snapping and fluttering of fans continued.
When Tad blew the whistle there was a general start, for it was an
afternoon of surprises.
In single file the company marched back to "The Deanery," where they
were received by Vinnie's mother, and regaled with cakes, bonbons, and
ice-cream. At the close of the repast each girl and boy was presented
with a German bonbon containing a paper cap or mantle, some of which
were very becoming to their wearers.
As it began to grow dark preparations were made for a general breaking
up, which Tad prevented by calling his recruits together, and marching
them back to his own house, where they found the lawn illuminated with
colored lamps, and looking "just like fairy-land." Then they danced and
sang and played games until they were tired, and by nine o'clock the
party was over.
Vinnie thanked Tad and Gussie, who thanked her in return, all three
declaring they had had a "perfectly lovely," "splendid," and
"magnificent" time; and it was such a co-operative affair that to this
day Vinnie is in doubt whether it was her birthday party or Gussie's. It
was such a funny thing to borrow a lawn! But Tad and Gussie thought it
an excellent arrangement, and told Vinnie that whenever she gave a
birthday party they should expect to do their part of the entertaining,
and Vinnie begins to think that, after all, she must have been born
under a lucky star even if it was in the dog-days; for it is the
luckiest thing in the world to have friends who are willing and ready to
put themselves out in order to do us a favor.
[Illustration: MISS DELPHINA'S SCHOOL.]
HALICORA, THE MERMAID.
BY E. MULLER.
Little Halicora Cetacea lived in the Mediterranean Sea, near the south
coast of Italy. She went to Miss Delphina's school, with other nice
little mermaids, and learned how to knit sea-weed lace, and how to do up
her hair becomingly, and many other useful things. Miss Delphina had a
good deal of trouble with her pupils, for sometimes they were very full
of mischief. They used to bring oysters to school in their pockets, and
eat them slyly, and some of the pupils had a perfect passion for pink
and purple jelly-fish, though Miss Delphina always forbade them to eat
sweetmeats; and others used to bring their pet sea-horses with them, and
play with them in class, which kept Miss Delphina always scolding. The
merboys, too, gave her trouble, for they hid among the rocks, and threw
sting-rays and sea-eggs at the mermaids, making them jump and shriek and
drop stitches. Then Miss Delphina would unchain Cephalopterus, and set
him at the boys. Cephalopterus was a large devil-fish, which Miss
Delphina kept as a watch-dog, and when he laid hold of a merboy, that
boy was sorry. But merboys were not the only troubles that Miss Delphina
had; there were great rude dolphins and porpoises and sharks and
sword-fish, and other sea creatures, and, worse yet, there were land
creatures too, which came to annoy her. One day, while the knitting
class was at work, there suddenly descended an awful monster right
before them. It was a diver in a diving suit, with a long air-pipe
leading from the top of his head to the surface of the water, and any
creature quite so ugly not even the oldest mermaid, not even Miss
Delphina, had ever seen. Every mermaid shrieked, dropped her knitting,
and hid behind the rocks. The diver was looking for a place to lay a
submarine cable; he walked about, getting his feet entangled in the
knitting-work, mixing up every one's ball, and pulling out rows and rows
of stitches. This was too much. Miss Delphina called to the oldest and
bravest mermaids to come to the rescue, and told Halicora to unchain
Cephalopterus. Then they all rushed at the diver, Halicora with the
devil-fish first. The diver only gave one look; that was enough; he gave
such a pull at his air cord that his friends up in the boat thought he
was dying, and hauled him up in a twinkling, and the mermaids never saw
him again. Halicora was the brightest and prettiest of all Miss
Delphina's mermaids, and after she showed herself to be so quick and
brave in setting Cephalopterus at the diver, Miss Delphina said she
might go up on land to bring down the offerings from the fishermen.
These offerings were fruit and flowers left on the shore for the
mermaids, because the fishermen believed they would send them good luck
in fishing, and a safe return from their voyages, if presents were given
them; so every week a large basketful was left on the shore, and some of
the older mermaids usually went up just at dawn and brought it down.
On the shore lived a very good fisherman named Pietro Monaldi, whose
little boy, Leonardo, used to gather the fruit and flowers, and leave
them for the mermaids. Leonardo had always longed to see a mermaid,
though his father said they were invisible, and he had often watched on
the shore at dawn, but had never been able to catch a glimpse of one
until Halicora came up. Perhaps Halicora had forgotten that she was to
seize the basket and instantly plunge into the water, or perhaps she
felt too curious to be quite obedient. At any rate, when she saw a nice
black-eyed boy peeping from behind a rock, she did not hurry away, but
said: "Good-morning. Is this the offering I am to take?"
