W. T. Putnam.—Dealers offer the 1828 half-cent at 10 cents.
M. Wister.—The half-dollars can be bought of a dealer at 75c. each. The five-cent nickel without value does not command a premium. The Dresden stamp is a local. The complete Columbian set can be bought from $25 to $30.
M. Cram.—The following are not collected by wise philatelists—All the China locals (except Shanghai); "San Antonio" of Portugal and Azores; 4c., 10c., 20c., 30c. and 40c. surcharges on North Borneo; British Mail of Madagascar; Brunei; Clipperton; Bussahir.
J. C. Weiland.—The coins mentioned can be bought of dealers at a fair advance on face. I cannot give names of dealers. See advertising columns.
Philatus.
[THE FAIRY'S FLORAL ZOO.]
BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.
There was a little fairy in the moon,
Came down to earth one lovely afternoon,
To wander
And to ponder
On the mountains and the lakes,
On the meadows and the brakes,
And to see what he could find
To sort of occupy his mind.
And as he wandered,
As he pondered,
This little fairy heard a roar
Like none he'd ever heard before;
And there, on either side, right by the shore,
Two lilies stood:
Great Tiger lilies thirsting for his blood!
And did he run? Indeed not he!
He simply stood likewise and smiled with glee,
And after much ado
He captured them—the two!
"I'll take 'em home," said he, "and put 'em in my Zoo."
And with them soon.
In fact that very afternoon,
Back to the moon
He flew,
And now he's rich, for all the moon-boys 'twixt us two
Just throng about the cages of that Fairy's Floral Zoo!
Fond Mother. "And was my little boy smart at school to-day?"