I would not like to trouble you to read a letter from me. I have
been going to Kindergarten for three or four years, and am just
learning to write now. We have been taking HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE a
long time, and we have it complete, excepting the first seventeen
numbers, and No. 33. Now we want to know if we can get those
numbers, in order to have them bound, and as we have tried
unsuccessfully to procure them in Philadelphia, we know of no other
way to find out about it than by applying to you; and if you will
kindly answer through the Post-office Box, we will be very greatly
indebted to you.
I have a pug dog and two kittens, and they are like the "Happy
Family." We think a great deal of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and I read
it to my little sister.
JOHN M. F.
No. 33 can be furnished by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, but not the
earlier numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE. Possibly some little reader may have
duplicates; and if so, will he or she notify the Postmistress on John's
behalf?
* * * * *
WINDHAM, NEW YORK.
I thought I would write you a little letter to put in Our
Post-office Box. I have a little candy store in my papa's office
all my own. I pay for the candy, and have all the profits. It is
vacation now, but I study at home. This village (Windham) is
situated on an elevation of over one thousand five hundred feet
above the level of the sea. Papa has one hundred and fifty-five
hives of bees, and I am going to help him take care of them. We
carefully take the comb out of the hives, put it in a revolving
cylinder, turn the crank, and the honey flies out of the comb
against the side of the cylinder; then it is strained, and is ready
for use. Then we replace the comb for the bees to refill again.
This we do several times in a season.
DORVILLE C.
So you are a merchant, dear, and carry on a business all alone. Well, I
hope you keep your accounts with care, and that you will put your
earnings to some good use. Your description of the bees, and the way
their honey is extracted from the comb, is very interesting.
* * * * *
Where the blackbird sings the latest,
Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest,
Where the nestlings chirp and flee,
That's the way for Willie and me.
Where the mowers mow the cleanest,
Where the hay lies thick and greenest,
There to track the homeward bee,
That's the way for Willie and me.
* * * * *
EUREKA, MISSOURI.
I am a little boy seven years old. My name is Early. My mamma, my
sister Hattie (who is eight years old), and I spend our summers out
here on grandpa's farm. I have a pony to ride; his name is Brigham.
I made $1.45 carrying water for grandpa's hands in harvest; had two
demijohns slung across the pony in front of the saddle. I have a
goat and wagon, but Billy is so big and strong that he runs away,
and dumps me in the ditch. I have two dogs, Nip and Aleck. Aleck is
a shepherd dog; Nip is a little fellow, but he runs awful fast when
he gets after a rabbit. I have lots of fun out here--so many
peaches and apples, and lots of young ducks and chickens. Papa
comes out every Saturday evening, and we go to the train to meet
him. We have such a nice Sunday-school in the little district
school-house right at the corner of our orchard. We go up there to
Sunday-school in the afternoon, and have such nice songs to sing.
Hattie picked two gallons of dewberries, sold them for forty cents,
and gave the money to help pay for the organ. I want papa to let me
be a farmer and stay in the country all the time, but we will go
back to the city in September, when the schools open. We had a nice
picnic and "fish-fry" on the Fourth at the Maramec River, near
here; waded in the cool clear water, and gathered so many mussel
shells; rowed in the boat, made pawpaw whistles, and had lots of
fun.
EARLY D.
* * * * *
ELK CITY, KANSAS.
This is the second time we have written to your paper together; the
first letter was not published. We like the stories very much,
especially "Mr. Stubbs's Brother"; we always read that first. It
rained very hard last night, and this morning the banks of the
rivers are nearly overflowed. We have one dog; his name is Carlo;
he will be four months old next Sunday. He is so full of mischief.
One day we went in the bedroom and found him playing with mamma's
bonnet; he tore the ribbon, and came pretty near spoiling the
feather. We will look in every number for this until it is
published.
MARY and CORA W.
I had a little dog once who used to play just such tricks, and oh! how
angry he sometimes made people by his funny antics and his mischief! I
am glad mamma's feather escaped Carlo's teeth. Well, never mind; if he
lives long enough, he will become a sober and dignified dog.
