Part 4

The other day a lady came in to see me, and our talk happened to be about apples. She had been in her garden, and picked up a few apples to take in to her children. One which she gave to her little girl had a large worm-hole in it. The little girl bit quite near the hole, and out fell the worm; but there still remained in the cavity something which appeared to be a thread. On examination it proved to be eight inches long, and when put under the magnifying glass it was found to have several legs and feet, little black eyes, and a tongue that hung out of its mouth. The lady dropped it into a tumbler of water, and it rolled itself up like a little ball of thread, then unrolled again, and stuck its head out of the water. It still lives in the tumbler. People should be very careful about eating apples in the dark.

I have been spending my vacation here, and have had many delightful adventures. I have a few stones, some pressed flowers, and curiosities, to exchange for ores. My city address is 771 Park Avenue, New York city.

FLORENCE H. BRADY.

* * * * *

GREENVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

I have seen so many letters in the Post-office Box about pets that were named Toby Tyler that I thought I would write you about mine. We had two beautiful kittens. I named mine Toby, because he was always hungry. My brother named his Ella, he thought it was so pretty and cunning. They both died last Sunday. Mamma thinks they must have eaten something poisonous. They used to catch and eat bugs when they ran in the grass. Toby and Ella were loved more than any other pets we ever had. We had a kitten named Mr. Stubbs. I gave him to a little girl, and he is living yet. I like _all_ of YOUNG PEOPLE the _best_, and can make no choice.

DOT H.

* * * * *

FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

I am a little boy seven years old. I have had a dear little sister, who has always read me the paper every week, and we were so happy, and enjoyed it so much together, but in June Jesus took her to heaven, and I am very lonely without her, for we loved each other very dearly. She was thirteen years old. Papa and mamma read to me now, but I am going to work hard when school commences, so that I may soon read to myself.

I dreamed last night that sister Ida came back. I went out to the gate to meet her, and talked with her, and the talk was pleasant. I asked her if she was not hungry, and wanted her to come into the house and get something to eat, but she said she was never hungry now; and then she was gone again away from me, and I woke up.

I have five pets this summer--a mocking-bird, a canary, a bunting (or Mexican canary), a parrot, and a white rabbit. The parrot talks a great deal--calls "Papa," "Albert," "Kitty," says "Good-by," whistles, and does a good many other things. The rabbit gets into her cage, and helps eat up her dinner, and Polly does not care a bit, for they are very good friends.

Mamma has done the writing for me, for it is such hard work for me, and takes so long. I like the new story of "Tim and Tip" very much.

ALBERT W. B.

* * * * *

HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI.

My uncle is editor of _The South_, and takes your paper, which we all enjoy reading. I saw C. H. Williamson's idea of a Natural History Society, and liked it so much that I made up a club. When we had our first meeting, July 27, 1881, Mary Burton was elected President, and I was elected Secretary. We took the katydid for our first subject, and were much interested in the little creature. One of our members asked if the katydid is found in all parts of the world, and none of us could tell. Can Mr. Williamson give us any information? There are only five members in our society, but we very much enjoy our meeting once in every two weeks.

I read all the stories in YOUNG PEOPLE, and like "Toby Tyler" best of all, and next Jimmy Brown's stories. I wish he would write oftener. Our whole household was interested in "Toby Tyler." I have a little sister who has been playing on the piano ever since she was three years old. One lady called her a second Mozart. I love to live in Holly Springs, though it is a small place. It is called the "City of Flowers," but the weather has been so warm and dry there are not many flowers this summer. Not to make my letter too long, I will close.

MAMIE CLARK.

President Williamson will please notice the inquiry addressed to him, and reply in our Post-office Box.

* * * * *

OTTERBEIN, INDIANA.

Last winter we wanted so badly to take YOUNG PEOPLE that we wrote a letter to Santa Claus about it. We sent it on Tuesday, and on Saturday the paper came. We are much interested in "Tim and Tip." I think Mr. Otis is just as good as he can be. We have five birds; their names are Tony, Fluffy, Nobby, Daisy, and Beauty, and our dog, who is a little mischief, is called Tricks.

RAY AND RENA D.

* * * * *

AYLMER, QUEBEC.