Leonardo came from behind the rock, and bowing politely, said, "Yes; and
I am 'Nardo Monaldi, at your service."
"And is it you who brings us these nice things?" asked Halicora.
"It is," answered 'Nardo. "And I beg you will take care of my dear
father, who is now out fishing."
Halicora thought she had never seen such a handsome, well-behaved boy.
She was sure he would never hide and throw things at his cousins the
way her cousins, Manatus and Rytinus Cetacea, threw sting-rays at the
mermaids.
"Tell me your father's name, and he shall be taken care of," she said.
[Illustration: HALICORA.]
By the time 'Nardo had told her his father's name, and the names of
several other good fishermen who lived near, Halicora saw the sun
rising; so she said good-by, promising to come again. When she went home
she wrote notes to all her relations, the Cetaceans and the Sirenidians,
telling them to be particularly careful of Pietro Monaldi, as he was a
good man and a friend of hers; and as Halicora was dearly loved by every
one, all her relations promised to look out for Pietro Monaldi, and send
him plenty of fish. After that, Halicora and 'Nardo became very well
acquainted, and told each other a great deal about the land and sea, and
Halicora became quite certain that no merboy ever could be so pleasant
and good as 'Nardo. One beautiful morning she told him there was going
to be a fearful storm, and that his father ought not to go out in his
boat.
"I will tell him you have told me," said 'Nardo.
"No, no; if you even tell him you have seen me, I can never come again,"
said Halicora, for she had warned him when they first met not to speak
of her.
So 'Nardo only told his father that there would be a terrible
storm--that the wind and waves had whispered it to him. But his father
laughed at him for a silly dreaming boy, and went out in his boat with
the other fishermen. The storm came, a terrible storm, just as Halicora
had said, and the fishing-boat was wrecked, and all the men in it were
drowned, except 'Nardo's father. Halicora had helped him to swim, had
lifted him out of the waves, and brought him a piece of the wrecked boat
to hold upon. Pietro thought the piece of board came by a lucky
accident; but Halicora was holding it, and she brought him safely to
land just at dawn. 'Nardo was on the shore, waiting in great anxiety for
the boat to come back. When he saw Halicora helping his father, he
forgot her warning, and exclaimed: "Thanks, dear Halicora! See, father,
the good mermaid has helped you."
But his father saw nothing--only those who are young and truly good can
see the mermaids; so Pietro only saw the waves and the piece of wood
which he had floated upon. But he was very glad and thankful that he was
saved, and so was 'Nardo.
The next day 'Nardo carried a large basketful of the finest fruit he
could find, and waited on the shore for Halicora. As soon as she came he
exclaimed, "Dear Halicora, how good you are!"
"You are good too, 'Nardo,"; said Halicora; "and I am sorry I must leave
you."
"Oh, Halicora, why must you leave me?" asked 'Nardo.
"Because you spoke my name aloud," said Halicora. "My father heard you,
and he says there can be no friendship between land and sea people; and
so I must go up to the Arctic Sea, among the ice and polar bears, to
stay with my aunt Rytina Borealis until I forget you."
Then she said good-by, and went down into the water, and 'Nardo never
saw her again. He often goes to the shore, hoping she may have come
back; but though the other mermaids come and take the offering, Halicora
has never returned, and so 'Nardo knows that she has not forgotten him.
[Illustration: THE HOME OF AUNT RYTINA BOREALIS.]
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
Now that vacation is over, we shall expect to hear from our girls and
boys about their school affairs. Let us know which of you have been
promoted, and tell us how you like the new teachers, the new scholars,
and the new studies. We are sure you mean to take hold of school work
heartily after having had the splendid summer holidays. What do you do
mornings and evenings to help mother? What do you mean to be when you
shall be grown up? Some of you are sorry that your letters are not
published in Our Post-office Box. It is impossible to publish all,
because we have such a crowd of correspondents; but we try to select the
letters which will be most entertaining to everybody, and if you will
remember this, and when you are writing tell us something interesting
that has happened in your home, or something droll that your pets have
done, or some bright thing that the little ones have said, you will very
likely see your letter in print.
* * * * *
HAVANA, CUBA.
