Most of our boys and girls are busy, happy, and well. Do you ever think what a glorious thing it is to be simply well—not to have a headache, or a pain, or the least bit of weariness, no matter how long you play, or how high you climb, or how far and fast you run? Half the fun and pleasure you have comes from the fact that you can go to sleep the moment your heads touch the pillow, and that when you awake in the morning, you wake all over at once, and spring out of bed, ready for anything that may be before you. If you do happen to be ill occasionally, there are always kind hands to care for you; and it gives you a good chance to find out what a loving father and mother you have, so tenderly they see to your wants. Even the doctor, with his shrewd face and droll manner, becomes dear to you when you are sick; and you always call him yours, in a new way, after you have taken his pills and powders, with mother's nice jam to take their taste away. So now, boys and girls, will you please read the letter a lady has asked us to publish, and make up your minds about helping along in the work she proposes?

TO THE CHILDREN, LARGE AND SMALL, SICK AND WELL, WHO READ THIS PAPER:

Do you all want to do something for me? I am sure your answer is, Yes; for I think children always like to be helping others. Well, I want you to give me ever so much money. I imagine I see round eyes grow big, and hear you say: "Pray what for? You are a stranger, and we never have much money; nor do we know what you want it for, anyway." I will tell you, for though you don't know me, it makes no difference, as I do not ask it for myself. I want it to do good to some poor little sick children, and to yourselves in giving it. In the city of New York, as most of you know, there are a great many little children who, when they are sick, or meet with an accident, have no one to take care of them, or if they have, are compelled to stay in a small close room, where there are a great many people, a great deal of noise, which makes it very hard for them to get well. Knowing this, some kind people have built a house, called "St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children," 405 and 407 West Thirty-fourth Street. It is an Episcopal institution, under the care of some kind women. They take in any child, black or white, of any creed, under fourteen years old, who has no disease which other little ones might take, so long as they have space and money to take care of them.

In the Rev. Dr. Houghton's church, Twenty-ninth Street, New York, is a society which sews for and takes care of sick little children; and this year they have furnished one ward in the hospital, for children under six years old. This is the ward I want you to take a special interest in. I hope you will go some day and see them. On any day, except Sunday, between 11 and 12 a.m., and 3 and 4 p.m., they will be very glad to see you. Oh, such a dear little baby as I saw there the other day! He had fallen down stairs and broken his hip, and his mother brought him there because the doctor said he never could get well in his own home; and though he had to lie on his back for some weeks, he was merry as a cricket, and seemed very happy. Those who can be up have playthings of all sorts to keep them busy; and for these also there is a nice, sunny, large play-room up stairs, where they have fine times. What I want you to send your money for is to endow a bed in this "little folks' ward." To "endow" means that when you shall have paid money enough, there will be one bed always there for some little sick child, and money to take care of it while there. This would be called the "Harper's Young People Cot"; and if every one of you tries to help, you will be able to have it. When you buy candy, it is soon eaten, and that is the end of both candy and money; but in this case the good of your money will last always, and the self-denial it costs will help you to grow stronger to "fight for the right." Jesus will know it, and will send His blessing to those who care for His suffering little ones.

"Little self-denials,
Cost us what they may,
Help us in this earthly life
To learn the heavenly way."

If you will all set to work in earnest, we shall soon be able to have the amount needed. Who will send the first contribution, and head the list? The first of every month the names and amounts contributed will be published in this paper, which has kindly offered its help. Send your contribution, with name, for "Young People's Cot," to St. Mary's Hospital for Children, New York, to Miss E. A. Fanshaw, care of Mr. George A. Fanshaw, 43 New Street, New York.

The sooner the better. Don't you remember that story of the "Daisy Cot" which pleased you all so much? Let us have a "Young People's Cot."

Verona, Italy, June 23, 1881.

Although so far away in the old city of Verona, I have the great pleasure to receive every week, through my papa's kindness, Harper's Young People, which delights me. I think the readers of Young People would like to receive little accounts from my note-book. I will send a letter now and then.

When in London I went to the great Westminster Abbey, in which I saw the urn which contains the bones of the two Princes murdered in the Tower in the year 1483. In the Tower I saw the steps where their bodies were found. In the Arsenal were primitive cannon-balls made of stone, and all sorts of old weapons; also ten small cannons presented to Charles II., when a boy, to practice with; also much old armor, and many instruments of torture. Among many curious things in the British Museum, I saw a gigantic land tortoise, which weighed 870 pounds when found, was supposed to be eighty years old, and was still growing.

In my next letter I will tell you about Paris.

I am nine years old, and before my next birthday I expect to see many old and wonderful things on the Continent.

Alberto D. M.