publish, because the little boys and girls who live in other parts
of the country may like to hear about things at the sea-shore.
Last summer we lived at a place twenty miles from Boston, in the
town of Cohasset, and it was the nicest place we ever had for
summer, because it was always cool and pleasant in fine weather. It
was near Minot's Ledge Light-House, and quite near the great blue
ocean. We could always hear the sound of the waves on the beach,
and could see the steamboats and vessels going up and down the
coast. Sometimes in stormy and foggy weather the vessels would be
in danger of going on the rocks; then the fog-horn would sound very
loud to warn them off the shore.
We used to go in bathing nearly every pleasant day. My sister, who
is twelve, could swim out in very deep water, but I thought it much
nicer fun to dig sand on the beach, or run about the rocks on
shore.
Sometimes the children from other houses would come and play with
us under the trees or in the stable, where we kept our horse and
our hens, and sometimes we used to take long walks to the village
or through the fields.
In September, when the days grew shorter, mamma and auntie wanted
to go back to Boston, because the evenings were lonesome, and most
of the people were going to their homes. But I want to go to
Cohasset again next summer, and I should like to see some of the
boys and girls there who read this paper, and I guess they can find
me by inquiring at the post-office for
HARRY A. P.
* * * * *
Some of our youthful puzzlers omit to send the answers with their
puzzles. No puzzle can be admitted unless the solution is sent in the
envelope with the puzzle. Some boys and girls send correct answers to
puzzles, but forget to sign their names, and in consequence we can not
give them credit, as we would like to, for their careful work.
* * * * *
Nellie Anderson, Lancaster, Ohio, found violets in bloom in December.
* * * * *
Ada Allen, Bolivar, Missouri, has sent us her teacher's certificate that
she has recited perfectly the list of the Kings and Queens of England.
* * * * *
Lester Tallmadge, of Leaville, Colorado, would like to receive the full
address of H. R. S., who lately sent him a package of interesting
curiosities, in order that he may make a suitable return.
* * * * *
C. Y. P. R. U.
ALICE.--I can not decide for you the question which is the most useful
of all the trees in the world. I will leave it open for the
C. Y. P. R. U., and members may send me their opinions. The tree which
is applied to the most various and multiplied uses is probably the palm.
There are a number of species of palm, differing in some minor
peculiarities, but all graceful, elegant, and beautiful. The Palmyra
palm (_Borassus flabelliformis_) is, on account of its great usefulness,
called the prince of trees. Until this tree reaches its twentieth year
it has little grace or beauty. A recent writer says: "It is covered from
the root upward with the remains of old leaves which have been cut off
some distance from the trunk, leaving ugly and dangerous projections.
These leaf-stalks when green are soft and easily cut, but after they
become dry they are almost as hard as horn. A person running against
such a tree by night, or accidentally, is sure to retire wounded. After
the tree becomes older, all these remains of former leaves disappear,
and the straight trunk emerges smooth and clean, as if it had been
artificially trimmed and polished. It rises to the height of from sixty
to ninety feet, and is considered in its youth during its first hundred
years. The timber is almost worthless until the tree is sixty years
old."
A Hindoo poem is said to enumerate eight hundred and one uses to which
the palm is applied. The leaves are used for fuel, for thatch, for mats,
for baskets, for cords, for fans, for umbrellas, for pouches, books,
etc. The sap is drawn from the tree twice daily during seven months of
the year, and makes, when unfermented, a pleasant drink; when fermented,
an intoxicating wine. It is boiled into a coarse sugar, which is used
both as food and medicine, and as a cement in mortar. The fruit is
considered a delicacy. There is an Indian proverb about the palm which
says, "If you plant it, it will grow a thousand years; and if you cut
it, it will last a thousand years."
* * * * *
The Postmistress acknowledges with thanks the kindness of her young
friends who have sent her pretty cards and other favors of the season.
* * * * *
ST. CLAIR, MICHIGAN.
DEAR POSTMISTRESS,--Will you please try to think of something
pleasant for five girls to do. We are trying to get up a club by
ourselves. We want to meet in the afternoon, and sometimes in the
evening. We would like to have you tell us some name for it, and
what kind of badges and what color would be nice. I take HARPER'S
YOUNG PEOPLE, and like it very much.
WORTHY E. MCE.