Little Evelyn G., who also has a dog named Carlo, can shake hands with
Mary and Cora W.
* * * * *
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.
I do love you so much! How good it seems to see your dear little
bright green face every week. I have an auntie in New Bedford,
grown up and married, who sees you and reads you all through before
you come to me. I go to New Brunswick and Martha's Vineyard every
summer, and with my cousin Dolly have great fun bathing in the
salt-water. Dollie is one week younger than myself. I am twelve
years old; my name is Gertie. I learned to swim last summer. We
always take our pets with us. Last summer I had two bantam chicks.
I loved Toney best, and he grew to be a beautiful rooster, and then
died. It is very hard to lose things we love. Mamma says things we
prize are first to vanish. I hope my dear YOUNG PEOPLE will never
leave me.
GERTIE S.
P. S.--I heard my auntie say you were "cute." I guess, from the way
she said it, she meant splendid.
Thanks, dear, for your good opinion. I am very glad you have learned to
swim. I wish all my young friends who live near the water would do the
same.
* * * * *
DECATUR, ILLINOIS.
I write to reproach you for cruelty to an unfortunate boy. Poor
Toby Tyler ran away with the circus, and had on a very old hat.
Months have passed, and still you have not given him a new hat. I
think Abner might cut off some of the brim of his, and let Aunt
Olive mend Toby's with it. But as Abner is sick, I suppose when he
recovers he will need all of his own hat to keep the sun off. I
send a nickel to get Toby a new hat. What if the boys do call them
"Nickel Katies"? It will be better than the thing Toby wears now.
A sympathizer with Toby,
FANNIE G.
Jolly Toby Tyler does not care for a new hat, and so I will send your
money, dear, if you please, to help along the Young People's Cot Fund.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
Aunt Bessie subscribed for YOUNG PEOPLE; she always calls me Effie,
but my name is Evelyn. I have a little dog; his name is Carlo. He
is a comical little thing, and he wants to tear everything to
pieces, and loves to play with me. I have a pet bird; her name is
Cherry. The bottom of her cage came half off the other day while
papa was in the yard and mamma in town, but she did not get away. I
have a cat whose name is Neddie. He does not like Carlo. When
Neddie spits at Carlo I scold him, but that does not do any good.
Mamma wrote this for me, as I do not write plain enough.
EVELYN G.
* * * * *
C. Y. P. R. U.
SOME FAMILIAR WORDS, AND WHERE THEY COME FROM.
Every young reader has heard puss called Tabby, but all do not know that
tabby cat was named after Atab, a famous street in the old city of
Bagdad. On this street the merchants sold a beautiful watered silk
called atabi. In modern days this silk has been styled taffeta. The wavy
markings of the silk were thought to resemble pussy's coat of fur.
Jet derives its name from a river in Lycia--the Gagates--in the bed of
which were found smooth black stones called gaet, of which jewelry was
made.
A pamphlet is a book bound in paper. A long, long time ago a learned
Greek lady wrote the history of the world in thirty-five little books,
which, after her, were called Pamphylia.
Humbug is a bit of fun aimed at Hamburg, in Germany, which city was once
rather famous for getting up sensations which turned out to be nothing
very wonderful after all. Hamburg news was humbug.
Dollar is from the German thaler, named from Thal, in Bohemia, where
were located the silver-works which made this coin.
Money traces its history to a remote period, when the coinage of the
Romans was struck at the temple of the goddess Juno Monieta.
* * * * *
PANSY.--The Postmistress will find out what you wish to know if she can.
Please send her your own full name and address.
* * * * *
TO PUZZLERS.--Clever little people who send puzzles will please remember
that enigmas must rhyme, and that the answers must always be sent with
the puzzles. Do not make enigmas upon your own Christian or surname, or
the name of a friend, as it is almost impossible for our great circle of
readers to guess such puzzles.
* * * * *
GAZETTA.--Wiggles, puzzles, answers to puzzles, exchanges, and all
letters for Our Post-office Box should be sent to the Editor of HARPER'S
YOUNG PEOPLE, Franklin Square, New York.
