I have a very kind cousin who lives in Brooklyn, and sends me YOUNG
PEOPLE. I am eight years old. I am very fond of reading the letters
of children so many miles away from each other, and of hearing
about their pets. I have a green parrot, but he is very spiteful.
We have a gray cat, and if we stay upstairs beyond our time in the
morning, she comes up and sits outside the door, and keeps mewing
until I come out and speak to her. I have two sisters, one five,
the other three. I have been learning to play the piano eighteen
months; also my sister Lillie. We play several duets, and many
pieces. I have to practice every evening, and then I have a good
read from YOUNG PEOPLE. I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Tim
and Tip," and "All-hallow Eve" very much indeed, and I am very much
interested in "The Talking Leaves." My papa I have not seen in
nearly four years. He is out in China. He was wrecked last July. He
was chief officer of the _Anne S. Hall_, of Boston, which was lost
in a typhoon. All hands were saved in a boat. I shall be very glad
when I see him. I have been two years at school. I went to a
pic-nic party to Lea Woods. We went through Nightingale Valley, and
were really tired when we got to the top. The woods looked lovely
with bluebells and violets. The primroses seemed to be all picked.