the end.
The following gratifying communication comes from the librarian of a large public library in Illinois:
May prosperity attend your most excellent Young People! I keep it on file in the reading-room, and it is pleasant to note the eagerness with which its pages are devoured by the boys and girls who daily throng our rooms. The paper is doing a noble work among them, not only in amusing them, but by giving them solid information upon a great variety of subjects in a most delightful way, thus giving them a taste for a class of reading almost always pronounced "dry" by the youngsters. It supplies a long-felt want in juvenile literature. Again I say, success to your noble enterprise!
Sunderland, Vermont.
I am eleven years old, and I live in the country. Papa has a very large farm.
I have three sisters. The oldest is in Philadelphia at school. I am next to the oldest. My sister Annie and I have the care of the chickens and turkeys. We have doves which are so tame they will fly and alight on our hands to get corn. We had a little pet crow, but it died last night. We are going to get another one. We have wild strawberries. They are very plenty this year.
Jennie G.
Thompsonville, Connecticut.
I take Young People. I think the engravings are so pretty. After I went to bed last night, I could hear the people down stairs talking. After a while papa began to read to mamma. I listened, and soon made out that he was reading from Young People about "The Boys and Uncle Josh." Papa laughed so that he had to stop reading several times. I am twelve years old.
Minnie S.
Sweetwater, Tennessee.
I like Young People very much, and I read all the letters from the children. I have been going to school, but we have a vacation now. I am not as well read as S. Cassius E——, but I am a year younger. I have read some poems of Tennyson and other poets, and the whole of Goodrich's History of Rome and Greece. I have a crippled sister who has read a great deal, and she tries to make me read more, but I spend most of my leisure time in practicing music. I am learning to cook, and I am going to try some of the recipes sent to the cooking club. I am going to my grandma's soon, and I expect to have a nice time. She lives in a shady dell, and we call it "Dell Delight."
Susan M.
Chapel Hill, Georgia.
I am a little boy eleven years old. My aunt in New York sends me Young People. I like the stories and the letter-box very much. I live twenty-five miles from the city of Atlanta. We have had whortleberries, plums, and mulberries this summer. I go to school, and I walk there every morning. It is a mile and a half away. I have but one pet, a dog named Rover. My sister Addie has three cats. One of them catches chickens, and my dog sucks eggs.
G. F. A. V.
East Cambridge, Massachusetts.
You can hardly imagine how much I like Young People, and how anxiously I wait till it comes. I have two canaries. Dick is yellow, and Bill is linnet green. Dick is tamer than Bill.
Fred L. Z.
Newport, Kentucky.
I am eight years old. I go to school, and am in the Second Reader. We have all the numbers of the Young People, and papa is going to have the first twenty-six bound. Mamma liked it so much that New-Year's she took it for my cousins.
When we lived in Illinois papa was Adams Express agent, and we had a horse named Adam. When my brother Charlie was four years old he went to Sunday-school, and once when the teacher asked the class who was the first man, Charlie yelled out, "Adams Express man!"
The first thing I read when my paper comes, are the little letters in the Post-office Box.
Willie W.
New York City.
If any of the readers of Young People have pet turtles, this is what they can feed them with: Mine eat flies, bugs, worms, and fish. One of mine is so small that a large three-cent piece would cover it. Bull-frogs will eat these same things too.
I think Young People is splendid. The story of "The Moral Pirates" is the best yet.
Lyman C.
Schuylersville, New York.
Young People is the best paper I ever saw. I like the story of "The Moral Pirates" best of all, and I hope it will be a long one. I have two brothers, both younger than I am. We do not go to school, but study at home. I would like to know whether you are going to have a binding for Young People. I read the letters in the Post-office Box over and over, and enjoy them very much. We raise a good many chickens, and I have lots of pet ones, all of which have names.
Keble D.
We have already stated in the Post-office Box that an ornamental cover will be ready when the first volume is concluded.
Niagara Falls, New York.
I like Young People very much, especially the story of "The Moral Pirates." I always read it the minute it comes from the post-office.
J. M. P.
New York City.
I am twelve years old, and a constant reader of Young People. I am the boy who was buried under the snow, in the story called "Ned's Snow-House," in Young People No. 18. I was very much surprised when I read it, and it was some time before papa found out who wrote it. I was nine years old when it happened.
Warren S. B.
Taiohae, Nukahiva, Marquesas Islands.
I am the only white girl in this place that can talk English. I have two brothers and one little sister. I am the eldest, and am nearly twelve years old. It is very wild out here. In one of these islands the people eat each other. There is no school here, and mamma teaches me my lessons. Papa gets Harper's Weekly, and Young People came with it. I send now to subscribe for it.
Isabella F. H.
New Orleans, Louisiana.
I am seven years old, and I like Young People so much! I often go out to Spanish Fort, on Lake Pontchartrain. They have a pair of goats and a little carriage there that children can ride in for five cents a round trip.