* * * * *
LILY F.--"Margie's Adventure" is a very pretty story indeed for a girl
of your age to have written. It is rather too long for Our Post-office
Box, but the Postmistress read it with pleasure, and thanks you for
sending it.
* * * * *
We would call the attention of the C.Y.P.R.U. this week to "Historical
Trees of Mexico," by Mrs. Helen S. Conant, and to "How a Boy was Hired
Out, and What Came of It," by Mr. George Gary Eggleston. The boys will
be interested in Mr. C. W. Fisher's directions "How to Make a Toy
Canoe."
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Jan. U. Ary,"
Hartley Bishop, Elsie Grey, J. Hanse Gebley, Effie W. Rhind, Emma and
Andrew Campbell, Harry Johnston, Charlie and Willie Lloyd, Edgar Seeman,
Edward and Gustav Metz, Fannie Grimes, M. Portener, Alice Bartlett, John
Todd, Frank Groves, "Fuss and Feathers," Daisy Dean, Lewie Andrews,
Augusta Schultz, Ethel Raymond, "Eureka," Rosa M. Benedict, "North
Star," A. E. Thorp, "Jack and Jill," B. B. A., Mary M. Livingston, Robin
Dykes, Hermann Miller, Lucy Campbell, Louise G., Fred Goodenough, Sydney
Heinemann, "Old Putnam's Pet," Rosa Deffaa, Emma Roehm, and Frank Allan
Ives.
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
FOUR DIAMONDS.
1.--1. A letter. 2. A human being. 3. Something for the table. 4. A
light sleep. 5. A letter.
2.--1. A letter. 2. An animal. 3. A weapon. 4. Part of the head. 5. A
letter.
3.--1. A letter. 2. Very angry. 3. A title given to a lady. 4. An
obstruction. 5. A letter.
4.--1. A letter. 2. A fluid. 3. A sign of contempt. 4. View. 5. A
letter.
COUNT NO ACCOUNT.
* * * * *
No. 2.
ANAGRAM.
Your page help person.
EDGAR SEEMAN.
* * * * *
No. 3.
A HALF-SQUARE.--(_To Benny Fishel_).
1. The mulberry. 2. A nautical term. 3. A mark made by folding. 4. To
accommodate. 5. The fruit of the oak or beech. 6. Resentment. 7. An
abbreviation. 8. A letter.
I. SCYCLE.
* * * * *
No. 4.
INVERTED PYRAMID.
Across.--1. A white stone. 2. Narcotics. 3. Furnished with ears. 4. An
animal. 5. A letter.
Down.--1. A letter. 2. An interjection. 3. An animal. 4. Inclination. 5.
A man's name. 6. Confusion. 7. To spread abroad new-mown grass. 8. An
abbreviation. 9. A letter.
I. SCYCLE.
* * * * *
No. 5.
ENIGMA.
From that half-dozen, miss, take nine,
And from that nine take half of twenty.
'Tis easy done so far; but now
You must from forty borrow fifty,
Then you will see it is quite plain
Just half a dozen still remain.
* * * * *
No. 6.
WORD SQUARE.
1. Part of the body. 2. To come in. 3. To reconcile. 4. Gaps. 5. A
ringlet.
HELEN.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 142.
No. 1.
Michael Angelo.
No. 2.
L C
C O T D O T
L O V E R C O V E R
T E A T E N
R R
C S T
C U P N E T L E G
C U P I D S E V E N T E X A S
P I E T E N G A P
D N S
No. 3
1. G-old. C-oat. C-up. S-in. P-ink. H-and. F-red-red-ed.
2. C-ore. S-hovel. Y-ear. S-tick. S-hoe. S-pool. T-rick. D-rug.
No. 4.
A dreary place would be this earth,
Were there no little people in it;
The song of life would lose its mirth,
Were there no children to begin it.
* * * * *
[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]
A NEW SERIAL.