I am studying English, with an American lady, and as she does not
wish me to read Spanish, I read only English books and papers. I
like your paper better than any book. I have in New York three
friends, who are the nieces of my teacher. Here too I have many
friends, and some of them, like myself, are studying English.
We have a pair of very pretty rabbits. They are white and brown.
They are called Bunny and Funny, and are very tame.
I wish very much indeed to visit New York, and I mean to beg papa
to let me go next year with my teacher.
The story that I like best of all that I have read in YOUNG PEOPLE
was "Aunt Ruth's Temptation."
This is the rainy season, and we have rain every day. We are very
desirous to see the dry weather come back.
We have a large farm in the country, and there we have a fine
croquet ground, where we play very often. We speak only English in
the school-room and with our teacher.
SIRENA C.
* * * * *
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
We have a very droll pet, but if you were to guess all day long,
you would never find out what it is. It is nothing less than a tame
woodchuck. He is quite pretty, and will follow those he fancies all
over the house, running up to any one who taps upon the floor, that
being our way of calling him. I am sorry to add that he is often
very mischievous, and sometimes gets into trouble in his anxiety to
see what is going on. One day we found him floundering in a kettle
of grease, in which he had fallen while trying to keep his balance
on its edge and discover its contents at the same time. I derive
much pleasure from Our Post-office Box, and thought I would like to
become one of its correspondents.
WALDO L.
* * * * *
OMEGA, LOUISIANA.
I live very far down South, on a beautiful river-bank in the
country. Perhaps some of you will pity me, but I would not like to
exchange my quiet country home for one in the busy city. I have a
black pony as gentle as he can be, and every day at four o'clock I
saddle him, and off go Billie and I to the Post-office, a distance
of two and a half miles.
My mamma is an invalid, and I help her all I can to clear up the
dishes, sweep, and attend to the little chickens. Our nearest
neighbor is only at the distance of a few minutes' walk, so I often
run up there to play with the children.
M. L. U.
* * * * *
DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.
I was quite interested in Mary W. H.'s letter about her dog Prince.
I have a dog of the same name. He is only a year and a half old,
but he knows a great many tricks. He can walk on his hind-legs, sit
on his haunches, speak, give his right or left paw, shake hands,
crawl like a baby, and turn a somersault. He is very cute. A man
shot him in the hind-leg one night, but it is not broken, and will
soon be well.
We girls have organized a society lately, which we have called "The
Dainty Finger Cooking Club." I am secretary, and every member has
chosen a nom de plume for herself.
BERTHA L.
We hope the Dainty Fingers will become very skillful.
* * * * *
NEW YORK CITY.
We have come all the way from Queensland, Australia, and are
travelling around the world. Our home is in Rockhampton, which we
left about four years ago. Since then we have lived in Brisbane,
Sydney, and Auckland; then we crossed the Pacific to California,
visiting Honolulu on our way. We spent some time in San Francisco,
and then crossed the great American continent, and arrived in New
York a few months ago. On our way over we stopped at Salt Lake
City, Chicago, Detroit, Niagara, and other places. We saw Indians,
Mormons, bears, buffaloes, California lions, coyotes, antelopes,
etc. We crossed the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. On the
Sierra Nevada we saw snow for the first time in our lives, and we
did not know what to make of it at first. My little sister said it
was soap-suds, and my little brother thought it was cream pie.
After a while we are going to Boston, and will then cross the
Atlantic to Ireland, go from there to England, thence to Paris and
Berlin, and finally we will return to our old home in Australia by
way of the Suez Canal. By that time we shall have been pretty well
around the world--don't you think so? We have a jolly family: papa,
mamma, auntie, four sisters, and three brothers. One brother, three
years old, is named Sydney Francis, but we call him Captain Cook,
and another, Arthur Cecil, we call Nipper. We lost one dear little
girl soon after we came here; poor little Mabel took diphtheria and
died. We have a little American baby to take home with us. Her name
is Marion Ruby, and she is three months old. If you would like me
to write to you from Ireland or England, please let me know. We are
always going to take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, even after we are again
at home in Australia.
OLYMPIA R. B. C.
Yes, we will be glad to hear again from you. Such a journey as you are
taking must be very delightful, and very instructive too. It is the
pleasantest way of studying geography and political economy we ever
heard of.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
I am not sure, but I think I shall like Mr. Otis's new story even
better than I did "Toby Tyler." I do hope he will not kill Tip, as
he did Mr. Stubbs. I have no pets. Was that robin which Mr. Otis
once wrote about a real bird?
