like to read YOUNG PEOPLE. I think it is a very good paper, and I
watch every week for the number to come. The first piece I read is
"Mr. Stubbs's Brother." I think a good deal of a good circus. Jimmy
Brown's stories are very interesting. We have a pet crow; he is
very tame. He flies all over the farm, and goes wherever he
pleases. He is afraid of other crows. When they come too close, he
flies to the house if he is not too far away. He likes to follow
along in the corn field, and pick up the bugs and worms. Good-by.
JOHN S. R.
Is your crow afraid of a scarecrow? I suppose you will be surprised, but
I once had a pet crow of my own. He was as black as black could be, and
oh! such a mischief, and so fond of stealing things and hiding them. His
favorite perch was on the sewing-machine. I was very, very glad when one
day Mr. Crow flew over the hills and far away, and never came back. In
which State is your Hillsdale, John? You forgot to tell me.
* * * * *
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
My grandpa has moved his house down near to ours. First they put
great beams under the house, and wooden rollers under them, and
then they built a platform in front of it to roll it on. Then they
fastened a chain to the house, and a rope to the chain, and then a
horse pulled it round a block and tackle. My grandma came out here
to-day and took me to ride. When my birthday comes I am going to
have a little party, and give the children presents instead of
having people give me things, and I am making some balls for some
of the boys. My papa has taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for me ever
since its beginning. I like Toby Tyler very much, and I hope his
circus will not come to an end. I wish that lady who wrote the
letter about the hospital for little children would write another
one. I have a bird and a cat. When I give my cat anything to eat,
he tries to get it before I can put the plate on the ground. I went
to Luray this summer and took my doll, and it took me a long time
to get her ready. The next time I write I will tell you about the
cave I went into. I guess I am getting sleepy now, and I want to go
to bed, and I will end off my letter by saying, "Won't you please
print this in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE?"
I send you a picture of my bird and cat. I am seven years old, but
I can only write printing letters, so mamma wrote this for me.
EVALINA CARROLL S.
Thank you for the pretty picture. I like your idea of making others
happy on your birthday. A sweet Bible verse tells us that it is more
blessed to give than to receive. How much you must have enjoyed watching
the moving of grandpa's house! Were you frightened when you explored the
Luray Cave?
* * * * *
CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK.
We are spending the summer at Lake Ontario, and see a great number
of butterflies fluttering along the road-side, and over the fields.
Reading the article in No. 142 of YOUNG PEOPLE on butterflies, my
brother and I started a collection. We have caught several
specimens of _Papilio turnus_ and _Papilio asterias_. We also
caught a beautiful butterfly which is not described in YOUNG
PEOPLE. Its wings are velvety black, and the hind-wings are tailed.
The fore-wings are marked with rows of greenish-yellow spots on the
margin, and the hind-wings with rows of spots of a peculiar green
(called gas green, I believe), and above the spots is a large
irregular spot covering two-thirds of the wing. We have only one
specimen of those yellow butterflies spoken of. They are very
plentiful, but I find them hard to catch, as they take alarm very
quickly. About four o'clock in the hot afternoons we go over to the
edge of the woods, where there is a break in the trees, and the
grass is deep, and find quantities of tawny orange butterflies
marked with black on the upper side and silver on the under. The
black and green butterfly that we caught was prettier on the under
side than it was on the upper. Its hind-wings were marked
underneath with light blue, silver, and orange. I hope that my
letter is not too long.
WINIFRED J. B.
* * * * *
MACON STATION, ALABAMA.
I like the stories written by Jimmy Brown very much. I am very much
interested in "Mr. Stubbs's Brother." We have three kittens, and
their names are Toby, Abner, and Mr. Stubbs. While my sister and
brother were out driving one evening they heard a kitten crying
behind them, and brother got out, picked it up, and brought it
home. Mr. Stubbs is very playful. I have a pet lamb and a pet
chicken. The lamb's mother died when it was very young, so I took
it, and it is a large lamb now. I raised the chicken myself too. I
had a calf, but it died. I was twelve years old the third day of
June. I have three brothers and two sisters. All of us read YOUNG
PEOPLE except the two youngest.
SUSIE B. R.
