[to be continued.]
[PINAFORE RHYMES.—(Continued.)]
Here comes the train;
We watch it from the bars;
Who will stop the engine
And put us in the cars?
It fell of itself,
The lazy ball,
And you needn't tell me
I let it fall!
Perhaps it was tired,
Like me and you,
And wanted to rest
A minute or two.
Little Miss Bessie
Has a new muff,
And fur gloves to keep her
Hands warm enough.
Mamma will let her
Run in the snow,
No matter how keenly
The wind may blow.
Little Mary gave a feast,
And seven guests invited;
In the garden it was laid,
And every one delighted.
They had cups of milk for tea,
And lots of cake and candy;
The sparrows thought 'twas jolly fun
To have a feast so handy.
When the crumbs were cleared away,
They danced and cut up capers;
And not a word about the feast
Was printed in the papers.
We give notice that in future no more offers for exchange of birds' eggs will be printed in the Post-office Box. During last summer we repeatedly endeavored to impress upon the minds of our readers that only one egg should be taken from each nest; but even this will, in many cases, cause anxiety to the mother-bird, and as the nesting season again approaches, we think best to request our boys and girls to leave the nests entirely undisturbed. The robbery and destruction of birds' nests by boys, in their eagerness to obtain eggs, have driven away thousands of song-birds from many parts of the country, and the new game-laws of this State will contain a very strict prohibition of this cruel practice, enforced by a heavy penalty.
We believe that our decision in this matter will meet with the hearty approval of every one of our young readers, and the sweet warbling of the birds on sunny summer mornings will amply repay them for the loss of a few eggs from their collections.
St. Louis, Missouri.
I am nine years old. I take Young People, and I am so pleased with it! I am very much interested in "Toby Tyler."
I am a good rider on a bicycle, and I can ride a horse well, too. I have a beautiful pony. She is sorrel, with silver mane and tail. Her name is Dolly, and when I call she always answers, and looks at me with her big brown eyes. She can almost talk. Dolly is full of mischief. She can untie her halter, take down a bar, open the oat bin, and help herself. She is as plump as a seal. I sometimes drive her in a little phaeton, and she is a good stepper on the road. I do hope every little boy who has a pony gives it as good care as I do mine.
I save every copy of Young People, and by-and-by I will give them to some poor child who can not take it.
Joe W. L. G.
Perhaps some of our readers will remember a letter from Harry C. H., of Lansingburg, New York, published in the Post-office Box of No. 66. It described his black goat Dan, which he drives, harnessed, with a set of silver-plated harness, to a wagon or sleigh. Thinking you might be pleased to make the acquaintance of Harry and Dan, the Editor of Young People sent for their photograph, and here they are, silver-plated harness, bells, red box cutter, fur robe, and all—a very neat-looking turn-out. Don't you think so?
Jacksonville, Florida.
I live in an orange grove in Florida, the "Land of Flowers."
Florida has a great many ponds and marshes, with lots of fish in them, and it has a great deal of wire-grass and pine timber.
I have been up the great Oklawaha River, but I did not care for anything except the Silver Springs, which were very beautiful indeed. The water was so clear I could see trout, pike, and other large fish swimming about forty feet below the surface.
I have just begun to take Young People. Mamma gave it to my brother and myself for a Christmas present.
I go to school, and I have the best teacher that anybody ever had.
Lewis.
Mount Pleasant Academy, Sing Sing, New York.
I have taken Young People from the beginning, and I like it very much. Some of the other boys in this school take it, and they all think it is the best paper published. We all like "The Moral Pirates" the best of all the stories, and "Toby Tyler" the next. We have not had very good coasting nor skating lately, on account of the weather, but if it grows cold, and snows some more, we will have it.
I am collecting stamps, but all my duplicates are easy ones, and I have not enough to exchange yet.
I think the editor must work pretty hard to make the paper so nice for us to read.
Now I must stop writing, and study my Bible lesson.
Louis F. R.
Warrensburg, Missouri.
One week ago I had a letter to the Post-office Box nearly finished, and we were very happy, but just as night was coming on, mamma got a telegram from Colorado, nine hundred and ninety miles away, saying that our dear papa had died that morning. How dark the world did look! I used to write to him in mamma's letters, and he would write to me and my little brother about little tame bears and antelopes, and the funny prairie-dogs, and how high the mountains looked with their white caps of snow. He was so far across the mountains that the rivers ran toward the Pacific. Papa was shot and mortally wounded by some Mexicans. He was brought home to be buried, which was a great comfort to mamma.