WALTER M. G.
Yes, the robin was a real bird.
* * * * *
LONDON, ENGLAND.
I am a little American boy living in England, and am nine years
old. A lady sends YOUNG PEOPLE to a friend of mine, and he gives it
to me. I enjoy reading it very much, and after I have finished a
number I give it to some of my English friends to read. I have been
very ill, and my mamma took me to a farm half a mile from the sea.
The Coast-guards live on the beach to prevent smugglers from
landing there.
LOUIS THOMAS M.
* * * * *
ALLEGHANY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Don't you want to hear about our little kitten? She can spring from
the third-story window to the roof when she wants to chase the
birds, and she stands on a chair by the window and plays with the
flies.
AGNES U. J.
* * * * *
MARENGO, IOWA.
Our four cats are named Spot, Nig, Toby, and Tyler. Our dog's name
is Vet. A long while ago I had two cats which were called Moody and
Sankey. They are dead. I would like to exchange pieces of silk for
sea-moss.
LINNIE ALVERSON.
* * * * *
NEWBURGH, NEW YORK.
I suppose everybody has heard of Stony Point, which General Anthony
Wayne took by storm at midnight on the 15th of July, 1779. Two
years ago they had a centennial celebration on the spot. I have
been visiting during a part of my vacation at my uncle's farm at
Stony Point. In ploughing he has found cannon-balls, stone axes,
and soldiers' buttons. I myself found a cannon-ball, and prize it
highly. I helped with the farm-work, hoeing corn and cabbages, and
taking hold heartily of whatever was going on. I went in bathing,
and learned to swim a little, though I am not yet an expert
swimmer. My father, who is, has saved several lives. My
Sunday-school teacher lately took her class to West Point. We saw
Custer's monument, went through the library, staid until evening,
and saw the dress parade. I think it is splendid to see the
officers go forward to salute the commanding officer.
Thinking I would like to earn some money, I have undertaken a paper
route, and have lately been delivering two hundred papers a day.
School begins the first Monday in September.
ALBERT J. B.
* * * * *
ISLE ST. GEORGE, OHIO.
I live on a little island in Lake Erie. It is real pleasant here. I
have the very nicest kitten you ever saw. He is nestling on my lap
and purring contentedly while I write. His name is Jetty. We have a
dear little white pony named Billy. I had a pet chicken, but it
died. I wish Jimmy Brown would relate more of his ups and downs.
EMMA G.
* * * * *
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
I think Toby Tyler was a very original little boy, and it was too
bad to end his experiences so soon. I would like to hear of his
life at Uncle Dan'l's. You have no idea how glad I would be to see
his little, innocent, wistful face in the paper again. I wish to
tell you that I have received a letter from one of your
correspondents in Europe. It was not written with a view to
exchanges, but was such a letter as one school-girl would write to
another. The correspondence is certainly interesting, as neither of
us has friends in the other's country.
I wrote to you last winter for certain information, which you very
kindly gave me. Allow me to thank you for it. It was quite
satisfactory. I often wonder who it is that answers all the
questions of the YOUNG PEOPLE's friends. What piles of letters they
must read! And, dear me! don't their heads ever ache? If you don't
think my curiosity impertinent, perhaps you wouldn't mind telling
me about them.
LILIAN P.
The Editor's head never aches after reading such letters as yours, Miss
Lilian, nor after answering the questions which inquisitive young people
send to Our Post-office Box. But as for telling you any more, that would
be out of the question.
* * * * *
WOODSIDE, NEAR LINCOLNTON, NORTH CAROLINA.
DEAR FRIENDS,--Again I write, almost fearing you will grow tired of
my many letters and the space I occupy in your Post-office Box, but
I wish very much to thank you for many more little packages that
you have sent since I last wrote. They have come from: Mrs. E.
Janes, Oshkosh, Wis.; Miss Isabel Chambers, Fifty-second Street,
Lancaster Avenue, West Philadelphia, Penn.; Miss Edna Van Note,
Lebanon, Ohio; Mrs. Rebekah Snyder, Parton, Ill.; Maggie and Eliza
Bell, Sabbath Rest, Penn.; Russia Lubeck, Auburn, Cal.; Maude
Buckner, Covington, Ky.; Charles Thompson; Misses Anna and Louisa
Favre, Ontario, Iowa; Miss Miriam Oliver, Milwaukee, Wis.; Miss
Isabel Oakley, Terre Haute, Ind.; Miss Beckington, Des Moines,
Iowa; George F. Curwen, Villa Neva, Penn.; Miss S. Wilson, Honeoye,
N. Y.; Mrs. R. E. Ormsley, Emmetsburg, Iowa; Miss Lena Turch, Alma,
Mich.