"A snow-white mountain lamb, with a maiden by its side." Do you say,
"Drink, pretty creature, drink," to your lamb, as Barbara Lethwaite does
in Wordsworth's poem?
* * * * *
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.
We are a little brother and sister seven and five years old. Papa
buys HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for us, and mamma reads the stories
first, and then tells us what she thinks we can understand. We had
a pair of rabbits sent to us from Indianapolis last year, but they
were so much trouble we gave them away; we had a little turtle no
larger than a twenty-cent piece, but that is dead; it lived two
years. The sweetest pet we ever had was our dear little brother
Arthur. He died last November, and we all miss him very much. He
was so cunning! He was one year and a half old. We have never
written to YOUNG PEOPLE before, and hope this will be published.
HARRY and EMILY F.
A baby brother is indeed a darling, and the best of pets. I am very
sorry your little Arthur died.
* * * * *
ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.
I thought I would write to you to tell you about my dolls. I have
four; three of them are wax and one is china. One of the wax ones
is nearly two years old, and I like her the best of all. She has
curly hair all over her head, and can open and shut her eyes. Her
name is Bessie B. Stamford. My next oldest doll is Kitty C.
Stamford. She has light hair, which she wears braided down her
back. Next comes Gertrude Bell Stamford. Santa Claus gave her to me
last Christmas at a Christmas tree in our church. She was sitting
in a cunning blue chair. She has dark hair and a bang. My littlest
one is a four-cent china doll. Her name is Bertha Agnes Cross. I
have a cunning little doll carriage with a canopy top. As I can not
write very well myself, my sister is writing this for me. I like to
read the letters in Our Post-office Box very much.
HELEN E. B.
* * * * *
ISLE OF PINES, CUBA.
Some time has passed since I have had the pleasure of writing to
the Post-office Box. I will begin by telling something about the
Isle of Pines, where I am spending some months. The air of this
place is very pure and healthy, because there are a great many
beautiful pines and warm mineral springs; so a great many sick
people come to breathe this delicious air. It is also famous for
its exquisite fruits--pine-apples, mangos, and others. When it
rains, in less than a half-hour the ground dries, as it is sandy.
There are many parrots and mocking-birds and wood-peckers and larks
here. The wild flowers are very beautiful, and there is a great
variety of them. The "St. Peter" flowers, which grow out of old
trees and fences, look like pretty butterflies; some are yellow and
white, some rose-color and brown. I send you one to show you how
pretty they are.
MARY DE A.
Thank you very much for the pretty specimen, which lost none of its
beauty on the way to New York, it had been so daintily pressed.
* * * * *
GREENVILLE, NEW JERSEY.
I want to tell all your readers of the beautiful view we have from
here. The town is situated between New York and Newark bays. From
the back balcony we can look out through the Narrows and see all
the shipping, and down the bay, and see the Coney Island steamers,
the Staten Island ferry-boats, and the great ocean steamers that
come puffing up the bay. We also have a lovely view of Staten
Island and Brooklyn. We have delightful bathing in New York Bay and
in Newark Bay; it is still. We go in nearly every day, and enjoy it
very much. I have a brother Henry who is nine years old, and a
sister Hattie, seven years old. Our mamma and papa are both dead,
and we live with grandma and uncle. I love to lie in the hammock on
the balcony and look out over the bay and watch the sails and
row-boats.
PINK B.
* * * * *
LA MOILLE, ILLINOIS.
I feel almost acquainted with you. I have a nice little black dog.
I have a cart and harness. I hitch him up, and drive him all
around. I had a hard time training him. I have two pet cats; one is
Molty White; a little girl in Nebraska gave him to me when he was a
kitten. He is a big cat now. My other is a kitten; I call her Het.
I also have a pet canary-bird, whose name is Mart. I had a pigeon,
and it got out of the box, and flew away. I have a little Leghorn
rooster as white as snow, and his comb is as double and as red as a
tulip. I had a female canary; she was a lovely singer. Did you ever
hear of a female bird singing before? My father is a doctor. There
are five doctors in town.
GEORGE IDEN R.
What a beauty that rooster must be! I'm afraid the little black dog
thought _he_ had a hard time when you were training him to act as a
pony.
* * * * *
BRANDY STATION, VIRGINIA.
