Part 4

My friend from New York city and I thought we would write and tell you about our camping out upon a hill behind our house. We built a little shanty just large enough to sit up and lie down in, besides a little place to put our apples and drinking water in. We slept with soft hats on, pulled down over our ears to keep from catching cold, lying on and under blankets. It was quite a cold night outside, but with the aid of a lantern we read YOUNG PEOPLE, and kept warm inside by hugging up close together. We were very careful about the light being seen by the boys, for fear they would come up and trouble us as they did last year. We covered the cracks around the sides with old carpets, and the roof with oil-cloth, to keep from getting wet if it should happen to rain. We slept well, and in the morning I heard some one call, "Time to get up; half past five," so we got up and opened our house; and next summer, if we live, we will camp out again. We hope to have YOUNG PEOPLE till we grow up, and we always welcome it.

RIP VAN WINKLE. E. O. P.

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

I think I must tell you about my gray cat. My papa brought him home from New York one day, and he was at first very wild, but plenty to eat and kind treatment soon tamed him. His color is gray, and he has black stripes on his head, paws, back, and sides. He is very greedy; we may feed him all day, and then he will come and rub up against us, as if begging for more. He is a very affectionate cat, for when I go out into the yard, he comes up out of the honeysuckles and purrs with pleasure. I have had him about three months.

ROSIE E. W.

You might call your gray pussy Oliver Twist, after a certain poor boy who was abused quite as much as poor Tim, and who was always asking for "more," though he had far less to eat than your cat, and so had an excuse for being always hungry. Do you know who wrote the story of _Oliver Twist_?

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My brother and I are making a "zoo," and have quite a collection. I would like to increase my stock with a live turtle or terrapin, and I will exchange twelve picture cards for a small one.

We are now reading _Life and her Children_, and find it adds much to the pleasure of our work in collecting.

My brother is eleven and I am nine years old.

F. C. ELY, 238 S. Third St., Philadelphia, Penn.

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The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:

Stamps, foreign and domestic, for exchange.

F. H. WATERS, Cambridge, Dorset Co., Md.

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Rare South American and East Indian stamps, for others equally rare.

B. F. MCLAUGHLIN, 122 Front St., New York City.

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A stone from Illinois, for three postmarks from any other State.

RALPH B. LARKIN, New Windsor, Mercer Co., Ill.

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A hand-power scroll-saw, one iron stone, one flint Indian arrow-head, two books, entitled _The Six Little Rebels_ and _The American Family Robinson_, for a bicycle, stamps, or coins.

H. B. MCGRAW, 206 Prospect St., Cleveland, Ohio.

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A 20-inch miniature yacht, sloop-rigged, and warranted to sail, a three-draw spy-glass, and fifty stamps, for a foot-power scroll-saw and appliances in good condition.

WILLIAM E. ELDRIDGE, 323 York St., Jersey City, N. J.

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U. S. stamps, postmarks, New York papers and editors' names, for curiosities, stamps, etc., or for a printing-press and type.

THOMAS J. STANTON, 39 Madison St., New York City.

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Fifty foreign and official stamps, several rare English and other foreign coins, for type in good condition.

WILL J. DANTE, 1212 Sixth St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

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Internal revenue stamps, ores, postmarks, insects, and arrow-heads, for stamps from Asia, Africa, or South America.

ELMER POST, Box 1503, Towanda, Penn.

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Pressed flowers and ferns from Pennsylvania, lichens, etc., for ocean curiosities, minerals, or old coins. Please label specimens.

Box 26, New Bloomfield, Perry Co., Penn.

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A dix-centimes French coin, for a stamp from Paraguay and one from Cashmere; an English half-penny, for a stamp from Honduras and one from Orange States.

ALFRED C. ROWLAND, Montclair, Essex Co., N. J.

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Hot Springs specimens, for a popular poem entitled "We've drank from the same Canteen," sent in order for a scrap-book.

MAIE G. HAMBLEN, Hot Springs, Ark.

