[to be continued.]
[PINAFORE RHYMES.—(Continued.)]
Three organ men met in the street one day,
And all of them started at once to play;
They ground out their music from morning till night,
And the neighborhood felt in a terrible plight.
The rats and the mice scampered out of their holes,
And fled to the tops of the telegraph poles,
And a dog, that had patiently heard every tune,
Went mad at the last, and howled at the moon.
Then each of the organ men shouldered his pack,
And the neighborhood wished they might never come back.
Dear Aunt Fanny drove up to the door
From her country home with a coach and four;
She brought a big bundle of candy and cake,
The sweetest and best she could purchase and bake;
And that is the reason she travelled in state,
For she knew that the dear little folks couldn't wait.
I'll tell you a story—it's not very long—
Of the terrible giant, old Pink-a-pong.
He lived in a castle so big and high
That the topmost turrets were up in the sky.
He made a great earthquake whenever he walked,
And it sounded like thunder whenever he talked.
He never jumped less than a mile at a bound,
And would frighten the people for leagues around;
And every one said this was very wrong
Of the terrible giant, old Pink-a-pong.
Four little youngsters ran out of the mill,
Clambered right merrily over the hill;
Scampered about through the whole afternoon;
Went home at night by the light of the moon.
Foot-sore and weary and sleepy were they;
Slept all the night and the whole of next day.
Blow, breezes, softly blow,
Rock the children to and fro;
Not too hard, and not too high,
Lest they should tumble out and cry.
Ogdensburg, New York.
I live on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. I suppose the little readers in Florida think this is the north pole, and sometimes it is so cold I think so too. My little brother and I skate. We can not skate much on the St. Lawrence, for the ferry-boat from here to Prescott tries to keep the ice broken, and when it does freeze, it is very rough. But there is good skating on the Oswegatchie River, which runs into the St. Lawrence here.
The old windmill where a battle was fought, ever so many years ago, can be seen across the river, a mile and a half below Prescott. It was made into a light-house about four years ago, and is the best light on the St. Lawrence.
We have had snow and sleighing here ever since October. I attend school, and I can look out of my school-room window and see a number of miles into Canada, and have a splendid view of one of the grandest rivers in the world.
Cone S. B.
Pinckney Corners, New York.
It was a glad surprise to us children when papa took Young People for us this year.
I have a cat that can open grandma's door and come in. She has only one ear, the other was frozen when she was a little kitten.
I wish Judith Wolff would write more to Young People about her home. Mamma thinks it would be so nice to live there in the tropics. Here we have had such deep snow all winter that we could not go to school. I am nine years old.
Allie G.
Detroit, Michigan.
I am seven years old. I wanted to write and tell Charlie C. how sorry I am for him because his little sister Annie died and left him all alone. And I am very sorry, too, for Harry D. S., whose papa was shot by the Mexicans.
I liked Jennie Anderson's letter about the flood. Mamma cried when she read it to me.
I have just been to visit my cousin in Chicago, and I saw a monkey in the park there that I thought must be Mr. Stubbs. I was so sorry for Toby, and I hope old Ben will help him to get some more money.
Mabel R. T.
Halifax, Massachusetts.
When I saw the game of Kangaroo in Young People No. 69, I got a board and copied it nicely, and I want to tell you that my mother and my sisters and I enjoy playing it very much.
C. Morton P.
Hillsborough, Missouri.
I am eleven years old. I am so delighted with "Toby Tyler" and "Phil's Fairies," that I can hardly wait for my little paper to come.
I was very much pleased with the notice in Young People No. 70 about birds' eggs. I think it is a cruel thing to rob the little birds of their eggs. My oldest brother is thirteen years old, and he has never taken an egg out of a bird's nest.
Laura H. McM.
Leesport, Pennsylvania.
We are much pleased to see that Harper's Young People is teaching its readers to defend the little birds.
Sallie, Rose, and Kate W.
Jersey City, New Jersey.
