THE PRISONER AT THE BAR.
"Stand up at the bar," cried the Justice severe.
"And what you can say I will patiently hear;
But you have been brought here so often before
That I fear it will be the old story once more.
"Stop! You needn't repeat that you couldn't find work.
For I know you quite well for a tramp and a shirk;
You sneak round the farm-houses begging for bread,
And will rob even those by whose hands you are fed.
"For a stout hearty fellow like you it's a shame
To take the alms due to the sick or the lame;
But to steal from the kind ones who pity your case,
I must punish severely a meanness so base."
"Well, your Honor, I've nothing to say, for I see
That nothing will change your opinion of me;
I suppose you will tell me, as often before,
That I must be sent to the tread-mill once more."
"You take the words out of my mouth," said the Judge;
"You are sentenced a month on the tread-mill to trudge;
And when your tramp's over, perhaps you will feel
That it's better to work at the plough than the wheel.
"For good honest labor will bring its reward,
While the way of the idle and vicious is hard;
And 'tis better in youth to this precept to hold
Than have to confess it when hardened and old."
I wonder if all the young people are as glad as I am that June has come again? You know the poet says:
"What is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days.
When heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,
And softly above it her warm ear lays."
Some of you are studying hard in these bright hours, so that you may be ready for examination. I hope you have been so faithful all the term that you will not need what some students call cramming to make you successful now. Others of my boys and girls are busy with their roses and honeysuckles. My thanks to the dear little hands that have gathered wild flowers for me.
You must tell us about your summer pleasures, children, and if anybody meets with an adventure, remember that Our Post-office Box would like to hear about it.
New York City.
I am a little girl nearly seven years old. We have no live pets in the city, but my little sister Anna and I have fourteen dolls. I am thankful to say they are very healthy; none of them have had the mumps or cooking-cough, as my little sister calls it. In the summer we all go to Long Island. There we have a pony, two cows, one calf, two cats, a kitten, and some chickens. We have great fun bathing. I am writing this myself, and if you think it is nice enough to print, I shall be the proudest little girl in New York city.
Helen B.
Henry County, Virginia.
I've been a reader of Harper's Young People quite two years, but have seen no letter as yet from here, therefore I'll write at least one from this mountainous part of the State. My country home is in sight of the Blue Ridge, and one can get a distinct, grand view of some of its peaks a mile from our home. No one of your little girl subscribers enjoys the Post-office Box more than myself. In fact, both big and little folks here appreciate and read most of Harper's publications. I wish everybody who lives in low flat countries could at least visit our mountains, and our State's greatest, curiosity, the Natural Bridge, in Rockbridge County; it is worth a trip to Virginia just to see that wonderful work of nature. But I must not write too long a letter, for fear you'll not find space to publish it; so I'll close by stating that I'm the youngest of twelve children. With best wishes for our dear kind Postmistress,
Maggie S.
The Postmistress returns heartily the love of all the dear girls and boys who send her their pleasant messages. She has visited your lovely mountain land, Maggie, and it is her opinion that you can not praise its beauty too highly.
King George County, Virginia.
I am ten years old. I have one brother and three sisters. I have a cow and a calf. We have a play store; we make wooden dollies and many other things to sell. We have a dog and a cat. The dog's name is Trip, and the cat's Tiger. There is a little bird that comes down by the door, and we give him crumbs; he is real tame. I used to have a pet rooster, but papa sold him. He would fly up on my shoulder, and when he saw any one with a pan he would fly in it. I will tell you about a squirrel that lives in a very large hollow hickory-tree back of our house. He is so cunning! He comes out on the side of the tree and chatters at us, and the dog and cat try to catch him, but he is too sharp for that. He comes and steals walnuts from our store-house, and carries some to his tree. We have two small mules; I love to ride on their backs.
Emma F. B.
Durbin, Dakota Territory.
I am a little boy thirteen years old, and I live on my father's farm, one-half mile from Durbin, in the celebrated Red River Valley, about six miles from the world-renowned Dalrymple Farms. Our house stands on the high beautiful banks of the Maple River.
Two months ago my sister and two brothers and myself were taken sick with diphtheria. I haven't been able to walk since. My little brother Allie died. I want to tell you what the sweet little boy said when he was sick—he did not like to take his medicine; and mamma said to him, "Allie, take it to please mamma," and then he took it; and a little while after mamma heard him say, in his sleep, "I will take it to please mamma." The last time he took his wine he said to papa, "Papa, I will never take it again." He was five years old, and could read and spell, and count up to one hundred without missing, and we never tried to teach him; he learned it all himself from hearing us. I have taken Young People from the first number. I could not live without it.
Please print this, as I am unable to walk, and have little to amuse me.
Lynn C. M.