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Pretty pebbles from Lake Erie, for foreign stamps or curiosities.

ALTHEA LEHMAN, Bloomville, Seneca Co., Ohio.

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Postmarks, for curiosities.

HARRY T. LONG, Malden, Mass.

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Stones from Colorado, mica from Illinois, stones and sand from Africa, 197 foreign stamps (no duplicates), four sea-beans, a fine collection of sea-shells, gold and copper ores, a book, and a $1 gold piece, for a bicycle, wheel not less than 36 inches.

BUTTON MCPHETRIDGE, Danville, Hendricks Co., Ind.

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Seven postmarks, for one foreign stamp.

PERRY R. S. SWAYZE, New Columbus, Luzerne Co., Penn.

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Rare European and other foreign stamps, for the same.

CHARLIE L. MILLER, Lock Box 108, Bristol, R. I.

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Foam of different colors from Oswego Iron-Works, or European stamps, for specimens of woods 5 inches long and over 1-1/2 inches in circumference.

HOSEA WOOD, 448 Eighth St., Portland, Oregon.

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Woods from Indiana, for foreign or department stamps.

Box 266, Bloomington, Monroe Co., Ind.

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Nine fancy picture cards, for an Indian arrow-head.

NELLIE M. BLODGETT, 119 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, N. Y.

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Seven rare postmarks, for one foreign stamp or U. S. issue older than 1860.

MAC ENTWISTLE, 603 Rives St., Troy, N. Y.

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Two hundred feet of good cotton fish-line, for an Indian tomahawk or other Indian curiosities; seventy-five postmarks, for an Indian pipe or string of beads.

E. C. SHAW, 459 Superior St., Toledo, Ohio.

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Foreign stamps, for old and foreign coins, relics, and curiosities.

C. SMITH, Box 636, Pittston, Penn.

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U. S. stamps, for foreign ones.

J. N. BUTLER, care of Hall & Macdonald, 1651 Broadway, New York City.

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Postmarks or foreign stamps, moss from Idaho or Oregon, for a 7 or 90 cent U. S. department stamp of 1869. Oliver Optic's _Up the Baltic_, bound in cloth, for a stamp album little used.

CHARLES W. GIBBS, 155 Taylor St., Portland, Oregon.

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White birch bark, specimens of iron ore, mica, quartz crystals, and fossils, for rare or foreign coins, relics, and specimens. Everything must be carefully labelled.

J. S. WARREN, Brooklyn, Ontario, Can.

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Crystals, very clear and large, from the Black Hills, ores, petrifactions, and metallic specimens, for curiosities.

CARL KEHRWEIDER, JUN., 1711 Rittenhouse St., Philadelphia, Penn.

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Two hundred and twenty-five postmarks, for foreign stamps and curiosities.

HORACE TOMKINSOL, Mount Salem, Wilmington, Del.

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Foreign stamps, for the same, minerals, Indian relics, and other curiosities.

HARVEY C. SHAW, Box 607, Jamestown, N. Y.

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Minerals, woods, ores, Indian relics, and curiosities, for coins, minerals, curiosities, and copies of the old _Farmer's Almanac_ older than 1879.

HERBERT CARR, Box 1112, Brockton, Mass.

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A stone and soil from New Jersey and New York, for the same from any other State; and a paper from New York and New Jersey, for the same from any other State except Massachusetts.

M. STIEFEL, 36 East Sixtieth St., New York City.

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Three good books, called _The Burning Prairie_, _Ten Cents_, _Dick Cheverly's Adventures and Misadventures_, a stamp album containing 142 stamps, and three sets of fancy cards, for a good self-inking printing-press with font of type.

JAMES E. HARDENBERGH, 109 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.

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Ores and other minerals, and cocoons of a very large moth, six inches across the wings, some of the cocoons nearly as large as my fist, for Indian relics, ocean curiosities, and sea-shells. Correspondents will please write to arrange exchange. Also, if desired, large butterflies properly spread for collector's case.