* * * * *
"THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB,"
* * * * *
By W. L. ALDEN,
AUTHOR OF "THE MORAL PIRATES," "CRUISE OF THE 'GHOST,'" ETC.
In the next number of YOUNG PEOPLE our readers will have a chance to
renew the acquaintance of the four lads whose adventures they followed
so eagerly in Mr. Alden's former stories. This time the boys have become
the fortunate possessors of four canoes, in which they make a cruise
through some of the rivers and lakes of Canada. Just in proportion as a
canoe excels a row-boat or a sail-boat in its easy motion, its
delightful swiftness, and its liability to capsize, so do the
experiences and adventures of the boys on this cruise exceed those of
the cruises that have preceded it in excitement, picturesqueness, and
general interest. Mr. Alden's stories for young readers are full of the
genial wit and clever handling of amusing situations that have won him
such a brilliant reputation as a humorist.
* * * * *
[Illustration: WHAT FIVE INSECTS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS PICTURE?]
* * * * *
A HORSE WHICH MADE A SENSATION.
Tahiti is one of the Society Islands, a small group in the Southern
Pacific, lying many hundreds of miles away from any mainland. The
Spaniards claim to have discovered them first, but it was famous Captain
Cook who explored them thoroughly, and carried the story of their
wonderful tropical fruits and strange inhabitants back to England.
Some years after, the good people of England began to send missionaries
to the islands. They were well received, and among their converts was
King Pomare.
Now neither King Pomare nor any of his subjects had ever seen a horse,
and as they were curious to know something about an animal which the
English people described as so noble and willing and useful, it was
finally decided that one should be sent him as a present. So among the
cargo of a vessel sent to Tahiti from New South Wales was a splendid
horse, with a silky coat and flowing mane and tail, for King Pomare.
It was originally intended that the horse should be taken ashore from
the vessel in which he had made his voyage, in a large canoe which had
been sent alongside for the purpose, but the slings in which he was
fastened gave way as he was being lowered, and the poor animal fell into
the sea. He at once struck boldly out for the land; but the natives no
sooner saw him than they plunged into the waves and swam after him like
a shoal of porpoises; they seized his tail and his mane, and nearly
pulled him under. The King shouted and the Captain screamed at them in
vain, while the terrified horse struggled as hard as he could. As soon
as he reached the land the crowd there fled for their lives in every
direction, climbing rocks and trees, and hiding behind bushes. One by
one, however, they returned when they saw a sailor slip a halter around
the creature's neck and lead him along.
Next morning, in the presence of a great number of admiring natives, the
Captain put a saddle on the horse, and rode him up and down before the
King's tent. As he cantered, galloped, and trotted, obedient to the
rein, the people shouted and danced, crying _Buaa-hora-fenna_ and
_Buaa-afai-taata_ (land-running pig, and man-carrying pig).
* * * * *
PARLOR MAGIC.
THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.
The use of this box is as follows: Hand the box round for examination,
and allow a marked dime to be put into it. Let one of the company lock
the box and keep the key, and also tie a string round it lengthways and
crossways, lay it on the table, touch it with your wand, and command the
dime to vanish and pass into a tumbler, hat, etc. Tell the person who
locked the box to open it and see if he can find the dime within, when,
to the astonishment of all, it will be found to have vanished from the
box, and be found in the place you indicated.
The secret of this box is as follows: The bottom is divided into three
or four panels, one of the end ones of which is on a swivel exactly in
the centre, and fixed in its place by a nail at each side, the box being
put together with driving nails. The nails being all alike, there is no
likelihood of the secret being discovered. The trick is performed as
follows: When the box has been tied and locked, hold the box on a slope
to the swivel end, slip out the two nails just far enough to allow the
panel to move, push up one end, and the dime will fall out at the other
into your hand. Shut the slide, and put the nails into their places
again, lay the box down on the table, go for your magic wand, and take
that opportunity of putting the dime into the hat or elsewhere.
* * * * *
[Illustration: A MOST SUCCESSFUL CAST.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, August 8, 1882, by Various