IN THE BARN.
Once Nellie said to Susie: "It's no fun
Playing in this very hot sun,
Let's go and play with little Rover—
She is nice, with her puppies all;
You take your shade hat out of the clover,
And I will take my parasol."
Then all at once, as they said this,
Came walking along their Uncle Bliss.
"Why, children, where are you going this hot day?"
"Oh, we are going into the barn to play."
"Then, children, I must say good-day—
I hope you'll have fine fun among the hay;
Though I must go, I'll send down Joe,
And you and she will have fun, I know.
Tell Rover to take care of you,
Don't let the calf eat up your shoe;
Now once more I say adieu,
And come each and give a kiss
To your old loving Uncle Bliss."
They went to the barn and opened the door.
There they saw Rover curled up on the floor,
She wanted them to see her puppies three,
And held out her little black paw.
Suddenly they heard a noise—oh, where were the boys?—
In came walking the oxen and all the cows,
Which frightened the children so they hid in the mows;
The dog then did bark and sent them away,
And the children came crawling out of the hay.
Then, as the day grew dim and dark,
And the little dog had ceased to bark,
They said to each other good-night,
And hurried to bed by candle-light,
And soon were tucked all snug in bed,
And on top of each pillow lay a little head.
J. W. K.
And here is another verselet by a six-year-old:
Brooklyn, New York.
I have a little sister Agnes six years old, who wrote this verse about a cat we had, called Romeo, and I think it is so good that I hope you will print it with this letter in Harper's Young People.
Maud.
There dwelt once in a Brooklyn town
A little cat with fur;
Sometimes he would lick himself,
And sometimes he would purr;
His breast was as white as snow,
And this cat's name was Romeo.
Our next letter is from a wide-awake little fellow who will remember when his hair is gray how he saw the President driving through Boston streets. Who knows but that O. D. may one day himself be a Governor or a President. I am very sure that a good many future statesmen are among the boy readers of Young People:
Boston, Massachusetts.
I saw the President last Wednesday when he came to Boston. He rode in a carriage drawn by four white horses. By his side sat Governor Long, and in the front of the carriage was the President's son. The escort was two companies of lancers. All the way down Dover Street the people were packed; it was nothing but cheers all the way. The President was then driven to the Common; a salute was fired as he went through the Charles Street gate. He staid on the Common for about one hour. As he came up Beacon Street there were people all along the State-house railing. I never saw so many people in my life. The Governor kept talking to the President all along Beacon Street. The President was tired, I think, of having to bow so many times, for he bowed every time the people cheered.
The procession then went down School Street into Washington Street, and into Dock Square. The best thing of all was when it stopped on Commercial Street. He called a bootblack up to his carriage, shook hands with him, asked him his name, and where he lived.
Do all boys and girls know how envelopes are made? Well, I will tell you. First 350 sheets of paper are put in a press. Then a knife in the shape of the envelope is put upon the paper; then the knife is pressed through the paper, and when they are taken out of the press they are in the shape of an envelope. Next they have to be gummed, then folded, and then they are ready for use.
O. D.
Zelienople, Pennsylvania.
I never have seen a letter in Young People from this place, so I thought I would write one. I was eleven years old the 20th of August; it was on Sunday, and I was born on Sunday. I have two sisters and one brother. His name is Willie, and for a long time he called himself Wibbo Pitto. He is four years old. He often says he wishes it was the day for Harper's "Lung" People to come. I have a dear little sister almost two years old; her name is Mary. She puts an o to nearly everything. Our horse's name is Billy, and she calls him Billo. My other sister's name is Lizzie, and she is nine years old. I was at the Centennial at Hannastown, Westmoreland County, in this State, on July 13. One hundred years ago it was burned by the Indians. I have an uncle living there now. I am taking music lessons now, and my teacher says I play very well. Papa gave me Harper's Young People for a New-year's present, and I like it very much. I like to read the Post-office Box.
Blanche C.