ARTHUR C. SMITH, 554 Division St., Chicago, Ill.

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Three stamps of Argentine Republic, three of Brazil, two of Cape of Good Hope, three of Chili, four of Egypt, three of Hong-Kong, three of Norway, four of Russia, and one of Turkey, for a complete set of Curacoa or of Surinam; twelve Switzerland stamps, for a 7-cent State Department. No duplicates in any of the above.

H. HARBECK, 142 East Thirty-sixth St., New York City.

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Foreign stamps, shells, minerals, and curiosities, for 7, 90, and 15 cent War and State, 15 and 24 cent Agriculture, 10-cent Executive, and 24-cent Treasury stamps, St. Helena coins, U. S. cents of 1793, 1799, 1804, and 1809, and Indian arrow-heads. I belong to the Providence Natural History Society, and am Secretary of it. H. R. Guild is President. Any letters addressed to the head-quarters of the club will reach me.

H. BUFFUM, 101 Waterman St., Providence, R. I.

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_Three Months' Rustication_, by Ballantyne, or _Don Quixote_, for one of Bayard Taylor's books of travels or Irving's _Astoria_.

CHARLES BENNETT, Boonville, Warwick Co., Ind.

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Specimens, for Indian relics and U. S. half-cents and old cents. Porcupine quills from Manitoba and silk-worm eggs from Japan, for rare U. S. postage stamps.

STILLMAN GRIFFIN, Moline, Ill.

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Twenty foreign stamps (no duplicates), for a triangular Cape of Good Hope.

BENNIE SQUIER, Box 585, Orange, N. J.

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All the stamps of British Honduras, for a set of Justice or State. Two stamps from Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Victoria, Jamaica, Egypt, Greece, Japan, French Colonies, British Honduras, British Guiana, Brunswick, Queensland, or New South Wales, for any of the following: Post-office 10-cent; Agriculture 1, 2, 10, 12, 15, 24, or 30 cent; Justice 1, 2, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, or 90 cent; Navy 7 or 90 cent; War 7, 24, or 90 cent; and any of State or Executive.

A. B. C., 166 West Fifty-fifth St., New York City.

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Ten postmarks, for a penny of 1850, or a half-penny of 1839 or any other year up to 1871; five different U. S. stamps, for one foreign stamp.

MAUDE SMITH, 111 Greene St., Dayton, Ohio.

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A few pieces of fossil limestone, for rare foreign stamps. Stamps from Asia, Africa, and South America especially desired.

E. C. BAILEY, Decorah, Iowa.

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Stones from the road made by General Anthony Wayne in 1792 going from Pittsburgh to Detroit, for sea-shells or pieces of different kinds of wood an inch and a half long and three-quarters of an inch square. Label the specimens.

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

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A good work in five volumes, for an alligator's tooth and other curiosities. Write to arrange.

CONSTANT READER, Box 465, Rome, N. Y.

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A pair of roller skates in good order, for a pair of ice skates in good order. Please send postal describing skates before sending.

GRACIE A. PETTIT, Box 554, Yonkers, N. Y.

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Three books, nearly new, _Rational Method for Learning French_, _Acme Biography_, and _American Patriotism_, a steel bracket-saw, and artist's sketching camera, papers and magazines, all for a self-inking press, chase not less than 4 by 6 inches. Write and describe before sending press.

C. H. NICHOLS, Cumming P. O., Forsyth Co., Ga.

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A sword-fish sword, from the waters around Block Island, and two books, for a pair of white mice and a young alligator. Write to arrange exchange.

EWING WATTERSON, Everett House, New York City.

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

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Exchangers will please notice again that we do not allow fire-arms to be exchanged, and that offers of anything curious or valuable for money are not accepted. We repeat, in answer to several questioners, that there is no charge for inserting exchanges.

