P.S.—We walk three miles to Sunday-school.
We never hear of people who walk miles to day or Sunday school without feeling ashamed of ourselves, because, sometimes we think it hard to have to walk a few blocks on some such errand. A prairie fire must be a magnificent sight.
I want to tell you about my Polly. We bought him in New Orleans, and not knowing his birthday, we set it at the 1st of May. At first he would not talk at all; he was very cross, and would not let us touch him. One night my sister began to play on the piano and sing; Polly began to sing also, in a little low voice. Papa threw a newspaper at him, and said, "You old humbug, you could sing all the time."
I will tell you some of the things he says. Of course he can say, "Polly wants a cracker," and "Pretty Poll." He can say "Hurrah, Polly!" My name is Estelle, and when I come into the dining-room in the morning he will say "Stella" just as plain. There was a crowd of children standing at our gate one day, and they said, "Polly, can we come in?" and he said, "Come along."
Our Polly's name is Jack, but we never call him that. He had a fight with a dog once. The dog was coming up to him, and he just put up his wings and flew screaming to the dog. The dog did not stop to fight, but ran for his life.
Polly is very tame now, and will get on my hand and talk to me.
That is all I have to say about Polly at present.
E. M.
Palmyra, Missouri.
As I like so much to read the letters from the little girls in Young People, I thought I would write one. I have been sick, and not able to walk for a year, but my pa, who is a doctor, thinks by the time the leaves and flowers come out I will be able to go out too. I study at home, so that I may keep up with my class at school; and that keeps me so busy that the time does not seem long. I always look forward to Thursday, which brings Young People, as we live in the country, and think more of getting the papers than the little girls in the city. We have had lots of ice and sleet, and it makes me wish, when I see my little brother on his sled going down the hill, that I could go too; but maybe I will be able to when another winter comes. We have a good many pets, but the best one is our dog. To close, I will tell the readers what my ma tells me, always to sew the paper before reading it. I am eleven years old.
Ellen McC.
The "time of the singing of birds," as the Bible says, is coming nearer every day, and we hope little Ellen will be able to walk out-doors and enjoy the spring, with its many delights.