Among the eager little ones who look anxiously for the coming of
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE is a brown-eyed little boy, three years old,
named Carlos--called Carlie, for short. He knows all his letters,
and recites some of the _Mother Goose Melodies_, and frequently
makes funny speeches, sometimes to the great discomfort of his
parents. While at the depot at Lockport waiting for a train, a very
fleshy lady, weighing not less than two hundred and fifty pounds,
came in, and very unfortunately seated herself next to Master
Carlie and his mamma. He had been very naughty, and now wanted to
make up with mamma. He said, "Please kiss me, won't you, mamma?"
"No, no; I am displeased with you," replied she. He teased until
she finally kissed him. But the kiss lacked warmth, and did not
satisfy him, so he pleaded, "Kiss me again, mamma; give me a _big_
kiss--one as big as--as that big fat lady," pointing his finger at
her. Everybody present laughed heartily, except the "big fat lady,"
who failed to see the joke.
Another time he had been unusually trying all day long, and mamma
was quite out of patience, and asked, "Carlie, why don't you be
good? When papa comes home and I tell how you have behaved, it will
make him have a pain in his heart." He looked up from his play, and
said very seriously, "_What_ makes you tell him, then?" His aunt, a
very dignified, middle-aged lady, came to visit us, and of course
all Carlie's accomplishments had to be shown off--the chief one
being turning summersaults. After one or two failures, over he went
and hurt himself against the bed. He rose rubbing his back, and
looking very earnestly at his aunt, said, "Aunt Lydia, does it hurt
your back when you turn summersaults?" He took it for granted she
turned summersaults every day of her life, like himself. He
occasionally tries to make rhymes (regardless of measure, however).
One day he said, "One, two, three, a flea bit me;" and another
time, in saying his letters, came to Y, said, "Y, y, y, what a
smart boy am I." Every week mamma reads HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE to
him, all the stories and letters, poetry, etc.; but that does not
satisfy if I omit the advertisements, so they are read too. He is a
queer little fellow.
"MRS. CALIFORNIA."
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GUSTAVUS W. S.--The editor would think it unfair to other exchangers to
do what you propose.
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Thanks to the little friends who have found arbutus, and sent it to us.
The little boxes fairly smiled at us when opened, and the sweet shy
perfume of the flowers was like a kiss from Spring herself.
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IRENE.--Messrs. Harper & Brothers have recently published a practical
little volume entitled _Money-Making for Ladies_, by Ella Rodman Church.
It gives many excellent suggestions to girls who, like yourself, are
anxious to find some pleasant way of adding to their incomes.
* * * * *
GERTRUDE H.--Although we do not think your story, "The Morning Ride,"
quite good enough to print, we like it very much as the composition of a
little girl who is only eleven years old.
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LOUIS P. P.--_Bancroft's History of the United States_ (new edition)
will be adapted to your purpose. We do not advise the organization of a
formal club. One or two friends and yourself will do better work if you
read with each other when you can conveniently meet.
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