I am a little boy ten years old, and have a little sister and brother. My brother can just talk, and my sister is eight years old. We live in Aylmer for the summer. We have a lake, on which boats go back and forth. Their names are the _Chaudière_, the _Monitor_, the _Castor_, the _Jessie Cassels_, the _Aylmer_, the _Lottie_, and the _Ida_. And we have a catamaran. I have been across the lake once in the latter. I have been to several picnics and two entertainments this summer. We have a dog whose name is Puzzle.

DON W.

* * * * *

BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

I have just returned from my summer vacation, which I spent at Auburn, New York. While I was there I went to Owasco Lake, and saw a new style of row-boat which Mr. Staat was trying on the water. There is an iron wheel in the centre of the boat, with double handles on each side. Two men can manage it easily, and one of them while working can steer by putting his feet in chains attached to the boat. In this way the boat goes twice as quickly as it does when rowed by oars. The men carry a paddle with them, so that if the wheel should break they could paddle to shore. I think the stories of "The Moral Pirates," "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Susie Kingman's Decision," and "Aunt Ruth's Temptation" are very nice, and I like "Tim and Tip" and "Penelope" so far. I am collecting picture cards, and have over four hundred. If any little girl or boy who is collecting them would like to exchange with me, please address

H. MAUD SISSON, 183 Maryland St.

* * * * *

CLINTON, LOUISIANA.

My little kitten is dead. I have a pony, and every evening my sister and I go riding together. One day lately we saw a gray bird poise itself on the branch of a tree. It uttered a cluck just like a person. Our horses were startled, and began to run. Sister thought I made the queer sound, and I thought she had made it.

DIMPLE K.

* * * * *

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

My little brother has four pet rabbits and two pet chickens. I go to school, and am in the grammar department. There were two robins that built their nest in an apple-tree at the side of our house this summer, and they had four young ones. My cousin and I are making a collection of advertisement cards.

ALBERTA D. G.

I am Alberta's cousin, and she kindly lets me read her paper. My papa is an army officer in Texas, and I have just come from there to visit Alberta. I brought with me a black quail which a Mexican had trapped, but soon after arriving here it was lost. I have three sisters and one brother, whom papa calls Prince Ronald.

MARGIE Y.

* * * * *

ROCKY COMFORT, ARKANSAS.

I am a little girl eight years old. I have never gone to school, but mamma teaches me at home. I study geography, writing, and music on the piano. I have a black-and-tan terrier named Toto. How he does love to catch mice and rats! He'll stand up on his hind-legs and beg me to open the store-room door when he hears a rat inside. I've taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since I was seven. On my last birthday papa gave me a pony and a bridle, and mamma gave me a saddle. I have no brother, and only one sister, who is married, and has a home of her own, and the cutest little baby boy. I lived with them over two months while mamma was at Hot Springs. She is at home now, and quite well.

KATE KNOX H.

* * * * *

JONESVILLE, MICHIGAN.

I am sometimes very lonely, and would not know what to do without my dear paper. I have neither brother nor sister. My pet is a little kitten named Tinker. My papa is a doctor, and I like to go with him around the country. I was eight years old in May. I have lots of flowers, and pick a bouquet nearly every day. I go to school, and have a number of studies.

GRACIE E. S.

* * * * *

BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

I have a pet dog named Fido. He stands up in a corner on his hind-legs and shakes hands. My sister and I also have two pet squirrels, who play many tricks. Their names are Bunnie and Jack. This is the first letter that I ever wrote to YOUNG PEOPLE. I think Jimmy Brown's stories are very funny. I am nine years old. My brother, sister, and myself take YOUNG PEOPLE together.

S. BELLE C.

* * * * *

The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:

Foreign stamps, for minerals.

L. WEBSTER, East Walnut Lane and Hancock St., Germantown, Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

Japanese and Chinese coins or postmarks, for other coins.

MIRIAM HILL, Lock Box 79, Middletown, Conn.

* * * * *

A good spy-glass and four packages or colored inks, for a printing-press with type.

W. C. ROSENBERGER, Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio.

* * * * *

Foreign stamps, three for three.

BANKS H. BOUTON, New Rochelle, Westchester Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

I am making a collection of woods, and would like to get pieces of such as do not grow in this part of the country. Other woods or curious stones given in exchange, and postage repaid. Send pieces large enough to make, when planed, blocks one and a half inches in length and three-quarters of an inch square.

