apprehension, and this is what Mrs. Keniston read:
"MY DEAR MISS ROSINELLA, AINGLE OF MY LIFE,--I do miss you very
much indeed and o how I wish we could see each other before wensday
which is such a long way of but I supose we cant becourse Patty
Kenistons mother says she mussnt speak to Matty Monroe till then
becourse they quareled. I hope they will _never_ quarel again dont
you?
"Patty Keniston says she wont. She has been very lonely without
Matty and wonders if she has finished your wedding dress which she
hopes she has becourse she wants us to be marryed wensday anyhow
in her dollshouse. She is going to have a reall frosted wedding
cake for us and hopes Matty will bring over some rasberry vinneger
for wine to drink helths with the way they allways used to do you
know. O how I do want to see you and be marryed. Anser this soon
and write a long letter for I am dying to hear from you my own
presious Rosinella.
"Ever your loving knite
"SIR LEON DER MONTMORENSY."
Mrs. Keniston laughed until she cried, and had to wipe her tears with
her apron; but all she said, when she gave back the letter, was, "Oh,
Patty! Patty! of all the children--"
Of course the postman was late next morning; but when he came, he was in
remarkably good-humor, and wore a smile that creased his whole
countenance as Patty danced up to him, asking, excitedly, "A letter for
me? a letter for me?"
But he only chuckled, and shook his head for answer, and then said,
slowly, "Wa'al, no, little gal; I'm sorry ter disapp'int yer, but ther'
ain't," adding, with a twinkle, "Does anybody by the name of Montmorenci
live hereabouts?"
"Oh, it's my letter! it's my letter!" screamed Patty. "_Do_ give it to
me, Mr. Skinner."
"Couldn't posserbly, little gal. 'Tain't yours, yer see. It's d'rected
ter 'Sir Leon de Montmorenci, Knight.' That ain't _your_ name, ye know,"
said Mr. Skinner, producing a tiny envelope.
"Oh yes, it is! I mean, it's my doll's!" shouted Patty; and seizing the
precious letter, she ran into the house with it, and left Mr. Skinner
still chuckling to himself with a hearty enjoyment of the little girl's
delight.
Here is the letter:
"MY DEAR SIR LEON,--Many thanks for your kind letter. I am quite
ready to be married. Matty made my wedding dress yesterday. It is
of white satin a piece left over from her Mothers and trimmed with
white lace. I have a lovely vail. Matty says she will bring the
raspberry vinegar" ("She's spelled it different from what I did,"
thought Patty; "guess she asked Lida") "and some crullers. And now
I have an idear. Let us have a tellegraph. You ask Patty Keniston
to come to the gate post at nine to-morrow and Matty will meet her
with her end of the string. I think it is nice to live next door.
Tell Patty Matty won't speak to her so she needent be afraid to
come. I think your letter was lovely. I cannot make one half so
nice but then your the gentleman and Im the lady so anyway it
wouldent be propper. I love you. Tell Patty to be _sure_ and come.
Ever your faithfull ladilove,
"ROSINELLA SAINT HILAIRE."
"How splendid!" said Patty. "We can write all the time, then. I may,
mayn't I, mother?"
Mrs. Keniston nodded. She was trying on a dress, and her mouth was full
of pins.
And after that it wasn't hard at all. The telegraph was such a blessing!
But still, when the week came to an end, Patty and Matty flew into each
other's arms as if they had been separated for a year.
"Oh, Matty!" said Patty, and "Oh, Patty!" said Matty, and "Hi!" said Job
Twitchett, bobbing his head over the fence, "yer'll fight agen in a
fortnit."
"Go away, you bad boy," said Patty, facing him fiercely. "We shall NEVER
fight again!"
And though Job repeated "Hi!" and snapped his fingers, they didn't--for
a whole month.
[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 66, February 1.]
PHIL'S FAIRIES.
BY MRS. W. J. HAYS,
AUTHOR OF "PRINCESS IDLEWAYS," ETC.
