Robert W. M.
We never had a house blown down while we were in it, but we can imagine that it must be very disturbing to one's nerves. Was it not fortunate that it happened in June, and not in December? And did not Robert work like a beaver, or, better still, like a brave manly boy, while the new home was building? As for old Santa Claus, he may be more generous this year than he was last.
Wortendyke, New Jersey.
My sister and I are going to write a letter together. We have not taken your paper very long, but like it very much. We have a little brother only a week old, and we all love him very much. We were all vaccinated a little while ago, and as there are nine of us children, we had a good many sore arms. I know Ina J. P., who wrote a letter to Young People for January 10; she lives next door to us. We have got a very nice cat; she catches a good many rats. A gentleman gave us a dog, but he became homesick, and cried so that we had to let him run away.
There is quite a large silk-mill here, and the silk looks very pretty while it is being woven. We go to school here, and like the school very much, though it is not very large. We have not read any of Jimmy Brown's stories, but think they must be very nice. We have read quite a good deal about dolls in the letters to Young People, but we don't care very much for them. We are collecting advertisement cards, and have about two hundred and fifty. We have a lovely grape arbor at the side of our house; it is very long, and in the summer it is very shady there, and the vine bears splendid grapes. We have a great big barn on our place, and we have lots of fun playing on the high lofts.
Julia J. B.
and Emily L. B.
Nine children all vaccinated at once! Nine to sit under the grape arbor, and climb the hay lofts, and have a good time generally! The baby brother does not know what fun he will have when he is old enough to enjoy himself with his brothers and sisters, does he? Though there are so many of you, the Postmistress is sure father and mother could not spare even one.
Holly Springs, Mississippi.
I am a little boy, and can not write very nicely, so I have begged my mamma to write this letter for me. I live away down South in Mississippi. Sherwood Bonner, one of your contributors, lives near us on the same street. She and my mamma were school-mates. Her little daughter Lillian and I waited on a young lady and gentleman who were married, when we were only four years old.
This is a lovely spring-like day, and our hyacinths have all come up in the yard, and will bloom before long.
I have two sisters and one brother. My little sister, who is only four years old, enjoys your paper as much as any of us, and runs to be the first to take it from father when he brings it home. Then, when we are all gathered around a cheerful fire, mamma reads it aloud to us.