I have a pet dog named Jack, and four pet chickens; and I had a little canary, but it got sick and died. My dog chases my chickens all day long, so that I have to whip him.
Charlie S.
Butteville, Oregon.
I live on the banks of the Willamette River. We are having lots of rain here now. I thought I would write and tell you how much I liked the story of "Across the Ocean." I liked "The Story of George Washington" too. I am eleven years old.
W. B.
Mexia, Texas.
I have had a present of a little canary, but it does not sing. The lady who gave it to me said it had been a beautiful singer, but it became sick. She gave it castor-oil, and it recovered, but has never sung since that time. The little bird has a nice cage, always fresh water for drinking and bathing, bird seed, fish-bone, and plenty of green leaves and grass. I wish some one could tell me how to make it sing again.
Adele M.
It is not easy to restore song to a silent canary, and as you will see from a letter in this "Post-office Box," you are not the only one seeking a remedy for this trouble. The companionship of a singing-bird will sometimes arouse a canary to display its own musical talent. Your bird may be silent from overfeeding, as too much green food, like lettuce leaves, makes a bird grow fat and stupid, and less likely to sing. Try to place your bird near singing canaries for a few weeks, if you can, and if that does not affect it favorably, we fear nothing will.
Cora R. Price and Mamie E. Evans both send the following legend of the forget-me-not, in answer to the inquiry of "A Constant Reader": Some flower seeds having been cast away by a traveller from a distant country, they fell by the edge of a lake. Some time afterward two lovers were wandering by the lake's side, and the lady, seeing the strange flowers, entreated her companion to gather some. As the gallant knight reached to pluck the blossoms, he fell in a quicksand, and was drawn into the treacherous pool, flinging the flowers at the maiden's feet, and crying, "Forget me not," as he disappeared forever.
Here is still another fanciful legend, sent by Ethel Sophia Mason: When Adam and Eve were driven from Eden, the flowers all shrank away from Eve with the exception of a little blue blossom, which Eve had named "heaven's flower," as its color was so much like the blue sky. As Eve passed, it seemed to murmur, "Forget me not," and she gratefully gathered it, saying, "Henceforth, dear flower, that shall be thy name." It was the only plant transplanted from Paradise, or that survived the flood. It is said to have the power of speaking at midnight, and telling the legend of its sweet name.
Troy, New York.
I am very fond of natural history and botany. The other day I was out walking with my teacher, and I saw a caterpillar, or, as my little friend Ada says, a pillarcat! It had a black body, with a red stripe running along its back. I wish some one would tell me what kind it was. I would like "Wee Tot's" address.
Lena.
The address of "Wee Tot" was given with her letter in Post-office Box No. 26. Walter H. P., who wrote about caterpillars in Post-office Box No. 31, can perhaps tell you the name of the caterpillar, and what kind of butterfly or moth it produces, although you describe only its color. Had you stated its size, length, and other peculiarities, it would be easier to give you its name.
Chicago, Illinois.
I like to read Young People very much, but I like the pictures best of all. I have shown the paper to the boys in our neighborhood, and have got a good many of them to take it. I never drew any Wiggles before, but I like them. I am twelve years old, and I work for a dentist.
Henry B. A.
San Antonio, Texas.
I am very much interested in the Wiggles, and I read all the poetry in Young People. I like the Letter-box better than anything. I get my paper from the bookstore here. I wish you would tell me where I can buy a cannon, a real cannon, so I can shoot on the Fourth of July.
M. L. J.
San Bernardino, California.
I am twelve years old. I have a little dog and a big cat. They play together all the time. Sometimes when they are playing they get so tired that they lie down together and go to sleep. My sister had a wax doll. One day she left it on the table, and my dog got it, and tore off all its hair.
Willard H. H.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We have three cats. One is black and white, and it jumps into mamma's lap every time it comes into the room. And we have a dear little colt one month old. When the man puts it in the field it races all around, and seems to enjoy itself so much. I am nearly ten years old.
Bertha E.
Sherburne Four Corners, New York.
In Young People No. 32 a little girl asks for a recipe for bread. Here is one: For a small baking of bread take one medium-sized potato, boil it, and mash it fine; add a heaping table-spoonful of flour, and pour over it a tea-cupful of boiling water; let it stand until it is lukewarm, then stir in two table-spoonfuls of yeast—my mamma uses home-made—and set it in a warm place (not too warm) to rise. When it comes up light, add a cup of lukewarm water, a tea-spoonful of salt, and flour enough to make a batter. Let this rise, and then mix in flour until it is stiff: your mamma will tell you when it is right. You must let this rise again, and then make it into loaves, using as little dry flour as possible in this last process. If you wish to make biscuit, a little butter or lard improves it After the mixture is in the pan, you must let it rise again before putting it into the oven.
I was ten years old last Decoration-day. I have never made any bread yet, but mamma is going to let me try soon.