Mamma likes the historical stories in Young People, and she hunts up more about the principal characters mentioned, and tells me about them. Was the "tiny tot" in the story of Prince Charlie the Duke of York, after whom the State and city of New York was named?
Harry D. S.
Yes, the "tiny tot" was the Duke of York, and on the death of his brother became James II., King of England. The name of New York city was changed from New Amsterdam to New York in 1664, Charles II. having, in violation of all national courtesy, granted the colony of New Netherlands to his brother James, then Duke of York.
Brooklyn, E. D., Long Island.
We have a very nice club, which is called the "Young Girls' Reading Club." We meet every other week at the different girls' houses, and we read the works of Longfellow, Tennyson, Whittier, and other poets. There are six members in our club. I am the treasurer, for we collect dues, just like "grown-up" clubs. We have to pay ten cents initiation fee, and after that five cents a week. There is a one-cent fine for violation of the rules, of which there are five. We are sure to make money, for the girls often break the rules.
Anna G. H.
Brooklyn, Long Island.
I send the Young Chemists' Club the simplest way of making chlorine gas, which is useful in many experiments: Mix one part oxide of manganese and two parts hydrochloric acid in a retort; heat gently over a spirit-lamp, when a greenish vapor will be seen to rise, which may be collected over warm water at the mouth of the retort. Care should be taken, however, not to inhale it, as it is a powerful poison, and a rag saturated with alcohol and ammonia should frequently be waved about to purify the atmosphere.
G. F. L.
This correspondent and many others have requested us to give the address of the president of the Young Chemists' Club, as they desire to correspond on scientific subjects. This we can not do unless authorized by the officers of the club. If Charles H. W., the president, desires to communicate with these young chemical students, he will kindly send a letter to that effect to the Post-office Box.
Vevay, Indiana.
I am so anxious about Toby Tyler! I do hope he won't get killed or die, but go back safe to his good uncle. I wanted to send him my dollar to help him, but mamma said I had better not. I am so sorry for him!
I have commenced studying German since the holidays. My teacher says I will soon overtake the class that began in September. I like it the best of all my studies.
Bertie M. A.
Brooklyn, Long Island.
We used to have an alligator. We fed it on raw meat. We kept it in a tub, and it used to jump out and run after grandpa when he had on red slippers. One day it got out of the tub, and ran down the steps into the kitchen, and jumped into my aunt's lap. Soon after that we sent it away.
M. Ella S.
Pasadena, California.
I am sick, and can not go to school, so I thought I would write to the Post-office Box. I have an orange-tree my father gave me about three years ago, and now it has more than a hundred oranges on it.
I had Young People as a birthday present from my mother. I think it is a nice present, because it lasts all the year.
Carlos P.
We have a little Home Literary Society which entertains us one evening every week, and I wish to inquire if Ida B. D. would kindly write to me in reference to the play acted during the holidays by the Silver Crescent Dramatic Club of San Francisco, California, of which she is the secretary.
Clara A. Hooper,
Rockport, Spencer County, Ind.
Emporia, Kansas.
On January 28 we celebrated Kansas Day, it being twenty years since Kansas was admitted to the Union as a State. The celebration was at the High School. The room was decorated with red, white, and blue, and a picture of John Brown was hung under two flags. The Kansas motto was over the door, and the coat of arms was drawn on the blackboard. Each pupil studied about some county, and they all sung "John Brown's Body," "Call to Kansas," and "The Star-spangled Banner." Essays were read on the history, products, schools, etc., of Kansas, and "The Kansas Emigrant" and other pieces were read by the scholars. It is just splendid to have Kansas Day.
Maud B.
Detroit, Michigan, February 8, 1881.
I have received so many letters for exchange of postmarks that I can not possibly answer them all right away. Correspondents will please take notice.
Harry W. Quimby.
Duluth, Minnesota.
I have received many boxes of specimens and curiosities from unknown persons. I receive the box, but there is no name on it, and no postal card referring to it, and often when there is a postal, there is no name even on that. Now those persons, no doubt, are disappointed at receiving no acknowledgment, but it is entirely their own fault, for whenever any one sends me specimens, accompanied by the name and address, he is sure to receive a box in return.
If all who have sent things to me, and have received no answer, will send me a postal describing the package or box they have sent, I will send a box of specimens in return.
Horace H. Mitchell.
The above letter is only one among many of the same character which we receive daily. We print it to impress, if possible, upon the minds of careless boys and girls the great importance of giving their full name and address, by the omission of which they cause trouble, not alone to themselves and their correspondents, but also to the Post-office Box.
