[to be continued.]
[CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS.]
Fig. 1.—KNITTED AND CROCHET MITTEN.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, the little folks are of course beginning to think about Christmas. And how many presents there are to make! And what are they to be?
The question is so bewildering that we know some of our girl readers will be glad to receive a suggestion. Who will make a warm pair of mittens for some cold pair of little hands? If the following directions are only followed, there will be no trouble:
Fig. 2.—DETAIL OF MITTEN.
These mittens are worked with white zephyr worsted and steel knitting-needles of suitable size. The knitted part is all plain, with the exception of a round of holes, through which is run a cord finished with balls. The cuff is crocheted in Afghan stitch, and is set on the mitten. For the mitten make a foundation of 36 stitches; close these in a ring, and knit, always forward, as follows: 1st and 2d rounds—all knit plain. 3d round—all purled. 4th round.—Always alternately throw the thread over, knit two stitches together. 5th round—like the 3d round. 6th to 50th rounds—all knit plain. But for the thumb gore in the 7th round widen 1 stitch on each side of the first stitch, working 1 knit, 1 purled, on each stitch before and after this stitch. In the 10th, 13th, 16th, 19th, and 21st rounds work one widening in a straight direction above the widening in the preceding round, the number of stitches between the widenings increasing by 2 in each round. In the 22d round take up the stitch of the gore and the stitches on both sides on separate needles, and finish the thumb in 12 rounds, working always forward. In the last 4 rounds close the thumb, narrowing three times, one above another, in a straight direction, at regular intervals, and work off the remaining 3 stitches together. Lay on the thread anew at the main part, and finish the mitten, narrowing in the last 8 of the 50 rounds four times at regular intervals, one above another, in a straight direction, so that in the last round all the stitches are used up. For the cuff, worked crosswise, make a foundation of 9 stitches, and on these work 3 pattern rows in Afghan stitch. The 4th pattern row is worked on the lower vertical veins of the pattern row before the last, and thus becomes raised. The 6th pattern row is worked on the third, and the 6th on the 5th pattern row. Repeat always the 4th to 6th pattern rows until the cuff is of suitable width. Join the stitches of the last pattern row with the foundation stitches, and edge the cuff with 1 round as follows: * 1 single crochet on the first edge stitch between the next 2 pattern rows, 4 chain stitches, 1 single crochet on the fifth following vein below, 4 chain stitches, 1 slip stitch on the first of the 4 chain stitches before the last, 4 chain stitches, and repeat from *; finally, 1 slip on the first single crochet in this round.
BY MARY A. BARR.
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
For the little babies;
Good oatmeal and milk,
Fit for lords and ladies.
Jenny, set the table
With the spoons and dishes:
Soon my bonnie bairnies
Shall have all their wishes.
Take your places, children;
Keep the table steady.
Are your aprons fastened?
Are your dishes ready?
And such hungry children
No doubt will want double;
So, good pot, keep boiling,
Bubble, bubble, bubble.
Some of our little friends seem to have the impression that there is a charge made for publishing letters in this Post-office Box, and that theirs will be published if they send the money to pay for them. This is a mistake which we wish to correct. No charge is made for either the letters or exchanges we publish in this department. But even with the enlarged space now devoted to our young correspondents, we can print only a selection from the thousands of letters we receive. If we were to leave out all the bright stories and droll rhymes and all the instructive articles, and make up Harper's Young People of letters only, we are sure our boys and girls would protest against such a proceeding. We want them to understand that we are trying to make the very best Post-office Box that we can, and if the first little letter they send does not find a niche, they must wait awhile, and then write a second, and a third.
Scholars in the Latin class must adopt "Dum spiro, spero" as their motto, and pupils who have not yet begun Latin may take four little letters, H O P E, for theirs.
Please, when you write to us on business, be careful to sign your names in full, and give also your full post-office address. Do this in every case.
Continue to be patient, even if your exchanges do not appear. If only you knew how fast the exchanges come crowding in, you would understand why it is that we must keep some of them lying in a pigeon-hole when we desire very much indeed to have them translated into type.
Fort Custer, Montana.
I am a boy thirteen years of age, and live on the Little Horn River, about ten miles from Custer's battle-field. We have quite a number of cattle and a few horses. There are a great many elk, deer, bears, buffaloes, wolves, and coyotes around here, though not so many as there were a few years ago. There were a great many Indians here in the spring. Two years ago the Crow scouts were encamping about five hundred yards from our house, and one morning about one o'clock the Sioux Indians came and stole all their ponies. They exchanged about one hundred shots, but no one was killed. The Crows all came over to our house, and were afraid to go back to their tents until daylight. Next morning several soldiers started in pursuit of the Sioux, and followed them for nearly three weeks before they overtook them. They then had a fight; the sergeant was killed, and they captured five Indians, and secured the stolen ponies. I have never been out of Montana. I have never seen a railroad car in my life.
