THE END.
ON BOARD THE STEAM-SHIP—GOOD-BY TO NEW YORK.
SPRING CLEANING.—Drawn by W. T. Yeager.
Patermus. "Come, Children, your Mother and I have decided to emigrate. I overheard Mrs. Housekeeper say last night that she had engaged Chinese help, and we have concluded that it is hardly safe for us to stay any longer."
In answer to repeated inquiries, we would again state that there is no charge for printing exchanges or any other matter in the Post-office Box. Whatever is suitable and interesting is printed if space can be made for it. To make that space is a constant and never-ending problem, the solution of which is that hundreds and hundreds of pretty letters never appear at all. They lie week after week on the editor's table, and their turn never comes, for the simple reason that five hundred lines can not be crowded into a column that only holds half—a great deal less than half—of that number.
The editor's heart aches every week over the heaps of letters from the dear little folks who are doomed to disappointment. It is not one bit pleasant to think that the bright little eyes will watch in vain for the carefully written letter which was intended to "surprise mamma," or "please grandpa, who gives me my paper," but there is no help for it. There are so many of you that to let you all speak in print would keep an army of printers busy day and night.
Perhaps if you could peep for a moment at the editor's Post-office Department, you would be comforted to find yourselves in such a crowd of other little folks. There is no big waste-basket, such as you all appear to dread so much, but there are some very big pigeon-holes, and a great many of them; and there you all are, packed snugly away, thousands and thousands of you, talking of your pretty living pets, shedding quiet tears over the "kitties that died," playing with your baby brother or sister, "the dearest pet in the world," or offering unlimited sympathy to Toby Tyler. Here are fifty or sixty boys every one of whom wishes Toby Tyler would come and live with him, "and my mamma will be so good to him, and always give him enough to eat!" There are plenty of homes offered to Mr. Stubbs too, but the poor old monkey does not need them now. We do not believe any monkey was ever honored by such a large circle of mourners. His name has been bestowed upon great numbers of pet dogs and cats, and it will be many years before he will be forgotten.
Now when you feel badly because you can not find your letter or even your name in the Post-office Box, just remember that your pretty message to Young People is not thrown away or neglected, but that it is all safe, and in the company of a whole crowd of little companions from all parts of the world.
Pleasant Grove, New Jersey.
I am nine years old, and I enjoy reading Young People, as we all do, even papa and mamma. When the paper comes, all make a rush for it, to see how poor Toby Tyler is getting along. He attracts as much attention among the big folks as with us children. Mamma says his story teaches us all a good lesson.
All of us are obliged to stay from school now on account of scarlet fever. I feel very sorry, for I love to go to school, and I was trying very hard for a prize. I can not get it now. This is my first attempt at writing a letter.
Laura A. I.
Indianapolis, Indiana.
I am seven years old, and I feel awful sorry for Toby Tyler. If Uncle Daniel won't have Toby, he can come and live with us. My mamma says so. Grandma says we can't have Mr. Stubbs; but she likes to have a good time herself, and I know she will laugh at his tricks when she gets used to him. Toby and Mr. Stubbs can sleep with me, for I have no brother or sister. And Toby can have half of my marbles, and play on my drum, and he shall have all he wants to eat. Tell him to come, and not go back to the circus.
Willie F.
This cordial invitation was written before the sad end of Mr. Stubbs, and the arrival of Toby at his home, and in their name we thank Master Willie for his generous intentions.
The following information in reference to the meaning of the word Toronto has been sent to the Post-office Box by a gentleman in Detroit for the benefit of Henry M. R.:
Toronto is an Indian word (Iroquois, if I remember right), signifying "oak-trees growing up or rising from the lake." This I learned from one of my old school-books when a boy in Canada, nearly fifty years ago.
J. R.
Palo Alto Plantation, Mississippi.
We are little boys of the same age, ten years. We live on a cotton plantation. There are no little boys near on the same side of the river as we are. The farms are large, so we have to go a great distance to see any one. There are two thousand acres in cultivation, and there are miles and miles of woods all around. As soon as we leave our yard we are in the woods. We can go hunting for rabbits, or squirrels, or partridges. We have the largest pecans growing here that I ever saw. They measure two inches round, and are an inch and a half long. We have a plantation of magnolias, walnut-trees, pears, figs, and pomegranates, besides peaches and apples.
We each have a bay colt, which we must get up early in the morning and groom. Our father says we are to know all about a farm. He often sends us three or four miles alone to see how the log heaps are burning, or how the corn or cotton is being planted. He makes us row ourselves over the river in a little boat we have.