Fannie H.
I tried Nellie H.'s recipe for candy, and I think it is real nice. We have a large Newfoundland dog. He will carry a basket, and will catch a ball, and he will give you his paw. His name is Spot.
I will exchange pressed ferns with Emma Foltz in the fall.
Minta Holman,
Leavenworth, Kansas.
I am making a collection of bugs, and would like to exchange with little boys and girls in the West who take Young People. I have only collected a few bugs yet.
G. Fred Kimberly,
Auburn, New York.
Concord, New Hampshire.
Here is a recipe for very nice Graham bread for Puss Hunter. I make it very often for my papa, and he likes it better than any other bread. I am fourteen years old. Take one quart of lukewarm water, half a coffee-cup of yeast, two table-spoonfuls of lard, two table-spoonfuls of white sugar, one tea-spoonful of salt, one tea-spoonful of soda; melt the sugar and lard in the warm water; stir in very smoothly three pints of flour; then pour in the yeast and the soda. Beat it hard for a few minutes, and then put it in a warm place to rise. This is the sponge, and will take about eight hours, or all day, to rise. Then at night add two quarts of Graham meal and one cup of sugar, and, if it is too stiff, a little more warm water. Let this mixture rise overnight. In the morning stir it down with a spoon to get the air out, and put it in the pans. I let it rise in the pans about two hours before I put it in the oven. This recipe will make two good-sized loaves. Do all the mixing with a spoon, as it makes it sticky if you touch your hands to it. I wish Puss Hunter, if she tries it, would tell me if she has success.
Rosie W. R.
I am eleven years old. I like Young People very much. I have a flower garden of my own, and two pets—a canary named Phil, and a cat. My bird will not sing. Can any correspondent tell me what to do for it? My papa has a pet crow. It is very funny.
I would like to exchange pressed flowers with any little girl in the West.
Dotty Seaman,
Richmond, Staten Island, New York.
I have been taking Young People from the first number, and I like it ever so much.
I have a little brother named Charlie, and he is a great favorite with everybody. He is very sharp for a little boy three years old. Last year we spent the summer in Cincinnati, and mamma took Charlie to the circus. When the procession came out he said, "Oh, mamma, look at the elephant, and the camel behind him!" Mamma thought he did not know what a camel was, so when they came around again mamma said, "There is the elephant, Charlie; and what is behind him now?" Charlie did not answer, so mamma asked him again. Then he looked up at her, and said, in a very droll tone, "His tail."
I am collecting stamps, and would gladly exchange with any readers of Young People. I am twelve years old.
Harry Starr Kealhofer,
Memphis, Tennessee.
If any birds' egg collector of California or the Western States will exchange eggs with me, I will be much pleased. I will send one dozen different kinds for as many of his. They are as follows: Chaffinch, quail, kingbird, crested jay, brown thrush, mocking-bird, sparrow, cat-bird, bluebird, peewee, swamp blackbird, wren. I will be obliged if any boy will send me his address, and a list of the varieties he is willing to exchange for mine.
Harry Robertson,
P. O. Box 89, Danville, Virginia.
Willie Atkinson.—There are about 225 islands in the Feejee group, of which 140 are inhabited. Viti Levu is the largest and most populous, being 97 miles from east to west, and 64 from north to south. Next to this is Vanua Levu, which is 115 miles long, and about 25 miles wide. The whole group contains, exclusive of coral islets, an area of about 5500 square miles of dry land.
George B.—The stamps you require are somewhat rare, but you may be able to obtain them by means of the exchanges offered by our young correspondents.
Lily B., Mabel C. L., and others.—Your puzzles are very skillfully made, but are rendered unavailable by their solutions, which are precisely the same as those of puzzles published in former numbers of the Young People. Correspondents by taking special notice of the fact, which we have already stated, that we can not repeat solutions, will save themselves from many disappointments.
Favors are acknowledged from Penn W., D. Kopp, Charlie Heyl, Laura Bingham, Walter Willard, Lizzie Brewster, George B. McLaughlin, Louis D. Seaman.
Correct answers to puzzles are received from Minnie Helen Ingham, "North Star," Caroline and Cornelia Frost, N. N., Leon C. Bogart, John B. Whitlock, "Dominus," George Volckhausen, N. L. Upham, James C. Smith, William A. Lewis, "Buttercup and Daisy," Mary C. Spaulding, Edward L. Hunt, Dorsey Coate, Herta and Arthur Paul, George W. Rothe, Leon M. Fobes, Alfred M. Cook, Willie and Georgie Francis, J. Bauer.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
WORD CHANGES.
1. Black to white. 2. Rose to lily. 3. Beef to veal. 4. Lamb to wolf. 5. Sick to well. 6. Moon to star. 7. Town to city. 8. Hawk to bird. 9. Sew to rip. 10. Page to book.
Allen.