When I saw the picture of Niagara in Young People No. 70, I thought I would write and tell the little readers that I was born in a house on the Canada side of the river, in February of a very cold winter, when an ice mound like the one in the picture reached as high as the falls, and did not melt, entirely away that year until the 2d of July. There was an ice bridge, too, so that people crossed from one shore to the other.
I have a nice collection of postage stamps, and I have the autograph of Prince Arthur, the third son of Queen Victoria.
S. P. S.
Palatka, Florida.
My home is in Norwalk, Connecticut, but I came here in January, with papa and mamma, for my health, and we are not going home until May.
I like Florida very much, for I can be out-of-doors from morning until night, and I have such good times playing in the sand. All the soil here is white and sandy, and full of little shells. The orange-trees are in bud, and will soon be in full blossom. We have lots of pretty flowers, and nice strawberries, and green peas.
I saw a large panther which had been killed a few miles from here, and also an alligator nearly thirteen feet long, which was to be stuffed for a museum. We see lots of little alligators; they are very funny-looking things.
Bertha E. S.
Troy, New York.
The Young People is so nice I wish it would come twice a week instead of once. I am saving all my copies to show to my uncle John when he comes back. Now he is at Fort Custer, Montana, fighting the Indians. He sent me a baby buffalo skin with the head and tail all on. We put it in the little sleigh when we take my baby brother out riding.
A. J. H. S.
Redwood Falls, Minnesota.
I like my Young People very much, and I have been so sorry this winter because I could not get it regularly, because the trains were stopped by the great snow. At one time our postmaster went to Sleepy Eye, twenty-six miles from here, and brought the mail on a hand-sled on top of the snow-drifts. Then I received three numbers of Young People all at once.
J. Mabel M.
Rio, Illinois.
I am just overjoyed when Young People comes. I always sit down and read it all through, and oh, how I wish there was as much again! I don't suppose I shall get it to-day, for the train is stuck tight in a snow-bank below Rio. Three engines are trying to pull it out, but they can not move it. We have had a terrible winter here. The snow has drifted clear across the road and right over the fences, so that teams could not go anywhere.
Nellie A. R.
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
I have a dog that drags me all around the city on my sled. The snow here is six or seven feet deep in many places. Some of the houses are half covered up with drifts. I jumped from our up-stairs barn door into a drift twelve feet deep, and I had hard work to get out of it.
Fred G. S.
Emmetsburg, Iowa, March 4, 1881.
We have had a long, cold winter here. To-day there is a regular "blizzard," and we have had a great many already. We live on the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, but have not seen a train since January 29, because the cuts are all filled with snow, and as fast as they are cleared out, another "blizzard" comes and fills them up again. I don't get Young People very regularly, only when the stage brings the mail, and then I get several numbers at once. The drifts are very high, and we walk on them over the tops of the fences. One drift is twelve feet deep.
Scottie O.
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
I am a very little girl. Mamma reads the stories and little letters in Young People to me. I felt so sorry for Toby Tyler when Mr. Stubbs threw away his money that I made a little bag, and put some of my pennies in it, and I have asked mamma so many times to send it to him that now she is going to do it, and when I think Toby has this nice little red money bag, and some more pennies, I shall feel a great deal better. I am blowing soap-bubbles in the sunshine by the window, while mamma writes this for me. I know my letters, and can print some, and I hope soon to do my own writing.
Mamma helped me print a letter to Santa Claus, and I told him just what I wanted him to bring me. I put my letter in the chimney, and next morning it was gone, and dear old Santa Claus brought me just what I asked him for. I screamed up the chimney, and tried to make him hear me, but he never answered a word.
Chrisie B. B.
A little red bag, evidently the work of a "very little girl," containing three very bright pennies, accompanied this letter. It has been sent to Mr. Otis, who has written the story of the little boy's wanderings, and we are sure that when it reaches him, Toby Tyler will be pleased and comforted by this pretty expression of sympathy. The little readers of Young People are very lavish with their offers of kindness to this unfortunate boy. A great many homes are proffered to him, and no end of pennies and other comforts.
