school, but recite my lessons at home. I have one Maltese cat I
call John Crawford, and another Jerusha (I call her Jerry for
short). Jerry has two little kittens; they are just as funny as
they can be. I have a shepherd dog named Jack; he and the cats and
kittens eat from the same dish, and do not quarrel one bit. Then I
have a cow and two little calves, and two colts. My colts are named
Dick and Daisy; they are one year old, and my papa says I may ride
them next fall. The last, and almost the least, is my little pig
Bessie. Papa says my brother Jo and I will bankrupt him yet feeding
our stock. Jo is my only brother; he is thirteen. My papa has been
real sick almost a year; he expects to go to the sea-shore this
summer.
I do hope you will print this letter. I have not seen any from this
part of Illinois. If you do, in my next I will tell you about a
rat-hunt my grandpapa and I had. I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE best
of all.
CHARLIE W.
* * * * *
DES MOINES, IOWA.
I am a little girl ten years old. I have lived in Des Moines for
nearly one year. I do not like Des Moines very much. I have written
three letters to YOUNG PEOPLE, but as none of them have been
published, I thought I would write again. On the 18th of June a
cyclone passed here, and on the 22d of June a cyclone passed not
far from our house, and mamma said it would have been here if it
had not been for the rain. In Kansas, when they see a cyclone
coming, they all go to large holes in the ground, and stay there
until it is all over, and then they come out again to their houses.
I have a cousin in Germany, and she takes HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE
too. I have been taking it ever since the first number. I am very
glad that the vacation months have come, it has been so warm here
ever since the 1st of June.
E. K.
* * * * *
JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.
Ma says I may write a letter too,
As many of the little boys and girls do;
So I will try and write, and see
How it will look in poetry.
I'm a little girl just twice six and one,
With this world's work just begun.
My father is a farmer, and bridge-builder too,
So, you have guessed wisely, there is plenty to do.
We all help to plant, to dig, and to hoe;
To be sure, in time we've plenty to mow;
For of all good times for children to play,
The best of all is on hay-making day.
Now 'tis our old house I must tell you about:
'Twas built for a tavern, all on a stage route;
Great trees of walnut were cut and hauled,
And placed together firmly to make these old walls;
It looks very old and ancient to some,
But yet it is a very dear and comfortable home.
My grandpa says, near sixty years ago or more
He made latches and hinges for these very doors.
The things that were made then were made to wear,
But now things of that kind you'll find very rare.
He had his shop where he could get the breeze,
And he hung his bellows between two trees,
But now his locks are silvery and gray,
And his house is the best place for children to play.
Dear Postmistress, should you be weary and need rest,
The best of all places is near the Athens of the West.
We take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, think it grand indeed,
And take great pleasure when your stories we read.
If you will please print my letter,
I will close by signing my name.
NINETTA.
I wonder if I can match this poetical letter by some jingles. Let me
try:
An epistle, dear Netta, so charmingly rhymed,
For weather like this I think very well timed.
I'm glad that at grandpa's, when lessons are done,
Yourself and your friends can have plenty of fun.
And I hope you will try to be thorough, my dear,
So that your work, like his, may last many a year.
* * * * *
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
I look forward to the day HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE comes with very
much pleasure. The stories are very amusing, and the letters are
very nice indeed. All seem to like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" very
much. I like it too. I am nine years old, and I have had three
birds. One poisoned itself eating the leaves of the trumpet-vine;
another broke its leg; the other died a natural death. And now my
other little bird is living, and is very tame. I have never written
to HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE before, but I hope my first trial will be
successful.
LYDIA D. D.
* * * * *
MINEOLA, TEXAS.
I am a little girl seven years old. I want to tell you about my
pets. I have two kitties; one is named Tabby, the other is named
Jumbo. I did have a little rabbit, but Tabby caught it and ate it.
I can play four tunes on the organ. As this is my first, please
publish it.