ALDA M. MICHAEL, Congress, Wayne Co., Ohio.

* * * * *

Two perfect locusts, for two foreign stamps, a small piece of petrified wood, or a rare butterfly.

A. F. WOOD, care of Box 287, Jacksonville, Fla.

* * * * *

Rare foreign stamps, stones, shells, mosses, and curiosities, for Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 26 of YOUNG PEOPLE, in good condition.

BESSIE H. LITTLE, Care of A. Pidgin, Lewiston, Me.

* * * * *

Toad-stone, found in only one locality in America, for Indian curiosities.

GEORGIANA R. and HATTIE D. PERKINS, Newburyport, Mass.

* * * * *

Indian arrow or tobacco pouch, for fifty foreign stamps (no duplicates).

WILLIAM E. DEEDS, 1312 East Franklin St., Evansville, Ind.

* * * * *

Stamps, minerals, ores, and coins, for orange, olive, pomegranate, red cedar, and eucalyptus woods, ores, and curiosities.

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

* * * * *

Foreign stamps, for picture cards. A good book, for a chick of good breed.

JESSE D. BURNS, 1123 Christian St., Philadelphia, Penn.

* * * * *

Boxes containing 200 small assorted West Indian shells, bright colors, specimens of coral, two sea-beans, five eye-stones, and twenty black-eyed Susans for exchange.

CLARENCE PAYNE, 162 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Ten postmarks, for five advertising cards for a collection; or a specimen of iron ore, for ten cards.

NELLIE C. S., Box 5, Dunnings, Lackawanna Co., Penn.

* * * * *

Rock from Long Island, for wood from any other than New York State.

H. BACHMAN, 193 Scholes St., Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.

* * * * *

Five Indian arrow-heads, for eighty foreign stamps.

EDDIE MENTZ, Woodsonville, Ky.

* * * * *

Forty foreign stamps and twenty postmarks, for a half-cent of 1831, '36, '40, '42, '43, '47, '48, '49, and '52, or a 2-cent piece of 1873, or a cent of 1804.

FRED CONNETT, 209 Mulberry St., Newark, N. J.

* * * * *

Stamps, for stones and minerals.

WALTER SNYDER, Dunnings, Lackawanna Co., Penn.

* * * * *

Foreign stamps, stones, and minerals, a base-ball belt, and curiosities, for copper cents of 1799, 1804, 1805, 1806, or 1810, sand from remote places, and Indian relics.

REDWOOD, 147 Benefit St., Providence, R. I.

* * * * *

Coins, and a collection of unique and valuable curiosities, for Liberty heads bearing date from 1793 to 1817 inclusive.

W. A. GRANT, Lock Box 152, Ingersoll, Ontario, Can.

* * * * *

Two stamps from Bavaria, Hungary, France, or German Empire, for one from Turkey or Africa.

E. D. KELLOGG, care M. C. Kellogg, Mount Vernon, Westchester Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

Fossils, for pink or mushroom coral, asbestos, gold or silver ore, star-fish, and other curiosities.

T. P. MORGAN, Garnett, Kansas.

* * * * *

A collection of shells, forty-five foreign stamps, and a stone from the Atlantic coast, for an Indian bow and arrow or a printing-press and type.

W. SHEPPARD, 180 Macomb St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

A five-foot bow or a seven-inch foot-ball, for a collection of 400 or 500 stamps (no duplicates).

PAUL Q. FORD, 97 Clark St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Seven postmarks, for one foreign stamp.

HARLEY STEVENSON, Hartwell, Ohio.

* * * * *

Five postmarks, for two foreign stamps. English stamps not desired.

N. G. HILLS, Hartwell, Ohio.

* * * * *

Minerals and botanical specimens for exchange.

STEPHEN H. BROWN, Gilbert's Lane, St. John, N. B.

* * * * *

A boy's book entitled _Stories of Courage and Perseverance_, by William H. G. Kingston, 323 pages, bound in cloth, and in good condition, for a postage-stamp album moderately filled.

ALBERT SHULTZ, Box 175, Staunton, Va.

* * * * *

A 10-cent War Department stamp, for a German, French, Swedish, Chinese, or Spanish.

