Norwich, Connecticut.
I am a boy eight years old, and I can read and write a little, but my aunt Daisy is writing this for me, because I do not form the letters plainly yet. I must tell you about a pet pony I have. His nose is pure white, while all the rest of him is jet black. I call him Gip, and he will eat sugar, bananas, and cookies. He is very small and cunning, and I ride him sometimes, with my papa holding the bridle. Some time I hope I can ride him all alone. Besides Gip, I have a canary called Funny, a dog which I have named Yum-yum, a rabbit which we call Toodles, and a big Maltese cat called Thomas Didymus. Don't you think I have a good many pets? I go to school with my sister every day, and as it is a long distance from my home, I always carry our lunch in a little basket, and we eat it at recess. My little sister is only seven years old, and she can make real pretty poetry. This is a little poem that she made all alone, and we think it is very good. Will you please print it?
Nelson G.
MY KITTY.
How cunning does my Kitty play
With a spool, or a long string, all day!
She capers round in a pretty way,
As much as if she would say,
"Give me some milk, and let me drink
From a pan, all bright and gay,
And please, dear mistress, don't say nay.
Or surely I will run away,
And with you no longer stay.
Give me some milk, and let me drink."
Your pets have very droll names, Nelson, especially the doggie. Thank you for your nice letter, and for little sister's jingle, which is very well done for a girl who is only seven.
The children who are studying geography may hold up both hands. Shall I count them? No wonder you laugh. A Postmistress would be very clever indeed who could count the forest of hands which are waving gleefully in the air at this moment. What I hope is that every one of you will read this rhymed alphabet of countries; and if you do, and I hear that you like it, perhaps I'll be able to find another one for you some day in a corner of our box: