Ralph H. C.
Carrollton, Missouri.
My papa gave me Young People for a Christmas present; I like it very much. I am ten years old. I have twenty-five dolls; my largest is a wax doll thirty inches long. I have a play-house, a set of furniture, a set of dishes, a little trunk, and a real little cook stove that I can cook on. We have a swing and a hammock. I have a dear papa and mamma, but no brother or sister. We have a canary-bird. I wish the Postmistress would tell Jimmy Brown to write some more.
Edith C.
Twenty-five dolls! Dear me! what a large family! Don't you sometimes feel like the little old woman who lived in her shoe, and had so many children she did not know what to do? She gave them some broth, without any bread, and whipped them all round, poor things! and sent them to bed. You, I am sure, are not so unkind to your dollies as the poor bothered old lady of the shoe.
Brooklyn, New York.
I am going to tell you about my pets. I have a terrier named Jack. I like him very much. If I throw a stick, he will run and bring it to me. I have seven land turtles and two water turtles. There is one big turtle which I call grandfather of them all. I am very fond of them. I sunk half of a barrel in the ground, and I keep it filled with water for them to drink and swim in. They are all the time digging in the ground. I have fifty pigeons of all colors, and I have ten young ones. I like to watch the old ones feed their young; they are so cunning about it. We have a big old cat named Tom, and two canary-birds; so you see I have plenty of pets. My sister took me over to New York to see your big building, and to buy the story of "Toby Tyler." I have been taking Young People two years, and think it is splendid. I think "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" is very nice, and I hope when it is ended that you will publish it as you did "Toby Tyler." If you do so, my mother intends to give me money to buy it. I think I will close my letter with my best thanks to you and Mr. Otis for writing such nice stories.
Jesse W. P.