I have two brothers and one sister, and a number of pets. My brothers hunt antelopes in the winter.
N. H. D.
Wissahickon, Pennsylvania.
I want to tell you about our bird Hensie. He is very cunning. He is a young canary-bird, and likes soaked cracker. One morning my aunt put a dry cracker in his cage. He took a piece of it in his bill, hopped upon his bath-tub, and dropped the cracker in the water. He watched it, and when it was soft, took it out and put it on the floor of his cage, and began eating it. He has done this several times since then. He tries very hard to sing, and imitates the notes of the other canary-bird.
Robbie S. S.
Bound Brook, New Jersey.
I live on the bank of the Raritan River. Am eight years old, and have a nephew fifteen years old, who shot six wild-ducks the other day. I had nine pigeons, but they all went away except two. We had a dog named Duke, and a man shot him. This is the first time I have written to Harper's Young People. A friend of mamma's in Brooklyn has sent it to us ever since it was published. There are lots of robins around here. Give my respects to Jimmy Brown.
Paul Q. O.
Chimacum, Washington Territory.
I live in a lovely valley surrounded by high hills and mountains. It is a very pleasant place in summer, but very dreary in winter, as nothing can then be seen except snow in every direction. The nearest town is called Port Townsend; it is about ten miles from here. The Coast Range of mountains looms up in the west, and they are really magnificent when the sun shines on them. There is quite a large creek flowing through my father's farm, from which we get large speckled trout. Many people come from the towns to fish in the summer. There is a smelting furnace at the "Beach," two miles from here, where iron ore is melted. The place is called Irondale, and is the nearest post-office to this valley. There is a great amount of bog ore in this valley, and as it is only a foot below the surface of the ground, it is easily mined.
Barton R.
Dear Santa Claus,—Will you please give me a drum for a Christmas present? I won't drum with it in the house, and I'll let my brothers drum too. Papa said if I wrote to Harper's Young People, maybe you would see it, and send me one. I am seven years old, and my name is Hammond W. I live in Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y.
Papa has taken Young People for us for two years, and this year it is mine. Please put this in, so I can get the drum.
Hammond W.
My brother and myself have a little pony that is real cunning. I was riding the other day, and a boy threw a snow-ball at her, and she ran after him just as fast as she could go, and he had to jump over a fence. The pony throws me off every time she gets a chance. I put my arm out of joint a few months ago, and it is not strong yet. I have a trapeze and some parallel rings. I can perform a great many tricks. The water is nearly as high now as it was in the spring. I was in Milwaukee a few weeks ago, and I saw the place where Matthew Carpenter was buried, but did not go near it. I tried to ride the bicycle that my brother rides, and I don't want to try again. I have a collection of 950 stamps, and I will exchange rare stamps, such as New Zealand, Servia, etc., for rare stamps and coins.
C. B. Bird, Jefferson, Wis.
Apollo, Pennsylvania.
I am a boy just twelve years old. My brother takes Young People for Blanche and me, on condition that we shall not read novels. We are having a new iron bridge, which will be free, built across the river at this place. They have four piers built, and still have one more, besides the two abutments, to finish. We used to pay toll across the old bridge, which was carried away when the ice came down the river last spring.
We have good coasting here in winter, as this is only a little country town of about fifteen hundred inhabitants. Our school re-opened in September, and will be in session six months.
I have three sisters and four brothers. Paul, the youngest, is a chubby little fellow of two.
A. Lincoln C.
Colfax, California.
In Young People No. 103 I saw a letter from Augusta C., South Glastenbury, Connecticut. This young lady says she hates cats. I should judge that she never had any. I disagree with her entirely. Almost any cat, if fed well and petted, will make as affectionate a little pet as one can desire. I have had a great many cats. When I was a little girl, about five or six years old, I had a very nice pussy, which I named Rose. She was exceedingly good and gentle, and would allow me to dress her in my doll's clothes, and rock her in my toy cradle. I have a very pretty kitten now. She is black, with dainty white paws, and great sleepy yellow eyes. She is very gentle and loving, and purrs loudly whenever I fondle her. I have named her Niketa. I hope Miss Augusta will see that she is mistaken in saying that all cats are treacherous, and "care for nothing but their own comfort." I know of many cases where cats have displayed their love for human beings.