CHAPTER V.
LISA VISITS MISS SCHUYLER.
"So you are Phil's good friend Lisa?" said Miss Rachel Schuyler, sitting
in her cool white wrapper in the dusk of this warm May evening. "I want
to hear more about Phil. The dear child has quite won my heart, he looks
so like a friend of mine whom I have not seen for many years. How are
you related to him, and who were his parents?"
"I am not related to him at all, Miss Schuyler."
"No?"--in some surprise. "Why, then, have you the care and charge of
him?"
[Illustration: LISA RELATES PHIL'S HISTORY TO MISS SCHUYLER.]
"I was brought up in his mother's family as seamstress, and went to live
with her when she married Mr. Randolph, and--"
"Who did you say? What Mr. Randolph?"
"Mr. Peyton Randolph."
Miss Rachel seemed much overcome, but she controlled herself, and
hurriedly said, "Go on."
"There was no intercourse between the families after the marriage, for
Mrs. Randolph was poor, and they all had been opposed to her. I suppose
you do not care to hear all the details--how they went abroad, and Mr.
Randolph died there; and while they were absent, their house was burned;
and there was no one to take care of Phil but me, for Phil had been too
sick to go with his father and mother; and Mrs. Randolph did not live
long after her return. I nursed them both, Phil and his mother; and when
she was gone, I came on to the city, thinking I could do better here,
but I have found it hard, very hard, with no friends. Still, I have
pretty steady work now as shop-woman, though I can not do all that I
would like to do for Phil."
Miss Schuyler was crying.
"Lisa, you good woman, how glad I am I have found you! Phil's father was
the dearest friend I ever had."
"Phil's mother gave the child to me, Miss Schuyler."
"Don't be alarmed; I do not wish to separate you. How can I ever thank
you enough for telling me all this? And what a noble, generous creature
you are, to be toiling and suffering for a child no way related to you,
and who must have friends fully able to care for him if they would!"
"I love him as if he were my own. Sometimes I have thought I ought to
try and see if any of his relatives would help us, but I can not bear
to, and so we have just worried along as we could. But Phil needs a
doctor and medicine, and more than I can give him."
"He shall have all he needs, and you too," said Miss Schuyler, warmly.
At this Lisa broke down, the kind words were so welcome. And the two
women cried together; but not long, for Miss Schuyler rose and got Lisa
some refreshing drink, and made her take off her bonnet and quiet
herself, and then said:
"Now we must plan a change for Phil, and see how soon it can be
accomplished. And you must leave that tiresome shop, and I will give you
plenty of work to do. See, here are some things I bought to-day that I
shall have to wear this summer."
She opened the packages--soft sheer lawn and delicate cambric that gave
Lisa a thrill of pleasure just to touch once more, for she loved her
work. "I shall be so glad to sew again, and I wish I had some of my work
to show you."
"Oh, I know you will do it nicely. I am going out of town in a few
days, and I want you and Phil to go with me. Do you think you can?"
"I am a little afraid," said Lisa, hesitating, "that we are not fit to;
and yet--"
"I will see to all that. Now I suppose you can not leave Phil alone much
longer--besides, there is a shower coming. To-morrow I will bring a
doctor to visit the dear boy, and we will see what can be done;" and she
put a roll of money in Lisa's hand, assuring her that she should be as
independent as she pleased after a while, and repay her, but that now
she needed help, and should have it, and that henceforth Phil was to be
theirs in partnership.
Lisa hurried away with a light heart. She had indeed toiled and
suffered, striven early and late, for the child of her affections, and
this timely assistance was a source of great joy.
She was too happy to heed the dashing shower which was now falling.
Herself she had never thought of, and her dear Phil now was to be
helped, to be cheered, perhaps to be made strong and well, and able to
do all that his poor weak hands had tried to do so ineffectually.
