We ask attention to the letter from two little girls which follows this paragraph. We have sent them a bound volume of Young People for 1881, which we hope will help them in making the Christmas season a glad one to their little friends the "Innocents."
Dear Girls and Boys,—Christmas is drawing near now, and you are all preparing for the Christmas tree, and lots of you are making pretty presents for your friends. We wish to ask you a favor, so now please give attention.... The pastor of the Trinity Episcopalian Church established a "Home for the Innocents." All poor little waifs are taken to this Home, and little ones are left whose mothers work out by the day. They have a nice time playing together, and some kind Sisters watch these little ones. But the church caught fire and burned down, and now the members (who are mostly poor people) are saving their money so we can build the church up again, and we are sadly afraid the little ones will lose their Christmas fun. The Sunday-school scholars have given up the tree, so they could help the church, but the "Innocents" will have nothing. Now won't you all send us some toys, or brightly colored picture-books, or Christmas-tree ornaments. Rummage your closet shelves, and see if there are not broken toys or dolls you don't care about any more, and send them to us. Some of you write and tell of so many things you have; can't you spare one for these children? Please do, and after Christmas we will write again all about them.
Lydia Belle Hargreaves,
Lulu G. Ruckstuhl,
508 Wenzel St., Louisville, Ky.
Be particular, children, to send your gifts directly to Lydia or Lulu, and not to Harper & Brothers.
Lawrence, Kansas.
I am a little Kansas boy who reads your paper regularly. I am very much interested in the Wiggle department of the Young People. I sent a wiggle for No. 95 and No. 104, and it made me very happy to see them in the paper. I shall send some more. I am eleven years old, and have been going to school four years, and am in the sixth grade. I live in Lawrence, and the University of Kansas is here. When I become old enough I will go there. I want to get a good education. Then, when I become a man, perhaps I may be an editor, or write story-books. West of Lawrence a few hundred miles are the great plains. The Indians used to live there, and hunt buffaloes. The Indians have gone now, and so, I suppose, have the buffaloes.
Kansas is a good place for little boys. I used to live in Washington. D. C. But there the houses are too thick to fly a kite. Here on the prairies we boys often fly our kites to the height of two balls of twine. We have lots of room to run. Father has promised me a pony on my next birthday. He says thousands of people come to Kansas every year from the Eastern States. I wish lots of little boys from the East would come to Lawrence to live. I am very anxious to hear about Mr. Stubbs's brother.
Sidney C. P.
This little picture, represents a branch of oranges sent to the office of Harper's Young People. It was cut by Mr. James Otis from an orange-tree in Duval County, Florida, which this season has borne over 2000 oranges. We thank Mr. Otis for his kind remembrance.