ANNIE H. N.
* * * * *
PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.
I have only taken YOUNG PEOPLE a little while, and I like it very
much. I have a little sister named Alice, and a little cousin named
Marie. One day Alice did something that Marie did not like, and
looking up in Alice's face, she said, "Lallie, you make me
nervous." Grandma gave me a year's subscription of YOUNG PEOPLE for
a philopena present, and my uncle gave me a bound copy for the year
1881.
E. U. O.
* * * * *
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.
I went to New York with mamma to see my grandpa, and had a good
time. I liked the elevated railroad very much; I wasn't afraid at
all. I went to Central Park, and saw some monkeys, birds,
buffaloes, a polar bear, and lots of other things. One bird picked
the other bird's feathers out. A man put his finger right in the
buffalo's mouth, and another man let the birds eat pea-nuts out of
his mouth. I used to have curls, and they were cut off when I was
in New York. My sister thinks I look like a monkey, but I think I
look nice. We are all going to Barnum's Circus to see Jumbo. I saw
the picture of him in the paper that you send us. My sister wrote
this letter for me, because I couldn't print it good enough.
GEORGE L. W.
* * * * *
MARENGO, ILLINOIS.
I am twelve years old, and live on a farm of one hundred and one
acres. I have lots of fun on the farm. I have a few pets; they are
rabbits, tame canaries, a dog, a cow, and a little calf. I had a
horse, or one that I called mine. One day my dog Fido--for that is
his name--went into the barn to catch rats, and he got caught in a
steel trap, and it took two of us to set him free, and his foot was
almost crushed.
JOHN R. W.
I am very sorry for Fido's misfortune.
* * * * *
CHERRIES.
Under the tree the farmer said,
Smiling, and shaking his wise old head:
"Cherries are ripe! but then, you know,
There's the grass to cut and the corn to hoe;
We can gather the cherries any day.
But when the sun shines we must make our hay.
To-night, when the work has all been done,
We'll muster the boys, for fruit and fun."
Up in the tree a robin said,
Perking and cocking his saucy head:
"Cherries are ripe! and so to-day
We'll gather them while you make the hay;
For we are the boys with no corn to hoe,
No cows to milk, and no grass to mow."
At night the farmer said: "Here's a trick!
Those roguish robins have had their pick."
* * * * *
PEOLI, OHIO.
I live in the country, and we have many kinds of birds, but I want
you to tell me why they change so. A few years ago there were lots
of peewees and wrens. Now there are none of them at all, and the
birds that used to be so shy are building close by, the redbird in
the bushes near the front door, the winter king in a hole in an old
peach-tree by the back door. There is going to be a picnic just a
few rods from our house. I am ten years old, and have no little
brothers or sisters. I have two brothers. One is married; the other
is older than I. He can draw nice pictures of our house and barn,
and lots of other things. We have two canaries, and they go to
setting as soon as they lay one egg. We have had lots of pets. One
was a crow, which could do the most mischievous things, and was
very funny. We have only a dog named Bran, some kittens, and a pet
lamb. Bran will stand with his mouth open for Fred to milk in it,
and sit before us on a horse to ride. I have a cousin Nelly coming
to spend vacation with me. We shall have bathing-dresses, and will
play in the brook. There is not enough water to swim in. I wish
there was.
ROBBA M.
The new birds must have driven the wrens and peewees away to find other
homes. Perhaps you may be able to coax them back again.
* * * * *
A few Sundays ago, while service was in progress in the Presbyterian
church at Rome, New York, what should walk demurely up the aisle but a
little gray kitten. She stood on the pulpit steps, and looked at the
boys and girls, who were in quite a flutter for fear somebody would say
"scat," or pick kitty up and carry her out-doors. But nobody troubled
her, and presently the little thing jumped up to one of the chairs in
front of the pulpit, laid her head on her paws, and fell asleep. There
she staid until church was out.