I think Young People gets better and better. I am very much interested in the story of "Toby Tyler." I used to think it would be great fun to travel with a circus, but now I don't think it would be any fun at all.
I would be glad to exchange Lake Superior agates for star-fishes. I am nine years old.
J. Edwards Woodbridge,
Duluth, St. Louis County, Minn.
I am commencing a collection of stamps, and I will exchange a large piece of lead ore for forty stamps. I am eleven years old.
Newton Compton,
Care of Rev. J. M. Compton,
Rural Grove, Montgomery County, N. Y.
The following exchanges are also desired by correspondents:
A Lester saw in running order, for a self-inking press.
Edgar Garnan,
10 Highland Street, Roxbury, Mass.
Postmarks, sea-shells, marble from Vermont and Nova Scotia, flint from France, and other minerals, for postmarks, stamps, Indian relics, Lake Superior agates, shells, or other curiosities.
Raymond C. Morey,
Swanton, Franklin County, Vt.
Choice varieties of flower seeds, for peacock coal, petrified wood, shells, sea-mosses, coral, agates, or minerals. Correspondents will please mark specimens.
Anna Favre,
Ontario, Story County, Iowa.
Postage stamps.
Shelton A. Hibbs,
505 North Eighteenth Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
Choice sea-shells for Mexican garnets.
Emma K. Chattle, care of Dr. T. G. Chattle,
Long Branch, N. J.
Foreign postage stamps.
Arthur T. Smith,
Westminster, Carroll County, Md.
Ten postmarks, for five foreign stamps, except English or Canadian.
M. F. Cooper,
Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y.
Stones or earth from Ohio, for the same from any other State, or for autographs of renowned persons.
Walter Olmsted,
104 Brownell Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
Postage and revenue stamps and postmarks, for postage stamps.
Charles L. Hollingshead,
72 Grant Place, Chicago, Ill.
Amethyst from Grand Menan, New Brunswick, for foreign postage stamps.
Harlow Clark,
Hastings, Minn.
West Indian and other foreign stamps, for old Cuban (issues previous to 1875) and old Spanish stamps.
Percival G. Burgess,
55 Atlantic Street, Portland, Maine.
Minerals and stamps.
Walter S. Besse,
P. O. Box 235, New Bedford, Mass.
Stones from Massachusetts, for stones or curiosities from other States.
Robert W. Wales,
South Framingham, Mass.
An Austrian coin of 1859 and a Canadian half-penny, for twenty-five different kinds of stamps.
William Krummel,
167 Loth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
A stone from New York State, for one from any other State or Territory except Colorado.
Locke Stimpson,
Mineville, Essex County, N. Y.
Postmarks.
Will M. Edwards,
Noblesville, Hamilton County, Ind.
Ten postmarks, for one postage stamp. Stamps from South America, Turkey, or Greece preferred.
William T. Plumb,
Constableville, Lewis County, N. Y.
Foreign postage stamps and United States revenue stamps, for others.
A Reader of "Young People,"
P. O. Box 8, Newton Centre, Mass.
Red shells from Buzzard's Bay, postage stamps, mostly from South America, and American and foreign postmarks, for foreign postage stamps.
Walter S. Crane,
P. O. Box 474, Brookline, Mass.
Seven African stamps (no duplicates), for two Indian arrow-heads.
William G. Flanagan,
Johnstown, Cambria County, Penn.
Thirty postmarks, for five foreign postage stamps.
Clifton B. Gates,
Ellington, Chautauqua County, N. Y.
Petrified wood, for Indian relics and foreign postage stamps.
B. Pease,
279 East Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn.
A stone from the Mammoth Cave, or stamps, for shells, ocean curiosities, or minerals.
Dellie Porter,
Russellville, Logan County, Ky.
Indian arrow-heads, for foreign postage stamps or shells.
William and Jennie Otterson,
Bennet Creek (viâ Mountain Home), Idaho Ter.
Postmarks, stamps, coins, and minerals, for stamps, coins, and minerals.
George F. Breckenwood,
Bay City, Mich.
Stamps and sea-shells, for minerals, Indian relics, or coins.
