Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I am a little boy almost seven years old. My papa gave me Harper's Young People for a present last Christmas. I enjoy hearing my grandmamma read it very much. I live in Ann Arbor, where the Michigan University is located. I go to school every day, and I expect, if I live, to go by-and-by to the university. Would it not be strange and pleasant if I should there meet some of the little friends that write such interesting letters for the Post-office Box? I live with my grandpapa and grandmamma, for my dear mamma died when I was four months old. I have not many pets, but I love to play marbles. Do not some of the little boys I read about like to play with them too? I had a large bag of the most beautiful marbles ever seen sent me from my uncle living in California.
Wicker J. M.
Playing marbles is delightful if you will only return the marbles you win to their former owners when your game is over. Playing marbles for fair makes some little fellows so unhappy that the Postmistress does not approve of it, unless both parties agree on playing "for fun" only. What does Wicker's grandmamma say on the subject?
Strasburg, Alsace.
I don't believe that any of the American subscribers of Harper's Young People enjoy reading it more than I do, though I am not an American girl, but an Alsatian, like my father. Mamma was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but I have never been to America, though I would much like to see for myself what are the customs and habits of the American people. It is mamma's sister, who dwells in Galveston, Texas, who has the kindness to send me this nice paper. I like especially to read the stories about French people, like the one of King Louis XVI. of France and Queen Marie Antoinette, which appeared in one of your numbers, and the beautiful story of Charlotte Corday, who was one of my countrywomen too; for the Alsacians are French, and though the Germans took our poor land and separated us from our dear country, they never can take our hearts, which will always remain French.
I hope this letter will be published, for it would be a pity that, coming from so far away, it should be put into that doleful pigeon-hole, which must surely be the terror of every one who contributes to swell the number of the Post-office Box letters.
As I saw that many of the correspondents tell about their pets, I too will write about my nice canary-birds. One of them papa gave me for my birthday, and the other— Why, one cold winter day, as we were at dinner, we heard a little noise at the window, and there was the poor little thing. Of course we made it come in, and it just flew into the opened cage and ate some seeds, for it was nearly starved to death and frozen. Since then it lives with us, and we call it "Bienvenu," which means in English "welcome." Last spring it laid five eggs in a basket I gave it as a nest, and I rejoiced at the thought of having little birds, but Bienvenu was cruel enough to eat all her eggs before they were hatched.
Eliza T.
It pleases us very much when our far-away little readers send us letters to tell us what they have most enjoyed. It was too bad that little Bienvenu behaved so strangely. But another time she may consent to sit upon the tiny eggs instead of making her dinner of them.