Norwich, Connecticut.
I must tell you about my pet which my uncle Frank brought me from California. It was a dear little horned toad. It was very affectionate, and had a soft yellow breast and two horns, one on each side of its head. I kept it in a big box of sand, and uncle called it Cutey, it was so cute. One day it was very cold, and Cutey shivered so I covered him up in the box, and put him on the register; then I went off, and forgot my poor little toad. When I came back my toad was dead, and I cried very hard, for I felt naughty to have forgotten my pet. I have some more pets, and some time I will tell you about them; but I am afraid this is too long.
Susie.
What a pity it was, dear, that you forgot your pet! No wonder you cried. I am sure you will never again forget one of the little creatures, which are dependent on you for their comfort.
Bristol, England.
I have a very kind cousin who lives in Brooklyn, and sends me Young People. I am eight years old. I am very fond of reading the letters of children so many miles away from each other, and of hearing about their pets. I have a green parrot, but he is very spiteful. We have a gray cat, and if we stay upstairs beyond our time in the morning, she comes up and sits outside the door, and keeps mewing until I come out and speak to her. I have two sisters, one five, the other three. I have been learning to play the piano eighteen months; also my sister Lillie. We play several duets, and many pieces. I have to practice every evening, and then I have a good read from Young People. I like "The Cruise of the 'Ghost,'" "Tim and Tip," and "All-hallow Eve" very much indeed, and I am very much interested in "The Talking Leaves." My papa I have not seen in nearly four years. He is out in China. He was wrecked last July. He was chief officer of the Anne S. Hall, of Boston, which was lost in a typhoon. All hands were saved in a boat. I shall be very glad when I see him. I have been two years at school. I went to a pic-nic party to Lea Woods. We went through Nightingale Valley, and were really tired when we got to the top. The woods looked lovely with bluebells and violets. The primroses seemed to be all picked.
Percy T.
Well, Percy, I wish I were so near that I could tell whether you and your little sister keep time in your duets. You must practice very diligently, so that your music will delight your papa when he comes home again. How much you must love him, all the more fondly because he was in such peril on the ocean! I hope he will reach his children in safety.
Nightingale Valley is a beautiful name for a wood.