She opened the door softly when she reached her room. A little shiver of
sweet sad sounds came from the wind harp. She lighted a candle, and
looked into the pale face of the sleeping child as he lay in an attitude
of weariness and exhaustion, with hands falling apart, and a feverish
flush on his thin cheeks.
"My poor Phil! I hope help has not come too late," she whispered, as she
began her preparations for his more comfortable repose.
The next day Miss Schuyler came, as she had promised, and brought a
physician--a good, kind surgeon--who examined Phil, and pulled this
joint and that joint, and touched him here and there, and found out
where the pain was, and what caused it, and said nice funny little
things to make him laugh, and told him he hoped to make him a strong boy
yet. And then they whispered a little about him, and Joe was sent for,
and a carriage came, and Phil was wrapped in a blanket, and laid on
pillows, and taken out for a drive alone with Miss Schuyler, who chatted
with him, and got him more flowers; and when they came back there was a
nice dinner on a tray, and ice-cream for his dessert, and Joe was to
stay with him until Lisa came home; and before Lisa came, there was a
nice new trunk brought in, and several large parcels. And Phil thought
he had never seen such a day of happiness. After his dinner and a nap,
and while Joe sat and played on his violin, Phil sketched and made a
lovely little picture of flowers and fairies, in his own simple fashion,
to give to Miss Schuyler. And then Lisa came home, and the parcels were
opened; and there were nice new dresses for Lisa, and a pretty, thin
shawl, and a new bonnet; and for Phil there was a comfortable flannel
gown, and soft slippers, and fine handkerchiefs and stockings; and Phil
found a little parcel too for Joe with a bright bandana in it, and the
old man was very happy.
"It seems like Christmas," said Joe.
Phil thought he had never seen quite such a Christmas, and said,
"It seems more like fairy-land, and I only hope it will not all fade
away and come to an end, like a bubble bursting."
"To me," said Lisa, "it is God's own goodness that has done it all, for
it was He who gave Miss Schuyler her warm, kind heart."
"And, Joe," said Phil, "we are to go in the country, and you are to go
with us; is not that nice?"
"Very nice, Phil. I'm glad Miss Rachel's found out your father was her
friend."
Then Joe took up his violin again, and played "Home, Sweet Home," and
"Auld Lang Syne"; and Phil fancied the violin was a bird, and sang of
its own free-will, and thinking this reminded him how soon he would hear
the dear wild birds in the woods, and he wondered if the fairies would
come to him there.
Then Joe went home, and Lisa had errands to do, and again she put the
wind harp in the window, and left Phil alone, keeping very still in
expectation of another visit from his fairy friend.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
PINAFORE RHYMES.--(_Continued_.)
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Here comes the train;
We watch it from the bars;
Who will stop the engine
And put us in the cars?
[Illustration]
It fell of itself,
The lazy ball,
And you needn't tell me
I let it fall!
Perhaps it was tired,
Like me and you,
And wanted to rest
A minute or two.
[Illustration]
Little Miss Bessie
Has a new muff,
And fur gloves to keep her
Hands warm enough.
Mamma will let her
Run in the snow,
No matter how keenly
The wind may blow.
[Illustration]
Little Mary gave a feast,
And seven guests invited;
In the garden it was laid,
And every one delighted.
They had cups of milk for tea,
And lots of cake and candy;
The sparrows thought 'twas jolly fun
To have a feast so handy.
When the crumbs were cleared away,
They danced and cut up capers;
And not a word about the feast
Was printed in the papers.
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX]
We give notice that in future no more offers for exchange of birds' eggs
will be printed in the Post-office Box. During last summer we repeatedly
endeavored to impress upon the minds of our readers that only one egg
should be taken from each nest; but even this will, in many cases, cause
anxiety to the mother-bird, and as the nesting season again approaches,
we think best to request our boys and girls to leave the nests entirely
undisturbed. The robbery and destruction of birds' nests by boys, in
their eagerness to obtain eggs, have driven away thousands of song-birds
from many parts of the country, and the new game-laws of this State will
contain a very strict prohibition of this cruel practice, enforced by a
heavy penalty.