My first letter was not put in. I thought I would write again. My
little sister Alice has a pet duck; it sleeps in mamma's room. One
night it slept in mamma's slipper, and another night it got into
the baby's crib and slept there all night, and in the morning when
mamma took the baby up it cried to get up too. I think that was
very cunning. We have three pet chickens. It has been very rainy;
it rains nearly every evening. Mamma has some very large spring
chickens. We have an old dog fourteen years old. I have five
sisters and one brother: Rena Louisa, Sadie Summers, Emily Palmer,
Alice Remington, Lilian, and Charles Palmer. Good-by.
FRANKLIN S.
What a droll duck! Please thank sister Rena for her letter. We have not
room to print both this time.
* * * * *
C. Y. P. R. U.
A TOWER OF PORCELAIN.--The Porcelain Tower at Nankin, in China, is nine
stories high, and rises two hundred feet into the air. It is founded on
a strong and solid basis of brick-work. Twelve feet thick at the bottom,
it tapers gradually and gracefully to the top, where it ends in a point,
crowned by a golden ball. Around it is a railing of rough marble. By
twelve steps you reach the first floor, and by narrow stairs you climb
to the ninth story. Between each story and the next there is a kind of
pent-house or shed on the outside of the tower, from the eaves of which
are hung little brass bells, growing smaller as you approach the top.
These are set in motion by the wind, and keep up a musical chiming. Each
story is built of strong timbers, the ceilings are adorned with
paintings, and the light comes in through latticed windows. Every roof
is covered by tiles of delicately painted porcelain, and the whole
elegant, fairy-like structure is a wonder of architecture.
* * * * *
We direct the attention of the members of the C. Y. P. R. U. to "The
Trials of Philip Austin," another of Mr. James Payn's thrilling
narratives of "Peril and Privation"; also to an interesting and timely
article entitled "Aids for Young Anglers," and to Aunt Marjorie's "Bits
of Advice" on travelling.
* * * * *
YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT.
Contributions received for Young People's Cot, in Holy Innocent's Ward,
St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street:
In memory of Walter Griswold Hartshorn, born July 17, 1870, New
York, $5; Franklin P. Noble, Cornwall-on-Hudson, $2.20; Mathilde,
Nattie, and Eugene Reynal, New York, $15; Frank, Lottie, and Belle
Wood, Columbus, Ohio, $1; May Ringwalt, Cincinnati, Ohio, $1; C. E.
Carney, Sheepscott Bridge, Maine, $2; Louis How, St. Louis, 50c.;
In memory of little Margie's birthday, Chicago, $2.50; Cash, $1;
total, $30.20. Previously acknowledged, $1201.85; grand total,
August 15, $1232.05.
E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New St.
* * * * *
COLLEGE HILL.
Please accept the inclosed one dollar for Young People's Cot from
May Ringwalt, Cincinnati, Ohio. She has taken great pleasure in
saving little by little until said amount has been reached. May it
help to comfort some little one, blessing him that gives and him
that receives. Yours,
M. I. RINGWALT.
* * * * *
SHEEPSCOTT BRIDGE, MAINE.
I am thirteen years old. I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since it
started. I have had to leave my school. The doctor says I hurt my
knee on my velocipede, and I have been doctored ten weeks. I can go
without my crutch now some. I am very glad when I am in the hammock
to see my YOUNG PEOPLE coming, and thought about the Cot for little
children, so my father has given me two dollars for a birthday
present, and I send it for the Cot, and hope it will help some poor
little lame boy. He bought me a printing-press, but I am too lame
to use it.
C. E. CARNEY.
* * * * *
CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK.
The inclosed two dollars and twenty cents are the proceeds of a
circus which my brothers, my sisters, and my little friends held
recently. I ought to mention Victor, the shepherd dog, who I
thought did his part better than anybody else. Some of our mothers
contributed the refreshments because we went without fire-crackers.
We all voted to send it to you for Young People's Cot. The poor
children that occupy the Cot don't have so much fun as we do in
sending the money and in the circus.
FRANKLIN P. NOBLE.
* * * * *
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
I send fifty cents, which I earned myself by gargling alcohol when
I was sick. I did not like to do it, so mamma said she would give
me five cents each time I did it. The money is for Young People's
Cot. Yours truly,
LOUIS HOW.
