Harper's Young People, January 10, 1882

I have a sister named Bessie, nearly four years old, and every day we take a long walk.

I go to school now, and read in the Fourth Reader, and study arithmetic, spelling, geography, and writing.

I have taken Harper's Young People for over a year. I like everything in it, but Jimmy Brown's are the funniest stories.

I see a great many interesting things, going from place to place, but my letter is already too long, so I will close.

J. B.

The little Glastenbury girl who does not like cats has stirred up quite a number of defenders for the household pet. We would like her to write again, and let us know whether she has been converted by the friends of puss.

Glenwood, Iowa.

I want to say a word to the girl who don't like cats. I have two beauties – Skip, who is so black that mother calls him Prince of Goree, and Bronk, a lovely blue Maltese. They have so many cute little ways, and afford so much pleasure to us all, that I know that little girl who "hated cats" would like these Western kitties.

Now let me tell how much I like the little paper. I have read every number that has been published so far. Even father listened to "Toby Tyler," and wondered why Mr. Otis had to kill Mr. Stubbs, though he said he supposed Uncle Daniel would not know what to do with a monkey, and it was lucky he was killed. Jimmy Brown affords us great amusement. I wonder who the real Jimmy is! Young People reaches us on Saturday, and that is a happy day for

Caddie King.Molokai, Hawaiian Islands.

I am a little boy ten years old, and have been a subscriber to Young People since the tenth number. I like the paper very much, and intend to take it always, as it is so interesting, especially the Post-office Box, where I read all the little folks' letters, and feel as if I were acquainted with them. The weather here is very pleasant, and there are lots of pheasants, quails, and many other kinds of birds here. I wish I were near New York, so that I could go and see the editor, or send some money for Young People's Cot. My father is a white man, and my mother Hawaiian. I have been to school three years. Good-by.

Henry P.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I have written to the Post-office Box a great many times, and have not yet seen one of my letters in print; but I do not think, like a great many others, that they have gone to the dreadful waste-basket. I have sent Wiggles too, but none have been published. At first I thought it was because I was not a subscriber, but pa has been taking Young People from a news' agent for a year and a half.

I am taking music lessons. I take Young People to school, and my teacher uses it in preference to a Reader. I have got two subscribers for you. I do not know whether they have subscribed yet or not. One boy's mother bought a number of papers from different publishers to make a selection, and chose Young People.

At our school there is to be a prize given, at the completion of the book, for the best drawing. Professor S., the gentleman who prepares our book in New York, visited all the schools in Pittsburgh for the purpose of examining the drawing-books. He visited our school last, and concluded that our drawing was the best and finest he had seen in any of the schools in Pittsburgh. I tried the leaf photograph, and succeeded.

Frank B. H.Wortendyke, New Jersey.

I think your paper is lovely. My aunt in Jersey City takes it for my sister as a birthday present. I have read so many interesting letters about pets that I thought I would write one about ours. We have a large Newfoundland dog, named Bingo, and every time I go out he runs and jumps on me. We have lots of fun with him, he is so gentle. Our cow, named Betsey, is real gentle, and when I go to the bars and call her, she comes running and jumping to me like a little kitten, and she plays with us real cunning. We raised her from a little calf. Her mother was killed on the railroad; her name was Daisy. We have two cherry-colored cats, Toby – not named after Toby Tyler – and Charlie. Every cold morning Toby climbs up on the grape arbor, and jumps from that to the front piazza, to my window, where he taps until I let him in, and when he gets in he cuddles down in bed and goes to sleep. These are all the pets we have. My brother had some pet rabbits, but he sold some, and the rest he let run around, and they got killed or lost. Our little baby sister is two months old. There are seven of us in our family, and all girls but one.

Ina J. P.Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

My home is in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In winter it is very cold here, and sometimes it is so cold that the thermometer is 20° below zero. I have a nice pony from Sable Island, near Nova Scotia. I have some postage stamps and postmarks which I would like to exchange with the readers of Harper's Young People. My age is thirteen years and six months.

C. L. Hammond, P. O. Box 314.Woodside (Near Lincolnton), North Carolina.

My dear young Friends, – You are all very often in my thoughts, and sometimes when any of those funny little mistakes are made in Sunday-school, I wish you could enjoy the fun. We are trying, as we can, to take the children into the Natural History Society. My sister and I thought, as they wanted so much to belong to it, that they could begin by making a collection of Indian curiosities. We told them that all who wished to belong to the Natural History Club might bring arrow-heads or any pretty stems with them when they came to sing on Saturday. They all came. One family of five little ones were very nervous, with their hands full of arrow-heads, but whimpered out that they wanted to sing, but didn't want Miss Ida to put them in a tub. I wish you could have seen their relief when they found they were not to have a bath. Then the carols began.