We believe that our decision in this matter will meet with the hearty
approval of every one of our young readers, and the sweet warbling of
the birds on sunny summer mornings will amply repay them for the loss of
a few eggs from their collections.
* * * * *
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
I am nine years old. I take YOUNG PEOPLE, and I am so pleased with
it! I am very much interested in "Toby Tyler."
I am a good rider on a bicycle, and I can ride a horse well, too.
I have a beautiful pony. She is sorrel, with silver mane and tail.
Her name is Dolly, and when I call she always answers, and looks
at me with her big brown eyes. She can almost talk. Dolly is full
of mischief. She can untie her halter, take down a bar, open the
oat bin, and help herself. She is as plump as a seal. I sometimes
drive her in a little phaeton, and she is a good stepper on the
road. I do hope every little boy who has a pony gives it as good
care as I do mine.
I save every copy of YOUNG PEOPLE, and by-and-by I will give them
to some poor child who can not take it.
JOE W. L. G.
* * * * *
Perhaps some of our readers will remember a letter from Harry C. H., of
Lansingburg, New York, published in the Post-office Box of No. 66. It
described his black goat Dan, which he drives, harnessed, with a set of
silver-plated harness, to a wagon or sleigh. Thinking you might be
pleased to make the acquaintance of Harry and Dan, the Editor of YOUNG
PEOPLE sent for their photograph, and here they are, silver-plated
harness, bells, red box cutter, fur robe, and all--a very neat-looking
turn-out. Don't you think so?
[Illustration]
* * * * *
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.
I live in an orange grove in Florida, the "Land of Flowers."
Florida has a great many ponds and marshes, with lots of fish in
them, and it has a great deal of wire-grass and pine timber.
I have been up the great Oklawaha River, but I did not care for
anything except the Silver Springs, which were very beautiful
indeed. The water was so clear I could see trout, pike, and other
large fish swimming about forty feet below the surface.
I have just begun to take YOUNG PEOPLE. Mamma gave it to my
brother and myself for a Christmas present.
I go to school, and I have the best teacher that anybody ever had.
LEWIS.
* * * * *
MOUNT PLEASANT ACADEMY, SING SING, NEW YORK.
I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE from the beginning, and I like it very
much. Some of the other boys in this school take it, and they all
think it is the best paper published. We all like "The Moral
Pirates" the best of all the stories, and "Toby Tyler" the next. We
have not had very good coasting nor skating lately, on account of
the weather, but if it grows cold, and snows some more, we will
have it.
I am collecting stamps, but all my duplicates are easy ones, and I
have not enough to exchange yet.
I think the editor must work pretty hard to make the paper so nice
for us to read.
Now I must stop writing, and study my Bible lesson.
LOUIS F. R.
* * * * *
WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI.
One week ago I had a letter to the Post-office Box nearly finished,
and we were very happy, but just as night was coming on, mamma got
a telegram from Colorado, nine hundred and ninety miles away,
saying that our dear papa had died that morning. How dark the world
did look! I used to write to him in mamma's letters, and he would
write to me and my little brother about little tame bears and
antelopes, and the funny prairie-dogs, and how high the mountains
looked with their white caps of snow. He was so far across the
mountains that the rivers ran toward the Pacific. Papa was shot and
mortally wounded by some Mexicans. He was brought home to be
buried, which was a great comfort to mamma.
Mamma likes the historical stories in YOUNG PEOPLE, and she hunts
up more about the principal characters mentioned, and tells me
about them. Was the "tiny tot" in the story of Prince Charlie the
Duke of York, after whom the State and city of New York was named?
HARRY D. S.
Yes, the "tiny tot" was the Duke of York, and on the death of his
brother became James II., King of England. The name of New York city was
changed from New Amsterdam to New York in 1664, Charles II. having, in
violation of all national courtesy, granted the colony of New
Netherlands to his brother James, then Duke of York.