We have a governess who wants to make us very elegant, but we do not like to brush our teeth and nails so often, and go to the table in such prime order. But she reads Young People to us, and we would do almost anything to hear the paper read better than we can read it for ourselves.
If any little boy would like to know more about this country, we will write again to Young People, and tell all we know.
Richard and Kennon T.
Owensborough, Kentucky.
I want to tell you how I get Young People. Our teacher takes it for the school, and all that stand perfect in the lessons draw for it. This is jolly. I think it is the best paper in the world.
I live near the great Mammoth Cave, one of the largest caves in the world, and also near the Green River, which is one of the deepest rivers.
I went the other day to see Uncle Tom's Cabin played, and thought it was splendid.
Ruth G.
Bardolph, Illinois.
I am a very little girl. I like Young People very much. I think Jimmy Brown is a very funny boy. My little nephew, named Horace, is so much like him! My sister has to tie him to the bed-post when she goes out-of-doors. Once he broke loose, and when she came back she found him working over her bread, which she had left by the stove to rise. He is only nineteen months old, and sister thinks he will grow up just like Jimmy Brown. I am saving all my Young People for him to read when he gets big.
Lizzie P.
Grandy, Connecticut.
I send the inscription on the inside of the cover of a snuff-box that we have, as I thought the other children might like to read it Here it is:
"Respect me for what I have been. From a sprightly plant I was advanced to the sovereignty of the forest; the birds of the air were happy under my shadow, and afforded me their sweetest notes for my protection. After filling a respectable situation, and living to a good old age, I was cut down, stripped of nature's robes, and became a pillar in the church, where I screened alike the sinner and the saint from the stormy blast; and after a faithful servitude of seven hundred and one years, I have become in every convivial circle a ready token of friendship—part of my remains make a snuff-box; and except when carried away by wicked hands, regularly attend the sanctuary. One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four."
On the outside of the cover is the picture of a church, with the inscription, "Glasgow Cathedral. Founded 1123."
William S.
Port Huron, Michigan.
I am six years old, and mamma is going to write just every word I say to Young People. We have "tooken" it ever since it began. Georgie likes "Biddy O'Dolan" and "Toby Tyler" the best. I do like "Phil's Fairies," because he is a poor little sick boy.
I have a little sister Prill. She is 'most three years old. She tries to say, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," and runs to the window, and tries to see the stars. We love her a thousand million dollars.
I have two dollies. Winnie was a year old when I was six, and Mabel came that day. I named Winnie my own self for the dollie in "Trouble in the Play-Room," in Young People, and Mabel after "rosy-cheeked Mabel" in "Wingy Wing Foo," which I can recite.
Georgie and I went with papa to grandpa's when he was sixty years old. We had to go a hundred miles. At the depôt a man asked me where I was going, and I said, "To grandpa's birthday party; he is sixty years old this afternoon," and all the people laughed.
We live on the St. Clair River, and can see all the boats that go to Lake Superior and Chicago. The Indians live across the river. We can see their log-houses. They come across in boats, and sell baskets. Sometimes their papooses are tied on their backs. I can write my own name.
Ethel A. V.
I am four years old. Ethel is my sister.
We had a bran pudding Christmas morning, after we had our oatmeal. We liked it.
Bill and Kit are my horses. They are wooden.
George B. V.
Rockaway, New Jersey.
I hope the little boys and girls who read this letter will not laugh when I tell them I am going to write about cats. My dear old Sheppie dog was poisoned, so I can't write about him, and our kittie is not just a common kind of a cat, for she has seven toes on each of her fore-paws, and she can catch more rats and mice than any other three cats I ever saw. She came in the other day with an awfully big rat, and when I went to pat her a little, the rat bit me. She is striped just like a tiger.
Mamma told us such a funny story about a kittie she had when she was a little girl. One day she went up an apple-tree near the house after some dear little birds. Mamma ran after her, but was too late to save even one little bird. She was so provoked with her kittie that she ran up stairs, and tore a big piece out of a dress, and made a bag. Then she put poor kittie in it, with a big stone for a pillow, and ran as fast as she could to a big pond over past the corn field, and threw poor kittie in. When mamma got back to the house, the first thing she saw was that same little kittie sitting beside the door, washing herself off, and looking so sorry and pitiful that mamma took her in her arms, and dried her with her apron. Then she carried her into the house, and put her in the oven to get warm. She thought she would not let grandpa and grandma know about it, for fear they would laugh at her, but the colored driver was there, and saw it all, and he told them when they came home. They laugh at mamma about it yet.
I think Young People is just the nicest, jolliest paper in all the world.
