I don't believe that any of the American subscribers of HARPER'S
YOUNG PEOPLE enjoy reading it more than I do, though I am not an
American girl, but an Alsatian, like my father. Mamma was born in
New Orleans, Louisiana, but I have never been to America, though I
would much like to see for myself what are the customs and habits
of the American people. It is mamma's sister, who dwells in
Galveston, Texas, who has the kindness to send me this nice paper.
I like especially to read the stories about French people, like the
one of King Louis XVI. of France and Queen Marie Antoinette, which
appeared in one of your numbers, and the beautiful story of
Charlotte Corday, who was one of my countrywomen too; for the
Alsacians are French, and though the Germans took our poor land and
separated us from our dear country, they never can take our hearts,
which will always remain French.
I hope this letter will be published, for it would be a pity that,
coming from so far away, it should be put into that doleful
pigeon-hole, which must surely be the terror of every one who
contributes to swell the number of the Post-office Box letters.
As I saw that many of the correspondents tell about their pets, I
too will write about my nice canary-birds. One of them papa gave me
for my birthday, and the other-- Why, one cold winter day, as we
were at dinner, we heard a little noise at the window, and there
was the poor little thing. Of course we made it come in, and it
just flew into the opened cage and ate some seeds, for it was
nearly starved to death and frozen. Since then it lives with us,
and we call it "Bienvenu," which means in English "welcome." Last
spring it laid five eggs in a basket I gave it as a nest, and I
rejoiced at the thought of having little birds, but Bienvenu was
cruel enough to eat all her eggs before they were hatched.