What a sweet memory you have of the dear patient little brother, who was so ready to please his mamma, even when in pain!
I hope, as the summer days bring their pleasures, you will grow strong again, and be able not only to walk, but to run and jump as boys like to.
There will be a general clapping of hands when the Cot report is read this month. Here is a letter, which everybody will enjoy, from a friend who has the Cot on her mind all the time:
I am certain a great many of our young readers, when they see the Cot acknowledgments, will exclaim, "My! how did we get so much money all at once?" I don't wonder at your surprise; I am sure I was surprised when I heard the good news. Well, that $550 which you see put down as the result of a fair is what did the work. Sometimes in reading our fund column I have wondered why so few names from New York city appeared among our contributors; the greater part of the work before has been done in the East, West, or South. But now New York city has stepped up bravely to the front, and is worthy of great praise. Four little girls living here, namely, Madeline Satterlee, Helen Manice, Gertrude Parsons, and Mamie W. Aldrich, formed a club in Lent, and worked for this fair, and earnest workers they must have been. The fair was held April 22, in the Sunday-school room of Zion Church, Thirty-eighth Street, New York, which was kindly lent for the purpose. Of course I was at the fair, and a very pretty one it was. I only wish more people could have known about it, and have been there to encourage these little girls in their good work. Very busy they all looked, waiting on the tables. They had a fish pond and a large red grab-bag, both of which took in quite a sum of money; and I am sure these little workers must have felt very proud, and well repaid for any self-denial they had practiced, when they handed in to our treasurer the large sum you see acknowledged to-day. Now don't you think it would be a good plan if all the boys and girls who are well-wishers of our Fund—and I am sure they are many—would work hard this summer, while away in the country, or at home, and try and make the amount up to $1500? That would be just half the amount needed, and how fast we could go on next winter! You would have to raise $345.56, and that is not such a large sum among a great many. Some, like these four little New York girls, could hold a fair or festival at some of the summer resorts; others could pick and sell berries. There are many ways in which the little hands and feet could earn the pennies for our fund. Do not be disheartened at small results, but remember that every effort you make, if in earnest, helps both yourselves and the Cot fund.
I wonder if some of you are not curious to know where your money goes while waiting for the rest of the $3000. If any of you have ever gone in the Sixth Avenue cars, New York, past Waverley Place, you may have observed a large building on the southwest corner, with "Greenwich Bank" upon it in large letters; our treasurer wants me to tell you that she puts your money there; and, if I am not mistaken, some of these days you will see in our acknowledgment, "Interest from Greenwich Bank," which means that the bank pays you so much money for leaving your money with it. If you will ask your papas, I am sure they will tell you that it could not be in a better place. So you see what a good treasurer we have to take care of our money.
In saying good-by I must add that I think you have all done very well so far in our good work. The year will not be up until next month, and we have passed "the place in the mountains where we can look back and see one-third of our journey accomplished."
So to our helpers,
Great and small,
Thanks we send
For one and all.Aunt Edna.
New York, June, 1882.
St. Louis, Missouri.
As this is one of the large cities in the Union, I thought if no one else would sustain its credit I would. On the 5th of May we had a big hail-storm. In 1872 we had a hall-storm when the hail was about the size of a hazel-nut; but in this one the smallest stones I saw were that size. Most of them, however, were about the size of walnuts. I saw quite a number as large as a section of an egg, and one or two almost as large as my fist. Now I am afraid you will think that I have exaggerated, but it is true. I have heard a number of persons, including a very old lady, say that they have seen a number of stones frozen together, but never before such large single ones. The storm lasted for a full half-hour, hailing constantly. A great deal of damage was done to churches and public buildings especially. Branches of trees, bushes, and vines were cut off as smoothly as if done with a knife. One man went out to the gutter to pick up an extra large hail-stone, when another one hit him so forcibly on the back of the neck that he fell down on his hands and knees. I would have sent you one of the stones, but as such things can not be telegraphed, I could not do so.
Malcolm P.
Binghamton, New York.
I have written one letter before, and have not seen it in the paper, so I thought I would write again. I am taking Harper's Young People for the third year. I like "Toby Tyler" very much, and "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" still better. I saw some real prairie-dogs not long ago. They don't look bigger than a good-sized rat. I am nine years old, but have only been at school a year, as I have always been sick. I am in the second grade, and study arithmetic, reading, language, and spelling. Shall be promoted next term.
I have a little brother named Frankie. He is seven years old. Mamma and he and I live with grandpa, as our papa is dead. Frankie has a cat which had four kittens. They are all sorts of colors. I wish I could send you their pictures. They live in my old baby carriage. I made a little tent, not big enough to get under, that I could take down and put up as many times as I had a mind to, and to-day I broke it. Jumbo, that you have told us about, is coming here in August. I hope I shall see him. When I do, I'll write and tell you what I think of him. I just love him now. I can't think of any more. Good-by.