C. H. Whitlock,
P. O. Box 485, Ithaca, N. Y.
R. O. C.—The city of Santa Fe, in New Mexico, is the oldest in the United States.
"Inquisitive Joe."—The first narrow-gauge railroad was that leading from collieries either in Wales or the north of England, upon which point authorities differ. The gauge of four feet eight and a half inches is supposed to have been determined by the width of axle of the colliery wagons, and, once adopted, to have been applied to new roads built in other localities for passenger traffic.—It is supposed that the Chinese were the first to mine coal, and also from time immemorial to collect gas from it for purposes of illumination. Their method of working mines was very primitive, and is but little improved up to the present time. It is supposed that coal was used in Great Britain previous to the Roman invasion, but was probably collected only at the outcrops of the coal seams. In 1259 a charter was granted to the freemen of Newcastle to "dig for cole," by the King, Henry III., and from this time coal mining was an extensive industry. In France and Belgium, coal was also mined for fuel at a very early period. The Greeks and Romans were evidently acquainted with coal as fuel, but are supposed to have made little or no use of it.
Michael G. S.—There were two obelisks on the site of the ancient port of Alexandria, known as Cleopatra's Needles, one erect, the other fallen. The fallen one was taken to England in 1877, and the obelisk formerly erect is now placed in the Central Park of New York city.
John C.—Cockroaches, often called Croton-bugs in New York city, will devour anything they can find in the domestic store-room. They will also eat woollen cloth. They will exist a long time without food, as did the specimen you imprisoned in a bottle. Had you fed your bug with crumbs of bread or cake, he would have eaten greedily. The species of cockroaches which is found in houses in all maritime towns is supposed to be an emigrant from Asia, from which country it spread to Europe, and afterward came to America, where it has made itself thoroughly at home, to the great annoyance of many housewives, who battle in vain against the ravaging hordes of these disgusting insects.
Rose G.—Gold has been mined from time immemorial, as the most ancient peoples used it for ornaments and for money. Before the introduction of coinage, gold for purposes of trade was probably in the form of lumps of different weights. Gold is mentioned in the Bible as early as the second chapter of Genesis, where, in the eleventh and twelfth verses, Havilah is spoken of as a land "where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good."—The use of steam as a propelling agent was recognized some time before a practical trial was made of its power. The first application of it as a motive force for vessels appears to have been made by Papin, a French mathematician and inventor, who, in 1707, made the experiment of propelling a small paddle-wheel vessel by steam on the Fulda River, at Cassel. The name of his vessel is unknown. Other experiments were made from time to time, but until Robert Fulton launched his little steamer on the Hudson River in 1807, nothing had been a success. Fulton's vessel, which was called Clermont, attained a speed of five miles an hour only, but from that time steam navigation progressed with rapid strides.—It is impossible to obtain an accurate census of large countries, but the following figures are taken from the latest estimates, and are probably not far from being correct: Chinese Empire, from 450,000,000 to 550,000,000; British Isles, 32,412,000; Mexico, about 10,000,000; Central America, 2,671,000; South America, 25,675,000.—There are many books giving epochs of United States history in story form. Some published within a short time by Messrs. Harper & Brothers are The Boys of '76, and Old Times in the Colonies, by Charles C. Coffin; Stories of the Old Dominion, by John Esten Cooke; and The Story of the United States Navy, by Benson J. Lossing.
Agnes B. W.—In Harper's Young People No. 32, June 8, 1880, is a paper entitled "A Chat About Philately," which gives a clear explanation of the terms which puzzle you.
C. J. K., Vermont.—We would gladly correct the error caused by the omission of a word in your letter, but we can not print any more offers to exchange birds' eggs. If you have any new exchange to offer, write it very clearly to the Post-office Box, and we will give space to it as soon as possible.
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Hugh Burns, R. O. Chester, George F. Crego, Bessie Comstock, James L. Frazer, Louise Gambier, Albert H. Hopkins, Alice M. Hine, Isobel Jacob, Eddie Keeler, "L. U. Stral," Freddy E. Lester, Allie Maxwell, W. Olfenbüttel, "Starry Flag," Clara Spees, "The Dawley Boys," May Thornton, Walter J. Wells.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
ENIGMA.
My first in eat, but not in drink.
My second in float, but not in sink.
My third in garment, not in dress.
My fourth in curl, but not in tress.
My fifth in race, but not in run.
I can gaze unhurt at the noonday sun.
Maud P. A.
No. 2.
DOUBLE ACROSTIC—(To North Star).
Primals.
Without me, what is life?
To win me, shun no strife.
Finals.
Fair land of my primals, from sea to sea,
Swell the loud anthem of liberty!
Cross Words.
1. A State where orange groves adorn the land.
2. Shots thus directed prove an ill-trained hand.
3. In me you name a railroad and a lake.
4. Success without me ever is at stake.
5. I am a royal town in Eastern clime.
6. A festival was I in ancient time.
7. Busy, laborious, and to care much given.
Her wiser sister raised her eyes to heaven.
Lone Star.