ROSCOE N. DOYAL, Frankfort, Clinton Co., Ind.

* * * * *

Stuffed birds, Indian relics, fossils, and minerals, for other curiosities.

C. L. RAYMOND, Garrettsville, Portage Co., Ohio.

* * * * *

Ores and minerals, for Indian curiosities.

J. W. LIVINGSTON, Dodgeville, Wis.

* * * * *

Newspapers from Alabama, for the same from any other State. Cotton from the field, for curiosities.

EDDIE MALONE, Troy, Ala.

* * * * *

Pressed leaves and ferns, soil and stone, postmarks, and crystallized grasses, for Indian relics, sea-mosses, Florida sea-beans, and other curiosities.

Box 1001, Canton, Ohio.

* * * * *

Peruvian stamps of different varieties, and other rare foreign stamps, for foreign and U. S. Executive and Agricultural Department stamps.

EARL F. PEARCE, 28 Ridge St., Fall River, Mass.

* * * * *

A magic lantern which cost $5.50, and is in good condition, with three chromotypes and twenty-six views, for Will Carleton's _Farm Festivals_, and _The Tramp Abroad_, by Mark Twain. The books must be in good condition.

WALTER J. WELLS, Oswayo, Potter Co., Penn.

* * * * *

Rocks, soil, sand, postmarks, leaves, and newspapers from Missouri, for papers, stamps, or minerals.

JAMES LEWIS, Nevada, Vernon Co., Mo.

* * * * *

Rare U. S. stamps from 1851 to 1869, a petrified horn from the Rocky Mountains, petrified moss, and pine, and other curiosities, for coins, spear-heads, stone axes, and other Indian relics.

WILLIAM MCELHOSE, 22 Brill St., Newark, N. J.

* * * * *

A stamp from Russia, for a stamp from Cape of Good Hope, Mexico, Persia, Iceland, Norway, Turkey, or Bermuda.

GEORGE S. NICHOLAS, JUN., Babylon, L. I.

* * * * *

Ocean curiosities, quartz, mica schist, and pretty stones, for quartz crystals, iron pyrites, bark from California redwood-tree, and other curiosities.

L. J., Box 529, South Berwick, Me.

* * * * *

English, French, German, and Russian stamps, for foreign coins.

J. BURRIDGE BUTLER, Care of Rev. T. D. Butler, 112 Spruce St., Akron, Ohio.

* * * * *

Twenty postmarks, for an Indian arrow-head; and five postmarks, for a stamp from Peru or Brazil, or a Spanish stamp.

ALBERT RARESHIDE, 740 St. Charles St., New Orleans, La.

* * * * *

A three-wheeled iron-mounted velocipede in good condition, for a complete steam-engine.

LOUIS FLITZ, 2 West Thirteenth St., New York City.

* * * * *

Five and ten cent Mexican and five-cent Cuban, for other rare stamps.

AL. EASTON, 233 South Second St., Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.

* * * * *

Postmarks and curiosities, for sea-shells or star-fish.

E. C. WHEELER, Grant's Pass, Jackson Co., Oregon.

* * * * *

Stamps and lava, for stamps and curiosities, especially arrow-heads.

ALEX. ROBERTSON, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands.

* * * * *

Soil or minerals from this, for curiosities or stamps from any other State.

WILLIE B. HEATH, Hastings, Dakota Co., Minn.

* * * * *

The _Swiss Family Robinson_, in paper form, _Our Year_, bound in black cloth, and with gilt edges, and by the author of _John Halifax, Gentleman_, a base-ball, and an Indian canoe 14 inches long, for a good printing-press.

A. W., Box 15, Theresa, Jefferson Co., N. Y.

* * * * *

Ocean curiosities, coins, fossils, and foreign stamps, for Indian relics.

WILLIAM A. WHITE, Sag Harbor, Long Island, N. Y.

* * * * *

Lava, fossils, petrifactions, and shells, for amethyst, red and mushroom corals, and minerals.

LULU CRAFT, Bergen Point, N. J.

* * * * *

U. S. stamps of many denominations, for rare foreign stamps; three-cornered Cape of Good Hope and South American stamps desired.