We are making up a boxful of things to send to the poor little boys and girls at the Howard Mission, in New York.
Frank J. T.
Golden, Colorado.
I live in the far West. It is a very nice place. Our schools are just splendid. They are graded, and we have the best of teachers.
Sometimes the Ute Indians come here. They are awful dirty and lazy, and very mean. They steal and beg all the time, and we are glad to see them go away. Once in a while we have a visit from gypsies. I am twelve years old.
Tillie K.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
I must tell you about a funny mistake I made the other day at the breakfast table. I was talking about Toby Tyler calling his monkey Mr. Stubbs because he looked like a man he knew by that name, and I said I did not think the man would feel very much complicated. Papa and mamma and my two big brothers all laughed very much. At first I did not know why, and was feeling very uncomfortable, when mamma explained to me that I should have said complimented, and told me the difference in the meaning of the words. Then I laughed as much as any of them. I am eight years old.
Jack M.
I wish to inform my correspondents that I have received so many applications for my minerals and other curiosities that they are all gone. I will try to get some more, but I will now exchange stamps with those correspondents who are not willing to wait. I would like some South American postage stamps (no duplicates).
W. A. Courtright,
P. O. Box 151, Palmyra, Marion Co., Mo.
Marshall, Michigan.
My supply of stamps is exhausted, and I can not exchange any more. I will return the stamps I have received for which I can give no exchange.
Jessie R. Bentley.
I do not wish any more exchanges of soil. I will now exchange Florida moss, for postage stamps.
Harry Laurimore,
Lock Box 6, Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio.
Johnny P. Crozier, of Carlyle, Kansas, who offered exchange in Young People No. 75, is in trouble. He has no more Indian arrow-heads nor rattlesnake rattles, and packages of curiosities are still reaching him by every mail. He begs correspondents to send him nothing more, for he will be compelled to return all these things, or wait until a new crop of rattlesnakes comes in.
It would always be well if those wishing to exchange would write before sending a package, in order to find out if the exchange can be made.
The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:
Minerals and stamps, for Indian arrow-heads, stamps, or minerals.
James S. Beaumont,
P. O. Box F, Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y.
Prince Edward Island stamps and some others of foreign countries, for rare stamps. Mexican especially desired.
Thomas Barr,
Care of Rev. George Hodgson,
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Two German, one French, and one English stamp, for four other foreign stamps.
Edith B. Belknap,
Care of E. Belknap, Yonkers, N. Y.
Foreign stamps, for curiosities.
Bertha A. Brumagim, Summerdale, N. Y.
One twenty-five cent internal revenue stamp, for a Chinese stamp.
Clarence D. Chipman,
Kankakee, Kankakee Co., Ill.
Postage and revenue stamps and postmarks. Postmarks from the Eastern States especially desired.
J. C., P. O. Box 3, Aurora, Kane Co., Ill.
East Indian, Japanese, French, Canadian, German, and United States stamps, for other foreign and United States stamps. Those from Central and South America especially desired.
Arthur Coleman,
11 Wendell Street, Cambridge, Mass.
Rare foreign stamps, for stamps from Turkey, Egypt, Straits Settlements, or for other stamps of value.
R. K. Forsyth,
224 Ridge Avenue, Alleghany City, Penn.
Stamps and postmarks, for stamps or any curiosity, except minerals and postmarks.
John Faglon,
25 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Postmarks, for good specimens of insects, especially a death's-head moth.
W. C. Foster,
375 Quincy Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Copper or iron ore, for curiosities.
Amelia Frink, Marshall, Calhoun Co., Mich.
Thirty-five postmarks (no duplicates), for a cent of any date earlier than 1840. Or forty postmarks for a half-cent of any date earlier than 1857.
Roland Godfrey,
Center P. O., Gardner, Worcester Co., Mass.
One hundred foreign stamps (no duplicates), for an Indian bow and arrow; or seventy-five foreign stamps (no duplicates), for a tomahawk or pipe. Will also exchange foreign stamps on most liberal terms for Indian or other good curiosities.
Correspondents will please write and state what they have for exchange before sending.
Fred P. Hall,
238 Warren Street, Jersey City, N. J.
Foreign postage stamps.
G. Greene,
810 Grand Street, Jersey City Heights, N. J.
Foreign stamps. Those from Iceland, Asia, South America, or Cape of Good Hope desired in exchange.
Haywood Gedney,
Mamaroneck, Westchester Co., N. Y.
Fifteen revenue stamps (no duplicates), for every set of six different kinds of woods from any State except Massachusetts. Or Massachusetts woods, for the same from other States. Specimens must be two inches long, and labelled. Also sea-shells from the Atlantic coast, for Indian relics.