Indeed, no story that we remember has excited so much interest in its readers as that of "Toby Tyler." We could fill the Post-office Box with the letters received from our young correspondents, expressing their sympathy and delight. Many letters from parents also show that grown-up people are interested in the story, not only for the good lesson which it teaches, but for the graphic and entertaining manner in which the boy's adventures are told.
Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
Dear Young People,—Would you please tell me where Toby Tyler is? I would like to send him my fifty cents to help him home. I am so sorry Mr. Stubbs threw his money away, and I think Toby was a good boy not to punish him for it.
Carrie M. M.
We do not know at present where Toby Tyler is; and we advise our young correspondents, who show such a pleasant disposition to help him, to wait for the end of his story, and see how his adventures turn out.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
I am eleven years old, but I have never been to school. I learn my lessons at home. I am in the Fourth Royal Reader.
I wish some of the little girls in the Southern States could see all the snow we have here. The train passes close to our house, and it is great fun watching it go out to Charlottetown with three engines, and the snow-plough sending the snow in all directions.
Ellie G.
Little Salmon Valley, Idaho.
I have taken Young People ever since the first number, and I think it is the best paper for boys and girls I ever saw.
The snow is very deep here, and we are going round on snow-shoes. We boys have lots of fun riding down hill on them.
William H. O.
Willie M. Bloss, Montreal, Canada, desires to inform correspondents that he will not exchange any longer for postmarks.
Elijah G. B., Cleveland, Ohio, and Shelton A. Hibbs, Philadelphia, Penn., withdraw their names from our exchange list.
Charles Gruner, Brooklyn, N. Y., made a mistake in his offer printed in the Post-office Box of Young People No. 71. He wishes to exchange foreign stamps and foreign coins for old United States copper one-cent and half-cent pieces, coins, curiosities, and postmarks.
Correspondents will please take particular notice of the paragraph at the beginning of the Post-office Box in the previous number. In future we shall print no offer of exchange unless it comes to us very clearly expressed, for there is no space in the Post-office Box for the correction of mistakes.
I wish to say to those correspondents who have sent me used United States stamps that I only want new, unused stamps, as my foreign stamps are half unused.
John Lewis Caspar,
P. O. Box 3, China Grove, Rowan County, N. C.
We publish the above statement for the benefit of those who may be sending stamps to the writer; but at the same time we must remind him that, as his first offer of exchange did not state that he wished for new stamps only, he is in honor bound either to send his foreign stamps to his correspondents, or to return promptly those which he has received.
I have received so many letters requesting arrow-heads in exchange for postage stamps that my stock is exhausted. I wish to say to the boys and girls who have sent me stamps, and to whom I can not return arrow-heads, that I will either return their stamps, or send them pressed moss and rocks from Oregon. Correspondents will please write and tell me which they wish me to do.
Walter Buchanan,
Butteville, Marion County, Oregon.
The following exchanges are desired by correspondents:
Stamps, for coins and Indian arrow-heads.
Edward P. Goodell,
500 North Twentieth Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
Quartz, iron ore, or two kinds of old United States stamps, for foreign stamps.
Russell S. Janney,
Rainbow Box, Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio.
Foreign postage stamps, for curiosities. Ten foreign stamps (no duplicates) for an Indian arrow-head.
A. C. Gildersleeve,
28 West Forty-eighth Street, New York City.
Postage stamps.
Lewis B. Melvaine,
P. O. Box 2410, New York City.
Canadian, English, Danish, Japanese, and Sandwich Island stamps, for Cuban, Newfoundland, Baden, Australian, Spanish, and Philippine Islands stamps.
Johnnie R. Whipple,
Hotel St. Cloud, Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
Minerals.
Eddie M. Weyer,
Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio.
Stones from Tennessee, fossils, and other specimens, for sea-shells and other curiosities.
Fannie M. Young,
Dixon's Springs, Smith County, Tennessee.
Stamps.
Goldwin Goldsmith,
157 East Seventy-fourth Street, New York City.
Stamps.
W. D. C. Spike,
St. Peter's Clergy House,
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Rare European and American stamps, for South American and African stamps.