* * * * *
N. P. G.--Messrs. Harper & Brother's will send _Toby Tyler_, or any
other volume on their list, to any address on receipt of the published
price. It is necessary only to direct your order to Harper & Brothers,
Franklin Square, New York. Letters designed for the various periodicals,
or for any department in either of them, should be addressed in the same
way.
* * * * *
A SUBSCRIBER.--I can not recommend any manual on the subject to which
you refer. A few lessons from a good teacher are indispensable.
* * * * *
A lady of Yonkers, New York, lately sent to the Flower Mission in New
York City two thousand clove pinks tied in bunches of fifty each. On
account of their sweet, spicy fragrance these were sent to the blind
sufferers in hospitals.
* * * * *
Little lovers of birds will send their good wishes to the kind Mr. and
Mrs. Robin of whom this pretty story is told. A gentleman in Milton,
Massachusetts, owns a mocking-bird, whose cage hangs under the piazza.
Near by is a nest containing young robins. The parent birds are busy all
day bringing worms to their young family. Twice, says the observer, the
robins have been seen to pause on their way to their brood, and drop
worms through the bars of the cage to the little prisoner.
* * * * *
ELSIE G.--Your cat is really a gifted creature, but if I were papa, I
would not like him to be quite so familiar. Did you ever dress him up
with a paper cap, and a ruff around his neck?
* * * * *
GERTIE AND LOTTIE B.--Such a century plant as yours is a treasure worth
owning.
* * * * *
BESSIE H. B.--I am glad that you find it a pleasant occupation to help
mamma in her garden. You forgot to tell me what you are raising besides
strawberries. Did they turn out well, and repay you for your labor?
* * * * *
COUNT RUMFORD.--The ball of the foot must be on the pedal of the
bicycle.
* * * * *
MAX L.--The story of "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" began in HARPER'S YOUNG
PEOPLE, Vol. III., No. 127, published April 4, 1882.
* * * * *
C. Y. P. R. U.
GREAT PAUL.--Great Paul is an enormous bell which was cast for St.
Paul's, in London, and has lately been hung in its belfry. It measures
ten feet across the mouth, and weighs sixteen tons. You may imagine what
deep tones will issue from this immense bell when it is rung on
occasions of joy or grief. Large as Great Paul is, however, there are
bigger bells in the world. The largest one in actual use is at Moscow,
and it weighs nearly a hundred and thirty tons. The next largest is in
Pekin, where there is a bell which weighs fifty tons. At Notre Dame, in
Paris, there is a bell which weighs seventeen tons. The true test of a
bell is its strength of sound. How far can you hear it? is the question,
not how heavy it may be. High up in the steeple and on an elevation a
bell ought to be heard for miles. In old times the bells summoned the
people to gatherings called folk-motes. If anything of importance was to
be decided, if an enemy's ship appeared in the offing, or there were
rumors of an invasion on the coast, the solemn call of the bell hurried
the men to a council. On the bell of St. Mary's, at Oxford, this line is
inscribed, "Keepe tyme in anye case."
* * * * *
ARAB BREAD.--It is made of coarse flour resembling our Graham flour, and
the loaves, which are very thin, are round, and about fifteen inches in
diameter. It is placed on the table in piles, and is broken by those who
wish to partake of it, not cut in slices like our bread.
* * * * *
FLO.--You are quite right in asking the Postmistress about any little
thing that puzzles you. If you and cousin Theodore are both going
up-stairs, you must let him go first. In going down-stairs he should
step aside and let you go before him. Introduce your little visitor to
your mother, mentioning mamma's name first.
* * * * *
A pleasant amusement in summer, when people are coming and going, is
found in the game of Preferences. It is played in this manner:
Keep a blank book of sufficient size on the parlor table, and ask each
guest to write out answers to the following questions:
Who is your favorite hero in history?
Who is your favorite heroine in history?
Who is your favorite King in history?
