the West Indies, silk for quilts, buttons with shanks, and a set of fancy gilt cards, for curiosities. Please label specimens.

NINA WATTS, Box 138, Station A, New York City.

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A 1, 2, and 3 cent Norwegian, a 1 and 2 cent Japanese, and a 5-cent Canadian, for an Indian arrow-head.

J. A. HARRIS, Box 10, Attleborough, Mass.

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Foreign stamps and U. S. postmarks, for stamps from Hamburg, Gold Coast, Egypt, Japan, China, Hong-Kong, Straits Settlements, Prince Edward and Virgin Islands.

W. F. G., 324 East Fifty-fifth St., New York City.

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A genuine bracket-saw and outfit, with thirty-five patterns and thirteen saw-blades, to any one sending me the best offer of any kind of curiosity. Also rare postmarks, for foreign postage stamps and coins. A microscope especially desired.

FRANK NELSON, Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill.

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Rare foreign stamps, for the same from Brazil, Ceylon, Argentine Republic, Hong-Kong, Japan, etc.

W. E. OIKRU, 112 Henry St., New York City.

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A telephone that will work two miles, for a photographer's camera like one advertised, in YOUNG PEOPLE.

H. HAIGHT, 240 Washington St., Hoboken.

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

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A. S. D.--Wood's _Illustrated Natural History_, Ingersoll's _Friends worth Knowing_, Wolf's _Wild Animals_, and Jaeger's _North American Insects_ are all excellent works on the subjects they treat. These books are published by Harper & Brothers, and are illustrated.

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N. ENG F.--We can hardly blame you for feeling dissatisfied with your present position. A boy of sixteen, who is well and strong, and who has acquired a common-school education, ought to do better than remain in an office at $2 a week, with no prospect of advancement. You might learn a trade. You might, if your parents gave their consent, go West and engage in farming. You might enter a business house at the bottom, and work your way up. Whatever you do, thoroughness, honesty, and diligence are necessary to success. So is self-denial, and a steady effort to do your best every day.

* * * * *

LEWIE B.--Directions for making a steam-engine and boiler were given in No. 49, Vol. I.

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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from H. Denny Paxton, "Queen Bess," Flavel S. Mines, Rose B., "Miss Ouri," _Marion E. Norcross_, _George Sylvester_, "Will O. Tree," Little Tommie, Frank Lomas, G. Volckhausen, "Wiggins and Spriggins," Paxton, Lizzie Cramer, _Frank S. Davis_, Emily Fane, C. T., John W. Ward, O. A. A., Jacob Marks, "North Star," Leo Marks, James Watson, Jemima Beeston, Emma Roehm.

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

CHARADES.

My second, though stationary, carries my first, and my whole is an indispensable article in the kitchen.

My first is the cause of my second, and my second is a defense against my first. My whole is part of a lady's toilet.

ELEANOR.

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No. 2.

TWO ENIGMAS.

My first is in pool, but not in spring. My second is in toll, but not in ring. My third is in cat, but not in dog. My fourth is in mouse, and not, in frog. My fifth is in sun, and not in moon. My sixth is in rabbit, not in 'coon. My whole sings in a mournful way The livelong hot midsummer day.

GEORGE E. W.

Pray who can guess my name? My first is in Susan, and not in Nell. My second is in Inez, and not in Belle. My third is in Rosa, and not in Nan. My fourth is in Ellen, and not in Fan. My fifth is in Nora, and not in Bettie. My sixth is in Anna, and not in Hettie. My whole might be worked in the sampler's frame.

S. C.

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No. 3.

TWO DIAMONDS.

1.--1. A consonant. 2. A strong drink. 3. A sweet substance. 4. A girl's name. 5. A consonant.

2.--1. In river. 2. A metal. 3. A kind of serpent. 4. A trap. 5. In river.

DAMON AND PYTHIAS.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 95.

No. 1.

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

A C I D C O D E I D L E D E E P

No. 2.

L eopar D A ntelop E M oos E B adge R

No. 3.

Preach, reach, each. Cheat, heat, eat.

No. 4.

Obelisk.

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Throwing a Light, on page 720--Crane.

TEDDY, PET, AND DOT.

Teddy so big, and Dot so small, And Pet half way between, Ran when they heard dear mamma's call; And the sly tall grass They had to pass Hid them from being seen.

Teddy so big, and Dot so small, And Pet of middling size, They climbed Miss Spankem's garden wall, And--ping, pang, ping!-- The jolliest swing Hung right before their eyes.

Cried Teddy, with his cap a-twirl: "It's ours, for--don't you see?-- Miss Spankem's got no boy nor girl. So jump in, Pet; Dot, don't you fret-- I'll swing you, after me."

As Teddy pushed, as Pet she clung, And Dot sat on the wall, The sly old swing, as it swing, swang, swung, Knocked Ted about, And spilled Pet out, Giving them both a fall.

PARLOR MAGIC.

THE MIRACULOUS APPLE.

To divide an apple into several parts without breaking the rind: Pass a needle and thread under the rind of the apple, which is easily done by putting the needle in again at the same hole it came out of; and so passing on until you have gone round the apple. Then take both ends of the thread in your hands, and draw it out, by which means the apple will be divided into two parts. In the same manner you may divide it into as many parts as you please, and yet the rind will remain entire. Present the apple to any one to peel, and it will immediately fall to pieces.

THE OMELET COOKED IN A HAT.

State that you are about to cook an omelet; then you break four eggs in a hat, place the hat for a short time over the flame of a candle, and shortly after produce an omelet completely cooked and quite hot. Some persons will be credulous enough to believe that by the help of certain ingredients you have been enabled to cook the omelet without fire; but the secret of the trick is that the omelet had been previously cooked and placed in the hat, but could not be seen, because the operator, when breaking the eggs, placed it too high for the spectators to observe the contents. The eggs were empty ones, the contents having been previously extracted by being sucked through a small aperture; but to prevent the company from suspecting this, the operator should, as if by accident, let a full egg fall on the table, the breaking of which induces a belief that the others are also full.

THE INK AND FISH TRICK.

This is really a first-rate delusion. You bring before the spectators a glass vase full of ink. You dip a ladle into it, and pour out some of the ink upon a plate, in order to convince the audience that the substance in the vase is really ink. You then throw a handkerchief over the vase, and instantly withdraw it, when the vase is found to be filled with pure water, in which a couple of gold-fish are swimming.

This apparent impossibility is performed as follows: To the interior of the vessel is fitted a black silk lining, which adheres closely to the sides when pressed by the water, and which is withdrawn inside the handkerchief during the performance of the trick. The ladle has a hollow handle, with an opening into the bowl; in the handle is a spoonful or so of ink, which runs into the bowl when it is held downward during the act of dipping it into the vase.

THE LAST ROWS OF SUMMER.