I am nine years old, but will soon be ten. I thought I would tell Kate E. what pet to get. I think a pony would be very nice. I have written to Harper's Young People several times, but my letters never have been printed. I hope you will print this. My sister was taken sick yesterday. I have no pets, but my sister Emily has a pet cat. It is very cunning. Papa is having the porch fixed up. Good-by.
Rena Louisa S.
Eden, Dakota Territory.
My papa came here thirteen years ago, when only savages inhabited this part of Dakota. I can remember, when a very small child, how the Indians used to come to our house, and beg for corn and fresh meat, for we used to kill lots of pigs. Papa named this town. Eden is situated in the southeastern part of Dakota, on the Big Sioux River, fifty miles above Sioux City. I have only one sister, nine years old, and I am eleven. Mamma promised me a birthday party, but as I have an invalid grandpa, and my birthday comes in the cold, cold month of December, and we could not go out-of-doors to play, mamma said I might have a lawn party instead this summer, as we have a beautiful grove to play in. I have taken Harper's Young People for nearly two years, and am very much pleased with it.
M. Elsie W.
Howe, Illinois.
I am a little boy nearly seven years old. I have never been at school, but recite my lessons at home. I have one Maltese cat I call John Crawford, and another Jerusha (I call her Jerry for short). Jerry has two little kittens; they are just as funny as they can be. I have a shepherd dog named Jack; he and the cats and kittens eat from the same dish, and do not quarrel one bit. Then I have a cow and two little calves, and two colts. My colts are named Dick and Daisy; they are one year old, and my papa says I may ride them next fall. The last, and almost the least, is my little pig Bessie. Papa says my brother Jo and I will bankrupt him yet feeding our stock. Jo is my only brother; he is thirteen. My papa has been real sick almost a year; he expects to go to the sea-shore this summer.
I do hope you will print this letter. I have not seen any from this part of Illinois. If you do, in my next I will tell you about a rat-hunt my grandpapa and I had. I like Harper's Young People best of all.
Charlie W.