B. M. and M. N. H.,
Hull Street, Newtonville, Middlesex Co., Mass.
Soil from Iowa, for soil from Switzerland.
Fred Huntoon, Stuart, Iowa.
Twenty-five stamps and fifteen postmarks, for the set of Egyptian stamps of 1865, containing seven stamps.
Fred Houston,
9 West Nineteenth Street, New York City.
Easels, picture-frames, small brackets, match safes, or autumn leaves, for sea-shells, ocean curiosities, minerals, or anything suitable for a museum. Correspondents will please state which article they prefer in exchange.
Alice C. Hammond,
Milton, Chittenden Co., Vt.
Indian arrow-heads, for any ocean curiosities except a sea-urchin and a horseshoe crab. Correspondents will please pack specimens carefully, that they may not get broken.
Isobel L. Jacob,
Darlington Heights, Prince Edward Co., Va.
Stamps from the United States of Colombia, Germany, France, Great Britain, and some other foreign countries, for other foreign or United States Department stamps.
William B. Jackson,
145 London Street, East Boston, Mass.
Twenty-five foreign stamps, or a good-sized piece of petrified moss, for five South American stamps.
H. L. J.,
Lock Box 721, Granville, Licking Co., Ohio.
Twenty-five United States postmarks, for eight foreign postmarks or stamps.
Willie Johnson,
Reynoldsburg, Franklin Co., Ohio.
Twenty foreign stamps, for an eight-cent Canada register stamp and a three-cornered Cape of Good Hope.
Herbert Johnston,
4065 Aspen Street (Room G),
West Philadelphia, Penn.
Stamps, autographs of renowned men, coins, pieces of silk, and postmarks, for shells.
P. O. Box 1221, Plainfield, Union Co., N. J.
Foreign postage stamps, for other stamps.
Harry Wilson, Rutherford, N. J.
Southern birds' feathers, crystallized salt, or iron, for forest and ocean curiosities, scraps of silk, moss, pressed flowers, or other pretty things.
Hattie Winchester,
327 Hudson Avenue, Albany, N. Y.
Stamps, coins, minerals, and postmarks, for rare foreign postage, or United States Department stamps.
Sidney New,
181 East Ninety-fifth Street, New York City.
Fifty-five postmarks, for twenty-four United States old issues, or department stamps, or foreign stamps.
Daisy Norton, 56 Henry Street, Detroit, Mich.
[For other exchanges, see third page of cover.]
S. and F.—You can buy pongee, Surah, or some other kind of soft cream-colored or dull yellow silk, at almost any large dry-goods store in New York city. You can vary the color of the background and the outline of the flowers according to your taste, but it is prettier always to outline the steins and leaves with green. If you put your work in a frame, you will find it difficult to do the darning stitch of the background.
R. A. E., and Harry Q.—We shall be glad to receive an occasional letter from you describing any interesting experience you may have during your contemplated excursions. Letters from all boys and girls who, during their summer vacation, see anything new and worth writing about, will also be welcome. Write your communications on one side of the paper only, and try to tell only those things which are of interest to other boys and girls.
H. H.—You can make very good molasses candy by boiling together half a pound of brown sugar and one quart of molasses. Drop a little in a cup of cold water, and if it hardens, it is ready for cooling. When it is sufficiently boiled, put in a small piece of butter and a little essence of wintergreen. Cool in a flat, buttered pan. If you wish to make it white, flour your hands and pull it as soon as it is cool enough to handle. Then make it into small twisted sticks.
Correct answers to puzzles have been received from Maude P. A., Ray B., Annie Brayton, Gertrude Ball, Archie and Hugh Burns, Maude M. Chambers, Amelia Frink, David Griggs, Willie E. Green, Rachel Haviland, Alice C. Hammond, William Hadley, Grace R. Holden, Laura A. Ivins, Jennie E. Jaquer, Jenny Kempton, H. Keppel, E. K. Knapp, Henry King, "Lode Star," "Lansing, Iowa," Bessie H. Moore, Percy McDermott, Augusta Lou Parke, "Pepper," C. A. Quin, M. May Robinson, A. E. S., "Stars and Stripes," "Sir Finley," "Starry Flag," Adda Thomson, W. I. Trotter, George Volckhausen, Nelse Walton, Willie F. Woolard.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
ENIGMA.
In pike, not in fish.
In stove, not in dish.
In yard, not in mile.
In chisel, not in file.
In poem, not in rhyme.
In clock, not in time.
In kite, not in owl.
My whole a handsome fowl.
C. R. B.