Our school has grown since I wrote first, and now numbers
thirty-seven. There are several more that want to come. Our
dining-room is full; they use all the chairs, with all from the
lower floor of the house that can easily be carried out. We will
have a bench made for their use, and until it gets cold can put
some on that on the long gallery between the house and dining-room.
They sing "By cool Siloam's shady rill" very nicely indeed, and are
learning "Onward, Christian Soldiers." We need an instrument very
much, and when we get one we will teach them twice a month, if not
oftener, on Saturday afternoons.
While we were away, Pete's older children grew up very wild. We
feared we could not reach them, but we are very glad that now the
oldest son has come to Sunday-school. There is one more, off on the
railroad; but as Fayette has come, he will follow when he comes
home. Fayette does not know his letters, but comes in the evening
during the week to my little son; so he will soon get up with the
others. I do not know how to thank you for your kind and generous
help. Without it we could not have taught these children, much as
we desired to do so. I think they too are very grateful to you all.
We are keeping back the best books and prettiest cards, for we
want, if we can, to make a feast and have a tree for them at
Christmas, and make them all supremely happy for one day. They have
never seen a Christmas tree, and have never had any Christmas
presents, except Pete's children, who always have a gift from us. I
am not sure that we can do it, but hope we can. Truly your grateful
friend,
MRS. RICHARDSON.
* * * * *
SYKESVILLE, NEW JERSEY.
In No. 93 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE Mr. Eggleston says the baby
elephant cracks pea-nuts with its feet, and that it did not learn
this from the grown-up elephants, "for they eat nuts without
cracking them." This is a mistake, for I have seen the large
elephants at the Zoological Garden in Philadelphia crack nuts with
their feet, as Mr. Eggleston says the baby elephant did.
SAMUEL B.
Perhaps the elephants you saw learned their cute way of cracking nuts
when they were baby elephants, and never forgot it.
* * * * *
CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.
I have seen a good many letters in the Post-office Box, but none
from Carlisle. We live about half a mile from the Indian school, so
I thought I would tell you about it. The boys all wear blue
uniforms, and the girls bright dresses and ribbons. They make many
useful articles, and also moccasins and bows and arrows, which they
sell very cheaply. I am twelve years old.
A. DUNCAN Y.
* * * * *
BOWMANSVILLE, NEW YORK.
My mamma takes you for us, dear YOUNG PEOPLE, and we like you so
much! I am going to send this, my first letter, to you. I am eight
years old. I have one brother and three little sisters. We have
nice times watching cows in papa's orchards. Our Sunday-school had
a picnic at Buffalo Park last week; rowed on the lake, and saw the
swans. We are Disciples, like our poor President. Our district is
building the nicest school-house in the country. We think your
stories all splendid, and could not do without you.
ALICE Y. B.
* * * * *
LOGAN'S FERRY, PENNSYLVANIA.
My home is on the banks of the Alleghany River, and on the farm on
which my great-grandfather lived when these woods were the home of
the savage Indians. When my grandfather was a little boy, his
mother used to take him, with her other children, into Fort Pitt,
now Pittsburgh, for safety. I have two little sisters, one five
years and the other four months old. I had a nice old dog named
Shep. He died. Then we had none until my aunt came from Tennessee,
and brought a cunning little dog with her. She thinks a great deal
of him, for one night, when she was all alone, her house took fire
and burned down, and Prince, who was sleeping in her room, barked
and barked, and jumped on her bed, to awaken her. But for him she
might have been burned with the house. He is in my care, and is
faithful and obedient.
I would like very much to see Mrs. Richardson's school, and old
Pete.
HUGH L. S., Jun.
Prince was a very good watch-dog, and you ought to be proud of him.
Fidelity and obedience are splendid qualities in a dog's character, and
in a boy's too.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:
Red scallop shells, Indian money from Buzzard's Bay, and stones
from the Bay of Fundy, for a stone from any Territory.
LAWRENCE BROOKS,
7 Arlington St., Boston, Mass.
* * * * *
Postmarks, for anything suitable for a museum; or thirty-five
postmarks, for an Indian arrow-head.
ARTHUR R. WILLYOUNG,
147 Park St., Detroit, Mich.
* * * * *