Who is your favorite Queen in history?
What is your favorite male Christian name?
What is your favorite female Christian name?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite style of music?
What is your favorite style of climate?
What is your favorite study?
What is your favorite exercise?
What is your favorite book? etc., etc.
* * * * *
We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. to Mrs. Helen Conant's
admirable article on "Catching Butterflies." Not only does it contain
clear and simple directions for making a collection of these beautiful
insects, but much is to be learned from it of their various
characteristics and habits. There is a most interesting article on
travel by Lieutenant E. W. Sturdy, entitled "Tom Fairweather goes to
Bassorah, the Home of Sindbad the Sailor." The boys and girls both may
learn a valuable lesson of presence of mind and heroism from the little
incident told under the title of "A Brave Boy."
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
I am composed of 13 letters and 2 words. My name is known to all lovers
of art.
My 1, 2, 7, 7 is a manufactory.
My 1, 2, 7, 6 is a measure of distance.
My 8, 9, 10, 6, 7 is a messenger.
My 1, 5, 1, 1, 5 is a sweet word.
My 1, 5, 2, 7 is a defense.
My 5, 9, 9, 2, 6 is a girl's name.
My 4, 13 is an exclamation.
My 2, 3, 11 is used both in summer and winter.
GEORGE E.
* * * * *
No. 2.
FIVE EASY DIAMONDS.
1.--1. A letter. 2. A bed. 3. A friend. 4. A beverage. 5. A letter.
2.--1. A letter. 2. A speck. 3. A shelter. 4. A number. 5. A letter.
EDGAR S.
3.--1. In sauce. 2. A trap. 3. A number. 4. Another number. 5. In snow.
4.--1. In chicks. 2. A vessel. 3. A darling. 4. Something good to eat.
5. In ducks.
5.--1. A letter. 2. A limb. 3. A state. 4. An opening. 5. A letter.
R. B. B.
* * * * *
No. 3.
BEHEADINGS.
1.
1. I am a metal; behead me, and I am infirm.
2. I am a garment; behead me, and I am a grain.
3. I am something to use; behead me, and I am elevated.
4. I am not good; behead me, I am not out.
5. I am a flavor; behead me, and I am a fluid.
6. I am part of the body: behead me, and I am a part of speech.
7. I am a boy's name; behead me, and I am a color; again, and I am
again a boy's name.
HELEN U. G.
2.
1. I am part of an apple; beheaded, I am a metal.
2. I am useful around the fire; beheaded, I am a home.
3. I am part of time; beheaded, I am necessary to hearing.
4. I am sometimes used for bad boys; beheaded, I am a familiar sound.
5. I am something to wear; beheaded, I am a useful implement.
GEORGIE.
3.
1. I am in a lady's work-stand; behead me, and I am out-of-doors.
2. I am a clever device; behead me, and I stand in the field.
3. I am a medicine; behead me, I am under-foot.
MADGE.
* * * * *
No. 4.
TRANSPOSITION.
A redyra clpea dlowu eb sith htrea,
Rewe ethre on tilelt elpoep ni ti;
Eht gnos fo ilef lduow eols sti htrim,
Erwe ethre on lichnerd ot ebign ti.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 139.
No. 1.
W A S T E S A I N T
A D O R N A I M E R
S O L I D I M A G E
T R I C E N E G U S
E N D E R T R E S S
No. 2.
Buckram.
No. 3.
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. Harp. Eagle. You. Sugar. Poe.
No. 4.
J es C
U u A
L eav E
I vie S
U n A
S teame R
No. 5.