They all learn the tunes quickly, but Ellen Pete will sing, at the top of her voice, "Carol, buzzards, carol," instead of "brothers," as the words really are.

Since my last, I must acknowledge gifts from Mrs. N. B. Blunt, Lexington Avenue, N. Y.; Miss Lulu Mears, Danby, Vt.; Master Robert Cranson, St. Johns, Mich.; Miss Julia Slack, Bristol, Penn.

For these, and all your gifts, accept my sincere gratitude. Your friend,

Mrs. Richardson.St. Johns, Michigan.

In No. 110 the Postmistress asks if any one has seen dandelions later than November 20. I send you a pressed dandelion picked by the road-side on December 10. They have been in bloom all the fall in the yard of our court-house, but they have now gone to seed. This is the more remarkable, as we have had quite deep snow and some very cold, blustery weather, though the ground is bare now, and the weather quite mild for this time of year.

My large shepherd dog is very fond of sugar and candy, and mamma once had a little dog that would eat almost anything, if a little molasses were poured on it. He would wag his tail and lick his chops when she took the plate to pour the syrup on.

I wish we could have some more of Ben Buttles's adventures. I think they were very surprising.

Robert E. C.New York City.

It was my good fortune to spend a part of last summer at Newport. The house where I lived was just on the banks of Almy's Pond – a charming place, surrounded with lawns and flowers of all kinds. What pleasure it was to me to obtain the key of the boat! I would run to the landing, unfasten the boat, take my oars, and push off. I acquired great skill in rowing, and it made my arms strong. Once, in the middle of the pond, I tried to catch those big lazy gold-fish; but though lazy-looking, they were more clever than I, for they invariably avoided the net.

It was not so, however, with the turtles; of a more inquisitive mind, when they heard some noise they looked out of the water to see what all that noise was about, and their curiosity caused their capture, for I very seldom missed them. The result was that I had quite a respectable drove of them; but the day before my return to the city I gave them their freedom, with the exception of two beauties which I brought home with me.

If you wish to have the pleasures of society and of country life combined, go to spend the summer at Newport. There you will find fun.

Georgey C. B.Waltham, Massachusetts.

I want to tell you a droll cat story. Six weeks ago a family near us bought a place two miles out of the village, and moved there. Their pet cat, three years old, was placed in a basket, covered up, and carried to her new home, her owners hoping she would be delighted to walk in the woods and catch the squirrels. But when she jumped out of the basket she ran away; she liked the village company better. She wandered three weeks, hunting for her old home, where at last she arrived, half starved. We called her in and fed her, and she seemed very happy. We sent a postal to the family, and May came over, delighted to know puss was alive. She tied her in the basket again, and took her home. She seemed more contented, and they thought this time she would stay; but in three days back she came again. We sent word to them she was here, and they came for her; and in all four times she was carried home. The last time Mr. T. told her plainly that this would be the last time he should come for her. Now what do you think? she is round here again, and no one can catch her.

Frankie L. W.Rome, Ohio.

I want to tell you about my pet lamb. One day papa brought in a lamb which could not stand alone. He gave it to me. We kept it in the house until it could stand alone, and I named it Kate. I fed her, and she would follow me all around. I kept her in the orchard, and when I went to feed her, I would say, "Katie, Katie," and she would run to me and drink her milk. When I stopped feeding her, her wool was five inches long, and now it is nine and one-quarter inches long.

Mary B. R.Alexandria, Louisiana.

I have a nice doll house and five dolls. Josephine is the mamma. She has three children – Hattie, Fannie, and Clarence. I love my dolls very much.

I live on a sugar plantation, and love to go to the sugar-mill. There are two little squirrels that stay about the yard. They have a nest in the back yard, and are right tame. I watch them playing, and think they are very pretty.

We have two little kittens, John and Ambrose. They are the sweetest little kittens that I ever saw. They are named after two young gentlemen friends of the family. They play and sleep all day, and are very lazy. Their old mother went away and left them. They used to have fits quite often, but whenever they had them I would pour cold water over them, and now they are perfectly cured.

Ella B.Fort Gratiot, Michigan.

I am nine years old. I have a little brother four years old. His name is Weymouth. I love him very much. He always wants to play church, and be the minister. When I had company, and we danced "Sally Waters," Weymouth said he would not dance, for ministers did not dance. This summer mamma took Weymouth and me to Aylmer, Canada. We had a nice time, and I saw "Don W." and his sister there at the picnic he spoke of in his letter to the Post-office Box.

We have a bird, and I have several dolls, and one pretty paper doll mamma made for me.

I think I am the only one in this place who takes the Young People, and I am going to try and get more to take it. I like it so very much. My auntie in Montana sent it this year to me.

Lizzie M. K.Birdsborough, Pennsylvania.