* * * * *

We are very glad that Perry W. had such a delightful visit at his grandpa's, and would like to have eaten some of the fish he caught. The little sister's birthday was charmingly remembered. Spencer P. H. sent us a very bright little letter about the ants. Did he ever read H. H.'s clever story, "My Ant's Cow?" Ethel I.'s little sisters Marion and Muriel must be as sweet as their beautiful names. We would like to see the pets, of which we are sure Rena and Elsie take good care. Della C. may be sure we quite agree with her about the unfortunate Jimmy Brown. Nellie F. may write and tell us about the fair. We are very sorry with Curtis and Appa that their dear cousin Freddie is dead. We may live, as they do, in a Happy Valley, and still feel the touch of sorrow. But Freddie had been ill "a long, long while," and he is now forever free from pain.

* * * * *

E. A. Houston's address is changed from Monmouth Beach, N. J., to 9 West Nineteenth St., New York City. "Reader of YOUNG PEOPLE," Box 114, Cumberland, Md., has received over 100 answers to his exchange, and his supply of coins is exhausted. He will return their postmarks to all who shall send him a stamp for the purpose.

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C. H. B.--Articles in YOUNG PEOPLE are paid for according to their value. It is not best for very young writers to be in haste about sending their stories and poems to any paper for publication.

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Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Castor and Pollux," "_Queen Bess_," Ed. S. Harrington, Willie Volckhausen, "Lodestar," Charles H. Battey, "Phil I. Pene," G. Volckhausen, C. A. N., "Young America."

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PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.

No. 1.

TRANSPOSITION--(_To Aerolite_).

I am a boy's nickname. Change my head, and I become a pest; again, a rug; again, a flying creature; again, a useful animal; again, an article of apparel; again, an adjective; and again, a verb.

LODESTAR.

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No. 2.

ENIGMA.

In weaving, not in twining. In dazzling, not in shining. In trimming, not in clipping. In stepping, not in tripping. In church, but not in steeple. My whole an ancient people.

OWLET.

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No. 3.

TWO EASY DIAMONDS.

1.--1. A letter. 2. A liquor. 3. A dazzling light. 4. To miss the way. 5. A letter.

2.--1. A letter. 2. A girl's name. 3. A boy's name. 4. To help. 5. A letter.

CASTOR AND POLLUX.

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No. 4.

EASY NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

I am composed of 12 letters, and am the title of a poem by John G. Whittier. My 2, 5, 6, 3 is a place of industry. My 9, 7, 4, 1 is saucy. My 12, 10, 8, 11 is a timid creature.

R. T.

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No. 5.

CHARADE.

In every city my first is free; In each back yard on the fence 'twill be. My second is owned by every man; You'll find it in can't, you'll find it in can. My third, with a spring to the good roan steed, The cry of the hounds impatient heed; Ride like the wind, nor risk a fall, For savage and fierce is my tameless _all_.

AEROLITE.

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 97.

No. 1.

C or D O tt O R ea R A nn A

No. 2.

C O N S U M P T I O N H U R R I C A N E C O W S L I P P O S T S L I E S A S P W H I T E W E E P I N G S A N D P I P E R S U P E R I N T E N D

No. 3.

M P E T M E D A L T A N L

No. 4.

Aar, bar, car, ear, far, jar, lar, mar, oar, par, tar, war.

No. 5.

Because last year was 1880, and next year will be 1880 too (1882).

A NEW SERIAL.

In No. 101 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, issued October 4, will appear the first chapter of a fascinating serial story, entitled

THE TALKING LEAVES,

BY W. O. STODDARD.

The story of "The Talking Leaves" is one of Indian life in the far Southwest, the scenes being laid in Arizona and Mexico. Without being sensational or exaggerated, the story is of absorbing interest. The descriptions of places and persons are true to nature, and the illustrations, drawn by THULSTRUP, are reproductions of actual characters and incidents. Mr. Stoddard is already so well known to the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE as the author of some of their favorite stories that the mere mention of his name is a sufficient introduction.

QUEER KITES.