A D S
I C E L I E D U E
A C O R N D I A R Y S U N N Y
E R A E R R E N D
N Y Y
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Fay," "Fern
Heather," Lucie Timpson, Emil Hirsh, Eddie S. Hequembourg, Annie Meeker,
Maud Mary Chambers, Florence V. Williams, Benjamin Smith, Lottie Hope,
Ernest Pullen, Norman Cary, Elsie, "Rose-bud," "Fuss and Feathers,"
"Bright Eyes," C. J. C., Leslie Meigs, "Empire City," Annis Temple, John
P. Mott, Emma Ray, Louise Prescott, Guy Paynter, Viola C., Ray M.,
Evarts Folsom, Etta Wheelock, and Flossie Dean.
* * * * *
[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]
[Illustration: THE PLAYMATES.--FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY SINGHI.]
* * * * *
THE FOX'S DINNER PARTY.
BY F. CASSIDY.
One of the funniest animal stories I ever heard was lately told by a
sober Quaker gentleman from New Jersey, who said it was related to him
by the eye-witness himself. He was one day in a field near a stream,
where several geese were swimming. Presently he observed one of them
disappear under water with a sudden jerk. While he looked for her to
rise again he saw a fox emerge from the water, and trot off to the woods
with the unfortunate goose in his mouth.
The fox chanced to go in a direction where it was easy to watch his
movements. He carried his burden to a recess under an overhanging rock.
Here he scratched away a mass of dry leaves, made a hole, hid his
treasure within, and covered it up very carefully. Then off he went to
the stream again, entered behind the flock of geese, and floated
noiselessly along, with merely the tip of his nose visible above the
surface. But this time he was not so fortunate in his manoeuvre. The
geese by some means took the alarm, and flew away with a loud cackling.
The fox, finding himself defeated, walked off in the direction opposite
to the place where his victim was buried. The man went to the place,
uncovered the hole, put the goose in his basket, replaced the leaves
carefully, and stood patiently at a distance to watch further
proceedings. The sly thief soon returned with another fox, whom he had
apparently invited to dine with him. They trotted along right merrily,
swinging their tails, snuffing the air, and smacking their lips in
expectation of a rich repast.
When they arrived under the rocks, Reynard eagerly scratched away the
leaves; but, lo! his dinner had disappeared. He looked at his companion,
and plainly saw by his countenance that he more than doubted whether any
goose was ever there at all. Appearances were certainly very much
against the host. His tail slunk between his legs, and he held his head
down, looking sideways, with a timid glance, at his disappointed
companion. Indignant at what he supposed to be an attempt to get up a
character for generosity on false pretenses, the offended guest seized
his unlucky associate and cuffed him most unmercifully. Poor Reynard
bore the infliction with the utmost patience and sneaked off, as if
aware that he received no more than might naturally be expected under
the peculiar circumstances.
* * * * *
PARLOR MAGIC.
HOW TO MAKE A QUARTER PASS INTO A BALL OF WORSTED.
Procure a ball of worsted, and also a piece of tin about three inches
long and about an inch and a quarter broad, and turn up one-eighth of an
inch of it on each side at an angle inward, and roll the worsted round
this piece of tin until you make a ball, taking care to leave that part
of the ball where one end of the tin slide is open so as to enable you
to drop the quarter into it.
The ball of worsted is now placed on the table, and having borrowed a
quarter, which you get the owner to mark, you turn to the table, and
take up the worsted ball, dropping the marked quarter quickly down the
slide or tube, which you then secretly withdraw from the ball. Now turn
to the audience, and show them the ball of worsted (the hole where the
tube was taken from will not be visible), and hold up a quarter (another
one) which you have had secreted in your right hand until now, or which
you can have fastened to an elastic attached to the inside of your
sleeve, and inform them you will pass the coin into the ball.
Now get one of the company to cover the ball of worsted with a tumbler;
hold up the quarter, and say, "Presto, go, fly!" then pretend to throw
the quarter to the ball. Give one end of the worsted to the company to
unwind, when the marked quarter will be found in the centre of the ball.
[Illustration: THE THERMOMETER AT 100°--ENJOYING FREE(ZE) SEATS.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, July 18, 1882, by Various