Jeannie K. P.
Emmetsburg, Iowa.
My little brother is off with papa in the country, and I hope you will publish my letter so that I can surprise him, as I am going to keep it secret. I am almost seven, and can ride nicely. We have a pony named Bonny, and I have been riding all day; three of us little ones ride at the same time, and sometimes four, but not far. I had a cat named Fannie, and we had to have her killed this morning, for she had an awful spasm. We had three pet lambs, Gypsy, Topsy, and Flirt, but we have sent them to the farm for the winter. Mamma is writing for me. "Good-night, and pleasant dreams."
Daisy O.
Neenah, Wisconsin.
I am a little boy seven years old. I have a dog named Rover. I go to school to my auntie. I have no sister nor brother here, but I have two little sisters in heaven. My mamma gave me an express wagon. I am going to take Young People until I am a big man.
Allie Harwood L.
Newark, New Jersey.
I go to the public school, and take advantage of all that my teacher tells us. We have a very good teacher; her name is Miss H. The boys and girls saved their pennies and bought pictures, etc., to decorate our room. Do you not think that it is nice to see that your room is the nicest room in the school? When we are through our lessons we can go to a table, which is called the reading-table. Here you can find story-books of all kinds, and among these is Harper's Young People. On the same table you can also find cubes, scales, measures, weights, etc. We are all the time saying, If we only could see something about our school! and I hope that you will print this in the Post-office Box. We will visit Harper's Young People one of these days.
Is this written plain enough?
C. F. K.
Written so plainly that tired eyes were rested when they read it. It is a splendid idea to have that reading-table in your class-room.
Athens, Georgia.
I am nine years of age. I have a pet cat, and her name is Beauty, and I have a dog whose name is Rex. I have a sister older than myself; she is ten years of age. I go to school to Miss Fannie A. I like her very well, although she sometimes scolds. I have an uncle who sends us the Young People. I liked "All-Hallow-eve" very much. My sister Hallie has a pet dog, whose name is Flirt. She is so timid that if you go in the yard with a stick, and make believe that you are going to whip her, she will get down on her stomach, and keep right still until you go away. I think this is long enough, so good-by.
Your friend,
Annie H.
Woodside, near Lincolnton, North Carolina.
I wish again, my dear young friends, to thank you for the books, papers, and the box of things for the Christmas tree that have come since I wrote to you last. I am so glad you keep sending them, for I find so many who need them, and to whom they will do so much good. We have some money, and will begin having the lumber for the school-house hauled to the mill to be sawed very soon now—as soon as the men sow their wheat and get in their corn. The parcels I have received have been from Miss Emma Joiner, Easton, Md.; Miss Julia Langden, Elmira, N. Y.; Rev. David Strang, Lincoln, Tenn.; Mrs. E. A. Clark, Battle Creek, Mich.; Miss Maria McRene Suydam, Newark, N. J.; Miss Mary O'Neil, Miss Clara Copeland, Miss Harper, Miss Millie Glover, Miss Hattie Burgess, Miss Cora Cote, Miss Livia Mandeville, Miss Grace Webb, Miss Etta Coulter, and Miss Hattie Plinney, Rochester, N. Y.; Miss Mary Harkell, Weathersfield, Vt.; Master Charles Graff, Harlem, New York City; Miss Carrie Yardley, Lockhaven, Penn.; Mrs. Harrison, Walnut Creek, Col.; Mrs. P. A. Harrison, Dewbury, Barry County, Mich.; Miss McFarland and Mrs. Snyder, Paxton, Ill.; Miss Miriam Oliver, Milwaukee, Wis.; Master Paul Krughoff, Nashville, Ill.; Master N. B. Blunt, Lexington Avenue, New York City; Miss Annie Wetzell, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Master George R. Hitchcock, Champlain, N. Y.; Miss Helen Woodworth, 268 Ryerson Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Master Walter Anderson, Nashville, Ill.; Mrs. S. B. Bortwick, South Amboy, N. J.; Miss Ethel and Master Vivian Ketchum, Augusta, Ill.; Miss Minna Mandeville, Kinderhook, N. Y.: Miss M. D. L., Madison, N. J.; Miss Corinne Redden, Master Bertie Ellis, and Miss Winnie Needles, Nashville, Ill.; Miss Slack, Bristol, Penn.