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Gretchen," Mabel
Louise Grey, Don, Tommy Tipton, Maude Estelle Remsen, "Fuss and
Feathers," Lulu Dodge, John Botts, "Joco," A. E. Cressingham, "Queen
City of the Lakes," Lina Schoonmaker, Frank Nathan, Hammond and Lubman,
Edgar Seeman, Charlie Lamprey, Kate Marshall, L. D. and F. G., Ione I.
Austen, George D. C., Thomas Morgan, Bessie and Blanche Niven, Alice
Ward, Mary E. Bromley, "Catspaw," "Try, try again," Lucie Dickson,
Cecile and Fanchon, Emma Nusbaum, Harold Tucker, Joe Dunn, P. J. M.,
Ellen M. M., Lois Sinclair, William K., Albert Feihl, Prudy, Louis
Frost, Florence Hanington, "Old Putnam's Pet," George A. Drovin, Addie
W. Robson, David Heinemann, Willie Gilmour, Eleanor Conklin, Harry
Johnston, and Eddie S. Hequembourg.
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
THREE WORD SQUARES.
1.--1. A heavenly body. 2. One of the United States. 3. Liquids. 4. A
feature.
2.--1. A bird. 2. To lessen. 3. A girl's name. 4. Not far.
F. D. M.
3.--1. A fabric used in printing-offices. 2. Not dead. 3. Languishes. 4.
Something that comes to pass. 5. Ceases.
GEORGE D. C.
* * * * *
No. 2.
CHARADE.
My first is a dish
You often have seen.
My second is to test
Or to strive, I ween.
My whole is a place
For both fat and lean.
WILL A. METTE.
* * * * *
No. 3.
FOUR ENIGMAS.
1.
My first is in ginger, but not in spice.
My second in oven, but not in range.
My third is in lovely, but not in nice.
My fourth is in steady, but not in change.
My fifth is in even, but not in smooth.
My sixth is in narrow, but not in wide.
My seventh is in roughen, but not in soothe.
My eighth is in movement, but not in glide.
My ninth is in ruddy, but not in pale.
My whole is a flower on hill and in dale.
MOTHER BUNCH.
2.
My first is in crown, but not in king.
My second in article, not in thing.
My third is in round, but not in straight.
My fourth is in come, but not in wait.
My fifth is in stung, but not in sting.
My sixth is in clasp, but not in ring.
My whole is a flower of early spring.
3.
First in hay, but not in grass.
Second in girl, but not in lass.
Third in cave, but not in den.
Fourth in duck, but not in hen.
Fifth in orange, but not in plum.
Sixth in fraction, not in sum.
Seventh in way, but not in rut.
Whole a tree that bears a nut.
QUEEN CITY OF THE LAKES.
4.
First in Anna, not in Prue.
Second in Susie, not in Fan.
Third in Tina, not in Nan.
Fourth in Ella, not in Lou.
Fifth in Rosa, not in Kate.
Do I bloom, dears, early or late?
CRICKET.
* * * * *
No. 4.
NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
I am composed of 18 letters, and commemorate an important event in
American history.
My 4, 8, 18, 16 is a toy.
My 3, 14, 11, 1, 5, 6 is a word describing quantity.
My 7, 12, 15, 16 is a favorite place.
My 11, 2, 9, 10, 5, 13 is a plant.
My 10, 16, 17, 18 is a fast.
EDGAR SEEMAN.
No. 5.
HIDDEN NAMES OF GIRLS.
1. How wet the rain makes the roads!
2. Well, I dare say you are right.
3. Go, my child, and learn your lessons.
4. Look, Ted, it has frozen the milk.
5. Dear mamma, be lenient to him.
6. The Lizard is a cape in England.
7. Ethel, lay hold of baby's frock, or he will fall.
8. Ah, well, endeavor to do your best, and then I shall be pleased.
* * * * *
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 145.
No. 1.
S S
M A N A P E
S A L A D S P E A R
N A P E A R
D R
M S
M A D I N K
M A D A M S N E E R
D A M K E N
M R
No. 2.
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
No. 3.
S Y C A M I N E
Y A R D A R M
C R E A S E
A D A P T
M A S T
I R E
N M
E
No. 4.
A L A B A S T E R
O P I A T E S
E A R E D
S O W
N
No. 5.