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Will you please tell me if I can get the back numbers of "Mr. Stubbs's Brother," and how much they will cost, from No. 127 to 133, both inclusive, and from 136 to 140, both inclusive? And please tell me what a girl who is fourteen years old, and goes to school five days in the week, can do to earn money. Please answer through your paper, and oblige
Mary E. B.
You may procure the numbers you mention by writing to Messrs. Harper & Brothers. They will cost 48 cents.
I would advise a girl of your age to study hard, and prepare herself to earn money in future, rather than to try to earn it while going to school. You might earn some, however, as a young friend of mine did, by crocheting little sacques and socks for a store. She did this in leisure moments, and was very well paid. If you know how to darn and patch very neatly, you might do that on Saturday afternoons for some busy housekeeper, who would pay you for your work. If I knew more about what you have learned to do, I could give you better advice.
Tell you what to make for Christmas, Daisy, Belle, and Theo? I am glad, dear little girls, that you are beginning thus early to think what pretty and useful gifts you may contrive.
One needs a great deal of time to make presents, which must, of course, be secrets from those they are intended for until the happy day arrives. Half the pleasure of Christmas consists in its beautiful surprises.
No gifts are more highly prized than those young people make with their own hands. It is so delightful, as one looks at a pretty or a useful thing, to see and feel that weeks and weeks ago a dear and loving child put her own occupations aside that she might give a token of affection to a darling mother or a sweet elder sister.
It is always a good plan to find out what people would like or are in need of. If you listen, you may some morning hear mamma say, "How I wish I had a pretty breakfast cap or a little shawl to throw over my shoulders." Perhaps papa will wish, as he is cutting the leaves of his magazine with his pen-knife, that he had a proper paper-knife. Grandma may be in want of a work-basket to hold her knitting. Alice may greatly desire a music-roll. Brother Artie, who often takes little journeys, would find a use for a pretty contrivance which you could make of burlaps and work with worsted—a sort of dressing-case to hold combs, brushes, and razors, the whole rolling up and taking a very little space in his travelling-bag.
For little children no more useful present can be thought of than a scrap-book. I have seen some very lovely ones, in which all the pages were filled with the advertisement cards and pictures which you are so fond of collecting. I heard of a puzzle scrap-book not long ago. A young lady made it by cutting out and pasting in order the enigmas, square words, diamonds, and conundrums which she found in the papers and magazines taken at her house. This sort of scrap-book would please a bright, quick-witted boy, and by means of it a family could find a great deal of fun on a winter evening.
How could you make a paper-cutter? Very easily if you know how to paint, as many of you do. Take a smooth slender piece of white-wood, and paint on it a bunch of violets, an ivy leaf, or something else that is pretty.
It is sometimes very pleasant for the boys and girls in a family to form a little club, and adding what money they have, join together in making a nice present to papa or mamma. Remember, dears, it is not the cost of a gift that makes people value it; it is the love it shows on the part of the giver.
Next week I will tell you of two or three other pretty things.
To New Readers.—We wish to call the attention of our new readers to a little matter which, while very small indeed to each of them individually, becomes an affair of importance to the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, who receive many hundreds of letters every day. All letters should be fully prepaid at the rate of three cents per half-ounce. No letter containing writing, even if only a signature, is carried by the Post-office Department from one city or town to another for one cent, or for two cents. Three cents is necessary on the very shortest letter, and if not paid in full by the sender, the deficiency must be made up by the receiver. Please pay attention to this when writing to the publishers of your favorite Young People.
PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS.
No. 1.
FOUR WORD SQUARES.
1.—1. A tree. 2. A period of time. 3. Low. 4. To perceive.
2.—1. A rustic. 2. A thought. 3. Not distant. 4. Gloomy.
Neptune.
3.—1. An animal. 2. Liquors. 3. To gather. 4. To look closely.
4.—1. A bird. 2. Anger. 3. A monster. 4. To lament.
Aubery.