I am a little girl six years old. I go to school, and like my teacher. Her name is Miss N. D. I like to hear my papa read the letters in Harper's Young People to me. I have a sister Olivia, who is ten years old. She gets Harper's Young People every Saturday, and likes the stories very well. I have a pet cat named Flora, and a rooster named Dick. He is very tame, and comes running to me when I call him.

Hattie H.Brooklyn, New York.

We have three little kittens just three weeks old, and they are real sweet. My aunt Helen wanted to take them up stairs, but as soon as she took hold of them the old mother cried, and would not have them out of her sight a moment. When the mother wants to go in the yard, she comes away up stairs to the third story and cries, and then when some of us come down, she goes and stands by the door until we open it. I have a sister Etha, and a brother Josie, and we all enjoy Young People very much. I can not think which of the stories I like the best, because I like them all so well.

Lottie L. S.Havana, Cuba.

Perhaps some of your young people will like to hear about a parrot that we used to have. He was a very funny fellow. He repeated almost everything that he heard. When mamma asked for the servants in the morning, he would commence to call them: "Lola! Dolores! German! it is time to get up; the mistress is calling you!" When he was angry he would begin to cry, "I am angry! I am angry!" When the servants did not give him dinner, he would cry, "I am hungry! I am hungry! – the servants have not given me my dinner." He knew how to laugh. Sometimes he scolded the servants, and afterward he would laugh – "Ha! ha! ha!" When we were breakfasting he used to come to the table for us to give him his breakfast, and he would eat from our hands. Sometimes he would sit on papa's shoulder. His plumage was red, green, and blue. He was very pretty.

Have you ever seen a crane? The other day a gentleman presented one to papa. He has a long neck and long legs, and is very pretty. He eats from our hands, and is very tame. He eats all the flies and roaches he can find. The other day a dog bit a little friend of ours. As it was a strange dog, that came from the street into the yard where the child was playing, it is not known whether the dog was mad or not. But the doctor said he must treat the wound as if he knew the dog was mad; so he had to burn the place to prevent the boy from having hydrophobia.

Concepcion.Polk Township, Illinois.

I am a little boy six years old. I live on a farm. I have two dogs, and my grandpa named one of them Peter. I have a brother four years old, and a darling sister, too. Papa calls sister "Black-eyes," but her name is Clara. She can say two lines of "Three Little Kittens," and says "please" and "thank you" as well as anybody. My brother and I saved our money until we had enough to buy "The Franconia Stories" and "Little Learner Series," but we like our Young People better than any books we have.

Paul C.New York City.

I will be twelve years old in a few days. I notice, in looking over my first volume of Harper's Young People, that most of the boys and girls who write to you are under that age. When I read some of their letters, I only wish I was favored as they are, and could have chickens and rabbits, and live in the country. But I am a city boy, and go to the public school, and have lots of books, and enjoy myself in reading, and playing with my two little sisters, who are, I think, the most cunning little girls I know.

John M. H.Hobart, New York.

I like your paper very much, and receive it with great pleasure every week. I am not going to school at present, but expect to very soon. We have six cats, and none of them are cunning. I am nine years old, and live on a farm. We send our milk to New York. This is one of the sections of New York State in which maple sugar is made, and it is very interesting to watch the process. We have had no snow as yet, but usually at this time of the year have about two feet – more or less.

Myra G. W.Lima, Peru.

As the editor hopes that some girl will write in the defense of poor puss, I beg to say that I have two splendid cats. The largest is a fine Maltese, looks very much like an old woman, and is exceedingly fat. He is named Mr. Mason. Besides having the good quality of being an excellent mouser, he is very religious, and often spends the nights in the Cathedral, which is just in front of our house. Early in the morning he comes back, howling for something to eat. The other cat is named Mr. Stubbs, and is decidedly the favorite. He is rather thin, and has a face like a mouse, but is the most affectionate animal alive; and when mother opens the door in the morning, he stands quite still, and says, "Mew! mew!" as if to say good-morning; he then walks in, and pays us each a visit in bed. He never scratches, and I am almost sure that if Augusta C. knew him, she would think differently about cats.

I have one sister and two brothers. We were all born in Mexico, but, my parents being Americans, we are all, of course, American citizens. During the last eight years we have been living in Lima, Peru, and so Mr. Harper will not think it strange that this letter takes a little longer to go to him than some others. We have taken Harper's Young People since it has been published, and always praise and recommend it to everybody. It is just splendid.

Carlota L.Boston, Massachusetts.

I am a little boy nearly ten years old, and live in Boston. My brother Theo (who is seven) and I have taken Harper's Young People ever since we first heard of it, and we like it very much, and so do all the boys and girls in our neighborhood.

My father says that I may write a letter, which perhaps you will 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 CONTRIBUTORSNo. 1ENIGMAFormed 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. 2TWO EASY DIAMONDS

1. – 1. A letter. 2. A verb. 3. Large plants. 4. A creeping fish. 5. A letter.