SIX - IX = S
IX - X = I
XL - L = X
No. 6.
H E A R T
E N T E R
A T O N E
R E N T S
T R E S S
* * * * *
[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]
[Illustration: A REBUS.]
BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS.[2]
[2] From _New Games for Parlor and Lawn_. By GEORGE B. BARTLETT. New
York: Harper & Brothers. _In Press._
This merry game may seem trifling, but if any wise scoffer thinks he can
play it without making many ludicrous mistakes, let him try it and see;
for simple as it is, it keeps the attention on the alert, and the
faculties on the strain. The players stand in two lines, facing each
other, with a leader at the head of each line. It is the duty of the
leaders of the lines to call out the letters, which they can change as
often as they please. There must be an umpire chosen also, who sits at
the head of the lines at an equal distance from each. The umpire must
call out the numbers, which are number two and number four, and also
count ten slowly while each player is guessing. He calls out either one
of the above numbers the moment the leader has given out the letter, and
then begins to count. When the leader of the right side gives out a
letter, the second in line on the left side listens to the number called
by the umpire, as he knows that number two refers to a biped, and number
four to a quadruped, and that he must name some member of the animal
kingdom answering to the above description which begins with the letter
called by the leader of the opposite side. If he fails to do this
correctly before the umpire counts ten, he must cross over and take his
place at the foot of the opposite line. The umpire must see that there
is no mistake, such as repeating any name once used, or giving to any
animal too many or too few feet. When the player on the left has
answered, whether correctly or not, the leader of the same side in his
turn calls out the same or any other letter, the umpire follows with his
number, as before, and if the second player on the right fails to answer
correctly, he crosses over and belongs to the left side, standing at the
foot of the line. If the player answers the question properly, he keeps
his place, and ties a white handkerchief around his neck to show that
the next question addressed to his side must be answered by the player
who stands next him in the line. When the game has gone on for half an
hour, the umpire calls out "Time," and the side which has the most
players is declared the victor.
The game must go on with the greatest rapidity, and the efforts of the
players to answer rapidly without mistake are very amusing, as most of
them make the most ludicrous blunders, after which they are obliged to
march across to the other side as prisoners. The shouts of laughter with
which they are received by their captors render their play-fellows
anxious to avoid their fate, while their very anxiety makes them more
liable to follow in their footsteps.
Thus the fortunes of each side may vary, as it often happens that a
side, when reduced to but one or two players, may fortunately gain in
number, until at last it may triumph.
So this little game teaches concentration, perseverance, and natural
history, and furnishes amusement also.
* * * * *
SWALLOWS IN FURNISHED LODGINGS.
A pair of swallows built their nest, composed chiefly of clay, in the
corner of an out-house. Owing to the extreme heat and dryness of the
weather the nest lost its moisture, shrank, and was splintered into
several pieces, the half-fledged brood of four being thrown to the
ground. They were found huddled together amongst the ruins, no doubt
thinking, like chickens contemplating their broken egg-shells, that it
was very extraordinary. In the hope that, if suitable accommodation was
provided, the parents would again feed and tend their young, I fixed a
small wooden box by means of a few nails against the wall exactly where
the nest had been, first transferring into it the lining of the latter,
and depositing within the young swallows. In half an hour the old birds,
who had been flying about in a state of great excitement, and watching
the proceedings, took food to their young family, and continued to do so
day after day, quite recognizing the box as their new home. I used daily
to unfix it, and look in to see how my young friends were progressing.
This I did during the parents' absence, putting the box back before
their return. One day, however, they caught me with the box in my hand.
I of course replaced it at once, and withdrew. When I next looked, a few
hours afterward, I found that the birds had procured some moist clay,
and so buttressed the box against the wall that it could not be
dislodged without first breaking the clay. Being thus checkmated, I was
compelled to wait until the young birds were able to leave the home I
had provided for them.
* * * * *
LITTLE MAY.
What's become of little May?
She has disappeared to-day,
And instead of her sweet self
Here's a strange and frowning elf.
Pouting lips and angry brow--
Ah! but they are changing now,
And the smiles have come to stay;
Welcome back, you darling May.
* * * * *
[Illustration: A BAD PLACE TO MEET.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, August 29, 1882, by Various