Cincinnati, Ohio.
I was much interested in your account of the flying-squirrel given in Harper's Young People No. 87, Vol. II. I have never seen this graceful little animal, but from what I have heard, I suppose it is a pretty creature.
The little common squirrel inhabiting the woods is frequently seen where I live, on Walnut Hills. One day, when I was walking down a certain street with a friend of mine, I saw a pet squirrel nestling on the shoulder of a boy, who kept hold of a chain which was fastened around the little squirrel's neck. I did not think that this precaution was necessary, for the little creature did not show any inclination to run away, but, on the contrary, seemed quite contented.
I have often wondered whether or not squirrels would be happier when frisking about among the branches of trees in their native woods than when shut up in close cages. I should think that they would pine for their former freedom.
Lizzie C. C.
Unless the squirrels are made captives when they are very young, they are very wretched in confinement. We once knew about a squirrel which really fretted itself to death in its cage, and we wondered how the boy who owned it could ever be happy afterward. He gave it quite a little funeral, and erected its monument in the garden, with an inscription; but that did not make up for its unhappy days, nor restore its life. A squirrel's cage should be large enough for a boy of twelve to stand up and take several steps in, and it should be dressed with green boughs, to make it seem as much like a bit of the woods as possible. Children who have such pets should not chain them unnecessarily, and they should be careful to keep their homes clean, and give them plenty of food and fresh water.
Etna, California.
I have just been reading some of your interesting letters, and I thought that I would sit down and write to your nice paper, which we all enjoy reading. We live in Northern California, among the mines, ninety-two miles from the railroad. Papa kept store for a while, and the miners changed gold for money; and once a man brought a piece of gold, that he had just dug out of his mine, in the shape of a horseshoe.
My sister is thirteen years of age, and I am eleven. We both take music lessons. We have a nice day-school and Sunday-school. There are fourteen little girls in my class in the latter. We are building a new church. My sister is secretary of the Sunday-school.
Nellie J. F.