Our school keeps growing, and now numbers fifty-six. They are learning very well indeed. They are now learning on Saturday afternoons a carol to sing at Christmas! Not many can read; they have to learn the words orally. They catch the tune very quickly. They are looking forward with so much pleasure to the expected tree at Christmas. I wish I could tell you what a happy time it will be for them all, and how often I wish that you could all spend a Sunday with us, and see how pleased they are to be learning. We do—all of us who teach them—thank you so much for your kind and generous help! I will write you all about the tree after Christmas. Truly your grateful friend,
Mrs. Richardson.
Jacksonville, Illinois.
The Editor said that we little girls must write about our dolls, so I thought I would. I have not seen any letters from this place. I must begin to write about my dolls. I have seven baby dolls—Lillie (a wax one), Daisy, Phœbe (she is wax too), Mattie, Ludie, Boneby, and last a little doll, not an inch long, called Neil. I had four birds, and they all died; three doves and five cats, and they all ran away or were killed. I now have a white and black cat. Mamma drives a spirited horse, and we all make a great pet of him.
Grace A. M.
Newark, New Jersey.
I am a little girl six years old. My brother takes Harper's Young People, but I love to read it, and I read it all myself. I like to read the letters best. I have been reading since I was four years old, and we have had Young People from the first, and on rainy days we get the numbers out and look them all over. We have two dogs named Beaut and Snooze. Snooze has a "bobtail." I have a black cat, with a few white spots, named Harry, and when I take him up he puts his two paws around my neck, as though he wanted to love me. He never scratches or acts ugly to me. I have three dolls, named Fannie, Bessie, and Nellie. I have a cousin Anna, just my size, and we play together often. I go to Sunday-school every Sunday, and learn the Golden Text; then I get a pink ticket for saying it, and when I have four pink tickets, I get a pretty floral card for them. I study at home with mamma. I can read, spell, and cipher, and now I am learning to write. I hope to see my letter in Young People. Mamma is writing this letter for me, but I told her what to write. Your friend,
Hattie C.
Weymouth, Massachusetts.
I have a hen-house of my own, and I am going to keep hens this winter. I have fifteen brown Leghorns and a rooster. I have made a silo, and filled it with sorrel for them to eat in the winter. If any of the boys who read Young People keep hens, I would like to hear from them. I have a cat that weighs thirteen pounds. I am eleven years old.
H. Everett C.
Fairview, Louisiana.
I am a little Southern girl nine years old. My grandpa has taken Harper's publications as long as my mamma can remember, and has taken Young People for me ever since it came out. I have never been to a school, as there is none near us. I said my lessons to a Northern lady who was visiting her sister last year for four months, and she taught me all I know about writing. I say my lessons to mamma now. I think Young People is splendid. I live on a plantation about a mile from the Mississippi River. When it is high, we can read the names of the boats. It seems so strange to read about snow up North, when we have not had a frost. We have geraniums growing in the yard, and plenty of roses in bloom. We have nine pecan-trees; they are full of pecans. I have four dolls, and lots of play-things. Bob, Buddy, and I have a play-house under the grape-vine. I like to play with dolls very much.
H. M. S.
Brooklyn, New York.
I have three tame turtles. I put them all in a row to see which one can go the fastest. But the two big ones have now made their way into the ground, and left the little one behind, and so I have helped the little one to make its way into the ground with the others. I have a lot of pigeons, and I have some chickens. We were going out to the woods to-day to get some autumn leaves and moss, but it rained, so I thought I would write a letter to you.
Jesse W. P.
Modie G.—Your friend who thinks the Editor of Young People writes the letters in Our Post-office Box is mistaken. If she could only see what a budget awaits the Editor every morning, she would open her eyes quite wide with amazement. We are glad you learn to recite the pretty poems which are printed in Young People.
Some of you are now and then puzzled and disappointed because your paper suddenly ceases to come to you on its usual day; you wonder what has happened to it. Let us tell you how to make such a provoking experience impossible. On the left-hand corner of the cover, just after the number of the volume, you will observe the number of the paper for the current week. Now look at the little printed label which bears your name, and on the right of your name you will perceive certain figures; they tell you the number of Harper's Young People with which your subscription will expire. Within a few weeks of that number's arrival, ask papa to please renew the paper for you, and it will then go on without an interruption.
Willie and Others.—Mud-turtles are managed during the winter just as land-turtles are; that is, given a tub of wet sand, and allowed to burrow there and go to sleep, as they do in the marshes where they live in freedom. You will find paragraphs about turtles in the Post-office Box of Nos. 5, 28, and 51, Vol. I.