How would you like "We Girls?" I think that would be a pretty name for
such a club as yours. As for badges, there is nothing more appropriate
than a geranium leaf or two, to be worn when you meet, or you might
assume rosettes of pink ribbon, or, prettier still, always wear a white
apron when you assemble. I think it would be very charming for you to
have some beautiful needle-work on hand, and while one should read
aloud, let the others sew. If there are poor little girls in your town
who do not know how to sew, or whose mothers are too busy to make
comfortable clothing for them, your club, with _your_ mothers'
permission, might make garments for them. A cooking club is very popular
among girls of your age, and, upon the whole, would perhaps give you
more enjoyment, and result in more real benefit to you in making you
efficient little house-keepers, than anything else the Postmistress
could propose. If you try the latter work, you will need the assistance
of some older friend until you are fairly organized. Please write, and
tell me what you finally resolve upon.
* * * * *
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
I am a regular subscriber to your nice paper, and read it with
great interest. I would like to tell you about a dog that I know of
that was much attached to his master, who is a boat-builder. The
other day, while at work placing beams in position in a new boat,
one of the poles became loose, and was about to fall on the man,
who was in the way. The dog saw his master's danger, and sprang on
him, knocking him out of the way. The man was slightly hurt, but
the poor dog was killed. He saved his master's life, but lost his
own. Please give this to the Postmistress to publish.
KITTY B. H.
I am very glad to publish this letter in memory of the faithful dog who
lost his life to save his master's.
* * * * *
There is one thing certain about our paper this week. The C. Y. P. R. U.,
on the look-out for relations of solemn fact, would never be able to
tell which articles were intended for its special entertainment if the
Postmistress did not point them out. "The Loss of the _Royal George_" is
one, but who that did not know it to be an actual occurrence, and one of
the most terrible and heart-rending in English history, would not think
the story one of the wildest fancies of some writer's brain? Then who
would believe that some birds could be so cruel and heartless as to feed
upon the flesh of their fellows, if Dr. W. O. Ayres, of Yale College,
did not tell us so in "My Family of Orioles"? Unless the Postmistress is
very much mistaken, the articles in YOUNG PEOPLE which will be most
widely read this week are those in which "truth is stranger than
fiction."
* * * * *
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
ENIGMA.
Formed half beneath and half above the earth,
We sisters owe to art a second birth;
The smiths' and carpenters' adopted daughters,
Made on the earth to travel o'er the waters.
Swifter we move as tighter we are bound,
Yet neither touch the water, air, nor ground.
We serve the poor for use, the rich for whim,
Sink when it rains, and when it freezes, swim.
ELLA B.
* * * * *
No. 2.
TWO EASY DIAMONDS.
1.--1. A letter. 2. A verb. 3. Large plants. 4. A creeping fish. 5. A
letter.
2.--1. A letter. 2. A huge serpent. 3. Juvenile. 4. A conjunction. 5. A
letter.
ROBTUS.
* * * * *
No. 3.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC.
1. To obey. 2. A surgical instrument. 3. Universal. 4. Part of a bird.
5. To breathe out. 6. A weight. 7. A pronoun. Primals--One of
Shakspeare's plays. Finals--The name of a famous author.
HARMON W.
* * * * *
No. 4.
A LETTER PUZZLE.
One I, one O, one R, four S's, and one C.
Now place these letters in order, and form a word for me.
H. W.
* * * * *
No. 5.
NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
My whole is a familiar adage composed of 22 letters.
The 6, 4, 5, 16 is to try anything.
The 3, 18 does not mean yes.
The 11, 2, 20, 15, 16 is to lift.
The 13, 8, 10, 12 is to sting.
The 19, 22, 14 is used to wash with.
The 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 is very sweet.
The 9, 17, 1, 21, 4 is a fragrant substance.
W. B. G.
* * * * *
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Lodestar," Nellie
Anderson, Ella Chirney, Ernest Payne, Walter E. Paulding, G. W. Taggart,
Edward Lee Haines, Sammy A. Jones, Reggie Reid, Arthur Bancroft, Elbert
E. Hurd, J. J. Bellman, Gerson G. Freund, Jacob Marks, Henry E.
Johnston, Jun., and Willie Volckhausen.
* * * * *
[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._]
[Illustration: SOME ANSWERS TO WIGGLE No. 23, OUR ARTIST'S IDEA, AND NEW
WIGGLE, No. 24.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, January 10, 1882, by Various