I was once passing along a side street in an Eastern city when I caught sight of an object in the sky which seemed to be neither bird, nor balloon, nor kite. It darted about like a skipper on the surface of a pool. It would rush off to one side and the other, going through the queerest contortions and doublings, opening and shutting and throwing itself about like an acrobat. I started toward it, determined to know what the indescribable, twitching thing was. Before I had gone far I caught sight of a young Chinaman on a house-top making some queer motions with his hands. I soon saw that my curiosity in the heavens was a kite, and he was flying it.

I now saw that the kite was in the form of a parallelogram (this page is in the form of a parallelogram), and that it had no tail. What kept it from whirling round and round, as all my kites had done when their tails came off, I could not imagine. So I sought an acquaintance with the young Chinaman, and obtained a good look at the kite. I measured all the distances, and got the proportions. I looked at the materials, and learned all I could. Then I went home, and tried to make one.

I turned out something that looked very much like it. There is not much trouble in that. We can make a gong that _looks_ like a Chinese gong, but it will not work. Neither would my kite. I took it out to try it, and before I had let out three feet of string it was whirling like a windmill. If it had any Chinese blood in its veins, it certainly hadn't become aware of it. It had all the characteristics of the rest of American-born kites.

I loosened strings and tightened strings, cut strings and slipped strings, and tied knots, but it still acted more like a windmill than a kite. I was about giving it up in despair when I happened to try a decided slip of the balance down, and the diving ceased. It would now stand still, looking as hob-tailed as one of the "three blind mice." I could make it dart about, and perform all the antics. By pulling it in rapidly I could even make it pass over my head, and go some distance back of me against the wind, and when I stopped pulling it would float back into place. I could make it double itself, and bow and dance as oddly as its Chinese model. It would sail up in the slightest breath of wind, and altogether was so entertaining that I believe some of the boys who read this paper would like to follow my recipe.

The frame is made of split bamboo. Get a piece of a bamboo or cane fish-pole (the dealers generally have broken ones which they will give you). Split it up into very thin strips, perhaps an eighth of an inch wide and a sixteenth thick. They must be very thin, for when your kite is done it ought to stand bending double as safely as a Damascus blade. You need five sticks in all. After you have these ready, make your frame in this manner (see Fig. 1): The heavy lines are the sticks, which must be tied together at A, B, C, and D. The dotted line represents the string which is put around them. A good size for the kite is about two feet. You now have the frame ready. For the cover get the lightest paper you can that is strong. Toughness of paper is very important. Put on your paper, pasting it over the strings and the stick A C. Now fasten the end of a string at A; lay the kite down with the sticks undermost; bring the string to C, and draw it until the stick A C rises in a moderate bow, B rising about two inches; then fasten at C, and clip.

The balancing is much the same as for an ordinary kite. Fasten the ends of a balance at o, o, o, o, etc., letting them cross each other about eight inches from the kite. Having got these all even, let fall one more string to support the centre (D), and tie this in with the rest. Attach your string at a point (J) about opposite the cross-stick F E, and you are ready to try it.

Take it out when there is a light wind (they never behave well in a gale), and let it off. Very likely it will spin round at first, but by sliding the knot downward upon the balance strings you are certain to reach a point where the diving will cease. Then begin working it upward until the disposition to dive is but moderate, regulating the tendency to go to one side or the other by sliding the knot toward that side, and you will have a kite which will afford you more amusement than you have found in all your kite-flying before.

Another very curious kite is called the "dragon kite" (see Fig. 2), and when in the air it twists and makes a snake-like movement which is exceedingly curious and attractive. They can be easily made, and will fully repay the labor and pains taken.

The round hoops are made of bamboo or very light whale-bone, and are about twelve inches in diameter in the centre, growing smaller at each end. The hoops are covered with thin strong paper, pasted carefully over the edges, and so loosely as to sink in the centre so as to hold the wind. Five strings connect the hoops together, the one in the centre passing through each one, and is part of the cord held by the kite-flyer. The little balls are made of many-colored down, fastened by threads to each quarter of the hoops, while the tails are made of worsted pulled out about six inches. They are easily raised and managed.