Atlantic City, New Jersey.
I have just got home from Europe. I was over there one year, so I became quite accustomed to it, but I like America far better than any other land. When we left England all you could hear was about the Egyptian war; it was on every tongue. England may be large and great, but I like Scotland best. It is so beautiful! Everywhere you go it is lovely, and it has such romantic old castles! And, do you know, I saw the place where poor Rizzio was killed. I will tell you how we came to go to Europe. It was my birthday, and papa asked me what I wanted for a present. I did not know, so I said that I would like to go to Europe. All our folks laughed at me, but still papa gave me no present. So one day our carriage stopped at the door just as usual, and mamma, papa, and I got in, as I thought to go riding; but we went down such dirty streets that they attracted my attention, and I asked papa about it, and he said we were going a new way. At last we came in sight of a large vessel. We went on board, for papa said he wanted to show me the Illinois, and as we stepped upon it all our friends and relations were there. They all kissed me in a hurry, and said, "May you well enjoy your birthday present!"
Gertie D.
Very few girls have had a nicer birthday present than the one your papa gave you. What a charming surprise!
Kirkwood, Missouri.
I am eleven years old, and have taken Harper's Young People for three years, but have never attempted to write to you before. I have only been going to school a year, for we have always lived so far out in the country that mamma has been afraid to send me so far from home. It is vacation now, but mine is almost spoiled by my having the whooping-cough, which I do not particularly enjoy. My sister Jessie and I often take turns riding horseback down to the depot to meet our papa, who comes home every evening on the seven-o'clock train. We spent last winter in the city of St. Louis. Jessie and I have each a flower bed of our own. Jessie's is in the shape of a letter J for her name, and has a great many pretty flowers in it, such as pansies, verbenas, phlox, heliotrope, and other plants. Mine is round, and has a great many geraniums, and in the centre is a plant called the hibiscus, which has a very pretty large red flower on it. We have a great deal of fruit now. The peach, pear, apple, and plum trees are so full that we have to prop them up with poles.
Perle.
I think if one must have the whooping-cough, it interferes less with vacation pleasures than with school duties.