It is quite proper for little correspondents who have not yet learned to
write to do so by proxy; by which we mean to get their fathers or
mothers to write for them while they dictate the letters. Such letters
are always welcome. Master Davy B. signed his name very boldly to the
letter his father wrote for him, and probably Tommy E. will soon be able
to do the same.
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I am a little boy seven years old last Valentine's Day. I have been
taking HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE from No. 1 to the present time. I have
had two volumes bound, and am saving up for the third volume. I
have two numbers (duplicates), 20 and 76. I will _give_ them to any
of the little readers that will send me his or her address. I have
eight cats and three kittens, also an English pug-dog. Pug does not
like the cats, but the kittens eat out of his dish with him. One
Sunday Pug went to Sunday-school, and sat on the bench beside my
sister Helen. I am so interested in the story, "The Talking
Leaves."
LOUIS N. W., JUN., Beverly, N. J.
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HARRY VAN N.--Your description of the industries of Minneapolis is very
interesting. A city where there is so much manufacturing, so much
enterprise, is a good place for an intelligent lad to live in.
* * * * *
Six little girls at Pulaski, Tennessee, were directed by their teacher
to write letters to Our Post-office Box, and bring them to her instead
of their usual weekly compositions. The letters signed by S. K. A.,
Maggie J. A., F. W., A. B. A., M. R., and Julia R. have been sent to us,
and are very creditable to the little writers. Our thanks are due to
their kind teacher for her appreciation of our efforts in behalf of
young people.
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ALICE MCL.--For a boy of twelve who is fond of reading we know of no
more enchanting book than _What Mr. Darwin Saw in his Voyage Round the
World in the Ship Beagle_. This is a beautifully illustrated volume, and
its price is $3. THE BOYS OF '76, at the same price, is a fascinating
book which tells young Americans about the stirring scenes of the
Revolutionary war. There are three volumes of _Travel in the Far East_,
by Colonel Knox, each of which boys pronounce splendid. They relate the
adventures of youthful travellers in a journey to Japan and China, to
Siam and Java, and to Ceylon and India, and the books, which may be
purchased separately or together, cost $3 a volume. These books are all
published by Harper & Brothers. _Hector_, by Flora L. Shaw, published by
Roberts Brothers, and _Boys at Chequassett_, by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney,
published by Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., are very charming books, smaller
than those we have placed first on the list.
A bright boy who already has a sled, skates, etc., might be pleased with
a well-furnished tool-chest or a printing-press. At twelve, boys no
longer care for toys which are merely playthings.
In addition to the pretty things you already have, make little mice and
pigs of white Canton flannel for your Christmas tree. If you can procure
some cotton as it grows, crystallize it with alum, and dispose clusters
of it here and there. There are bright little balls of different colors
which may be purchased for a few cents, and used to festoon the tree,
and if put away carefully they may be used for successive years. Have
plenty of little wax tapers, and your tree will repay your trouble.
* * * * *
We desire to call the attention of exchangers to the notice which is
printed at the head of the Exchange list. Please make it a rule to
follow this in every instance. When a boy has five or six coins, two or
three hundred postmarks, or a few relics or curiosities, and calls
attention to them in these columns, many thousands of readers see the
notice, and he finds himself confronted with so many replies that his
embarrassment is very great. In the mere matter of postage he may find
himself burdened with considerable expense, perhaps more than his
pocket-money will pay, or than his parents will allow him to spend. This
inconvenience, and the further peril of being thought dishonorable, may
be avoided by having a correspondence by postal cards before sending any
precious things away.
It is not possible for us to rectify mistakes, nor to compel delinquent
exchangers to make proper returns. We prefer to think that all who avail
themselves of this privilege are worthy of it. We desire and hope that
every girl and boy who is numbered among our young people shall be true,
courteous, prompt, and obliging. Without the exercise of these
qualities, neither exchanging nor any other business can be
satisfactorily carried on.
Those who have saved their back numbers, as we think all ought to do,
will find a paragraph on this matter in the Post-office Box of Vol. II.,
No. 80. To this we refer the attention of Willie B. G., who writes to us
complaining of an apparently dishonest correspondent. We can not settle
difficulties which arise among exchangers, but we think careful
attention to preliminary correspondence, and to the full payment of
postage, would prevent much confusion.
Until after the Christmas number the pressure upon our columns will
prevent us from publishing all of the large accumulation of Exchanges we
have received, but we will print them as rapidly as we can when the
holidays are over.
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