* * * * *
BROOKLYN, E. D., LONG ISLAND.
We have a very nice club, which is called the "Young Girls' Reading
Club." We meet every other week at the different girls' houses, and
we read the works of Longfellow, Tennyson, Whittier, and other
poets. There are six members in our club. I am the treasurer, for
we collect dues, just like "grown-up" clubs. We have to pay ten
cents initiation fee, and after that five cents a week. There is a
one-cent fine for violation of the rules, of which there are five.
We are sure to make money, for the girls often break the rules.
ANNA G. H.
* * * * *
BROOKLYN, LONG ISLAND.
I send the Young Chemists' Club the simplest way of making chlorine
gas, which is useful in many experiments: Mix one part oxide of
manganese and two parts hydrochloric acid in a retort; heat gently
over a spirit-lamp, when a greenish vapor will be seen to rise,
which may be collected over warm water at the mouth of the retort.
Care should be taken, however, not to inhale it, as it is a
powerful poison, and a rag saturated with alcohol and ammonia
should frequently be waved about to purify the atmosphere.
G. F. L.
This correspondent and many others have requested us to give the address
of the president of the Young Chemists' Club, as they desire to
correspond on scientific subjects. This we can not do unless authorized
by the officers of the club. If Charles H. W., the president, desires to
communicate with these young chemical students, he will kindly send a
letter to that effect to the Post-office Box.
* * * * *
VEVAY, INDIANA.
I am so anxious about Toby Tyler! I do hope he won't get killed or
die, but go back safe to his good uncle. I wanted to send him my
dollar to help him, but mamma said I had better not. I am so sorry
for him!
I have commenced studying German since the holidays. My teacher
says I will soon overtake the class that began in September. I
like it the best of all my studies.
BERTIE M. A.
* * * * *
BROOKLYN, LONG ISLAND.
We used to have an alligator. We fed it on raw meat. We kept it in
a tub, and it used to jump out and run after grandpa when he had on
red slippers. One day it got out of the tub, and ran down the steps
into the kitchen, and jumped into my aunt's lap. Soon after that we
sent it away.
M. ELLA S.
* * * * *
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.
I am sick, and can not go to school, so I thought I would write to
the Post-office Box. I have an orange-tree my father gave me about
three years ago, and now it has more than a hundred oranges on it.
I had YOUNG PEOPLE as a birthday present from my mother. I think
it is a nice present, because it lasts all the year.
CARLOS P.
* * * * *
We have a little Home Literary Society which entertains us one
evening every week, and I wish to inquire if Ida B. D. would kindly
write to me in reference to the play acted during the holidays by
the Silver Crescent Dramatic Club of San Francisco, California, of
which she is the secretary.
CLARA A. HOOPER,
Rockport, Spencer County, Ind.
* * * * *
EMPORIA, KANSAS.
On January 28 we celebrated Kansas Day, it being twenty years since
Kansas was admitted to the Union as a State. The celebration was at
the High School. The room was decorated with red, white, and blue,
and a picture of John Brown was hung under two flags. The Kansas
motto was over the door, and the coat of arms was drawn on the
blackboard. Each pupil studied about some county, and they all sung
"John Brown's Body," "Call to Kansas," and "The Star-spangled
Banner." Essays were read on the history, products, schools, etc.,
of Kansas, and "The Kansas Emigrant" and other pieces were read by
the scholars. It is just splendid to have Kansas Day.
MAUD B.
* * * * *
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, _February_ 8, 1881.
I have received so many letters for exchange of postmarks that I
can not possibly answer them all right away. Correspondents will
please take notice.
HARRY W. QUIMBY.
* * * * *
DULUTH, MINNESOTA.