ANNA G. HESSE, 236 South Second St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

* * * * *

Fossil shells, crystallized gypsum, talc, and other minerals, for minerals and sea-shells.

JAMES D. KEYES, 926 Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa.

* * * * *

A stamp from Venezuela, South America, for one from Japan, Cape of Good Hope, or Russia.

W. M. VAN DER WEYDE, 236 Duffield St., near Fulton, Brooklyn, L. I.

* * * * *

Department stamps, for coins, butterflies, cocoons, moths, and chrysalides.

WILLIAM B. KEARFOTT, Tenth and Market Sts., Wilmington, Del.

* * * * *

Pieces of the "Old Elm" of Boston, for curiosities. Stamps not desired.

MIRIAM AUDLEY, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

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

* * * * *

E. H. Stallcup, Julia F. Squires, and Florence Pope withdraw from our exchange list.

Fred Crossett will please send his exchange again.

* * * * *

Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Will O. Tree," Eva Jane Ward, "_Castor and Pollux_," Jessie Newton, "A. U. Gusta," "Dandy," "North Star," "Prudy," J. C. Tomes, "_Aerolite_," F. Nichols, _Bessie Linn_.

* * * * *

PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

TWO DIAMONDS.

1.--1. A letter. 2. An article of furniture, 3. Fastened. 4. Relating to the base. 5. Destroying the tenth. 6. Retarded. 7. Tropical fruits. 8. A color. 9. A letter.

2.--1. A letter. 2. To injure. 3. Ghosts. 4. Lacerates. 5. Mortifies. 6. Sets free. 7. Feeling. 8. To perceive. 9. A letter.

AEROLITE.

* * * * *

No. 2.

WORD SQUARE.

1. A wild animal. 2. A river of Europe. 3. Having power. 4. A water plant.

MONSIEUR.

* * * * *

No. 3.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

I am composed of 24 letters, and am a familiar adage: My 12, 6, 3, 9 is a heavenly body. My 1, 7, 19, 8, 2 is an animal. My 21, 5, 4, 14, 11 was a King of the Jews. My 18, 10, 17 is the reverse of cold. My 13, 3, 22, 16 is a vessel for water. My 20, 7, 15, 23, 24 is a young person.

J. C. T.

* * * * *

No. 4.

A HIDDEN CITY.

My first is in Berlin, but not in York. My second is in Paris, but not in Cork. My third is in Belfast, but not in Cologne. My fourth is in Lyons, but not in Boulogne. My fifth is in Naples, but not in Geneva. My sixth is in Florence, but not in Messina. My seventh is in Lisbon, but not in Rome. My whole, without an attempt, at mystery, Was a famous city of ancient history.

R. T.

* * * * *

No. 5.

DROP-LETTER PUZZLE.

1. e--e--e-- A city of the United States. 2. e--e--e-- A gulf which enters China. 3. e--e--e-- A huge sea in the Old World. 4. e--e--e-- A bay in the United States. 5. e--e--e-- An island in the Pacific.

DANDY.

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 96.

No. 1.

L L A W S A T E D R E C E D E S

No. 2.

Gladstone.

No. 3.

S A N A A D E N N E V A A N A M

No. 4.

Portulaca.

SENTENCE-MAKING.

BY J. R. SEVER.

Harry Penwright came home from school one day grumbling, and with a frown on his brow.

"Another composition," he said, crossly. "I wish we never had any compositions at all to write. I don't see what good they are, anyway."

Harry grumbled himself out of temper at first; but finding at length that grumbling was not likely to help him do his task, he took the better course of seeking his father's advice on the matter. His father explained to him the necessity of training boys and girls to express their ideas in simple, well-chosen language, and to write with ease and entertainingly on all topics. Then he explained an exercise called "sentence-making" which he used to have at school when a boy, and which he said might help Harry to write compositions more readily, while it would at the same time afford him a pleasant pastime.

Harry was eager to begin the new exercise, and he got the big dictionary from the library table and brought it to his father.

The latter, pleased at his awakened interest, said: "I will select some words at random from the dictionary, and you must try and combine them into sentences. Now if you are ready, we will have our first exercise in sentence-making."

While his father turned over the pages, Harry copied down the following words: Intrusts, Idle, Account, Merits, Follow, Strict, Cultivate, Excel.