J. H. Cross, Jun.,
P. O. Box 597, Westerly, R. I.
Foreign postage stamps, for Indian arrow-heads, ocean curiosities, or curiosities from South America, and other places. Correspondents will please label specimens.
John Owen Rouse,
115 Broadway, Room 91, New York City.
Copper pyrites, agate, zinc ore, and some cement-rock from California, for other minerals or shells.
Emma. S. Pritchard,
738 East Fifth Street, New York City.
Postage stamps from England, France, Germany, or Cuba, for Chinese, African, or Danish stamps.
Will Killmaster,
Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada.
Shells, coins, postmarks, and minerals, for foreign postage stamps, Indian relics, or monograms. Or a Mexican dollar, some postage stamps, and some Indian arrow-heads, for a real Indian bow and six arrows.
Robert T. and Bertie Parke,
Care of J. H. Wills,
Downingtown, Chester County, Penn.
Rare foreign stamps.
Annie Wheeler,
Care of Postmaster, Danville, Va.
Postage stamps and minerals, for Indian relics.
William L. Bloodgood,
1222 North Eighteenth Street, Philadelphia, Penn.
Five different kinds of well-polished woods, for two good minerals, size not less than three by three inches, or for two Indian relics, arrow-heads excepted.
S. H. Loomis,
P. O. Box 191, Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y.
Talc and marble, for ocean curiosities, flower seeds, or for other minerals.
Julia E. Foster,
Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, N. Y.
Postmarks, or old United States stamps, for Newfoundland stamps.
George M. Leys,
297 McDonough Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sea-urchins, small abalone shells, or sea-moss from the Pacific, for Indian relics of all kinds. Or a piece of flint from California, for flint from any other State.
Fred A. Walton, Jun.,
Navarro Ridge, Mendocino County, Cal.
Silver, iron, or copper ore, Indian relics, soil from ten States, curious stones, or shells, for stamps (no duplicates).
W. A. Courtright,
P. O. Box 151, Palmyra, Marion County, Mo.
A stamp from each of the following countries, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Holland, for five African, Asiatic, or South American stamps.
William C. Rivers, Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn.
Postmarks and stamps, for stamps, coins, or curiosities.
C. Pitt F. Joyce,
611 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. C.
Shells, ocean curiosities, or pieces of a wrecked vessel, for United States postage stamps of denominations above ten cents, or foreign stamps; Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island stamps especially desired.
Willie L. Dudley,
P. O. Box 776, Atlantic City, Atlantic County, N. J.
Postage stamps. Thirty-cent United States and others to exchange.
Anna G. Hesse,
236 South Second Street, Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y.
An ounce of sand or a stone from New York State, for the same from any other State.
K. Dean,
310 Hamilton Street, Albany, N. Y.
Specimens of woods and soil of Victoria County, Texas, for the same of any other locality.
A. G. Sterne, Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
A Reader, Syracuse.—Skins of woodchucks and other small animals are often prepared by country boys without the use of any chemicals. The skin, fur side down, is stretched as tight as possible on a board, and is exposed to the sun and air until thoroughly dry. It must never be left out at night, nor allowed to get damp, as this makes it liable to crack and mould. When dry, it should be rubbed gently between the hands until soft. A little bran added while rubbing absorbs the grease, and helps to soften the skin. The skin will be better preserved if, after tacking it to the board, you wash it over with a solution of salt, and afterward, during several days, moisten the surface often with a wash made by dissolving two and a half ounces of alum in a pint of warm water.
E. L. S.—The first series of United States stamps was issued in 1847, and consisted of two values—5-cent, Franklin head, brown; 10-cent, Washington head, in black. The next series was begun in 1851. It consisted of 1-cent, 3-cent, 5-cent, 10-cent, 12-cent, 24-cent, 30-cent, and 90-cent. This was followed in 1861 by a series of similar values, with the addition of 2-cent and 15-cent. In 1869, an entire change was made, and stamps were issued of 1-cent, 2-cent, 3-cent, 6-cent, 10-cent, 12-cent, 24-cent, 30-cent, and 90-cent. Following this, in 1870, came the current series, which at first had values similar to the 1869 series, with the addition of a 7-cent stamp. The 7-cent, 12-cent, and 24-cent were suppressed in 1875, and the 5-cent re-introduced. Space is too limited to give any details of these stamps, but the following point will help you. The second and third series can be distinguished by the size of the holes separating the stamps, being very small in the second. In the fourth series, the stamps are all square. In the current series, all except the 5-cent are treated similarly to the 3-cent, head in oval to left. The 5-cent is blue. All these are the regular postage stamps for the use of the public.
