I am nine years old. Last Easter mamma gave me HARPER'S YOUNG
PEOPLE as a present. I am delighted with it, and reading those
letters written by the young folks has put me in the notion of
telling you something of myself. I go to school in West
Philadelphia. Mamma thought the ride out there would be good for my
health. I am obliged to start at eight o'clock, and I get home at
two. I eat my dinner, learn my lessons, and then I am ready for
play, which I enjoy greatly. I have neither brother nor sister, but
I have several little friends. I have two velocipedes. Mamma gave
me one when I was only four years old; it has three wheels; I call
it my little clipper. The other has four wheels; I call it my
propeller. I have a set of garden tools. I tell you I play hard
until tea-time; then I get ready for tea. By eight o'clock I am
quite ready for bed, as I have to get up at six. Sometimes I take a
little ride before breakfast on my velocipede, or play with my pet
cat, which I call Charlie, after papa. Mamma says she intends to
turn over a new leaf, and have me black my own boots in the
morning, and promises if I do it for two weeks she will make me a
present of a nice blacking-box like papa's.