I have received many boxes of specimens and curiosities from
unknown persons. I receive the box, but there is no name on it, and
no postal card referring to it, and often when there is a postal,
there is no name even on that. Now those persons, no doubt, are
disappointed at receiving no acknowledgment, but it is entirely
their own fault, for whenever any one sends me specimens,
accompanied by the name and address, he is sure to receive a box in
return.
If all who have sent things to me, and have received no answer,
will send me a postal describing the package or box they have
sent, I will send a box of specimens in return.
HORACE H. MITCHELL.
The above letter is only one among many of the same character which we
receive daily. We print it to impress, if possible, upon the minds of
careless boys and girls the great importance of giving their full name
and address, by the omission of which they cause trouble, not alone to
themselves and their correspondents, but also to the Post-office Box.
* * * * *
I think YOUNG PEOPLE gets better and better. I am very much
interested in the story of "Toby Tyler." I used to think it would
be great fun to travel with a circus, but now I don't think it
would be any fun at all.
I would be glad to exchange Lake Superior agates for star-fishes.
I am nine years old.
J. EDWARDS WOODBRIDGE,
Duluth, St. Louis County, Minn.
* * * * *
I am commencing a collection of stamps, and I will exchange a large
piece of lead ore for forty stamps. I am eleven years old.
NEWTON COMPTON,
Care of Rev. J. M. Compton,
Rural Grove, Montgomery County, N. Y.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are also desired by correspondents:
A Lester saw in running order, for a self-inking press.
EDGAR GARNAN,
10 Highland Street, Roxbury, Mass.
* * * * *
Postmarks, sea-shells, marble from Vermont and Nova Scotia, flint
from France, and other minerals, for postmarks, stamps, Indian
relics, Lake Superior agates, shells, or other curiosities.
RAYMOND C. MOREY,
Swanton, Franklin County, Vt.
* * * * *
Choice varieties of flower seeds, for peacock coal, petrified wood,
shells, sea-mosses, coral, agates, or minerals. Correspondents
will please mark specimens.
ANNA FAVRE,
Ontario, Story County, Iowa.
* * * * *
Postage stamps.
SHELTON A. HIBBS,
505 North Eighteenth Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
* * * * *
Choice sea-shells for Mexican garnets.
EMMA K. CHATTLE, care of Dr. T. G. CHATTLE,
Long Branch, N. J.
* * * * *
Foreign postage stamps.
ARTHUR T. SMITH,
Westminster, Carroll County, Md.
* * * * *
Ten postmarks, for five foreign stamps, except English or Canadian.
M. F. COOPER,
Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Stones or earth from Ohio, for the same from any other State, or
for autographs of renowned persons.
WALTER OLMSTED,
104 Brownell Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
* * * * *
Postage and revenue stamps and postmarks, for postage stamps.
CHARLES L. HOLLINGSHEAD,
72 Grant Place, Chicago, Ill.
* * * * *
Amethyst from Grand Menan, New Brunswick, for foreign postage
stamps.
HARLOW CLARK,
Hastings, Minn.
* * * * *
West Indian and other foreign stamps, for old Cuban (issues
previous to 1875) and old Spanish stamps.
PERCIVAL G. BURGESS,
55 Atlantic Street, Portland, Maine.
* * * * *
Minerals and stamps.
WALTER S. BESSE,
P. O. Box 235, New Bedford, Mass.
* * * * *
Stones from Massachusetts, for stones or curiosities from other
States.
ROBERT W. WALES,
South Framingham, Mass.
* * * * *
An Austrian coin of 1859 and a Canadian half-penny, for twenty-five
different kinds of stamps.
WILLIAM KRUMMEL,
167 Loth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
* * * * *
A stone from New York State, for one from any other State or
Territory except Colorado.
LOCKE STIMPSON,
Mineville, Essex County, N. Y.
* * * * *
Postmarks.
WILL M. EDWARDS,
Noblesville, Hamilton County, Ind.
* * * * *
Ten postmarks, for one postage stamp. Stamps from South America,
Turkey, or Greece preferred.