E. S. R.—There are no books on the subject about which you inquire which are of use to beginners. The best thing you can do is to take a few lessons from some practical workman.
Johnny S.—If by "round" stamps you mean those cut from stamped envelopes, they are good for exchange, with the exception that they are very easily obtained. You must always cut them square, as they are better to paste in an album.
T. A. J.—Fac-similes of autographs of celebrated persons are not of much value for exchange, as they can easily be obtained. They are not only often given in newspapers, but are contained in school histories and many other books.
Harry A. McI.—The list of words ending in cion was given in the Post-office Box of Young People No. 20, Vol. I.
W. E. B. and Walter E. L.—Before the annexation of New Mexico, St. Augustine was the oldest town in the United States. Santa Fe had long been an Indian pueblo when it was occupied by the Spaniards, toward the end of the sixteenth century, and some of the ancient adobe dwellings of the Indians are still standing. Neither history nor tradition tells when this location was first chosen by the Indians, but the remains found there prove the date of settlement to be very ancient. The San Miguel Church, built soon after the occupation of Santa Fe by the Spaniards, is probably the oldest church edifice in the United States.
O. W. S.—The first "Jimmy Brown" story was in No. 32 of Young People, Vol. I. There were also stories of the series in Nos. 35, 38, and 50 of the same volume.
Subscriber, Philadelphia.—The first Wednesday in March, 1789, which that year fell on the fourth day of the month, was the time appointed for the government of the United States to begin its operations after the election of George Washington, but owing to unavoidable delays it was several weeks later before both of the new Houses of Congress could assemble. The inauguration of Washington did not take place until April 30 of the same year, but his term of office dated from March 4, and it was on that day in 1797 that he retired, after serving his country for eight years, and the inauguration of John Adams took place. The inaugurations of Presidents of the United States have always taken place on that day, except when the date has fallen on Sunday, in which case the public ceremonies are postponed until the following day.
E. W. H., and many Others.—When the address of a correspondent desiring exchange has been given, you must direct your offers and inquiries directly to the one with whom you desire to make an exchange.
M. C. M.—The address you desire was given twice in the Post-office Box, in No. 36 and No. 41, Vol. I.
Robert H. R.—We can not furnish a full set of Young People containing "The Moral Pirates," but you can obtain the story in neat book form.
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Jessie Allen, T. M. Armstrong, Walter E. Brainard, Charles Beyers, Jun., Berty Bassett, Jimmie F. Burns, Nellie Brainard, Courtney Chambers, C. D. Chipman, Nellie and Charles Corbishley, Maud M. Chambers, Willie Curtis, "Car O. Liney," Bessie Daniels, Happy J. Daniels, Edward L. Hunt, J. L. Hastie, Madge K. Kelly, M. Kelso, A. B. Lothrop, "L. U. Stral," Charles Mullen and "Thought," Paul J. Myler, Gracie Moore, Maud Miller, Charlie Nichols, Jessie Newton, "Oliver Twist," Alice Paige, Augusta Low Parke, Daisy Rand, W. H. Rogers, "Starry Flag," "Tre," Mattie R. Upton, Willie F. Woolard, Kittie Weston, Karl C. Wells, H. Western, Madge S. Wilson.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
ENIGMA.
In frolic, not in fun.
In rifle, not in gun.
In insect, not in gnat.
In mouse, not in cat
In peat, not in coal.
In wrap, not in roll.
In stain, not in soil.
In labor, not in toil.
In curtain, not in screen.
My whole an ancient queen.
Car O. Liney.