Eddie F.
Those little kittens are well off. Living in a baby carriage! Think of such luxury! Do they have an afghan over them when they are chilly?
It is fun to make a tent large enough to accommodate two or three boys. I think, if I were there, I could help you make one with two or three poles, and a couple of old shawls or table-covers. Suppose you ask mamma to help you do this?
Forest, Texas.
I am a little girl twelve years old, and live in the country. I have a kind uncle who sends me Young People. We have had plenty of strawberries this spring. I go to school, and am in Coins and Currency, and at play-time I have fine times playing croquet. We have a mocking-bird building in the garden. It sings all day. We had a fish-fry not long ago, and had as many fish as we wanted. It has been a very rainy season. I have a great many pretty flowers; the gladiolus is opening now. I am so glad when Harper's Young People comes. I like the story of "Talking Leaves" better than any other one.
Nina M.
We planted our gladiolus bulbs the morning that Nina's letter arrived; but the season is earlier in her Southern home than it is with us. Have you magnolia-trees and pomegranate-bushes in your garden, Nina? How charming it must be to hear the songs of the mocking-bird all day long!
Norwich, Connecticut.
I must tell you about my pet which my uncle Frank brought me from California. It was a dear little horned toad. It was very affectionate, and had a soft yellow breast and two horns, one on each side of its head. I kept it in a big box of sand, and uncle called it Cutey, it was so cute. One day it was very cold, and Cutey shivered so I covered him up in the box, and put him on the register; then I went off, and forgot my poor little toad. When I came back my toad was dead, and I cried very hard, for I felt naughty to have forgotten my pet. I have some more pets, and some time I will tell you about them; but I am afraid this is too long.
Susie.
What a pity it was, dear, that you forgot your pet! No wonder you cried. I am sure you will never again forget one of the little creatures, which are dependent on you for their comfort.
Bristol, England.
I have a very kind cousin who lives in Brooklyn, and sends me Young People. I am eight years old. I am very fond of reading the letters of children so many miles away from each other, and of hearing about their pets. I have a green parrot, but he is very spiteful. We have a gray cat, and if we stay upstairs beyond our time in the morning, she comes up and sits outside the door, and keeps mewing until I come out and speak to her. I have two sisters, one five, the other three. I have been learning to play the piano eighteen months; also my sister Lillie. We play several duets, and many pieces. I have to practice every evening, and then I have a good read from Young People. I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Tim and Tip," and "All-hallow Eve" very much indeed, and I am very much interested in "The Talking Leaves." My papa I have not seen in nearly four years. He is out in China. He was wrecked last July. He was chief officer of the Anne S. Hall, of Boston, which was lost in a typhoon. All hands were saved in a boat. I shall be very glad when I see him. I have been two years at school. I went to a pic-nic party to Lea Woods. We went through Nightingale Valley, and were really tired when we got to the top. The woods looked lovely with bluebells and violets. The primroses seemed to be all picked.
Percy T.
Well, Percy, I wish I were so near that I could tell whether you and your little sister keep time in your duets. You must practice very diligently, so that your music will delight your papa when he comes home again. How much you must love him, all the more fondly because he was in such peril on the ocean! I hope he will reach his children in safety.
Nightingale Valley is a beautiful name for a wood.
Brooklyn, New York.
I want to tell you about our cat, whose name is Miss Moll; my little brother named her, and he is three years old. Miss Moll trots all over the house, and when she wants to go out, she stands by the door and mews. When she wants to come in, she scratches at the door. She will lie down on her back, and play with any one's hand, although she is a middle-aged cat.
We also have a dog, but he does not amount to much, except that he is a good watch-dog, and he belonged to my brother, who is now dead.
I go to the public school, where I received a prize for writing and composition. (They don't give prizes as a general thing.) This is my first letter.
Grace I. T.
I am glad you were the fortunate little winner of a prize.
Frederick County, Maryland.
As I have seen no letter from here, I thought I would write, and maybe you would publish it. I am a little girl eleven years old. I live in the country near Frederick city. I have a dear little brother; his name is Charley. He is a little naughty sometimes, though. Charley has three dogs—their names are Sport, Jack, and Butty—and he has a very pretty Alderney calf, also ducks and chickens. He is very kind to them. My aunt Kate gave me Young People for a Christmas gift. I like it very much. I have twelve little cousins; we go to school together, and have very nice times. I send my love to you, Mrs. Postmistress, and to all the little girls and boys.
E. K. H.
Exchanges are inserted without charge, but they must be brief. First name what you have, and then state what you wish in return. Give your address plainly, and in full, town, county, and State. Please write with black ink.